ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: Designer Tadashi Shoji showed a romantic collection filled with pastel colored dresses and gowns on Thursday (September 5), the first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.<br/> <br />His theme for spring 2014 is "sweet liberation." The designer explained that he feels that in 2013 women are allowed to be feminine and pretty again.<br/> <br />In this spirit he showcased a collection in pale pink, ivory, yellow, lavender and mint green.<br/> <br />But at the same time he used fabrics that move and breathe with the modern woman. Neoprene, a stretchy synthetic material favored for workout clothes and outerwear, got a glamorous upgrade for some of Shoji's daytime dresses and evening wear.<br/> <br />Shoji explained that his "sweet liberation" theme could also be found in the way he used fabrics and colors.<br/> <br />"I've got soft pink, yellow. But yellow, actually it's bright yellow covered by white with black tulle so it's softening everything," he said abo
