Incurable romantic that he is, Giambattista Valli showed a sophisticated Resort full of flowers and bows that evoked Paris in the springtime. The extensive collection, which accounts for a healthy share of Valli's business, was strong on eveningwear, with short flower-printed dresses for cocktails and strapless gowns for galas. Both came with gently poufed proportions to suit latter-day Marie Antoinettes—or the very au courant Madame Sarkozy.

...

In May, Albert Kriemler's pre-fall collection for Akris briefly quieted retail doomsayers when it netted a cool million dollars at a Bergdorf Goodman trunk show. From the looks of Resort, the cash registers are set to keep cha-ching-ing. In addition to the house's classic full trousers, there was a new scrunchy, carrot-silhouetted pant. Kriemler took a lighter than ever touch in his perennial play with transparency, seen on sleeveless tops worn under tailore ...