Cheryl Shops

The spring runways in New York have been filled with a kaleidoscope of color and crazy prints, and while it's certainly been refreshing—in uncertain economic times such as these, designers tend to play it safe with a lot of neutrals—after seven days, it gets a little jarring. I was steeling my nerves for an all-out assault from Tibi, which is known for its prints, but was totally surprised to see Amy Smilovic stick to a pretty minimal, yet still colorful aesthetic. It was refined and toned down, and very smart, considering the almost aggressive use of color by nearly every other New York designer. Smilovic used just one print in the entire show, and a fairly simple colorblocked one at that, which showed up in just four looks toward the end. Once I got over my initial surprise, I really enjoyed the collection for what it was—soft-looking yet well-tailored jackets with narrow lapels, fluid palazzo pants, and streamlined tank dresses, all of which prove that Smilovic is more than the sum of her prints. (Pun intended.)