Designers of the past knew a thing or two about the allure of a thing half-seen, about the play between revelation and secrecy. Think of formfitting bias gowns, peep-toed shoes, sheer chiffon blouses, and illusion necklines: all masterpieces of sophisticated tantalization.

The illusion neckline is my favorite vintage revival of recent history. A sheer mesh or chiffon yoke provides subtle and refined coverage, allowing a gown to have a strapless or tank-style appearance without the risk of slippage. While striking in an evening gown (I love options from Doo.Ri, Theyskens’ Theory, and Temperley London) it is at its finest in a wedding dress, where elegance and grace are the order of the day.

--Rebecca

Our model wears: James Jeans Twiggy Legging Jeans, IRO leather jacket, IRO sweater, B Brian Atwood booties.

Meet your new go-to. The ankle zips and moody neutral make it newsworthy, and the fit gets rave reviews from everyone who tries it.

--Alana, Denim Buyer

Shop:
James Jeans
Leather Jackets
Designer Sweaters
Platform Booties

Lace is to ladylike as hot sauce is to cookery: the single ingredient that, if used judiciously, will make something heart-stopping out of even the simplest creations. From crisp Ports 1961 Audrey Hepburn ensembles to understated Alexander Wang dresses, a little dusting of lace adds a romantic, soft-focus effect.

My favorite lace accessory is—you guessed it—the lacy shoe. Quite popular in the ’50s and ’60s, when brides often sported white Chantilly footwear and vixens donned black lace pumps for a night on the town, lace shoes are due for a very welcome revival. My favorite are the giddily affordable Badgley Mischka pumps pictured above, but there’s something about the combination of haircalf and lace on these Alice + Olivia booties that literally quickens my heart.

--Rebecca

Looks from the Kevork Kiledjian fall 2011 runway.

Sexy. Body con. A little severe. For his debut collection, designer Kevork Kiledjian presents a luxe femme fatale: the looks are elegant, but a little dangerous. A curve-hugging leather dress is set off with sheer lace and dramatic slits. A long-sleeve turtleneck gown is arresting in its simplicity. And shots of purple and gold lamé make the whole range feel just a little decadent.

Keep the accessories at a minimum with this collection. Pointed-toe pumps by Jenni Kayne or Edmundo Castillo, and a structured DVF clutch.

--Amie

I love a good maxi skirt, but I’m not going to lie: I’ve always thought of it as a spring/summer piece. The question of what fall footwear pairs with a floor-length hem has historically boggled my mind, so at the close of flat-sandal weather, I tuck my maxis to the back of my closet. But then I spotted Shopbop stylist Rachel (check out her tips on how to wear mustard) wearing a slit-to-there Bec & Bridge skirt with over-the-knee Falke socks and heeled Elizabeth and James boots. Inspired.

I plan to give the look a go this weekend, donning a The Addison Story skirt with woolly socks and Rag & Bone booties. Bottom half covered, I’ll keep the top half equally relaxed with a T by Alexander Wang cardigan and tank.

--Amie

Runway looks from the Zero + Maria Cornejo fall 2011 collection.

Zero is “a pure vision: a number that neither adds nor subtracts; it is, rather, a point of departure.”

The philosophy at the core of Zero + Maria Cornejo is at once simple and intriguing, and it results in clothes that are minimal, feminine—never pretentious. For fall, the designer held Paper editor Kim Hastreiter as her muse, and turned out clean-lined, luxurious pieces that merge a natural element with a modern aesthetic. Standouts included photo prints (the shag print on the Lula Dress and the book print on the IQ Dress are favorites), timeless leather, and draping that is both structured and soft (the Koya Coat and the Little O Dress). These are pieces that will live in a wardrobe for years to come.

--Amie

Fall is my favorite time of year. Crisp autumn days, hot apple cider, fall fashion, and of course, football. In my family, football is serious business. We’re talking Thursday through Monday viewing parties, wear-your-team-colors-or-they-won’t-win superstitions, and scream until you lose your voice serious. As much as I love my personalized Packers jersey, I’m not ready to sign over every Sunday from now until February to wearing green and gold mesh rayon, so I’ve been searching out some game-day alternatives.

J Brand Colored denim in one of your team’s hues worn with a Tibi white top is perfect for game-night drinks after work. If tailgating is on your sporting spirit agenda, layer a Rachel Zoe fur vest or BB Dakota leather jacket over a team-colored long sleeve top. Sunday night viewing parties call for fancy footwear. Throw on a pair of bold Rebecca Minkoff colored shoes and really show off the meaning of football. From exhibition games to the play-offs, ditch the game apparel and cheer your team on in style.

--Libby S.

