Escaping Into Fashion

While you may not be able to control the chaos of world events, you can still rule your own style.

In this age of global uncertainty, clothes have become a kind of panacea for a growing number of consumers. Designers are responding to the political upheavals of the past year by injecting some much-needed humor into women's wardrobes.

Browns CEO Holli Rogers is already predicting that spring's sartorial hit will be Rosie Assoulin's smiley-face T-shirt. This cheery number, which reads "Thank you! Have a Nice Day!" neatly sums up the jubilant mood of the coming season.