NY FASHION WEEK: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012

All that shines here is gold.  Cynthia Rowley brought her tongue-in-cheek contemporary dressing to Lincoln center yesterday with a gilded flair.  It started with a shiny gold runway that was being polished by multiple people prior to the show.

Silhouettes were fit and flared with skirts and dresses above the knee.  There was a black and gold grouping with graphic Aztec-inspired prints or more Baroque gold embellishment prints.  There was a lighter gold and cream grouping with more solid knits.

My favorite was the abstract, painterly floral print that looked like it was splattered across charmeuse and satin.  The florals were a mix of bright spring colors against a black or cream backdrop.

Cynthia Rowley not only gave good "runway", she was there to service her fellow fashionistas.  Parked outside the fashion week venue was the "Glambulance" to fix fashion malfunctions, cover up blisters with embellished band-aids and rescue beauty emergencies.

Spotted in the front row: Lindsay Lohan, Hamish Bowles

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Cynthia Rowley Glambulance

Any situation that requires a band-aid is never a pleasant one.  Even worse, a bandage incident is never an attractive one either. 

When Cynthia Rowley came out with her limited edition collection of glammed-up first aid kit staples, I rushed out to grab a set.  While the sequin and jewel printed band-aids don’t take the physical sting out of your wounds, at least they soften the emotional ones. As you can see, I have already performed a fashion malfunction by blistering my ankle with a pair of Rodo Shoes that were not properly broken-in.

The once-limited edition set is now being offered en masse, with a “Glambulance” rushing to the rescue for fashion emergencies all through the upcoming NY Fashion Week. 

When Band-Aid asked me to post on this event, it brought back to mind the part they played in my family.

My sister-in-law was always really sweet to me since the early awkward days of first dating my husband.  We bonded on mutual loves of fashion and style.  She is a big fan of Cynthia Rowley’s boutique in Montauk, NY and also loved the band-aids when she saw my post on them on this site.

Well, unfortunately, she has had a really rough year.  She was in a brutal car accident right before Spring 2011 NY Fashion Week.  I heard about it while seated at the Cynthia Rowley show.  By coincidence, the show souvenir was the special tins of band-aids in little satin pouches on the seats.  I was able to gift these to her in the hospital after the shows.  She later sent me a photo of the band-aid bling covering pins in her leg at the hospital.

I was also very flattered to hear that she continued to read my reports of fashion week to keep up with the outside world while she recovered in the hospital.  Since the accident, she has also had several more trips to the hospital for a collapsed lung, cancerous cyst, etc.  What I was amazed by, was that even as she could be nodding off from drugs, 20 minutes out of surgery, she still looked like she just stepped out of a salon.  And, no one rocks a hospital gown like it was Haute Couture better than she does! 

Now for YOUR fashion emergencies, you can catch the Glambulance today and tomorrow.  Cynthia Rowley will make a personal appearance from 4:30 - 6:00 pm on Thursday.

• Thursday, September 8th, 4 p.m.-12 a.m. (Fashion’s Night Out)
• Glambulance stationed at 5^th Ave. and 57th St

• Friday, September 9th, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. (Date of Cynthia Rowley Show)
• Glambulance stationed at 65th Street and Broadway

 Have a story of your personal fashion malfunction?  Post it on the Cynthia Rowley Facebook page to win a $2500 shopping spree and styling session.  To enter, click through here.

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Cynthia Rowley Fall 2011

People love Spring, but I just patiently wait out the warm weather until Fall clothes come back.  Otherwise, I just  wear inappropriately unseasonal fabrics to make me happy.  The Cynthia Rowley collection for Fall 2011 is the perfect example to demonstrate why...  The wooden runway was a backdrop for lots of silk velvet (one of my favorite fabrics). The silhouettes were maxi-length dresses and skirts.  Flowing as opposed to tight and skin-bearing.  The colors were dark and painterly indigo, blue, grey.  There were some lighter yellows and beiges at the beginning of the show.  A silver lame outfit made the cut in an ode to 1970's disco.  Delicate beading embellished necklines and slippers.  Leather pants and silk charmeuse round out my preferred fashion materials.  

Ms. Rowley has been immersed in fine art, her Exhibition A project promoting up-and-coming artists.  The seamed garments in tonal colors were reminiscent of Rothko.  Color-blocking by way of Mondrian?  The easy attitude of the models, whether strolling down the catwalk or passing through in their intimates between looks conveyed Bohemian muse. 

Spotted in the front row: Julia Stiles, Waris Ahluwalia, Nigel Barker, Alan Cumming

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Cynthia Rowley's FEED Shop

Fashion feeds the world...At least some designers try to.  Cynthia Rowley and Lauren Bush hosted the opening of their FEED pop-up shop last Thursday in the back of Ms. Rowley's Soho boutique.  The shop sells products like eco-friendly bags, pouches and clothing to benefit FEED Projects.

