NEW YORK, Sep 23, 2002/ FWD/ --- Not that Mark Badgley and James Mischka ever really abandoned the concept, but for their Spring/Summer 2003 collection -- which they presented Tuesday afternoon in their showroom -- the design duo figured it was high-time to "dream again, to wear special, beautiful things that indulge our fantasies."

To that end, they presented a line-up of cocktail dresses and evening gowns awash in a subdued sensuality -- all to the great delight of front-row attendees Ivana Trump (sporting Barbarella hair), Kristen Davis, Anne Heche and hubby Coley, who looked a little Laffoon-ish in a corduroy blazer and work boots.

Playing with a base of faded floral chiffons, reminiscent of a softer time gone by, Badgley Mischka went to work with their characteristic crystal embroidering, ruffle embellishment, and lace trimmings.

Basic blacks still remained, but the palette was definitely softer and brighter than the season past, with pale greys and nudes and bold berry and tangerine.

For the most part the Badgley Mischka tried-and-true silhouette remained the same - long and bias-cut with a filmy gauze that fluttered by.

But for the non-red carpet or charity-ball-bound, there were a host of shorter, sweeter cocktail dresses - looser in form, but flatteringly cinched at the waist.

Charming waist-tied blouses in the breeziest of materials combined with jeweled kicky skirts to the knee.

A pair of well-cut white trousers teamed with a delicate, spaghetti-strap chiffon top seemed the ideal outfit for any lady lunching at DB.

Graff diamonds, sweet, up-turned hair, and doll-like blue eye shadow and pink cheeks done by Bobbi Brown completed the enchanted, elegant picture.

The only element that seemed slightly awry were the Cinderella-inspired (plexi)glass slippers that with a chunkier heel and a platform sole looked a little more male-fantasy than fairy tale.

Badgley Mischka

Badgley Mischka

Badgley Mischka