Key designers ushered in a new wave of au courant styles for Spring 2013, from brilliant bursts of color to fashion-conscious silhouettes to gowns that let their tops down—sort of.
Trend: Lace Nouveau
Duchess Kate’s royal wedding gown proved its influence after almost every collection this season showed some variation on lace—albeit unlike anything your grandmother would have worn. This graphic, floral fabric felt fresher than ever, re-worked into sexy silhouettes with a dash of tr...

Key designers ushered in a new wave of au courant styles for Spring 2013, from brilliant bursts of color to fashion-conscious silhouettes to gowns that let their tops down—sort of.

Trend: Portrait Backs
Last season’s sexy backs returned for Spring 2013 with a more demure, romantic attention to delicate embroideries, lace frames, and peekaboo keyholes. “You’re not wearing a two-dimensional dress—people are looking at you from every angle,” says Leonard. “Sheer backs with emb...