With two days left before the Bryant Park finale, the remaining three designers rushed to finish their collections (once at Bryant Park, Tim pretty much had to force everyone down the runway).

On the judging panel was the usual trio: Heidi, Michael Kors and Nina, plus an additional guest in Suzy Menkes, the world-renowned fashion critic for the International Herald Tribune.

Althea presented her 13-piece collection first, and wowed the judges with her knitwear and sportswear. Suzy, et al raved that her designs were wearable, and they praised Althea as being the designer most in touch with what women are wearing on the street.

Carol Hannah stuck to her sensibilities and created  pretty dresses. Judges praised her color palette and meticulous construction, as well as her precise use of structural draping. A particular fave was the first piece (above), a sexy mini with flattering details.

By far the most detail-oriented of the shows, Irina’s collection was created  around a theme of shielding the independent, New York woman. While there was an awful lot of black (judges criticized the collection’s lack of color), the hats and bags she made to go with pieces helped create the edgy cohesiveness that landed her the big prize.

Irina’s sleek design aesthetic gave her clothes a feminine bent with a hard edge. This Preen Line Laced Funnel Coat is an investment, but its laced sleeves and belted silhouette bring together a good mix of chic femininity and edgy detail. If you’re a fan of the distressed leggings she used throughout her collection, these David Lerner Half-Ripped Leggings have just the right amount of sass without looking too punk.

For more of Irina’s tough chic, we recommend checking out our guides to leggings, over the knee boots, and leather jackets.

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So the holiday party invitations are starting to pile up, which means plenty of three of our favorite things: fancy dresses, open bars, and treats. But are you perpetually baffled by the oh-so-vague “festive attire” guideline you find on many an evite? We are too. So we’ve cracked the code and put together a guide full of ultra-merry styles that will definitely get you into the holiday spirit. Check out these just-right glittery frocks, skirts, and tops.

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Need party extras? Pick up some fancy shoes and an evening bag to go with your new cocktail dress.

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Lately I can’t help but sit at my desk daydreaming about what dress (that I don’t have yet) I might wear to that holiday party (which I haven’t been invited to yet).  So, since it’s less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, I’m thinking the time is right to make some shopping moves. Take a peek at these chic party dresses, now on sale at Shopbop.

This flirty silk dress ($137 from $274) features a large ruffle and a gathered high waist, two things that together have the miraculous power to seriously hide that tummy (which may be crucial post-Thanksgiving).

With a daring cutout back and more conservative neckline, this Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent frock ($155 from $310) says “I’m ready to party” but “I’m still a classy chick.” At least, that’s what it’s saying to me.

For a somewhat edgier crowd, we like LaROK’s funky LBD ($149 from $298) with a banded empire waist and pretty tulip skirt. Try it with patterned tights and booties for a more casual look.

We’ve got all the dresses a girl could want in our guides to the best in festive attire and black dresses, plus great cheap jewelry to go with them.

More Sales and Deals:

dELiA’s: Take 15% off all boots

Yves Rocher US: Save up to 50% off

Lord & Taylor: 30% off all coats

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We’re as enamored as ever of Grace Coddington, Anna Wintour’s creative counterpart at Vogue.  According to the creative director, Lady Gaga “turned up completely naked under a white rubber raincoat” to be shot for their December issue.  Check out the video to hear unflappable Grace relay that tidbit.

Lady Gaga’s spread for the magazine was Hansel and Gretel themed, also starred British model Lily Cole, and was shot by Annie Leibovitz.  Doesn’t it make crawling into an oven look like going to the circus?

Cate Blanchett is the issue’s coverlady (we just can’t bear to call her a “covergirl”) and inside the magazine, she calls herself a theater geek and talks about not being either “cautious or careful” when it comes to career choices.  And of course, her incredible editorial spread just makes us her seem even more inspiring.

Between Gaga, Lily, and Cate, somehow my hankering for pale and unusual frocks just tripled. I’ll cop a more casual version of Cate’s glittery Vogue look with Free People’s white gold sequin slip dress.  I also like the laney dress from Cynthia Steffe; it retains the fluffy detail of dresses worn by Lady Gaga and Lily Cole in their fairy-tale themed shoot, while being quite a bit more wearable for a non-pop star/non-model.

Now, what to pair with a winter white dress?  We’d recommend an evening bag and your best faux fur for the ultimate fun, luxurious look.

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‘Tis (almost) the season to be jolly…or more importantly, to get dolled up. If holiday fiesta invitations are already stuffing your inbox, the time is nigh to begin your party dress hunt. When it comes to a holiday gathering you’ve got a lot on your mind, so to make your life a tad bit easier, we’ve found some very stylish, and even cheap, party dresses for women with way too many a festivity on the agenda.

Hollywood events have seen tons of fashionable celebs like Blake Lively sporting the one-shouldered look lately. We like Shoshanna’s festive style and luckily, you don’t need Gossip Girl hair for this one, as a neat up-do is the perfect finishing touch. For something a little more subtle, try Aqua’s ruffled frock; the detailing at the bottom definitely makes this party dress stand out.

