New Hot Designer to Watch: DREI

Who : Caitlin Hickerson, formerly of the playful contemporary line Madison Marcus, teamed up with ex-menswear designer Lauren Sara Barnes to create functional-pretty line DREI. Starting a clothing line together was the logical next step for these college buddies who met seven years ago at Kent State and have done everything together since--from traveling abroad to moving to New York City.

When : An exclusive capsule collection hits Convent NYC in July 2010, while the rest of the collection ships in August and September.

Where to Buy It: Cool New York City boutiques such as Eva, Convent, and Purdy Girl.

Prices: $170 to $260 for tops, $170 to $328 for dresses, $260 to $415 for pants and shorts, and $240 to $395 for jackets and vests.

Why We Love It: DREI, pronounced "dry," means "three" in German and inspired the minimal and mathematical approach the designers take in creating each piece, resulting in a collection that is architectural without being extreme. Asymmetrical pleats and cowls combined with contrasting lambskin accents give the slightly stark silhouettes a surprising softness, while luxe fabrics such as silk, fine-gauge jersey and wool look ultra-rich in an understated color palette.

Our Favorite Pieces: The belted, Prussian blue jumpsuit ($328) for breezy summer nights and the sexy one-shouldered pleated peplum dress ($328) in dusty charcoal silk--the perfect little black dress.