Trends with Benefits: Jill Hennessy

Anyone can wear this season’s big volume pieces, but the key to control is cinching them at the waist.

- Jacket, $2,165, Armani Collezioni linen and silk viscose blend jacket, 212-339-5950
- Pants, $295, Emporio Armani silk pants,emporioarmani.com.com
- Pin, $175, Emporio Armani crystal pin (on pants), emporioarmani.com.com
- Ring, $330, Stephen Dweck sterling silver and hematite ring,stephendweck.com.com
- Necklace, $735, Chanel metal necklace, select Chanel boutiques, 800-550-0005
- Clutch, $165, BR Monogram leather clutch, bananarepublic.com.com

Choose classic colors, like black and navy, and keep lines vertical for a slimming effect.

- Blazer, $199, Lauren by Ralph Lauren cotton blazer Select Lord & Taylor stores, 800-223-7440
- Top, $425, Ralph Lauren Black Label viscose-blend top, ralphlauren.com
- Jeans, $80, Calvin Klein Jeans cotton-blend jeans, Macy’s, 800-423-6335
- Shoes, $865, Manolo Blahnik leather shoes, Barney’s, 212-826-8900
- Necklace, $500, Roxanne Assoulin for Lee Angel bead and crystal necklace, leeangel.com

Everyone needs a bit of girlish charm. Go for big (and bold) in this classic motif.

- Dress, $2,695, Michael Kors silk wool dress, Saks Fifth Avenue, 212-753-4000
- Belt, $295, Michael Kors patent leather belt, 310-777-8862
- Earrings, $290, Janis by Janis Savitt Swarovski crystal hoops, Bergdorf Goodman, 800-558-1855

New rule: It’s fresh to pair different prints—as long as the colors are compatible.

- Top, $375, Catherine Malandrino silk chiffon top, neimanmarcus.com
- Skirt, $325, Catherine Malandrino wool-blend skirt, Lucy’s, 203-438-1908
- Cuff, price upon request, Cartier 18k yellow gold cuff, cartier.com for stores
- Ring, $385, Alexis Bittar vermeil with rose quartz ring, alexisbittar.com

Replace your go-to cardigan with something structured. Best advice? Keep it bright and sexy underneath.

- Blazer, $495, Rag & Bone cotton-blend blazer, rag-bone.com
- Dress, $178, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent silk dress, madisonlosangeles.com
- Bracelet, $1,850, Bottega Veneta sterling silver cuff, bottegaveneta.com
- Necklace, $500, Lori Leavitt sterling silver necklace, lorileavitt.com

Look for ethereal fabrics adorned with beading, a great way to ground a floaty dress.

- Dress, $2,750, Vera Wang organza dress and slip skirt, verawang.com
- Belt, $1,250, Vera Wang crystal and leather belt, verawang.com

A figure-flattering trend that hugs where you want it and gives where it matters most.

- Dress, $248, BCBG Max Azria Runway cotton dress, bcbg.com
- Necklace, $1,350, Marni coal, acrylic, horn and glass necklace, Bergdorf Goodman 800-558-1855
- Earrings, $145, Alexis Bittar Lucite earrings, alexisbittar.com

Finally, style meets comfort — a welcome relief from the skinny jeans trend of seasons past.

- Pants, $325, Nicole Miller Collection silk viscose pants, nicolemiller.com
- Top, $325, Nicole Miller Collection silk viscose top,nicolemiller.com
- Bracelet, $850, Miriam Haskell glass stone on brass-plated chain bracelet; miriamhaskell.com

Originally published in MORE magazine, May 2009.