New York Fashion Week turned its full attention to details as Oscar de la Renta unveiled elaborate embroideries on his designs for spring 2006.

De la Renta is known to be as much of a perfectionist in his garden as he is at his sketch pad. His collection, which he previewed Monday, included a black ballgown covered with white flowers that looked as if each petal were a unique design.

Daytime styles included a delicate ivory chiffon blouse with ruffles at the bust, a confetti tweed suit and a brown knit top with a red linen skirt with brown and orange beads around the hips. A dress made of horizontal rows of navy and white grosgrain ribbon alternating with rows of sheer tulle is for the more daring woman, perhaps a sexy star such as Eva Longoria, who sat in the front row of de la Renta's runway show.

Carolina Herrera previewed a collection that was as crisp as the radishes — yes, radishes — featured in many of her embroideries and prints. Herrera said she used prints, which also included polka dots and oversized dark flowers, to create visual excitement. She got the same result from her palette of coffee brown, flamingo pink, thyme green and sky blue, which is emerging as a hot color for next season. Other spring trends embraced by Herrera during her runway show on Monday were higher waists and thick belts, especially on long dresses — best illustrated by a graphic black-and-white print chiffon gown with a pink floral raffia belt.

Cynthia Steffe used modernist art as her references. The most inventive look in her collection, also presented Monday, was a dress of multiple sheer black layers over a white lining that created a grid at the hemline.

Other noteworthy styles were a white crochet cardigan with tulle around the neck and big white buttons down both sides of the front, a red seersucker baby-doll jacket, and a sleek black lacquered trench coat over a jade green crochet-and-eyelet shift.

Diane von Furstenberg's spring collection of skirt suits, Bermuda shorts and, of course, wrap dresses is sophisticated yet has the designer's signature touches of flamboyance. At her runway show Sunday night, von Furstenberg dubbed this new look "La Dolce Diva," which she said takes inspiration from 1960s-era Rome. Von Furstenberg's signature wrap dresses, including a standout version in navy cotton eyelet, had fuller skirts and were paired with cork platform shoes by Christian Louboutin.

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