I say, be bold, not bland. Bravely venture into new and exciting fashion choices, even when on the job. Why? Because you should dress to impress, not to depress, dear readers. Not sure how to proceed? Check out these stellar style tips from Amy, and morph Casual Friday into Fashionable Friday!

* Choose pieces that while appropriate for the office environment, still allow you to express your individualism.
* Mix up suit separates to keep things interesting and versatile.
* Even if your work requires a fairly conservative look, don’t be afraid to play it up with layers and colors.
* Wearing a suit does not mean you have to look boring – mix it up with different hues or a sophisticated vest.

We’re pretty sure being dressed to kill increases workplace productivity. Just don’t take any fashion hints from Meredith of Dunder Mifflin…

-Quality Over Quantity: If your costume is going to be simple, pick a quality item over a bunch of accessories that have no Halloween value. Don’t go with that cheap wig and a beach shirt dressed up as “the wig dude”. There is no such thing as a wig dude, and people know it. Halloween is like the Oscars of the holidays: if you get a perfect imitation of a famous character, you’ll get an award for sure! Choose an emblematic element, such as Mike Myers original mask (pick a good one, otherwise no one will be scared) and stick to your character.

-Get in the Mood: While some girls prefer to be the sexy vampire, others might want to use that long black hair and whisper “seven days”. For a guy? Wear jeans, a leather jacket, take a (fake) axe, and greet your friends with a creepy “Here’s Johnny!”. If you have the looks, try Baby Firefly. If you have the attitude, the rest will come.

-Get Something That Will Fit Your Body Type: If you don’t have the time to elaborate a concept, choose something that will make you look good. This will make people forget that you were lazy and didn’t work enough for your costume.Now, if your laziness goes beyond any possible effort, try some humor. Laughter is the best medicine:

Now, if you still aren’t sure on what to wear for this Halloween, check what The Style Network has to say. After all, there is a costume for every person.

Let’s travel back to the time when Celts ruled what is now the  United Kingdom. Back in those exciting and frightful days, October 31st was believed to be the day that the dividing line between earth and the other realm became blurred, so people would dress up as demons and ghosts in order to protect themselves from other-worldly creatures who would be walking amongst them on this special day, presumably wanting to take them back to their demon world. These days, it is less about demon snatching and more about who looks the hottest when dancing to Thriller. And what better way to look ace, than with a spankin’ new tattoo sleeve?

If effort is simply not your thing, don’t worry – there are simpler ideas, too. Just check out the plethora of awesome ideas from HGTV!

If you’re extremely lazy, you can always cut up an old bed sheet, stick it atop your head and just go Ooooo. But come on, are you really going to be that lame!? This is the only day of the year when dressing up like a freak is not only socially acceptable, but even desirable – and don’t we all ultimately strive for social acceptability?

Yes, gay icons are the best option for Halloween. And although I will always have Geri Halliwell in my heart and there’s nothing I’d love more than be surrounded by dancers singing “Mi Chico Latino”, one has to know when to move forward. Now is the time for Lady Gaga, so if you want to be the latest glam sensation in the costume world, choose one of her many theatrical outfits for this Halloween.

So, bubble dress? blond wig? Or her 2009 MTV Video Music Awards costume?

I think Threadbanger knows.

Thanks to the fabulous Meg Allan Cole and the Threadbanger posse, you can now recreate all the spooky tension so often identified with Hitchcock, right in your own home – and right on time for Halloween! Just remember, you DIY-loving kids – use fake birds only. We mean it!

Unfortunately, every year you can see many girls who seem to see Halloween strictly as an opportunity to be a naughty-something (nurse, nun, cop or cow-girl),  but don’t give their makeup any special thought. In that sense I think we can all learn something from Heidi Klum:  The super-model/Project Runway host throws a glamorous Halloween party every year with her husband Seal. Though you’d have to look hard to find a better looking lady, she usually goes for bold, over the top looks that are not necessarily flattering.

But even if Kali is a bit much for you, don’t be afraid to try something new and creative this Halloween. In this Style Network video you can see the best way to apply glitter – a key part of any Halloween look, or as Heidi would put it, help you get that “Wow Factor”.

1. Easy, Breezy Sophistication:
Classic, clean cuts and sophisticated simplicity were hard not to notice on the runways, from DKNY’s laid-back pieces and color palette to the about-to-be-too-big-to-ignore Boyfriend Jacket that popped up everywhere at Fashion Week. The big, loose silouhette – supposedly hinting that this is a jacket you could have in theory stolen from your boyfriend, provided you have one – was a great example of the shift in shapes and cuts for this exciting season.

2. Heavy 80’s Revival:
Bring on the strong, edgy and somewhat eccentric from the most decadent decade in fashion. That’s right, the 80’s undertones we’ve seen in previous seasons is back with full-force, and more delicious than ever with quirky and sometimes downright crazy accents, like the emphasized shoulders and lively color schemes we saw executed to perfection by Marc Jacobs.

