Say goodbye to the muumuu.

The baggy, shapeless dresses that seemed to dominate this past spring are on their way out and being replaced by short, feminine dresses that flatter a girl's figure and allow one to embrace her curves.

As formal season gets closer, dresses are bringing back some of the glitz and glamour that has recently been missing. Sequins, jewels, glitter and lace are tastefully reappearing in the fashion world, predominantly on dresses, said Veronica Burk, manager of Mr. Charles, 228 E. College Ave.

"The dress is fabulous this year," Burk said. "I couldn't be more excited. With formal dresses, you no longer see long, dowdy dresses. Everything is to the knee or above and can be worn as a dress or a tunic."

Burk said deep jewel tones like navy and magenta are popular, as well as versatile metallics and jeweled necklines.

"There are a lot of sequins, but they are no longer heavy and beaded," she said. "It's a pliable, nice shift dress. You can get mileage out of it."

Jayme Cawthern, assistant manager at Metro, 320 E. College Ave., said aside from metallics and sequins, she has seen more traditional colors and inventive shapes.

"The silk charmeuse fabric is popular, as well as dresses that are tight at the bottom and blousier on top," she said. "We're seeing a lot of dark purples, reds and grays. Black, of course, is always popular."

The little black dress has also gotten a facelift.

"While there's a lot of sparkle everywhere else, the little black dresses also have more detailing, like lace," said Abbey Zembower, manager of Connections, 130 S. Allen St. "We're getting back into the figure-hugging dress as well."

As formal dresses are changing, so are the accessories that go with them. Full- length opaque tights are frequently being paired with short mini dresses.

"Tights add coverage as well as warmth, and look great paired with plain shoes because so many of the dresses are loud enough on their own," Zembower said.

Cawthern agreed that classic stilettos and flats are always a good option, but predicted that boots, specifically ankle and mid-calf, will be more prevalent in formal wear.

"I think a lot of people will do boots with dresses, especially when it gets colder, and they work well with tights," she said.

With the arrival of cooler temperatures and the change in seasons, short jackets with bold patterns and a 3/4 sleeve can double as a stylish and perfect cover-up over evening wear.

"Cropped jackets that have more structure look great with plainer dresses," Zembower said.

With all the different dress styles this season, the one factor that connects each trend is functionality and femininity.

"If you see it in a magazine, that's what you're going to see here," Burk said. "Tunics, shift dresses with pockets -- they're comfortable. There's a dress for every type of person, and they're versatile."