Meet Our New Design Crush (And Score One Of Her Fine Frocks Today)

Meet Fabiola Arias, a Cuban designer who's turning out some of the most fanciful, black-tie-worthy confections around — at the tender age of 24. That's right, this mega-talented wunderkind hasn't even hit the quarter-century mark yet. We're swooning over the lush, ultra-tactile dresses in her fall 2012 collection — think: Frothy hemlines of shredded chiffon, incredible sheer detailing on bodices, and meticulous layers of fabric designed to look like scales. Impressive, right?

Neiman Marcus in Friendship Heights is the exclusive retailer for Fabiola's line in the D.C. area, but today and tomorrow, the store is hosting a trunk show where you can view the entire collection and choose your special-order pieces. So, if one of the spring's slew of gala events is on your agenda, we can't think of a better opportunity for you to score a fantastic dress that guarantees you won't look like any other girl at the party. We've selected our top frocks from the line to spark your inspiration — click through for some eye-candy from our new favorite overachiever.

When: Today until 5 p.m.; Friday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue NW; 202-966-9700.