Cynthia Steffe’s impressive Spring 2010 collection was the charmed third effort for the designer. After two previous collections, Steffe has finally found the difficult balance of femininity and structure. Ruffled dresses made many appearances, but they were skillfully paired with belts, vests, and shoes that gave the look that added sense of cool. The pinks, grays, and other earth tones kept the collection from looking too over-the-top in its girlishness. Steffe’s Spring collection represents the current fashion trends with its eclectic style and accessible sensibility. It is a collection for the modern, hip, but unfussy woman.

Writer: Delaney Butler

Downtown rocker-ballerinas rejoice! Charlotte Ronson’s Spring 2010 collection was created with you in mind. The fun and girly line still kept a bit of Ronson’s tougher edge for a collection that’s modern and relevant. With their ballet-inspired buns, the models showcased looks from matchstick pants paired with flannel to pink dresses with bows. Ronson clearly knows her audience: young women, who want to have fun with fashion, but still want to appear as though their calculated combination of soft and hard is completely effortless.

Writer: Delaney Butler

Jill Stuart is taking her audience on a fashion adventure – and it’s not for the faint of heart. Her Spring 2010 collection is meant to show off a woman’s body with its daringly short, shoulder-baring dresses. The collection is bright and strong, and definitely not for anyone who wants to blend in with the crowd. From a colorful animal print one-shoulder dress to a sleeveless white studded dress, the one thing all the pieces have in common is strength. The only break from this in-you-face collection is the Greek-inspired white dress that offsets the tough, colorful aesthetic of the other dresses with its softness. The Jill Stuart looks are fresh, feminine, and stylish for your spring wardrobe.

Also fresh and feminine are tips from Barbara, our style editor. She identified 5 key runway trends that you can put into your own wardrobe this spring:

Writer: Delaney Butler

Haute Hippie is a line with spirit. The flowing silhouettes and smart use of sequins makes the clothing seem carefree and lighthearted, but still with a high-fashion edge, which is exactly what the name invokes. The fun and eclectic clothing has already become a favorite of celebrities, but its accessible sense of cool is appropriate for just about anyone.

The Haute Hippie collection is defined by sequin lounge shorts, swinging tops and elaborately sequined dresses. As the designers declare, “Haute Hippie is a love affair with clothing, inspiration, design, and creativity.” Each piece can be dressed up or worn casual for every girl’s styling events. You have the freedom to style their clothes and look fabulous for each special occasion.

Writer: Delaney Butler

Preen, already one of Britain’s hippest labels, has made its way to New York. The duo behind the label, Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, started designing in 1996, and now, more than a decade later, American fashion enthusiasts are learning one of Britain’s best-kept secrets.

Preen’s main line is strong yet feminine, and of course effortlessly cool. The hot pink column dress exudes confidence in both its bright color and daring silhouette. It’s a perfect fit for a stylish night out in any city. The taupe pleated dress, slightly different in structure and entirely different in color, has the same powerful effect. In 2008, the pair launched a more affordable diffusion line, Preen Line. The pieces are available at www.net-a-porter.com. This line is young and fun with its accessible and flexible cotton dresses, but keeps the same British elegance as the high-end line. .

Writer: Delaney Butler

Based in downtown Manhattan, up-and-coming label Dolce Vita is already gaining notoriety: cast members of Sex and the City and Gossip Girl have been spotted wearing the company’s pieces, they have been featured in Lucky Magazine and on Vogue.com, and the store was featured on an episode of What Not To Wear.

Dolce Vita’s dresses are available at shopbop.com, and can go almost anywhere at almost anytime: night or day, work or play, New York or L.A.. The designs are girly without being too soft and hip without trying too hard. Dolce Vita’s gracefully chic looks are perfect for the nonchalant yet discerning consumer.

Writer: Delaney Butler

Jason Wu is stepping out of his comfort zone – and the modern woman loves him for it. Wu’s RTW Spring 2010 retains the same accessible elegance that launched his career, but his new line adds a touch of drama and whimsy to his typical sportswear sensibility. From a swinging belted skirt to a plunging neckline of purple and pink swirling designs, the day dresses in the collection are wearable and current. Wu told Style.com that he “wants to keep challenging himself technically,” and the collection shows that his customers are reaping the benefits of his hard work.

Writer: Delaney Butler

Narciso Rodriguez stepped back from his usual structured and molded forms to more relaxed silhouettes in his RTW Spring 2010 collection. The highlights of the show were Rodriguez’s final three pieces. The three dresses were short in front, billowy and long in back, and truly epitomized classic evening women’s wear with a modern twist. The runway was full of energy as the fabulous looks cascaded around the tents at Bryant Park. The effect was a line that anyone from Courtney Love to Anna Wintour could look fabulous in, both of whom sat in the front row for the show.

Author: Ashley Eyzengart

Rebecca Taylor and her label are the epitome of femininity. Her ability to continuously make floral prints, ruffles, and girlish silhouettes look modern and city girl friendly is what keeps her a favorite amongst trendy women of any age. In her RTW Fall 2009 collection, Taylor incorporated all of her usual favorites and added a few embellishments, like leopard prints and jewels, to make the line what Taylor says is “just about what women want to wear right now”. Her fall collection was on holiday wish lists all over the country, but for those of us who did not receive everything we asked for, there are many online retailers who carry Rebecca Taylor’s Fall Collection.

Author: Ashley Eyzengart