Okay, I'm leaving Manhattan tomorrow (yes, I know, before Fashion Week even starts, but I told you I wasn't here for FW). The one show I would have really, really liked to go see is one of the last ones of next week — high noon next Friday, Cynthia Rowley.

I've always loved Cynthia Rowley's clothes. I even have a skirt of hers I found in Filene's, a short pink wool full skirt with great patch pockets, and I'm still kicking myself for not buying the pink wool sailor pants. I mean, really! Pink! Wool! Sailor pants! (As you might imagine, she has a sense of humor about clothes, which I think is essential.) And the clothes are wearable, obviously, if I can wear them. In fact, I think that's one of the things I like best about her collections. The ratio of things I could see myself wearing to things I couldn't is really, really high. Her shoes and accessories are adorable, too. She's really mastered the art of being girl-y without being girl-ish, if you know what I mean. A celebration of the feminine that doesn't require being a giggling, brainless larval human.

This dress is from the Spring 2006 collection. I'm sure you regular readers know why I love it, but for the benefit of those you have just joined us (big ups and a heartfelt thank-you to The Manolo!) I will enumerate. First off, I love that lemon color (I'm wearing yellow myself today). And, of course, the midriff band. The skirt is full enough for nice movement but not overwhelming, and a great length. But the best part is that circle detail — such a nod to Courrges! (I wish the necklace weren't there — it almost hides the circle detail, making it look like part of the jewelry and not part of the dress.) Dress-a-Day rating? A+.

So I'll definitely be hitting "refresh" on next Friday night to see what Cynthia Rowley shows on the runway for Fall 2006 …

There's been lots of posting about The State of the Fashion Union and Fashion Week — check out some of the highlights here at FashionTribes.