This fall, the biggest change in womenswear is the return the hourglass silhouette. After seasons of flowing gowns and baby-doll dresses, designers bring clothes back to the body, with cinched skirts and waist-defining silhouettes.

Prada's Fall 2008 collection features peplum, extra fabric at the hips to emphasize a small waist. Alexander McQueen created dramatic hourglass shapes under intricately knitted dresses. Derek Lam has shapely wool corsets to pair with business pants and skirts.

While these looks are in designer stores now, "it might take the mainstream stores a little longer to catch up," Sharon Graubard, creative director of trend forecasting and consultancy ESP Trendlab. "If you're really a fashionista [buy] it now, because next fall it will really blossom and hit the masses."

In menswear, the fusty sweater gets a makeover this season. Alicia Hogan, manager at Manhattan boutique Oak, says that the freshest looks for sweater season are heavy knits that replace the blazer. "Sweaters this fall are appropriate for the office because they are well-structured," Ms. Hogan says. "They hold up to going to the office and going out on the town afterwards."

Cosmetics also have a focal point this season: the eyes. Makeup companies are hoping to entice shoppers with newfangled technology, including vibrating mascara wands, feathered eyelashes and stick-on eye shadow. The trick to pulling off any new product: moderation, says makeup artist Thorsten Weiss.