Female designers of womenswear use their inherent knowledge of what it means to be a woman, but male designers do it with empathy, bravado and a little bit of imagination.

I tend to wear yoga pants like, a lot. But I can safely say I'm equally at home in a silk dress, even if it's just for an impromptu stroll through the South End. Although I'm just real-estate gawking and stoop-sitting this weekend, I can't wait to take this dress out for a summer wedding, baby shower, or rooftop cocktail party.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," said Leonardo da Vinci, but you don't need to tell designer Gina deWolfe that. Earlier this year, she launched her eponymous line, deWolfe, opening with the Wolfepack, a sleek, no-frills leather backpack-satchel.