Carolina Herrera: White Magic

The frantic demand for fashion has created PRE-FALL collections that are showcased an entire year beforehand. Case in point: Carolina Herrera's fall 2008 line, visible on style.com. This particular ensemble caught my eye and flooded my mind with images of snowflakes, ice-skating, and Christmas parties. Unfortunately, I will have to wait an entire year before this fantasy can become reality (the outfit, not the setting). The fan-like ornaments on the top of the skirt add an element of interest, and the wide A-line proportions of the skirt conceal any unforgiving bulges from many an eggnog. The black tights, however, are severe and divide the young lady in half. I prefer a monocromatic look (all white), or a gray sweater with silver pumps.

Alberta Ferretti: Polished Papyrus

This delicate silk dress from Alberta Ferretti, queen of chic ladylike pieces, resembles a seaside scroll (resort wear always makes me long for warmer days). The top and bottom curve in gentle waves, and the pintucked faux belt reinforces the three-dimensional movement of the pattern. The contrasting white and navy also juxtapose airy lightness with a grounded dark mass. My only objection to this dress is the high neckline, which is unflattering to women with short necks. A simple white python or ostrich bag would complement the richness of the dress, and peep-toe pumps in a navy or white would not compete for the viewer's attention. $1495 at eluxury.

Zac Posen: Sweet Sailor

Zac Posen's delicate seafaring dress has the architectural exaction of a masthead on display, and the fitted proportions are flattering and feminine. The cotton fabric makes this an easy choice for day, but it's a difficult piece to wear from season to season. Heavy boots would ruin the look, and a white cardigan would cover the artful straps. Unless you live in Florida, California, or some other warm locale, this piece would sadly wait to be worn in a dark closet. But I'm willing to wait for spring. $950 at eluxury.

Vince: Childish Paint

Designers have latched onto the overtly artistic this season, using their inspiration from avant-garde artists like Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko (think: colorblocking), and Piet Mondrian. Conceptually, the idea is brilliant, since clothing is a kind of stylistic canvas that showcases one's individual expression. However, this Vince dress loses sight of that idea and falls into the realm of the disobedient child in art class. The shape of the dress is simple enough and could work, but the ragged brush strokes remind me of a lazy artist with a sharpie. It's an easy $245, but considering what you're getting, it's worth far too much.

3.1 Philip Lim: Blue Crush

Ah, the joys of resort wear. It makes us long for sandy beaches, sandals, and adorable feminine dresses that get lost in the clunky sweaters of winter. This dress is refreshingly innovative: not only does it use meticulously crafted floral-shaped tulle (akin to his rosette t-shirts of last season), but the peek of white quietly astounds. Lim dressed it with peachy-beige sandals, but I'd wear dainty Miu Miu white sandals to accent the white. I tried it on at Barneys in a sunny yellow, and this dress is perfect for pregnant women (in their first trimester) or women who want some more wiggle room in their middle regions. Yours for a not-so-modest $2,495.00 at Neiman Marcus (at least you can breathe in it).

Oscar de la Renta: An Arm, a Leg, and Your Home

Ever since I laid my greedy eyes on this fabulous number, I have coveted it, dreamt about it, and wished for it. Now it's on sale at Net-a-porter, and it's calling my name. The LBD is instantly updated by the charming white and red enameled tiles that resemble a carefree mosaic. The cinched-in waist makes it feminine and fashion-relevant, and what's more, you can wear this dress in any season. I'd wear it alone with patent red pumps in summer, and with a black JCrew cashmere cable cardigan and tall black boots from Chanel in the winter. But $2,994 (down from a whopping $4,990) is more than most people's monthly rent. Ouch!