True confessions: My friend M. and I each admit to playing dress up. No doubt you've done it too - hopefully not always in a last-minute, bad-clothes-day moment before work.

Dress-up is our code for much-dreaded closet cleaning. It means trying on clothes (and discovering what does and doesn’t fit), feeling guilty for overspending the clothing budget and making some hard decisions on what to keep, what to toss and what to sell or donate.

So how do we make it fun? By convincing ourselves it's preparation for the fall fashion season ahead.

We start with a little research, perfect for a gloomy weekend: devouring our favorite fashion mags and making a list of the trends we like. The August issues are just hitting the stands. Here's a look at what I saw:

In Style: A must-buy this month. Features include a look at prep school styles (Mainers will be happy to know plaid is back); how to help your summer clothes make the transition to fall; an A-Z primer on jeans styles – how to wear them and with what; the magazine’s “Ultimate Shoe Guide” with everything from boots to evening shoes; and a great guide for figure-flattering styles.

Lucky: A good how-to section on wearing new shapes – boxy tops and below-the-knee pencil skirts, the smock dress, high-waisted pants (which nobody I know can wear), tailored dresses; a guide to open-toe wedges; island glamour; a denim guide on baby bell jeans, jackets, minis, colored jeans and old-school jeans; five outfits to flatter different figures; and a how-to “now and later” feature on fall clothes you can buy and wear now.

Marie Claire: A trend report on jeans with examples from high-waisted styles to new finishes; guides to Oxford shoes and patent bags; and one of the best fall fashion previews I’ve seen. The preview, which includes pullout pages, shows runway examples of all the big trends for accessories, pants, dresses, coats, and more. MC’s 101 ideas segment is particularly good this issue with ideas for denim, tailored looks and looks with volume, and tips for that rock star look.

Vogue: A beautifully photographed spread on the season's sculpted shapes; uptown and downtown contrasting looks at fall fashions with a focus on jackets; a spread on colorful clothing trends with an eye on bags; great profiles of women from different generations; and what it means to women to dress their age.

Bazaar: A super guide with text and photos of what’s new; looks at ‘70s chic and ‘40s glamour; rules of the season (purple, red, cobalt, grape and leopard are very big); a 15-page spread of the season’s best looks; a look at “ladylike” fashions; and a pictorial guide to the most-wanted shoes, bags and jewelry. Great photos, good tips and the added bonus of articles on the return of the pant, Diane von Furstenberg, Eartha Kitt, Princess Grace and Jessica Simpson.

Elle: Oodles of photos for the Elle First Trends and pages more for different major trends, from geek chic to jet-setter ethnic to prim separates.; a cover story on Sarah Jessica Parker; a photo display on equestrian-inspired fashion; a feature on playful shoes; and a fashion feature on Leonardo DiCaprio's current squeeze, model Bar Refaeli.

Once we’ve cleaned the closet – and identified potential profit from consignment stores or eBay – we make our lists of “must-buys.” Since fall/winter fashions often are so classic and well-made, a few key pieces and accessories usually are all we need.

Here's my list:

I’ll carry the list in my wallet in a valiant attempt to keep my shopping focused.

What’s on your list? Tell me what you think of this fall’s fashions!

Who's your most fashionable friend?

Fine Lines is looking for the Portland area's most fashionable women to profile and interview for future blogs. If you have a fashionable friend who knows her own style, drop me an email!

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