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Even though we exist in a world filled with conflict, rising cost for resources and more and more people connecting with their fellow man via MySpace and Facebook instead of through actual in-person interaction, fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2008 would lead us to believe that all is OK (and is that such a bad thing? Discuss.)

Major designers from New York, Milan, London and Paris gave us romance, sweep, humor, sexy, glam, sporty, Asian influence and inspiration from the 1920s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and the future. While the inspirations ran the gamut from Thora Birch in Ghostworld to 80s pop art to designers searching for the perfect fabric, several trends emerged victorious in a season that had many fashion elite overjoyed that individuality seemed to be the new black.

Draped dresses made a strong statement of "try this" for the woman tired of skin tight clothing that showed every bagel, burrito and biscuit bulging through body conscious brands. The look this season is accessible as it comes in long (glamorous), short (flirty) and one-shouldered (saucy when paired with a hot gladiator sandal.)

"Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light" must have been playing in the background for many European designers (Pucci, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent) who used Native American, denim and even the good ol' US flag as the framework for their collections. Chanel's line felt especially American with red, white and blue reworked into everything from long flowing dresses with cropped jackets to sexy shorts and tops accented with silver belts and stars. Denim pranced down the runways in a variety of shades, fits (not just those skinny jeans) and states of construction (Dolce and Gabbana showed lovely patch quilt denim dress that ushered in a new affection for hippie chic.)

Sexy took a new direction with sheer fabrics appearing in the lines of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Costume National, Fendi, and Jill Sander. Sheer was seen not only in this season's dresses that were either fitted, brightly colored or in ball gown proportions, but also in suits, coats, tops and pants. Nowhere has the idea of less is more been so true.

While her much publicized problems with drugs and alcohol have caused songstress Amy Winehouse to go into hiding, her signature beehive, long-lined liquid liner and throw back to the past style have definitely made an impact in this season's collections. Frida Giannini at Gucci who showed us a dolled up 1950s rockabilly chick whose sexy strut and semi-soft sensibilities

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