Whether it's Paris Hilton futzing with shopping bags in L.A., Reese Witherspoon sifting through clothing racks or Heidi Klum browsing the boutiques of Beverly Hills,
only in Hollywood can a simple shopping trip become breaking news and literally "stop traffic."

Unless you happen to be cruising the blogosphere and a celebrity gets caught holding the bag that's got your name all over it - then, it's everybody's business!

Like this recent (and a favorite for blog fodder) newsmaker:

Rumors are flying that Nicole Richie fainted during a recent shopping trip to Kitson. According to Life + Style mag, the Simple Life star collapsed while browsing the racks. "She was looking through a rack of clothes when suddenly she fainted and hit the floor," an onlooker said. "The staff helped her to a chair and offered her something to eat. She shot back, 'No!' and mumbled something about it being 'so hot.'"

[via Celebrity Nation]

And I bet you dollars to donuts that the traffic to Kitson's surged like nobody's business - just check out the spike in searches!

Our fascination with the rich and the famous is nothing new and finding out what your favorite movie star, singer or athlete is up to...is as easy as turning on the television and picking up any newspaper or magazine.

However, in today's fast-paced world of the blogosphere, it's getting even easier to catch up on the latest fashion trend (or faux paux) by simply logging into an entertainment blog and running a search on anything...from what superstar hairdresser's shampoo celebrities savor...to which foot-fungul treatment the rich and famous seem to fancy.

Hello, my name is Liz, and (as early as my Tiger Beat years) I am a seasoned celebrity-watcher.

I read The Star and People Magazine, religiously (when I've put the kids to bed and curled up on the couch with a glass of red wine) and often times find myself between the extremes of either lusting over something shiny and pretty...or wondering, wtf?

With all that money, you'd think they'd know how to dress better!?!

Yes - I suffer from "celebrity-itus" - it's an addiction. But, I've learned to accept it (thanks to this post by RetailDesignDiva.com) and it's something that fashion retailers are hard-pressed to ignore any longer:

For the past decade, American fashion has depended more on what celebrities wear while performing—music, movies, TV—and at the Oscars or Grammies and out in restaurants and clubs, than on most anything else. Like it or not, the trend is not destined to go away any time soon. Fashion directors of big retail stores used to flock to Paris and San Tropez; they now watch TV and DVDs and check out In Style magazine and Entertainment Tonight.

Shopping in speciality boutiques and shops is terribly trendy right now, but, I can't help but question whether or not these so-called "A-listers" are persuading not only the buying habits of teenagers, but of BlogHers, as well.

If you're a celebrity...and a mom...watch out...because, they are watching and - not to mention making notes on what you're wearing - considering the baby boom has hit the red carpet, there's probably a blog advertising it and/or giving their product reviews, too!

Three of which I've had the pleasure to meet this week, in person:

Celebrity Baby Blog

Savvy Mommy

Cool Mom Picks

Yes, they are for real - and very fun to hang out with, too - but, are retailers truly selling us (non-celebrity moms) on the idea that we too can...you know...live the lifestyle of the rich and famous...and still go back to leading a perfectly average life...or, a reasonable facsimile of?

Big Fat Deal - who feels that if we can convince at least one teenage girl that Ashley Olsen isn't "the fat twin," we will have done our job - links to an article on celebrity moms I feel makes an interesting point:

In previous times we would use neighbors, friends and family as benchmarks for our own behavior — the 'keeping up with the Joneses' phenomenon. That was hard enough. But now the new Mrs. Jones is Mrs. Smith (Angelina) — or Gwyneth or Sarah Jessica Parker...

Or, just add anyone from my personal blogroll to that list - bloggers care about what other blogs are saying - especially if it's a blog you happen to identify with.

Like it or not, people have no problem blogging about what they think is hot...or not!

And I think MoPie sums it up perfectly, by adding her two bits about celebrity moms:

I definitely do feel like a loser when I stop to ponder that Angelina Jolie and I are the same age. If there was [ever] anyone born to make a woman feel inadequate, I'm thinking it's her. But I'm mostly just fascinated that there's a such thing as a celebrity-worship researcher. I totally want that job!

Okay - MoPie and I may have to go to the mat on getting that blogging gig! - but, fashion and shopping blogs are doing their research (trust me!) and not only are retailers interested in knowing what we're buying, they're also keeping an eye on who...we're watching.

And Bloghers are watching!

I mean, c'mon...haven't you ever seen a celebrity's look and say to yourself, "Damn, but that looks cute!" And wonder if you could pull it off and still be able to ...you know...eat, let alone pay for it, too?

**taps mike**

Ahem...paging The Frugal Fashionista...your assistance is requested for BlogHer reader's:

Frugal-Fashionista finds the latest fashions without breaking the bank.

Like the black and white look on Kate Moss.

And provides links to each item pictured on the celebrity.

White Graphic Tee $14.50 - Old Navy

Chocolate Trousers $48.00 - Gap.com

Black Vest $19.00 - Target

No - I am in no way, shape or form, a Kate Mossy-type person - I can't say that I worship any one particular celebrity...who's female, anyway.

But, that's not to say that I can't like what she's wearing, or breaking any rules by thinking, "That would look great...on me," in my mind...anyway!

Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for The Imperfect Parent.