Few designers know how to strike a delightfully whimsical chord quite like Tao Kurihara. The stellar collection she presented Saturday was fun, exuding optimism and joie de vivre in an explosion of her frothy, fluffy shapes, amped up a few notches from seasons past — puffy sleeves, puffy peplums, puffy pants and dresses. Think puff pastries and meringue because that’s what Kurihara did, citing “Cakes and sweets and decoration” as her inspiration.

Skirts came with dramatic bunches, gathers and swirls, some resembling donut shapes, while tiny bows were sprinkled across bodices, hems and in voluminous headdresses.

The other major undercurrent was an Eastern European peasant motif. Kurihara served up her own kooky renditions of traditional folk garb, in silhouette (e.g. apron frocks) passementarie and prints, and accessorized with tasseled schoolgirl socks and beribboned shoes that were adorable. But lest things got too fanciful, she tempered the mood nicely with some great knits  — a printed cable vest, a pullover decorated with bows — as well as structured wrap jackets in cozy down. Sweet treats, indeed.