Today I can believe in Spring. Birds were singing as I awoke and a warm breeze blew through the bedroom window. While my coffee brewed I wandered onto my porch and noticed buds coming up in the garden. Later, I stripped the down comforter from the bed and replaced it with a light chenille spread. Before I put the spread away last fall, I hung it on my patio to air. It still smells a bit like sunshine.

For their Fall 2006/Back-to-School show, It looked like the folks at ENK Children's Club freshened things up, too. Instead of entering the hall and looking directly at the booths as one did in previous seasons, the view was partially blocked by white platforms that displayed the show's logo in well-spaced, backlit letters. The new arrangement reminded me of a Chelsea gallery. Swanky lounge areas with 60's style furniture made a welcome refuge for weary retailers. Even the lunch fare was bumped up a notch.

Chic lounge area

Gift bags await lucky press and retailers before the start of the runway show.

Vogue Bambini produced another "Fashion for Real Kids" runway show with a similar assortment of adorable little hams throwing kisses and ashen-faced, deer-in-the-headlights mini models. The designers represented on the runway included indie's like Boren Couture who presented two lovely dresses in red and brown color combinations. Another newcomer, Katwalk, displayed girls' outfits aflutter with butterfly decals. Among established collections that participated, Flora and Henri's classic outfits and Zutano's eye-popping sportswear were standouts.

From Boren Couture

From Katwalk

Flora and Henri's modern classics

From Zutano

"Real kids" gather for the finale.