Banana Republic’s silk rosette party dress is fancy enough for any festive attire occasion, but with its modest neckline, you can also don it for your office’s holiday event. If you’re in the market for something playful, ramp up the basic black party dress look and wear Alice + Olivia’s strapless number, after all, nothing says “party” quite like a bouncy, tulle skirt.

Once you’ve got the party dress down, you’ll want the proper shoes and bag to match – luckily for you, we’ve got guides for all that – unfortunately, we can’t provide the bubbly or strategically placed mistletoe.

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With Bryant Park as the ultimate prize, the final three designers set to creating 12-piece collections that will wow the New York fashion elite. Tim set off visiting the three ladies as they created their looks over a series of weeks.

Carol Hannah moved to upstate New York to reduce distractions. On her drive there, she stopped at Duke University, and drew inspiration from the chapel at night. Tim likes her looks so far, but wants her to edit.

Irina stayed on the Upper East Side to create her collection, but she ultimately draws from her youth in Coney Island to create an ode to New York City. The dark color palette drew concerned criticism from Tim, but Irina pushed on.

Althea went home to Dayton, Ohio, to work on her looks, which weirdly mirror some of Irina’s. Tim’s biggest criticism is that her 12 pieces don’t look like they’re for the same client, and encourages Althea to edit, edit, edit.

With just days to prepare for the show, Carol Hannah is hit with a stomach virus that zaps her energy. Good thing Heidi brings back Gordana, Logan and Christopher to assist the finalists. And surprise, they’ll have to create a thirteenth look for the show. Until then…

As the temps drop, dressing for comfort is all about layers, layers, layers.  The knit Preen Line Tiny Baker biker jacket brings all the style of cropped jackets with the comfort of a knit sweater. Best of all, the details make it a standalone piece over jeans or skinny pants. Similarly, Old Navy’s Metallic Cable Knit Cardigan ($34.50) has a relaxed, but fitted shape, with elbow-length sleeves and a stylish stand-up shawl collar—at a fraction of the price.

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Can’t wait until Sunday to catch a glimpse of Jimmy Choo for H&M in the flesh? Check out the ladies of FabTV as they go behind the scenes for a sneak peek at Choo’s affordable shoes, bags, and dresses -  just as we suspected, there are plenty of studs, sequins, and fringe on these loud, ultra-glam pieces and so far, we’re liking what we see.

If you’re not good with lines, then you may want to skip next week’s Choo-frenzy at your local H&M, especially since you can get your hands on some similar items right now. We suggest Beyond Vintage’s sequin dress (it looks like the style Nicky Hilton’s wearing in the clip, only nicer) and SR Squared by Sondra Roberts’ very reasonably priced fringed tote.

For more top picks, be sure to browse our guides for the best in fall handbags and cocktail dresses.

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Michelle Obama was photographed at Andrews Air Force base (to meet the families of those killed during last week’s Fort Hood tragedy) and, well, to be frank, she’s put together exactly how anyone ought to be when something terrible happens. While it’s nice when everything’s coming up roses, it can’t hurt to be prepared to look somber, dignified, and yes, a mite bit stylish, for more difficult times. A simple black, twist-front dress is a good place to start.

Of course, Michelle doesn’t stop there.  She rounds out the look in true First Lady style with a short strand of de rigueur pearls and pointy, low-heeled black pumps – we like this equivalent pair from Calvin Klein.

Whether you’ve got to dress for something serious or just need to update your wardrobe with a few mature pieces, we’ve got the goods to help you with black dresses and comfortable high heels.

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Mad Men may be over for the time being, but 1960s-inspired frocks are on sale at Brooks Brothers all year long. Betty Draper probably wouldn’t be caught dead in a discounted dress, but we certainly don’t discriminate.

Silk dresses will be a dime a dozen come holiday party season, so we suggest you stand out in this gorgeous yellow style ($199 from $398) made of Italian silk.

This simple belted design ($149 from $298)  can be worn in the summer and updated easily for fall – just add a cream colored cardigan and your favorite tights.

Cop Anna Wintour’s signature look with a sleeveless floral dress ($199 from $398), a string of pearls, and maybe even a (faux) fur jacket or vest on top.

For more fun frocks, be sure to check out our guides to the best in celebrity dresses and wraps.

More Sales and Deals:

Bloomingdale’s: Exclusive Sale – Save 20% with the code HOLIDAY at checkout

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Liz Claiborne New York: Save 30% on everything with the code FRIENDS at checkout

Linea Pelle Collection: Take 10% off any handbag with the code 10BAG

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The Cut caught up with Carolina Herrera last night, and when asked whether she’d ever do a diffusion line for Target, responded very much in the affirmative – if Target asked her, of course.  So get cracking on that engraved invitation, Target, mmkay?  The gracious designer also noted that Isaac Mizrahi is perfect for a diffusion QVC line because he’s a “natural actor.”

Herrera is known for beautiful, well-tailored dresses done in interesting prints and lovely fabrics.  Until the Target pipe dream comes to fruition, we’ll lust after her gorgeous graphic-print dress and sub in this pretty, printed Walter dress instead.

Need more frocks?  Get dressed up with our guides to the best wrap dresses, sheath dresses, and cocktail dresses.

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