Great Little Dresses

If you need another sign that the Britney Spears look is yesterday's news, check out New York Fashion Week. Skin-centric, tummy-revealing and private part-exposing outfits are gone. Instead, designers are using sheer fabrics and lingerie looks for a hint at sexiness. Take a look at some of the best from this week's shows. At left, a dress by Monique Lhuillier.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Monique Lhuillier, fashion's current red carpet princess, showed sophisticated, fluid looks that celebrate a woman's shape without squeezing it. Here, a model walks the runway during the LHuillier Spring 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

In his notes, designer Zac Posen explained that his inspiration came from the 1978 film "Days of Heaven," the Shakers, the wheat fields of the Great Plains and "the romance of the wide open sky." Yeah, whatever. He turned out some really pretty dresses. At left, a model walks the runway during the Zac Posen Spring 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model in bright blue poses on the runway during the Zac Posen 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa turned out a streamlined and sophisticated look for Spring 2008. At left, models march down the runway at the Calvin Klein Spring 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model wears a dress by Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein during his Spring 2008 show in New York on Sept. 11, 2007.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Only a few seasons ago, Jill Stuart was courting tough women with an all-black collection. In her latest show, the clothes on the catwalk were light, airy and pretty. At left, a model wears a short dress by Jill Stuart on Sept. 10, 2007.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model wears a ruffled pink dress at the Jill Stuart Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Nanette Lepore showed wispy below-the-knee dresses, like this strapless wrapped dress, during the Nanette Lepore Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model walks the runway in a modern print dress during the Nanette Lepore 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Carolina Herrera showed a spring collection on Monday that harked back to her South American roots, with tiers of ruffles in coral tones. Here, a model walks the runway at the Carolina Herrera Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model poses on the runway in a long dress at the Carolina Herrera 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Carmen Marc Valvo said he wants to create clothes worthy of the sirens of the sea, with fabrics in seashell colors and ruffles that mimic the ocean's ripples. He pulled it off, too, with dresses like this one, shown during the Carmen Marc Valvo Spring 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Oscar De la Renta does not dress Britney Spears, nor does he want to. For the kind of ladies who still go to cocktail parties, there are outfits like this bubble-hem strapless dress in a jewel-like shade of blue.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model wears an ivory day dress on the runway during the Osacar De La Renta Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Betsey Johnson turned out a series of prom-worthy party dresses inspired by every decade from the 1950s through now. At left is an '80s-style "punk party dress" in tiers of lace, shown at the Betsey Johnson Spring 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model walks the runway in a short dress at the Betsey Johnson Spring 2008 show on Sept. 11, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

Joanna Mastroianni designs clothes that you can actually imagine seeing, and admiring, on the street. At left, a model walks the runway during the Mastroianni Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

A model poses during the Joanna Mastroianni Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007 in New York.

Best Of New York Fashion Week

The latest Anna Sui show had an upbeat, sunny feel and look. At left, a model poses on the runway at Anna Sui Spring 2008 show on Sept. 10, 2007.