The Fearless New World of Fashion

"WOMEN SHOULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH HIGH-IMPACT PIECES. TODAY, ROMANTICISM SIMPLY ISN'T THE RIGHT CHOICE." -ROBERTO CAVALLI

Dress and boots, price upon request, Roberto Cavalli; belt, $378, cuff, $148, NYC Motorcycle Federation; earrings, price upon request, New York Vintage.

"THE PURITY OF A POPLIN SHIRT AND A DARK CASHMERE FLANNEL SKIRT IS EVIDENCE OF A WOMAN WITH FOCUS AND RESILIENCE." -STEFANO PILATI FOR YVES SAINT LAURENT

Top, $1100, skirt, $850, Yves Saint Laurent; hat, $595, Philip Treacy London; cuff, $750, Kara Ross. On hair: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Crème.

"FEATHERS AND DRAPED TAILS ARE A NOD TO THE SURREALIST MOVEMENT AND THE ANIMAL SIDE OF FEMININE SENSUALITY." -RICCARDO TISCI FOR GIVENCHY

Top, $2450, pants, $1300, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci; hat, price upon request, New York Vintage.

"THERE'S A NEED FOR FEMININE EMPOWERMENT IN FASHION. MY GOAL WAS TO CREATE SOMETHING STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, AND SERIOUS." -MIUCCIA PRADA FOR PRADA

Dress, price upon request, shoes, $1800, bag, $4950, Prada; cuff, $750, ring, price upon request, Kara Ross; tights, $52, Wolford.

"THIS SEASON IS ALL ABOUT MIXING LUXURIOUS MATERIALS IN A SINGLE COLOR: RED, THE NEW NEUTRAL." -THE DESIGN TEAM AT MAXMARA

Short-sleeve sweater, $605, long-sleeve sweater, $550, MaxMara; helmet, $800, NYC Motorcycle Federation. On eyes: Almay Pure Blends Eye Shadow in Lavender.

"THE FABRIC OF THIS DRESS WAS INSPIRED BY THE SUN'S SHADOWS AND THE CRACKED DESERT EARTH OF SANTA FE." -FRANCISCO COSTA FOR CALVIN KLEIN

Dress, price upon request, Calvin Klein Collection; bracelet, $1700, DVF by H.Stern.

"I WANTED TO CREATE A FEMININE ESSENCE, SOPHISTICATED AND SENSUAL, COMPLEX AND AWARE." -MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI FOR VALENTINO

Dress, $3990, shoes, $695, bag, $4695, Valentino; bracelet, price upon request, New York Vintage; tights, $52, Wolford.

"THIS COLLECTION IS ABOUT PLAYING WITH NEW PROPORTIONS, LIKE PROMINENT SHOULDERS, AND PAIRING OPPOSING PRINTS." -DOMENICO DOLCE AND STEFANO GABBANA, DOLCE & GABBANA

Dress, $2995, necklace, $2050, belt, $350, Dolce & Gabbana; sunglasses, $295, Dior.

The fastest route to modern pretty: versatile jewel-tone frocks and seductive tough-luxe hardware.

TREND TIP: When choosing animal prints, don't go wild. Stripes or spots in black and white signify no-fail sophistication.

DRESS $160, Ann Taylor; anntaylor.com.

NECKLACE $78, Lydell NYC; lydellnyc.com.

DRESS $228, Ali Ro; shopcrushboutique.com.

BELT $395, Ports 1961 by Tia Cibani; ports1961.com.

BRACELET $198, Belsay; anthropologie.com.

DRESS $330, Cynthia Rowley; bergdorfgoodman.com for stores.

BROOCH $145, Piazza Sempione; piazzasempione.com.

SHOES $150, Boutique 9; lordandtaylor.com for stores.

BAG $119, United Colors of Benetton; (800) 535-4491.

CLUTCH $248, Angelina Minuadier by Cole Haan; colehaan.com.

NECKLACE $275, Sequin; (212) 398-7363.

BOOTS $475, Report; reportshoes.com.

DRESS $460, Julie Haus at H. Audrey; (615) 760-5701.

SUNGLASSES $185, Kate Spade; solsticestores.com.