After a year of Zoom cocktail parties and socially distanced soirees, the fall collections marked a grand return to opulence as designers offered exciting new notions of how to dress up. Captured by stylist Ai Kamoshita and photographer Markn, unexpected pairings show that taking a risk can pay off big. 

Head-to-toe color in Salvatore Ferragamo’s oceanic blue and Michael Kors’s fiery red solves any outfit woes. Burberry, Celine by Hedi Slimane and Hermès each proposed operatic drama with shadowy black outerwear.

Fantastical textures such as Bottega Veneta’s ostrich-feather creation or Prada’s scale-like sequins bring an updated sense of luxury to eveningwear, while fabulous frills at Dior, Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton appear as frothy as sea-foam. Chanel’s beautiful bouclés and fur cuffs at Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello are sumptuous touches. Meanwhile, men’s offerings include an emerald ensemble from Fendi and a white-hot Dolce & Gabbana suit. 

If bold colors are too much, go the route of classic pieces paired with a smart hair accessory. Here, Jennifer Behr’s headbands and veils perfectly top off creamy white separates from the likes of Akris, Brunello Cucinelli and Tod’s. —Kevin Huynh

From left: Dolce & Gabbana suit, $8,595, select Dolce & Gabbana boutiques, Valentino shoes, $980, Valentino boutiques; Tod’s shirt and pants, prices upon request, tods.com, Jennifer Behr headband, $725, jenniferbehr​.com; Dior top, skirt and boots, prices upon request, Dior boutiques, The Row mockneck, price upon request, therow​.com, Annie Costello Brown necklace, price upon request, anniecostellobrown​.com, Rebecca Jeffs hat, price upon request, instagram​.com/rebeccajeffs, Wolford tights, $15, wolford​.com; Brunello Cucinelli shirt, $495, Brunello Cucinelli, 136 Greene Street, New York, Akris skirt, $1,690, akris​.com, Chanel boots, $2,300, select Chanel boutiques, Jennifer Behr headband, $450, jenniferbehr​.com, Ming Yu Wang earrings, $310, mingyuwangnewyork​.com; Brunello Cucinelli jacket, $4,995, and pants, $1,995, Brunello Cucinelli, 136 Greene Street, New York, Valentino turtleneck, $2,200, and shirt, $1,400, Valentino boutiques, Jennifer Behr headband, $325, jenniferbehr​.com, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello shoes, $795, Saint Laurent, 3 East 57th Street, New York.

Clever layers create statement styles. Louis Vuitton jacket, $8,900, sweater and sunglasses, prices upon request, skirt, $5,200, and boots, $2,470, select Louis Vuitton stores.

Evening attire is re-energized with jolts of fuchsia, red and sweet rose. From left: Kwaidan Editions top, $960, ssense​.com; Burberry coat and dress, prices upon request, and boots, $1,590, us​.burberry​.com; Supriya Lele top, $490, bra, $460, skirt, $440, and pants, $650, supriyalele​.com; Dries Van Noten jacket, $1,855, skirt, $1,665, and shoes, $665, driesvannoten-la​.com; Kwaidan Editions top, $960, and pants, $860, ssense​.com; Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello top, $1,550, shorts, $3,590, necklace, $1,890, and boots, $1,595, Saint Laurent, 3 East 57th Street, New York.

Balenciaga dress, $2,590, and boots, $7,150, Balenciaga, 620 Madison Avenue, New York.

Unexpected accessories add a new twist to cocktail attire. From left: Burberry jacket and dress, prices upon request, and boots, $1,590, us.burberry.com; Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello top, $1,550, and necklace, $1,890, Saint Laurent, 3 East 57th Street, New York.

Dior dress and boots, prices upon request, Dior boutiques, Rebecca Jeffs belt, price upon request, instagram​.com/rebeccajeffs.

Brightly saturated suits can transform ensembles from simple to daring. From left: Bottega Veneta feathered top, $14,000, and pants, $18,000, bottegaveneta​.com; Michael Kors Collection jacket, $1,990, pants, $1,190, and shirt, $990, michaelkors​.com; Fendi jacket, shirt and pants, prices upon request, fendi​.com, Valentino boots, $1,270, Valentino boutiques; Salvatore Ferragamo jacket, $4,300, pants, $3,000, and shoes, price upon request, ferragamo​.com; Chanel jacket, $6,900, pants, $6,700, and sandals, $1,100, select Chanel boutiques.

Big frills lend a delicate touch to any look. Giorgio Armani top, $3,095, and vest, price upon request, armani​.com, Versace shorts with belt, price upon request, leggings, $350, and shoes, $1,275, versace​.com.

A night out isn’t complete without some shimmer and shine. From left: Valentino cape, $3,900, sweater, $2,900, shirt, $1,400, and skirt, $1,500, Valentino boutiques, Molly Goddard boots, $740, mollygoddard​.com; Celine by Hedi Slimane cape, $2,550, sweater, $1,050, shirt, $770, and pants, $2,350, celine​.com, Bottega Veneta boots, $690, bottegaveneta​.com; Hermès top, $1,700, skirt, $4,250, and boots, $1,975, hermes.com, Miscreants gloves, $92, miscreantslondon​.com, Annie Costello Brown bracelet, $260, anniecostellobrown​.com; Schiaparelli dress, earrings and rings, prices upon request, Schiaparelli boutiques, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, $995, giuseppezanotti​.com; Prada dress and boots, prices upon request, shawl, $4,800, and gloves, $950, select Prada boutiques.

Allover embellishments make a traditional suit sing. Dolce & Gabbana wool suit with pearl embellishments, $8,595, select Dolce & Gabbana boutiques, and Valentino shoes, $980, Valentino boutiques.

Nothing catches the eye more than some enticing sequins. Prada dress and boots, prices upon request, shawl, $4,800, and gloves, $950, prada.com.