At the end of the summer, all the season’s sundresses and light garments can come to resemble nothing more than a row of wilted flowers hanging on our closet rails. After so much heat mixed with filmy fabrics, fashion fans come to want something more—something substantial, with structure and linings and brilliant accessorizing potential.

Thank goodness, then, for Georges Chakra, who has delivered with his Edition by Georges Chakra fall collection just the garments we envision. It’s almost as though, after a summer frolicking in clothes that are merely “fun”, we get to go back to school… with the perfect little frock rather than a new pouch of sharpened pencils.

His structured gabardine dresses have all of the seriousness required by modern life with none of the staidness—detail like crushed satin and gabardine bows sees to that. A master of cut, Chakra can make even the most masculine elements seem fresh and intended to glorify a woman’s curves.

Take his reversed tuxedo dress. The black-crepe frock has an ingenious collar that channels lapels from that most formal men’s suit, and a collar that continues down the back. But the shape is completely feminine, with sleeves stop just past the elbow, inviting the wearer to don a pair of elbow-length gloves.

And the gray lamé wool tank dress makes a flirty piece out of a material that might be basic in anyone else’s hands (gray wool?). The body-conscious cut appears plain from the front, with its nude panels in the shoulder straps the only adornment, but the wearer turns around to reveal darling and daring cut-outs finished with black satin bows. Better yet, all it requires to become office-ready is a structured black blazer.

The weather may still be warm, but these dresses put us in mind of chilly nights. After all, the best part of going back to school? Back to school shopping, naturally.

Click here to see the new collection