Tracy Reese has nixed the traditional runway show in favor of unconventional presentations, from last season’s film screening to her Spring ’17 garden party in the New York Marble Cemetery. Instead of positioning models along the perimeter, she cast women of all ages, sizes, and occupations, many of whom are making a big difference in New York. One woman was in charge of organizing a prom for disadvantaged youth and children with illnesses at Madison Square Garden; another directed a program for bringing art to the incarcerated. Several women were dedicated to sharing their talents with the masses: There was a dancer from the Martha Graham School, an opera singer, and a string quartet, who provided the soundtrack.

“It’s a celebration of femininity and empowering women,” Reese said. Almost every model wore a dress, usually one that was floral-printed or inset with lace—which is all to say that being a feminist doesn’t mean you can’t look pretty and feminine. One group of women wore vibrant, cherry red dresses, including a standout body-skimming gown covered in bright white flowers. Another model lounged on a chaise nearby in a green-and-purple embroidered frock, which came from Reese’s new collection of extended sizes. She pointed out another, more mature model with gorgeous, silvery hair: “Women of all ages wear my clothes, so I wanted to show that it’s not just about chasing youth,” she explained. “It’s about dressing real women.” A few lace-trimmed satin dresses in bright peony pink would brighten up any woman’s aura—Saturday Night Live’s Sasheer Zamata was wearing one and looked positively glowing.