MILAN, Mar 8, 2002/ FW/ --- Wouldn't it be nice to visit the forest where Alberta Ferretti's sleeping beauties arise dreamlike for fall 2002?

The formidable Ferretti has become one of the great powerhouses of Italian fashion, and she's become that by blending romantic fashion with practicality.

The Ferretti girl is a woman on a mission, who goes out at night draped in dexterously assembled patchwork chiffon dresses, touched up with garlands of leaves and flowers.

On her feet she throws velvet strap wedges; her duffel coats, (or as the locals here call them, Montgomeries), come in everything from melton wool to Aran knits; and solid pants have raised seams.

Ferretti makes for a soothing, but never impractical, moment in a frenetic world.

Alberta's gals finished the show in a evocative finale, all in dark multi-veil dresses with rolled shoulder straps, like latter day characters a from a Botticelli painting.

Alberta has a singular vision, yet one that never loses sight of the commercial.

Alberta Ferretti

Alberta Ferretti

Alberta Ferretti