The Romance of A Pretty Dress

All too often, people who love fashion feel compelled to justify it. Clothes imbue power; they reflect cultural mores; they express intellectual adventurousness. We love all that weighty blah, blah, blah. But sometimes a frock is just pretty. Insanely, jaw-droppingly pretty. That describes the spring 2008 collection from Dolce & Gabbana, which was dominated by lush, hand-painted dresses that celebrated romance and sensuality. The collection was a turning point for the Italian designers, who usually deal in sexpot style. For once, they held back. And they produced a collection filled with naughty whispers, sweet asides and tantalizing possibilities.

-- Robin Givhan