"Colors and prints work best on the top half, not the bottom—with black pants or jeans." — Mary Alice

"As I get older, I will probably wear less black and switch over to navy, which throws more light onto your face." — Michele

"Black and navy as a combination is coming back. Navy softens the black, and black makes the blue look more interesting." — Jenny

"Sometimes a color comes down the runway that may not look good if you wear a lot of it, but you can play with the trend by finding inexpensive shoes or a cool little bag." — Mary Alice

"White after Labor Day feels a little too bright for the city, even with tights." — Ann

"I wear tons of white after Labor Day, but more of an ivory and maybe in a thicker fabric." — Mary Alice

• What can't they live without?
• What do they wear on days they feel fat?
• How do they handle color?
• Why is dressing up so hard?

Pictured above: When clothes are plainer, "there's room for a bold accent," Michele says. "But a little hit of bright goes a long way." Flats, $535, Manolo Blahnik. Bag, $510, Bruno Magli.