In Florence, Pitti Immagine Bimbo (January 19-21, 2007) isn't a trade show, it's a cultural event. You sense the exhibition's importance in the neighborhoods surrounding the fair where shopkeepers and restaurateurs ask, "Are you attending Pitti?" with some reverence. Walking toward Pitti's vast grounds (read more about that in my blog of this season's event), you feel the excitement mounting as cabs, mini-vans and busses unload throngs of retailers and press.

Pitti Bimbo means big business for the exhibitors. At this season's show 10,479 buyers were in attendance. That figure includes retailers from all over Europe, Russia, Japan and the U.S. Manufacturers with the biggest bucks host runway shows while others create displays that are more on-site art installations than booth designs. (Calling the spaces at Pitti "booths" minimizes their grandeur.) Add the stylish crowds and it's obvious that in Italy childrenswear is taken as seriously in the fashion industry as adult manufacturing.

The enthusiasm reached fever pitch during the eight fashion shows. Each production was held in two buildings on the far side of the expansive grounds. Retailers and press with invitations, milled about outside of the rotundas waiting to gain entrance. Inside, the shows were as carefully orchestrated as anything seen under the tents during Fashion Week in New York. To give the audience the drama they expect, companies hire stage designers, DJs and event coordinators to pull together the presentations. The models are culled from upper-tier agencies. They sashay to the end of the runway with the grace of much older professionals then hit their poses with aplomb.

On the runways were fantasy princesses and ballerinas, frat boys and motorcycle gangs, punks, punkettes and circus performers. Many of the collections worked similar themes and colorations; iconoclasts like Agatha Ruiz de la Prada stayed true to her signature bright palette and brought forth playful silhouettes.

Here's a sample of the shows. Sorry, though. I can't e-mail waiters to pour champagne and serve hors d'oeuvres. Yes, that's the Italian way of giving guests a good time - that, a damn good show.

MISS BLUMARINE

Designers Anna Molina and Franco Ferrari set the major trends of the season.

All that glitters is silver and white.

Colors borrowed from mom's makeup bag.

Plums to work with roses and pinks.

Keeping it clean in black and white.

AGATHA RUIZ DE LA PRADA

It wouldn't be de la Prada if the colors weren't as vivid and the shapes so original.

Stars, moon and sky.

Stars and stripes with a twist.

de la Prada's riff on Mondrian.

It's easy being green.

Originally published February 18, 2007