Best Visual Effects
Perfect for "fat days," this strategically paneled dress makes you look ten pounds lighter.
Club Monaco, $199, clubmonaco.com.
The Most Flattering Color
Purple works for every complexion, is stunning day or night, and is a snap to accessorize (it goes with black and neutrals alike). Here, three designers who also deserve an award for their signature sensibilities—L'Wren Scott's impeccable tailoring, Maria Cornejo's arty cool, and Michael Kors's sleek take on classic American style—show how it's done.
From left: Top and skirt, L'Wren Scott 854-345-1153, $1,025 and $990. Top and dress, Zero + Maria Cornejo, $550 and $1,195, 303-433-7253. Dress, Michael Kors, $1,995, 866-709-5677.
Most Likely to Stop Traffic
"The wide range of colors make it easy to find the right pair."
—Adam Glassman
Whether your legs are long, short, or somewhere in between, these classic pumps by Rachel Roy will make them look leaner. The 4.5-inch heels may seem high, but the .75-inch hidden platform ensures you get a lot of comfort at that altitude.
Rachel Roy, $225 to $250 each, nordstrom.com
Most Practical Players
The button-down shirt pulls everything together: It's always office-appropriate, but with a quick sleeve roll and collar pop, it's the picture of weekend ease.
Here are our favorites
Best Comeback
Sleek rayon-jersey pieces (and the return of the lion logo!) mark a new direction for Anne Klein.
Dress and belt, $99, turtleneck, $79, Macy's, 800-622-9748; and Lord & Taylor, 800-223-7440.
Best No-Show
Our fashion team swears by these elastic-free, laser-cut panties, which never cause panty lines.
Commando, $26 each, wearcommando.com.
Best Ensemble Performance
Each piece in this
Express suit is designed to work separately or together, and the color scheme (not to mention the leopard lining) is a fun twist on basic black.
All items from Express: Jacket, $118. Vest, $69. Pencil Skirt, $69. Pants, $79.90.
Best Key Piece
Every woman needs a perfect black blazer, and this one by Norma Kamali is very well-made and affordable at $80.
KamaliKulture, $80, kamalikulture.com.
Best Daytime Drama
Trade in your studs for these dangly sparklers: The druzy stones light up your face and make every outfit special.
Dara Ettinger, $242, shopbop.com.
Most Likely to Succeed
Green is the unexpected color that you'll see everywhere: It is to fall what yellow was to summer—it gives every outfit an up-to-the-minute pop.
4 items in this season's hottest color
Dress, Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet, $495, aliceandolivia.com.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The boyfriend watch has evolved from trend to classic. The chunky design is, well, timeless, and it's available in a multitude of finishes and metals. Like the boyfriend jean, jacket, and shirt, the more casually you wear it, the better.
From top to bottom: Tag Heuer, $1,900, 610-491-8801. Movado Bold, $850, . Victorinox Swiss Army, $775, nordstrom.com. Marc by Marc Jacobs, $300, 877-707-6272. Fossil $145, fossil.com.
The Best Jeans for Your Body
We all know how hard it is to find perfect jeans: They have to make your legs look long, have just the right amount of color and stretch, and above all, give good butt. Our team wriggled into countless pairs and found the most flattering pairs for your body type.
The best jeans for every body type
Hardest-Working Accessory
These scarves' rosy leopard print acts as a neutral and is the perfect finish to any outfit.
From left: Louis Vuitton, $860, louisvuitton.com. Echo, $98, echodesign.com.
Most Likely Obsession
"Sporty chic meets luxurious in this fab coat" — Adam
This is a coat that makes an entrance: The metallic fabric, quilted inner layer, and on-trend anorak shape are so gorgeous, it doesn't matter whether you're wearing jeans or sequins underneath. And at $215, this is one high-fashion garment that looks much more expensive than it is.
Jacket, Asos, $215, asos.com).
Best Day-to-Night Dress
Nothing says "fall" like suede, and these supersoft dresses are the most versatile of the bunch. As special as leather but less hard-edged, they can go from the office to a romantic dinner without missing a beat.
From left to right: Lauren Ralph Lauren, $399, macys.com. Theory, $775, theory.com for stores.
Best Pain-Free (and Cute!) Boot
Most comfort shoes live in frump city. But these sleek boots have shock-absorbing features that let you walk for hours.
Ecco, $250, eccousa.com.
Best Remix
A beloved brand has a new look: Coach's Legacy collection—which includes handbags, shoes, and coats—is injected with all kinds of zing, from bold colors to updated silhouettes. It's familiar yet fresh.
Bags, $198 to $798, Peacoat, $548, Shoes, $248; coach.com. Jeans, AG Adriano Goldschmied, $210, agjeans.com.
Best Breakthrough Design
Ingenious foldable sunglasses are eminently packable and less likely to crack than your standard pair. The latest styles flatter a range of face shapes, too.
From top to bottom: Persol, Steve McQueen, $360. Dolce & Gabbana 2106, $325. Ray-ban 4105 Foldable Wayfarer, $155; sunglasshut.com.
Best Added Plus
We've always been a fan of Lands' End for its well-made pieces, and now the label has relaunched a dedicated plus-size line. We particularly adore this colorful take on a trench.
Available in sizes 16W to 26W.
Coat, $160, landsend.com.
The Ring Leaders
A veteran fashion and furniture designer brings his magic touch to pavé-detailed cocktail rings that look like a million bucks—but each piece is under $75!
Akkad, $50 to $70 each, hsn.com.
Best Shine
Tory Burch's paillette-embellished dress brilliantly blurs the line between work and play, juxtaposing basic plaid and clear sequins. Pair it with flats or heels, depending on the time of day.
Dress, $595, scarf, $195; toryburch.com. Shoes, Charles David, $230, charlesdavid.com.
The New Gold Standard
Leave it to the alchemists at Tiffany & Co. to create Rubedo, a new metal blend priced between sterling silver and gold.
From left to right: Tiffany 1837 interlocking circles pendant, $275, tiffany.com. Tiffany 1837 bar pendant, $400, tiffany.com.
Prettiest Color Range
"These bras are sophisticated, comfortable, and very well-priced." —Adam
Lingerie is usually a hidden treat, but the bright, rich shades of these bras are so fabulous, you'll want the straps to peek out.
Cosabella, $68 each, shop.cosabella.com.
Best Garment in a Supporting Role
Shapewear meets corsetry in this slenderizing, removable-strap bustier. It's supportive, seamless, and comfortable enough to wear all evening.
Le Mystère, $125, lordandtaylor.com.
Best Adaptation
This little navy dress—with an A-line shape, in a complexion-friendly shade—is the new LBD.
Banana Republic, $130, bananarepublic.com).
Next: 5 fashionable between-season pieces
