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As a former dancer I felt at home in the tent of the Cynthia Rowley at Lincoln Center during her Spring collection of 2011. The back drop came directly from the New York City Ballet’s productions of Romeo and Juliet & Swan Lake – which had formally taken place at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week’s new chic abode. Rowley’s show was one of my favorites this season.
This designer is known for having feminine frills and lightness to her collections but this season she took a more rustic turn with very structured shift dresses, tailored pants, pencil skirts, loosely structures blouses and silk shirt dresses. Each frock embraced a faintly innovative and color blocked design with circular shaped cut outs viewing more skin than Rowley usually reveals. This also includes the “invisible sweaters” that have large horizontal stripes of mesh material. Many of the frocks were embellished with large cabochon stones that were a contrast to the overly sized circular cut-outs stated before. My favorite look of the entire collection were the satin bell bottom trousers, shifts, and cropped tops adorned with cabochon buttons and paillettes, they were truly breath taking! The color story was bulky with some looks all one color but it worked! Some hues include: black, white, celadon, navy, and blushy puddy, mist and poppy. As the collection started out somewhat demure it soon exploded into a wonderful world of shimmering and slightly floral ensembles – which tapped into Cythia’s true self.
Each model had their hair tightly pulled back with extreme burettes that encompassed a large portion of their head. Make up was light and fresh – perfect for spring! As far as accessories go 50’s inspired sunglasses and gold chained necklaces with oversized plastic pendants were a perfect touch.
Front row attendees included Rebecca Romijn, Lauren Bush, Nigel Barker, Aisha Taylor, Katie Lee Joel, and Allan Cumming who all appeared to have pure enjoyment from Rowley’s Spring 2011 collection!
– Dara Senders
Runway images via NYmag.com; all other photographs by Alison Campbell.
- Photo by Alison Campbell