(psst…stay tuned! the contest winners will be announced later this morning!)

hallelujah!  i’m so very excited to see the first of fall trends trickling in to my favorite retailers.  fall is going to be all about a return to tailored, ladylike dressing…no more micro-minis, no more babydoll maternity tops.  that’s right – flattering clothing is back, ladies!  think 1940s glam – katherine hepburn, marlene dietrich, and i#mce_temp_url#.  it’s going to be fabulous.

case in point:  i just got an email from shopbop this morning, advertising knee-length dresses!  after months of having to wear jeans underneath my fave frocks just to keep from looking absurd, it’s a thrill.

this nanette lepore dress ($335) is just the thing for summer fetes.  the super-sized floral is oh-so-hot right now.  and you don’t get much more girl than flowers and sweetheart necklines, yet look at that fab asymmetrical pleating on the bodice – it does a perfect job of keeping this beauty from getting too precious.

this fab classic from rachel pally ($238) is about as vintage chic as it gets – again with that gorgeous, slightly-modified sweetheart neckline (oh-so-flattering, ladies!).  in white, it’s perfect for summer, but in black…well, since i’m not a great candidate for the sheath dress, this has serious LBD potential.

and i couldn’t resist sharing this jungle-leaf print dress from milly ($374). it’s the perfect option to keep you chic and on-trend at the office.  that fabulous print, and subtle details like that flattering elbow-length sleeve, and the little kick-pleat in the back make this even more special than it first appears.

so, what do you all think about this new trend:  fab or flop?