Paranormal activity is hardly the strangest thing about Buffy. It's that a middle-class teen with no after-school job and little time to shop has never had to wear the same meticulously accessorized outfit twice. How can this be? Not even Buffy's costume designer knows for sure. ''Um, it's Sunnydale, where anything is possible?'' offers Cynthia Bergstrom (below). For more definitive answers to Buffy fashion mysteries, read on.
-- THE CHOSEN ONES Bergstrom combs the racks of L.A.'s Fred Segal and Barneys to find items by favorite designers Sportmax, D&G, and Miu Miu, and eagerly welcomes tips from Gellar, an inveterate shopper: Buffy alone requires an average of six ensembles per episode (''Homecoming'' gets the golden coat hanger for most outfits: a whopping 11; total Buffy outfits in the first three seasons: 312).
-- DO'S AND DON'TS Among the clothes that Bergstrom says ''just don't look like Buffy'' are button-front shirts and anything in the color red. Gellar, meanwhile, has put the kibosh on turtlenecks and microminis, which is why Buffy's criminally short skirts (thankfully) vanished after season 1. ''She prefers slim-fitting slacks and jeans.'' All the better to slay in.
-- CROSS-REFERENCING Buffy has quite the collection of crosses, but look for them to virtually disappear next season. ''She's grown as a slayer,'' says Bergstrom. ''She's able to protect herself.''
-- UNDERGRAD CHIC With season 4 will come the more casual stylings of college. Bergstrom plans to move our Lady of Buff-dom ''away from the real cutesy clothing,'' replacing high heels with slides, and dresses with T-shirts and rolled-up jeans. ''I'll capture a bit of a hippie, Indian influence with ethnic-oriented jewelry.'' Even sartorially challenged Willow gets a UC Sunnydale makeover, with longer skirts and possibly (gasp!) clingy fabrics. ''She'll still have overalls,'' says Bergstrom, ''but maybe I'll start taking them in at the waist.''
-- BUFFY'S BEST AND WORST Among Bergstrom's favorite ensembles: the tan paisley sundress Buffy wore when returning Angel's ring (''Faith, Hope & Trick''), and the hot leather pants of ''Graduation Day, Part 1.'' Least favorite: some of that endless parade of girly jackets and coats Buffy sported in season 3. ''Up close they were beautiful, but [on screen] the fabric came across as stiff.'' We'll second -- and third
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