Then came the first stirrings of civilization. People draped themselves in animal skins, sewn together by needles made of bone. Later, they learned to shear wool and cultivate cotton. Working their way up to the Industrial Revolution, they invented the sewing machine.

This long march to technology gave us the evening gown, which may be the highest expression of the covering instinct. Who gets more stares than a beautiful woman in a beautiful gown? And if you're not there to stare, it's nice to know a PNB photographer is there to do the looking for you.

To show how far civilization has progressed, we sent the legendary Joe Whiteko to the Atlanta Apparel Mart. Models and pageant girls were displaying the designs of the best minds and machines in the business.

In a show staged by Alyce Designs, Mr. Whiteko found what he was looking for. The shapes, the colors, the smiles. Here they are.