Though we usually depend on them for a good laugh, it’s not uncommon to look to our favorite TV characters for advice — Carrie Bradshaw dished out sex tips on Sex and the City, while the stars of Grey’s Anatomy taught us how to balance relationships with hectic work schedules. But where do we turn to for advice on what to wear?

It turns out that some of the most popular TV shows this season — Gossip Girl, House, Mad Men and True Blood to name a few — don’t just give us our weekly dose of primetime drama, but are also a huge influence on some of the biggest trends this season. The Fall 2008 collection and several other runway designs from Michael Kors appeared to be modeled after the slim, tailored suits worn by the cast of Mad Men, the ’60s drama about ad execs and their equally well-dressed female counterparts.

Gossip Girl takes up where Sex and the City left off, leaving viewers with a taste of the swanky Upper East Side style that made Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda fashion icons. This time around is a little different, though: After all, what high

school senior can afford a $700 pair of Manolos?

Instead, Blair Waldorf pairs her pricier couture with Steve Madden heels, a much more realistic option for those of us who can’t afford to live in a Fifth Ave. penthouse. Serena and her gang are also responsible for a few of the hottest accessory trends popping up in stores right now. It’s impossible to not think “Blair Waldorf” whenever I see a girl with a prim headband, and “Chuck Bass” simply screams from a J. Press scarf around a guys’ neck.

While Gossip Girl gives viewers inspiration for prep-chic wear, shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries do just the opposite, taking on the darker side of fashion. The recent slew of vampire-themed shows spurred this season’s crop of edgy, gothic pieces, like the tough leather jacket by KRMA, seen on Diaries’ main character, Elena Gilbert.

All this entertainment-inspired fashion isn’t going unnoticed by TV networks. Sites like Seenon.com give fans a breakdown of character clothing for shows like The Hills, Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty, and the CW’s site has a special “Style” section for all of the network’s programs. HBO is even cashing in on the success of True Blood by launching a vampire themed jewelry line in collaboration with designer Udi Behr. And in a smart cross-promotion move, Brooks Brothers began promoting a “Mad Men” edition suit in stores this fall.

Just what is it about our favorite TV characters that makes us want to mimic their every outfit? Fashion aside, entertainment media gives us the escape from reality that, even for just a half hour, makes us a part of the character’s glitzy and glamorous lifestyle. When we can take a piece of that life and bring it back into our own by purchasing a pair of their shoes or sunglasses, it’s almost as if we belong on the screen there with them. It’s a comforting notion at a time when spending an entire paycheck on clothing is out of the question.

I may never be as rich as Blair Waldorf, or have legs like Serena Van der Woodsen, but hell — at least I can wear her t-shirt.