3. A Taste of the Tropics:
This spring will be popping with bold, colorful prints, from floral to tribal to geometric, if to judge by the zing of out-there patterns spotted at Fashion Week. From Diane Von Furstenberg’s loud 60’s-inspired statements to Betsey Johnson’s circus of color, exotic prints were all the rage.

4. The Return of Sportswear:
That’s right – alongside floral femininity and Dynasty-worthy getups, next season seems to be channeling a little Olivia Newton John, and the runways were dotted with classic sportswear pieces, back with a contemporary twist. Derek Lam adds an electric touch to the sports shirts of yesteryear, the brilliant Alexander Wang spices up footballer jerseys, and DKNY adds the finishing preppy touches with great shorts that make us wanna hit the tennis courts and raid our mom’s closet for some retro Perry Ellis.

5. Bring on the Chunky Bling:
After a few seasons where the bling just got bigger and bigger, I was afraid we’d have to kiss the chunky necklace goodbye at last. Being no fan of minimalism, I was relieved to see chunky necklaces and big, bold pieces stand out at the runway shows, from hue cocktail rings to the gorgeous shark-tooth necklaces by Tory Burch and the colorful pile of bracelets spotted at DVF. Can we say, more bling, please?

That, of course, is just the tip of the fashionista iceberg. We’re already hungry to see these to-die-for collections hit the shops, from shorts to puffed skirts to awesome accessories. Speaking of awesome, bold bling, why not make your own?

From the second I laid eyes on the fashion-savvy she-lions of WhoWhatWear.com, I was wondering why these style-smart ladies couldn’t have show up earlier in my life, like, say a year ago, when I was actually ditching weddings and other dress-heavy events just so I could avoid the humongous headache and battle cry of “What should I wear?!!!”

Luckily, just in time for wedding season at 5min (next month we are giving away both our Product VP, Sharon, and Oren, our Online Marketing Manager…but not to each other!), Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr are here to pound some fashion sense into us all, with this no-nonsense video dispensing valuable advice on what to wear to a wedding:

I mean, we could all take an example from Kristen Bell, right?

Not only is the video beautifully done and served with incredible pep, but it also makes creating your own wearable art seem oh-so-simple! Armed with an incredibly perky disposition, Edie is on a mission to teach us all to be fabulous – who could refuse?

You’ll need:

- Fabric dye – Edie uses Rit dye in navy, fuchsia, teal and golden yellow
- Microwave (for heat-setting the color)
- A white or cream-colored cotton dress – old, used, second-hand or recycled is best if this is your first time dyeing fabrics!
- Plastic containers for the dye
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 4 bristle brushes (a brush for each color you are using)
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
- Plastic wrap
- Plastic tablecloth for your craftspace
- Paper towels
- Chalk pencil
- Yardstick or ruler
- Parchment paper
- Containers to heat the water in

A tip from Edie: Wash the dress in order to remove any finishes that may prevent absorption of dyes. Dry and iron the dress if it’s wrinkled.

We just loved the dress – how Quant!
Get ready, get set, style!

1) Shay’s Pick: Something – The Beatles

Shay’s choice is the classic and premium , a song  of which Frank Sinatra once said: “I believe George Harrison’s hauntingly beautiful song is one of the greatest love songs ever written, and it never even says I Love You.”

2) Na’ama’s Pick: Sunday – Sonic Youth

Beautifully disturbing video aside (proving that child actors never grow up quite right and that Thurston Moore has the best hair in the music world), this has always been my favorite love song. In a genre full of clichés, this song stands out in its simplicity.  You know it’s true love when you find someone that makes you feel like Sunday never ends, or screams “aaaassssss yooooou wishhhhhhhh” while rolling down a mountain…but that one’s for a different V-Day list.

3) Roxana’s Pick: Where Do I Begin – Andy Williams

Many love songs make me wanna cry, dance, or sing like neighbors don’t exist. But only one makes me think that “love means never having to say you’re sorry”.

4) Ealeal’s Pick: Crazy – Patsy Cline

When he wasn’t busy hanging out with Kris Kristofferson, golfing or lighting up, Willie Nelson managed to write what would turn out to be possibly one of the best love ballads ever – Crazy. Catapulted to fame and golden country legacy by a mesmerizing recording by Patsy Cline released in 1961, Crazy is the literal love song equivalent of a kick to the groin – because honestly, who hasn’t been driven this far into a heart-wrenching stretch of temporary insanity, laced with pints of Ben & Jerry’s and self pity? *sniff*

5) Moshe’s Pick – My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion

I know it’s cheesy, but on my second not-so-official date with a girl named Alma we rented Titanic and I wept like a baby.
Alma and I are celebrating our second anniversary, and I love her more than anything in this world. I can’t even imagine living without her. Alma , will you marry me?