A sneak peek at spring fashion must-haves

With cold weather still wrapped around most of us, it's nice to cuddle up in front of the fire in our flannel PJs and dream of breezy white dresses, linen jackets, patent leather sandals and huge straw hats - perhaps all lined up on the beach runways of our winter-weary minds, sipping icy drinks and basking in the sun.

Not falling for all this tropical daydreaming just yet?

Well, fashion designers have always had to fast-forward the seasons and look ahead to warm days when it was cold and cool days when it was sweltering to put together their next collections. Now, as they are readying their fall '06 collections for the runways, here's what a few of them predicted will be must-haves for the season right around the corner, in spring '06:
Michael Kors: A romantic ivory dress.

Kenneth Cole: Collarless cropped jackets with three-quarter sleeves in cornflower blue.

Nanette Lepore: A va-va-voom flirty dress in sun-drenched desert hues.

Nicole Miller: An empire-waist jacket in linen.

Shelly Steffee: A white sleeveless tunic shirt.

Tocca: A cropped bolero jacket with intricate Victorian lace trim and a romantic, full-skirted dress that is as easy on the beach as it is at a seaside dinner.

Tracy Reese: A tiered tunic in icy pastels that can be worn as a blouse or dress.

Zac Posen: Our silk tie plaid cocktail dress.

Anna Sui: A light and easy chiffon dress in a cream and orchid print.

Carolina Herrera: An easy-to-wear cotton sundress in sky blue.

Betsey Johnson: "Bloomer shorts" in any and every pattern and color.

Douglas Hannant: Breezy white silk gauze dresses.

Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons: A mocha chiffon plunging V-neck knee-length cocktail dress.

Cynthia Steffe: New sleek skirts cut in bright linens.

Peter Som: Navy and white chrysanthemum-print dress in chiffon with Chantilly lace trim.

Reem Acra: A hand-embroidered gold tank top, which looks great for day yet can take you to an important gala evening event.

Wunderkind by Wolfgang Joop: An enormous peasant blouse in white or ivory batiste, worn with a full, petticoat-like skirt.

Naeem Kahn: An embellished skirt in coral, turquoise and yellow.

Alvin Valley: Ball skirts in bright tomato red.

Alice Roi: Creme crepe A-line suit with enlarged gold piping detail.

Proenza Schouler: White lace dresses - very handcrafted and detailed.

Michael Vollbracht for Bill Blass: A little black dress. It never seems to go out of style, does it?

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

© Copley News Service

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