Alberta Ferretti

>> All of the pieces from Alberta Ferretti's collaboration with Macy's Impulse have been revealed, and every dress, skirt, and top is primed for Summer.

The collection manages to be very comprehensive, despite its limited nature. There's no shortage of simple shirts and dresses for daytime, but there are a number of dramatic floor-length gowns that would be perfectly appropriate at night. Ferretti called the collection "fresh and bright," and we agree — these pieces are exactly the kind of eye-catching and engaging clothes the season calls for.

Everything in the collection is priced between $49 and $119, and will be sold at 185 Macy's locations across the country starting April 17.

>> The backstage antics just don't stop. From salutes to smirks to piggyback posing, the first few days in Milan have certainly not been lacking in fun. Click through to get in on all the behind-the-scenes action — starring Fendi's modern warrior princesses, Max Mara's Metropolis-inspired minimalists, Gucci's gothic heroines, and more — right here, in the slideshow.

Alberta Ferretti kept it simple and sleek for Fall 2012, both in color palette and in silhouette, but "simple" certainly doesn't equate to "boring" here. The plethora of sheer purples, royal blues, and crimson reds told a very rich story — one that we envision a strong, sophisticated, albeit ultra-ladylike style setter won't be able to get enough of come next cold-weather season. More specifically, the seashell-textured bodices attached to diaphanous chiffon ball skirts, monochromatic feather embellishments, and delicate sheer cocktail dresses all exuded a sensuous glamour that rightfully belongs on the red carpet. Oscars, anyone? The attention paid to lengthening shape via vertical paneling and textured piping was a strategic styling move, but more importantly, it's just a super flattering look. Whether you're a total girlie girl or more strong-willed in your fashion preferences, there's a pronounced shoulder, frilly beaded detail, and slick topper to fit the bill.

• Trends: Delicate sheer sheaths, menswear-inspired outerwear, pronounced shoulders, and vertical paneling.
• Colors: Purple, black, white, crimson, and royal blue.
• Key Piece: The presence of pretty purples built into feminine pieces like this sheer cocktail dress were a sweet surprise. Also, we loved the intricate bead-and-feather detailing found on a handful of the black frocks.
• Accessories: Round sunglasses, opera-length leather gloves, pointy-toe boots and pumps, and luxe clutches.
• Who Would Wear It: We picture Rooney Mara taking on the stronger silhouettes and celebs like Kate Beckinsale and Leighton Meester donning the floor-length gowns.

>> Holly Golightly meets leather and lace in Alberta Ferretti's Fall 2012 collection. To the soundtrack from Breakfast at Tiffany's, models trotted out in looks tinged with '60s femininity and modern-day edge. There were cocktail dresses aplenty; most were straight-cut and embellished with fringe, beads, lace, or sheers. Separates, and especially strong-shouldered jackets, made a strong showing as well. Here, they came thigh-length and belted at the waist in textural bouclés and super-bright furs.

There was a cinematic kind of drama to the Fall 2012 collection of Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti. First, the elegant setting — Avery Fisher Hall, which is home to New York's Philharmonic Orchestra, was built in the '60s and reflects midcentury form in a warm palette of cream, brass, and wood. Cue the orchestral soundtrack, and finally the models, who came up a weirdly chic escalator and walked the eternally long hall only to disappear down the other escalator. It felt a little bit like the end of a movie, playing over and over again. If that's the case, the heroine we would imagine to be a very elegant woman from the 1960s with a taste for sparkle on her pert shirt collars, lucite belts to cinch her tailored skirt suit, and a fur jacket encased in plastic (in case it rains). It was as if last season's cute '60s girl, who wore shades of pink and purple and yellow with aplomb, grew up, got a job, married rich, maybe had an affair (we're thinking of Tilda Swinton in the beautifully shot Milan-based film I Am Love), and saw her tastes evolve a bit — still feminine, but a lot more elegant.

• Trends: Ladylike, sparkly embellishments, skirt suits, monochromatic dressing, lucite, plastic, '60s elegant.
• Colors: Gray, cream, nude, camel.
• Key Piece: Any of the tops with sparkly collars, a beautiful ombré camel coat.
• Accessories: Lucite belts, chic little briefcases, silver-tipped stilettos.
• Who Would Wear It: Sophisticated, feminine dressers with a taste for unusual details.

>> Come next season, Alberta Ferretti's Philosophy girl will be looking mighty polished. The designer focused on power-dressing with a side of softness for Fall 2012, and the result was ladylike, wearable, and plenty chic. For day, there were neatly tailored coats and belted suits in camel and Winter-white; for evening, there were crystal-embellished blouses and cocktail frocks in shimmering silver or dusky gray.

Macy's designer collaborations are still going strong and its latest team-up is sure to leave a lot of fashion girls excited. Up next to design a collection for Macy"s Impulse line is Alberta Ferretti. A favorite amongst the Hollywood red-carpet crowd — her signature designs have been worn by the likes of Eva Mendes, Camilla Belle, Lea Michele, and Drew Barrymore to name a few — Ferretti is known for her gorgeous diaphanous red-carpet-worthy gowns, and a line for Macy's sounds promising. “The collection I created is fresh and bright, featuring light summer clothing that evokes the spirit of my beautiful country and is at the same time true to my style,” said Ferretti. The 30-piece Alberta Ferretti for Macy's collection , slated to launch April 17, will include a range of feminine dresses, peasant blouses, garden party looks, and floral prints made out of chiffon and voile. Check out the slideshow to see more sketches, plus looks from her latest Spring '12 line to get you excited.