When does it make sense to call a classic closet staple a trend item? When it swoops into a season with as much vigor as the fisherman sweater. Yes, I’m talking about the same style that was once relegated to hirsute men hauling crates of pungent sea creatures from docks to waiting trucks. Worn with skinny jeans or dressed up with a skirt and belt, this one’s a must for autumn. I talked with Shopbop Stylist Loni to get some tips on how to wear it.

Amie: Fisherman sweaters are a big story this season. What’s the best way to wear them?
Loni: I love a fisherman sweater when it’s a unique fit. Wearing them oversized with worn-in denim—like Levi’s Vintage jeans—is always a great look. I also love, love it when you see a chunky fisherman-inspired cable crew that’s shrunken and super fitted. It can be such a cute alternative to a basic tee when worn with a high-waisted skirt and layered bracelets.

Amie: I’ve noticed our stylists tucking a few styles into skirts. It’s such an inspired approach. What’s the trick to pulling the look off?
Loni: The trick is definitely choosing a skirt that has some pleating or fullness at the waistline so you can tuck without serious bunching! Thinner, more body-con sweaters work like a charm.

Amie: Do you have your eye on one in particular? How will you wear it?
Loni: I’m loving the Rag & Bone sweaters, especially the Montgomery. I’m planning to throw it on with denim, brown leather bells, or full skirts. I even love it layered over dresses with thick tights and booties.

--Amie

We went behind the scenes as Antipodium Creative Director Geoffrey J. Finch prepared for his spring 2012 presentation at London Fashion Week.

Featured in our short film: Geoffrey J. Finch, British Vogue Art Director Jaime Perlman, Style Bubble Founder Susie Lau, model Poppy Delevingne, Amlul Founder Gala Gonzalez, Natalie Hartley, TV presenter Zara Martin, Mademoiselle Robot Founder Laetitia Wajnapel, and more.

Shop the Antipodium fall 2011 collection.

Rabea Schif is wearing: Antipodium Like a Prairie Dress, then Plainsman Dress
Jaime Perlman is wearing: Antipodium Plainsman Shirtdress
Gala Gonzalez is wearing: Antipodium Plainsman Maxi Skirt

Antipodium Creative Director Geoffrey J. Finch on set at the fall 2011 lookbook shoot.

Geoffrey J. Finch, the bespectacled Aussie-born brains behind London-based Antipodium clothing, has a tongue-in-chic approach to design, creating fashion that is witty and unapologetically seductive. We talked with Finch about the Antipodium fall 2011 collection and the essence of the brand.

Shopbop: Tell us a little about the autumn/winter 2011 collection.
Geoffrey J. Finch: Goodbye Horses is all about the dark thrill of a big night sky: the sexy freedom of hitting the road and the romance of the unknown.

SB: Antipodium is a London-based brand, and you grew up in Australia. What was it that drew you to the American West for the A/W 2011 collection?
GF: Queensland, where I grew up, is a bit like the Texas of Australia. My family are farmers and very into horses, so I was surrounded by a lot of Western influences: rodeos, big hats, cowboy shirts, country music, and monstrous trucks. In all my collections, I end up referencing my childhood in some way (there’s a pragmatism in the country that I really like to play with), and this season I mixed it with hints of Richard Prince and a nod to JT LeRoy’s Sarah. I also have a genius friend from Dallas who provides no end of inspiration!

We went behind the scenes with Antipodium Creative Director Geoffrey Finch as he prepped for his London Fashion Week Spring 2012 presentation. Tune in tomorrow for an exclusive look, along with interviews with VIPs like Poppy Delevingne, Style Bubble blogger Susie Lau, Liberty Ross, and more.

Shop Antipodium fall 2011.

Photos by Phil Oh.

Fashion Director Kate Ciepluch and Style Director Morgan Wendelborn crammed as many shows into a seven-day period as possible, and they came away with some major spring inspiration. Check out their favorite moments from the week.

Favorite moment on the runway:
Kate: Seeing Shopbop model Ava Smith on the runway at Helmut Lang.
Morgan: Karlie Kloss at Donna Karan. What a star!

Favorite moment off the runway:
Kate: The Prism presentation at La Bain! It was an extension of summer: spicy mango popsicles, an amazing view, and the chicest swimwear.
Morgan: Reviewing the shows on my iPad at Oficina on Prince Street. Hi, Max and Hans!

Best after party:
Kate: Taking my heels off each night gave me such joy it felt like a party!
Morgan: My apartment! On my couch with my boyfriend and Kate Cieps.

Chicest street style spotting:
Kate: Liu Wen wearing a little polka dot cardi after the Phillip Lim show. Jane Albiter, our RTW buyer, looked insanely cool every day.
Morgan: Printed pajama pants looked so effortless all week! The chicest women were wearing flats, sandals, and oxfords and simple, softly pointed pumps paired with cropped pants, shorts, and slim midi skirts. Elegance and ease felt so on point.

