**Sasha Pivovarova wearing Rodarte**

With the US economy still teetering between recession and recovery, the runways took an escapist route through a confident, carefree array of party dresses. Highlights include Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, Zac Posen, and Thakoon Panichgul. Perhaps most intriguing aspect of the upcoming season is the optimistic undercurrent that the industry has assumed: when the clothes hit the racks this Spring, the economy will have recovered and we'll be in the midst of a new glam era...with party dresses just in time.