Fashionistas in need of fast wardrobe updates have always relied on the power of new shoes. Just ask Carrie Bradshaw. If pressed for time or money, footwear can be your best defense against looking like yesterday’s fashion news. This fall, a slew of stacked heels continue to be available which is especially fortunate for the height challenged among us. Embodying the best of the fall trends, chunky heels lengthen us without compromising our ability to walk. This black patent Maddie from Tory Burch is a stylish pump that works well with trousers, skirts or dresses. Available for $295 at ToryBurch.com, the Maddie sports the trendy Tory Burch metal logo in silver. Just the thing to add some spice to your fall ensembles.

Here at Shopperati world headquarters, we strive to bring you the most interesting and alluring array of stuff to buy online. But rarely do we find an item that combines high-tech gadgetry with an ecological effort. Thus, our discovery of this little twig-like USB memory stick seems like a real statement-maker. There you are, sitting at Starbucks, surfing the net and impressing onlookers with your earth consciousness. And, oddly enough, it comes from the New York Museum of Modern Art online store, which means it must also be art. It is a 1 GB USB flash drive and the stick is made from wood remnants and branches that are hand collected from forests. Each is handmade and they cost $135 ($121.50 for museum members). Nobody said that being green was always going to be cheap.  

You probably have one, and so do your neighbors: Firepits (usually round metal decorative ones) are good excuses to stay outdoors on chilly nights. There are many varieties on the market these days, but if you really want to make a statement with fire, turn to Elena Colombo. She is a sculptor and architectural designer who creates unbelievable artistic statements with fire, from a striking 6-foot wide 200-pound steel firebowl to this amazing bit of artistry: a steel channel with a water spill, and on top of it, a gas-fed firewall. This is just one of the amazing things she creates using fire, water, earth and air. To see more, go to her Colombo Construction Corporation website. But be warned. Her 6-foot firebowl retails for $4,500, so the larger site-specific creations won’t be cheap. Or, if that’s too high-end for you, try a firepit from Exotic Flames. It’s concrete but you assemble it yourself.

The makers of Mercedes (DaimlerChrysler) are bringing a whole new breed of tiny cars to America in early 2008. A branch of the carmaker - called Smart USA - will distribute the Smartfortwo, a 5-foot-wide, 8.8-foot-long two-seater already popular in Europe (in a diesel version). The itty-bitty vehicle will sell for about $12,000 to $17,000. They are targeted for urban drivers, for whom parking is a premium. A story in Business Week says Roger Penske’s United Auto Group will be the distributors, but the Smart USA website doesn’t say where the cars will be sold. You can make a reservation for one online, however. The magazine says Smart has already taken in 20,000 orders but predictions are that demand will skyrocket. The car (with 71 horsepower, a 3-cylinder engine that can go up to 90 mph) is still on a 50-city tour of the U.S. (currently on the East Coast through early November). Thinking about gas prices? The 8.7 gallon tank is supposed to achieve more than 40 miles per gallon. Thinking about how much stuff you can pack into the back? The company says about 8 cubic feet.

Nothing is more delicious than patent leather, except maybe patent leather purses in yummy colors. This fall, patent leather fans will have a feeding frenzy with the multitude of handbags available in shiny, glossy leather. Clutches, shoulder bags, totes, frame bags…the choices are endless. Most notable in this patent craze is the abundance of bold color, making you feel just like a kid in a candy store. Here are a few items we found to get your pulse racing. At the high end of the market, this Chloe quilted green patent leather bag is available at SaksFifthAvenue.com for a mere $2,100. If your taste buds crave the bold color but not the price tag, take a look at these sleek Michael Kors clutches found at Nordstrom.com for $395. Available in bright yellow (Taxi), royal blue and black. Finally, from Anthropologie.com comes the Candy Apple Hobo. This cinnamon hued shoulder bag, very reasonably priced at $168, is both practical and affordable, proving that you can have your candy and eat it too!

With fall upon us, thoughts turn to the great outdoors. Plans for hiking, camping, biking and even skiing should start popping up on the calendar. Whether you are a seasoned expert or a novice, there is always something new to learn. Turn, then, to REI’s Expert Advice pages, where you can find how-to articles, shopping advice, checklists and more. If camping or hiking is your plan, they offer articles about how to choose a tent and the 10-plus essential items you need to take. They also provide long lists of how to choose particular items, and more detailed information about skills and knowledge needed to pull off your first - or 50th - backcountry trek. If you’re planning on tent shopping, besides offering a large selection (like the Sierra Designs Moken 4-person tent pictured) they offer interactive 3-D views of their top-selling tents.