Luisa Beccaria Spring 2009

Before the first model hit the runway, Luisa Beccaria sent out her young daughter and son, along with two other beautiful little kids, to scatter rose petals. Whether or not you appreciated the flower children is a good indicator of how you might feel about the collection itself: For some, Beccaria's party dresses are the very essence of romance; for others, they're just too sweet. But there's no arguing that this was one of her most accomplished shows. It was cohesive, well-made (although she'll have to address the sheerness issue before retail), and utterly charming.