New York Fashion Week: Cynthia Rowley tries minimalism, adds ventilation

Maybe it was Cynthia Rowley's recent experience designing a fashionable range of bandages for Band-Aid that made her work perforated holes and sheer strips into her spring collection.

Whatever the reason, the result was a delightful array of quirky sportswear, including a putty-colored skirt in spring's new below-the-knee length, with circles punched out in the front, paired with a light-blue sheer striped sweater layered over a white sleeveless button-down shirt. A pair of black-and-white "sketched" plaid pants were smart looking, too, worn with an invisible crew-neck sweater layered over the same sleeveless white button-down.

Rowley's use of color was fun. She topped a pair of strawberry-red pants with a light-pink silk short-sleeve blouse and finished the look off with two colorful bar necklaces. I also liked the photographic kaleidoscope print top worn with a taupe skirt dotted with candy-like cabachons.

It all made for a quirky, perky take on minimalism.

-- Booth Moore

Photo: Cynthia Rowley spring 2011 fashion show. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images