Belts can do so much more than just help hold your pants up. They can bring colors and patterns to an outfit. They can create a waist in a dress or long shirt where there was previously shapelessness. They can take an ensemble from ho-hum to Hell, Yeah!

When we think of Old Navy's swimsuit selection, our minds instantly drift to preppy pink patters, flirty florals, and a few retro prints rounding it out. Imagine our surprise when we walked in and were confronted with a glamorous metallic, plunging, deep-v neck one-piece!

Headbands are no longer for the eight-and-under playground crowd -- thanks to Gossip Girl, headbands are showing up everywhere. We're loving it because it gives us fashionistas yet another way to take an everyday outfit from ordinary to off the hook.

Yellow, as popular as it is this year, isn't always all that easy to pull off. While some folks look bright and summery, others look jaundiced wearing it. Such is life.

Fortunately, you don't have to deck yourself out in a bright yellow dress to jump on board with the trend -- accessories will give you a hint of that trendy color without anybody even thinking of Big Bird when you walk in the room.

So, you want to embrace this season's trend of ethnic prints, but you're not sure you're ready for this -- that's okay. The great thing about bold trends in prints and colors is that you don't have to commit to a whole outfit. You can accessorize to get the look, and as an added bonus, you won't break the bank!

After a post on one of the seasons hottest trends -- gladiator sandals -- StyleDash received the following comment:

Not sure what to wear with my new gladiator sandals. They come up to the knee, and they're the Stuart Weitzman gold ones. Sharp!

I'm not always the biggest fan of Paris Hilton's wardrobe choices, but I have to say that she's really rocking this dress in spring's trendiest hue, yellow. She looks bright, sunny, and ... classy! Here's why this look works so well:

• The dress is really fun and feminine -- the halter is a flattering neckline and seriously springy. Pair that with the defined waist and full skirt, and you've got a perfect spring dress.
  
  
• The color is, of course, one of the hottest choices this season. Paris' dress has a fun white print on it to make it stand out without making it too loud. Yellow, if paired with colors can be a bit much for some people, but paired with white (or navy) will work for just about anybody.

Some guys don't really accessorize -- baseball caps don't count. They don't have the necklace, earring, scarf, and handbag options that women have. Probably most of them are pretty happy about that. However, when it comes to sunglasses, guys are right in the with the gals -- there are plenty of choices to keep you looking fashion forward.

The best thing is, you can wear them, like, every day! Without washing them! And nobody will make fun of you! I know that's not how all guys feel about fashion, but for those of you who want your style to be easy and painless, sunglasses are a great way to amp up your style without putting in too much effort.

Two of the big trends for guys this season are the continuation of the aviator and the shield as well as some funkier plastic frames, like the Rayban Wayfarer we saw popping up last summer (and in Risky Business). And, as with the ladies' sunglasses, tortoise shell is poised to step up as a big trend for the guys.

Ladies, when it comes to sunglasses, we have it good this year. Some of the trends from the last year or so have continued to be shown by the major fashion houses, and the trends that are coming into fashion this year will be easy for most of us to transition into -- it's not like we're going from bootcut to skinny jeans here.

So what's hot for this spring? We'll continue to see oversized glasses, aviators (and variations on the aviator), and tortoise shell will continue creeping in as a major player. Additionally, watch for more '70s inspired frames, with muted tones and rounded lenses. Also, keep an eye out for gradient lenses -- dark on the top half and light on the bottom. The more pronounced gradient makes a much more dramatic statement, but you can opt for a subtle change if you prefer it and still be in fashion.

Spring is right around the corner, and I bet you're already eying those summery sandals. But are your tootsies terrific yet? Are your piggies perfect? Are your feet fabulous?

Now, if you have the means, getting a professional pedicure is a fun and easy way to get your feet ready for those strappy sandals. Of course, there are the basic rules for the ladies, like making sure you have no visible toe hair, but you also want to try to get the bottoms of your feet smooth and ready for sandal season.

