While we love peeping next season’s trends and scoping out street style during NYFW, we have to admit that the whole scramble-sit-watch-applaud-repeat drill can wear thin by week’s end. Thank goodness, then, for designers like Isaac Mizrahi, who consistently manage to add a little levity to their presentations.

Each seat card at Mizrahi’s show bore only one word, “CAKE,” and that perfectly summed up the delectable, whimsical collection. Each model was outfitted with a poodle-style black pouf atop her head–shades of Dr. Suess, albeit far more chic–and the looks ranged from classic tea dresses to crisp A-line lady coats to ribbed turtlenecks worn over mermaid-silhouette faille skirts, all in candy-sweet shades of mint, tangerine, and bubblegum pink. And, clearly as a nod to the sock-hop-era poodle skirt, there were fitted pencil skirts embellished with sparkling poodle brooches. Evening gowns shimmering with pearls, sequins, or a combination of the two were definite showstoppers, and shorter day dresses bore exaggerated bows (some hugging the models’ shoulders, others decorating the back of the look).

Nobody working in American fashion today does sleek chic quite like Calvin Klein Collection’s Francisco Costa. The Brazilian designer sent out a stunning collection of his covetable separates and signature shifts, cast in a range of desert tones like slate, stone, and sand. We flipped for the charcoal-colored alpaca jacquard sweatshirt on Sigrid Agren–a super-luxe take on a sporty standby. And an ivory technical jersey sheath was trimmed with metallic leather at the neck–it took a second look for us to realize it wasn’t, in fact, a separate necklace. Another highlight was the smoky wool flannel frock with a bell-shaped skirt cut from buttery lambskin, which we could envision on any number of Sartorialist-snapped editors.

Phillip Lim’s fall collection felt like his most ladylike showing yet. Whereas in past seasons the looks had a girly or youthful spin, Lim’s latest showing is all grown-up.

With a soft palette of grays, greens, navy, and saffron, Lim’s collection was light handed and alluring. The opening look, a tie neck, gray twill pea coat worn with lambskin pants had a romantic air that carried through the rest of the collection. Voluminous pants and and structured jackets were the staples of the collection, although the extra fabric pleats on the pant’s thighs will probably mean a redesign before the items hit stores. (Because the last thing a woman wants is more attention on her thighs.)