Stash the little black dress in the back of your closet: 'Tis the season for liquidlike column gowns in rich rust colors. Monique Lhuillier, Phillip Lim, and Halston’s Marco Zanini all skipped over basic black and white in lieu of the decidedly autumnal hue—and since the shade is flattering on nearly all skin shades, you may too.

Designers want us to stop and, if not smell, at least stare at the roses this season—which is easy enough to do. Festooned with crimson blooms, Marchesa's intensely romantic dresses turned many well-coiffed heads during Fashion Week. At Herve Leger, sculpture-like accents provided a fresh contrast to the house’s signature bandage-style dresses, while Vera Wang clumped bouquets of gently draped fleurs to her coat lapels, boutonniere-style.

Not since Marc Jacobs's Kurt Cobain–influenced grunge collection for Perry Ellis has plaid looked so chic. Designers as playful as Charlotte Ronson and as proficient as Thakoon Panchigul all experimented with the timeless crisscross patterns, updating them with watercolor washes and punk accessories. With so many plaid pieces to choose from this season, you're sure to find the perfect pattern for you.

Blame it on the lingering edgy '80s trends, but designers gave us the bold shoulder for fall. Catherine Malandrino toughened up her arty dresses by adding excessively puffed sleeves, while both Marc Jacobs and Katy Rodriguez sharpened their new-wave silhouettes with severely peaked shoulders. The result? A painfully chic look for the fearless fashionista.

Sculptural, oversize cable knits and off-the-shoulder cashmere sweaters have replaced the wool coat for fall ’08. Though the change gives a nod to the global-warming-influenced mild winter temperatures, the knit-wit styles provide the coziest cold-weather look in recent seasons.

Paralleling the neoconservative daywear trend, designers envisioned prim-and-proper evening gowns for fall. The many one-shoulder numbers—like those from Sari Gueron and Tracy Reese—paid homage to Christian Dior's iconic New Look silhouette. With a universally flattering cut, the classic style is just the thing for a Tinseltown starlet or prom queens looking for a little Old Hollywood glamour.

Covered in chain mesh and emblazoned with silver studs, the latest embellished looks harken back to Sir Lancelot's time. Sending her models down the runway in gray hoods and boldly studded dresses, Abaeté's Laura Poretzky put a feminine spin on the knight-in-shining armor look, while Narciso Rodriguez offered up bold silver frocks to suit the modern-day style crusaders.

Designers explored Western territory for fall—and who can blame them? The wild West has a rich lode of sartorial references to mine. Ralph Lauren, a pioneer of the American cowboy look, played with Navajo prints, Pendleton-inspired plaid wools, and lodge-ready gear, and Anna Sui envisioned a flirty Pocahontas, one complete with fringe boots and beaded cocktail frocks. Rachel Roy kept her Manifest Destiny style subtle, opting for richly textured pieces, including cozy ponchos that would work in any state.

Shearling, the cozy cold-weather staple, got a sophisticated makeover for fall. Oscar de la Renta layered his with gilded accents, while Rebecca Taylor and Anna Sui topped off their '70s bohemian dresses with the kind of richly embellished vests that would have made Stevie Nicks proud.

Who knew! Peter Som, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenberg are all members of the conservative party—or so their fall collections would lead you to believe. The leaders of New York's fashion scene all whipped up sweet neo-'50s styles, from kitten heels and knee-length silk shifts to cashmere coats in pale pastels—all things surely Lady Bird Johnson would have approved of.

If flapper styles and carefree '70s-inspired frocks didn't tip you off to the festive influence in the fall collections, a glance at designers' new brow accents certainly will. Styled to sit low on the forehead, the new headband channels history's more carefree eras—but may in fact be hard to pull off.

Gearing up for the great outdoors has never been so fun. While some designers toned down their winter attire, Oscar de la Renta, Derek Lam, and Adam Lippes prepared plenty of subzero, après-ski styles including cinched shearling coats, double-breasted vests, and lush fur-lined anoraks.

While threat of a recession hovers on the horizon, for fall, designers channel the heady joie-de-vie spirit of the early 1920s. Diane von Furstenberg looked to Berlin's smoky jazz clubs for inspiration for her seductive pieces, while at Baby Phat, models wore flapper-style shifts a touch shorter than the original flirty styles. Meanwhile, Monique Lhuillier topped whispy feathered skirts with gilded accents for a decadent look that would suit any Fitzgerald heroine.

Somber Victorian undertones permeated the fall collections. While not the moody, literal translations of the era’s style that romanced us all a few seasons back, the latest covered-up ensembles are a picture of modern sobriety. Instead of her usual party fare, Alice Temperley unveiled more than a few head-to-toe noir looks, and likewise, the savvy duo at Marchesa replaced last season’s opulent stunners with dark, armorlike bustier dresses. Last but certainly not least, Derek Lam sent his models down the runway with moderated black garb, ranging from duster coats to liquid velvet gowns and high-collar blouses.

Girls on the go can finally breathe a sigh of relief: Gone are the cinched-waist, buttoned-up coats of previous seasons. Designers including Marc Jacobs and Narciso Rodriguez cut their outerwear silhouettes away from the body, creating breezy cocoonlike shapes. The resulting look makes stockinged legs seem long and lean—just the thing to show off one's killer boots, heels, or wedges.

Be they tight and tiny or impressively voluminous, bows have replaced the necklace as the upper-body accent of choice. The Proenza Schouler duo topped off nearly all their silk blouses with double-knotted wonders, while Thakoon added gauzy scarflike numbers to enhance his ladylike looks. So why get wrapped up in this neckwear trend? Simple: By tying one on, you look pulled-together instantly.