• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Thursday, February 1, 2007 12 PM

Designers Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Nanette Lepore, Tommy Hilfiger and Phillip Lim will feature a return to defined shapes and tailored cuts when New York's week of fashion shows opens tomorrow.

Among the big looks for the fall is the egg-like "cocoon," a silhouette fitted at the top and ballooning out before tapering back in at the knee or below it. Other styles to look for include high-waisted skirts; full, structured sleeves; and pants and coats with wide collars in the style of Jacqueline Kennedy's wardrobe.

Colors promise to be rich and deep, such as navy blue, forest green and magenta.

By showing collections that focus on couture-like shapes and fine tailoring, designers are elevating their offerings at a time when they're under more pressure to design apparel that sets them apart from inexpensive fast-fashion retailers, such as H&M and Zara.

Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) »