Check out the above gallery for seven tips and trends to get your tootsies ready for a close up this spring:

I fondly recall spending afternoons playing with My Little Pony and Hot Wheels. Often, that would turn into an afternoon of snapping together beads to create brightly colored necklaces for myself and my stuffed animals. Those were great days.

But, I was five years old, and I wasn't really thinking about fashion.

Alter Ego jewelry, designed by a misguided an enterprising 18-year-old in California, brings things like vintage toys and bright beads together to create a truly unique look that, theoretically, adults would wear. Oh, and also, that adults would pay $50 to $200 to wear.

I get the idea -- it's quirky and fun, and I suppose it might work for fashion-forward pre-teens, but don't expect to see me wearing it any time soon. Or ever.

Looking to switch up your look for spring? Maybe you want to find something a little less heavy than regular black eyeliner? You're in luck -- according to The Budget Fashionista, navy eyeliner is the way to go for spring '08.

Models on the spring runway for Narcisco Rodriguez wore an indigo gel liner because, according to Dick Page (the make up artist responsible), "Navy is more mysterious than basic black."

I don't know about the whole "mysterious" thing, but I do like the look. It's just a bit more exciting, adding a little extra "oomph" to your everyday makeup. Plus, it can make the whites of your eyes look a bit brighter (you know, the blue vs. red rule, like when you wear lipstick with a more bluish tone of red or pink, it makes your teeth look whiter -- same thing, only for your eyes).

The Budget Fashionista recommends the L'Oreal HIP Navy Eye Liner Pencil for $8, but I'm sure your favorite makeup brand has their own. Give it a try!

If you've ever watched an episode of TLC's What Not to Wear, you have seen the importance of dressing to accommodate your body type. It seems like people should know this instinctively -- choose clothes that accentuate the positive and disguise the negative aspects of our bodies. However, in an era of skinny jeans and cap-sleeve tees, it's hard for women (and men, too, I'm sure) to sort through the trends and find pieces that flatter their body but look like they're still from this season.

Well, ladies, I -- er, I mean iVillage -- has a fabulous tool (thanks for bringing it to my attention, Chatterbox). It's called the Figure Flatterer (clever, I know), and it gives you tips on what to wear (or avoid) if you dislike certain body parts. For example, if you have Big Arms, it gives you a rundown of the best jackets, dresses, and accessories, as well as examples of shirts and necklines you should not wear, EVER.

Regardless of what you're trying to show off or hide, keep this in mind -- if it's not the right size, it will look wrong. You can follow the Figure Flatterer's advice to a T, but if you insist on wearing a size 6 and you need to bump up to an 8 or a 10 for certain styles, swallow your pride and do it, because wearing something that fits properly is the quickest way to flatter any figure.

Back in 2000 or so, when I watched Gladiator for the first time, I remember it spurred a number of thoughts. Things like, "Can one person really make a difference like that?" and "Russell Crowe really shouldn't wear a shirt. Ever."

But, I'm quite sure I didn't contemplate how to bring the fashion into my own life.

Whether I planned it or not, the gladiator sandal is making a big appearance this spring. According to Style Bakery (don't you love that name? Like they're baking up yummy, fresh styles just for me!), the gladiator sandal is poised to be an "it" shoe this season.

You can pair it with casual looks, like tie-dye or denim, or get funky by pairing them with more formal looks. Of course, you could always wear a toga ...

According to the Glamour Fashion Blog (and apparently Parisian women), neon colors are back -- specifically acid green. I don't know about you, but I remember this trend from the first time around. Fortunately, at that point, I was tan, blonde, thin ... and a kid, and therefore I didn't really care about whether it was flattering. I only cared that it was cool.

My sense of personal style has evolved (somewhat) since then, and while I'm actually kind of excited about neon colors being acceptable again, I'm also nervous about how to wear them. I'm pretty sure acid green isn't the most flattering color for me.