Spring trend you’ll try now:
Kate: Lavender paired with red inspired me at the DVF show. Wearing it today, actually. Loving all the new color combos. And, I can’t wait to wear white leather pants.
Morgan: White leather. I love how it’s done in chic ways this season: shorts, blazers, and shift dresses

Show(s) you can’t wait to shop:
Kate: Phillip Lim (especially the bags!!!), Thakoon, and Zero + Maria Cornejo.
Morgan: Jenni Kayne (best blazers ever and love the pink suits!), Yigal Azrouel, Rag & Bone (those knit biker jackets are INCREDIBLE), and Theyskens’ (DENIM!!!).

Looks from Derek Lam and Kimberly Ovitz, spring 2012.

Luxe laced with casual, short-sleeve gowns on the spring runways offered a dressed-down take on a formal silhouette. Favorite styles included crisp white renditions at Derek Lam and Kimberly Ovitz (pictured) and a slit-to-there cobalt look at Peter Som.

--Kate Ciepluch & Morgan Wendelborn
Fashion & Style Directors

Shop maxi dresses.

Favorite looks from the Tibi spring 2012 runway.

The spring 2012 runway was another strong showing for Tibi. Styled by Swedish blogger Elin Kling, the collection was heavy on pants and light on the party dresses that once defined the brand. The look was clean and simple, airy and effortless—the picture of chic wearability.

--Kate Ciepluch
Fashion Director

Shop Tibi fall 2011.

Photo by Phil Oh.

A constant figure on street style blogs, stylist Aya Kanai took a break from the marathon known as Fashion Month to share a few of her favorite NYFW moments.

Favorite moment on the runway:
Aya: Alexander Wang, DVF, Yigal Azrouel, and Thakoon all showed wild printed suits that I’m drying to try. I also love American designer, Lyn Devon. Her "urban picnic" collection for spring is pretty much everything I want to wear next season.

Favorite moment off the runway:
Aya: Fashion week is like back-to-school in the industry. Seeing all my stylist friends and reconnecting with coworkers is so much fun.

Chicest street style spotting:
Aya: The people I have worked with over the years always look beyond gorgeous at shows. Taylor Tomasi-Hill, Joanna Hillman, MK Steinmiller, the list goes on and on.

Best after party:
Aya: I am usually so exhausted from running around to shows that I don't attend very many parties, but I did have a great time popping into the Alexander Wang after party.

Looks from the Marc by Marc Jacobs spring 2012 runway.

Marc by Marc Jacobs went minimalist on the spring 2012 runway. Clean lines, bold color combinations, and pleasantly simple prints were the perfect backdrops for the collection’s sporty, frill-free aesthetic. Our fave accessories from the collection: the sneaker-esque patent wedges—inspired!

--Kate Ciepluch & Morgan Wendelborn
Fashion & Style Directors

Shop Marc by Marc Jacobs fall 2011.

Looks from the Hervé Léger spring 2012 runway.

Max Azria took Hervé Léger back to the golden age of Americana on his spring 2012 runway. Folklore-inspired jacquard patterns, macramé, and slinky fringe gave the collection a luxe-crafty feel, while metallic accents hinted at a harder edge.

--Kate Ciepluch & Morgan Wendelborn
Fashion & Style Directors

Shop Hervé Léger fall 2011.

Spring 2012 runway looks from Derek Lam, Peter Som, and Jen Kao.

Diminutive Liberty blossoms are always a delight, but the spring runways have traded in understated for a bolder approach to prints. A clear theme of “go big or stay home” emerged in zealous florals (Peter Som, ADAM by Adam Lippes, DVF), graphic geometrics (Alexander Wang, Jen Kao), and abstract wonders (Helmut Lang, naturally). Paired back to sleek solids or mixed and matched from head to toe, spring 2012 promises to be a statement of a season.

--Kate Ciepluch & Morgan Wendelborn
Fashion & Style Directors

Shop Print Dresses.

Looks from the Jill Stuart and DKNY spring 2012 runways.

Color is always a big spring story. The 2012 runways were alive with pops of cobalt, canary, and Kelly, but our standout fave was pink in every shade. Bright to blush, the color made a splash, especially in the form of chic little short suits. The matching tops and bottoms popped up on nearly every runway, but our favorites were the rose offerings at Jill Stuart, Jenni Kayne, and DKNY. They’ll make for playful alternatives to airy dresses come spring.

--Kate Ciepluch & Morgan Wendelborn
Fashion & Style Directors

Shop Suiting.
Shop Shorts.

Looks from the Thakoon spring 2012 runway.

Thakoon took to the Wild West with a Bollywood twist on his spring 2012 runway. Models wore silhouettes fit for a futuristic cowgirl, with neon pink and blue hair to match. It’s an unexpected, cross-cultural mix that feels so right in this designer’s hands.

--Kate Ciepluch & Morgan Wendelborn
Fashion & Style Directors

Shop Thakoon fall 2011.