The FEED Project's mission is to feed and reach hungry children around the world through the sales of their collection.  The line uses fair labour practices and uses organic cotton and burlap when possible.  

The designer and colleagues were on hand to sip champagne and answer questions.  Her Fall 2010 collection looked chic accessorized with the FEED totes.  My personal favorite was the Jack o-Lantern tote made in collaboration with Unicef.  It was a nice Halloween update to the change-boxes I carried around trick-or-treating in my childhood.  It is available on HSN and in the boutique.

The pop-up shop is available at 376 Bleecker Street in NYC until October 21st.  The FEED merchandise is available online and at Whole Foods indefinitely.

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NY FASHION WEEK: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2011

This is always one of the shows I look forward to.  Cynthia Rowley has always represented girly, flirty fun clothes with a sense of humor.  This collection did not disappoint.  The major theme for Spring 2011 was circles.  This came in three-dimensional cabochon appliqués in different sizes or the opposite; perforated circular holes.

The color palette reminded me of licorice all-sorts which fit the candy-dots effect of the cabochons.  The circular holes in the garments also reminded me of the old Lollipop building that used to be across from Columbus circle (now the Museum of Arts and Design).  Was this a nod to the show's Lincoln Center location?

Cynthia Rowley paid a more direct tribute to the new Fashion Week location's performing arts roots in using sets from the NYC Ballet's "Swan Lake" and "Romeo and Juliet".  Ms. Rowley is a fan.

Wouldn't you know it?  Just as klutzy Ms. FAB sat down, she cut her wrist on her own jewelry and had to use the dress-up band-aids that were placed on each seat...

Spotted in the front row:  Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn

For more looks, see the slideshow below:

Photos by Mariana L.

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Cynthia Rowley Dress-Up Band-Aids

Ok, I am ashamed to admit that I am susceptible to marketing.  I couldn't resist this set of "bling-for-boo boos".  Cynthia Rowley's limited edition of dress-up band-aids features sequins, jewels and signature prints.  This is brilliant...Injecting style to take away the sting... This is a great addition to a back-to-school list, stocking stuffer, humorous hostess-gift.  

 

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LIVE: Cynthia Rowley Resort Goes Mobile

What are you doing this afternoon? If you are strolling the streets of New York this lovely afternoon, catch the Cynthia Rowley bus for one of their mobile presentations. Servers are keeping onlookers comfortable with bottles of water and mimosas.

The designer herself is on the sidewalk with a bevy of models to present the looks for early next year. According to Ms. Rowley, the main direction for this collection was to give a relaxed vibe for the customers. Layered denims, flowing silks with retro-inspired prints attired the models.

The accessories are whimsical. The shoes were woven from busy prints and denim. A paillette covered hat adorned one model while another model held a bright floral pattern bag. My favorite piece is the segmented antique-look goldfish necklace.Care to catch the next presentation? Run on down to the Time Inc. building between 5pm – 6pm today.

Photos by Mariana Leung

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FAB Sales Picks: Betsey Johnson, Rock & Republic, Cynthia Rowley...

NYC:

Betsey Johnson accessories and apparel are 50% -80% off at the sample sale.

Through 4/16/10: Millennium Broadway Hotel, 145 W. 44th St., nr. Sixth Ave., sixth fl.

(212-993-9251); W–F (10–10).

Elie Tahari Menswear, womenswear, shoes, and handbags are 70 to 80 percent off at their sample sale. The black jersey jeweled halter dress is $129 (originally $698) and metallic leather sandals with beaded detailing are $99 (originally $498).

Through 4/17/10: 510 Fifth Ave., nr. 43rd St. (212-398-2622);

T–F (8:30–7:30), S (10–5).

Rock & Republic is having their first warehouse sale! All denim is only $80. You'll also find men's, women's and kid's, denim, tops, outerwear, cosmetics and accessories.
4/16/10 - 4/18/10: 123 W. 18th St (Metropolitan Pavilion) 4th Floor, (212) 463-0071
Fri 4pm-9pmSat - Sun 9am-7pm

Online:

Cynthia Rowley and Clinique cosmetics on Gilt.com Wednesday 4/14/10,

Marc by Marc Jacobs on 4/15/10, alson on Gilt.

Earnest Sewn for men and women on Ruelala.com on Thursday 4/15/10.

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NY Fashion Week: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2010

The dramatic and palatial Gotham Hall was the setting for Cynthia Rowley’s Spring presentation Friday. The gilded soaring room was draped in muslin, giving it a vintage, forgotten museum quality. The show began with stagehands dramatically pulling down a drop cloth from the lighting rigs to drape the runway. Spooky, Tim Burton-esque music opened the show, and then transitioned into yearning rock and roll.

The clothing had a certain dark, Stepford Wife meets Alice in Wonderland quality. The light, flowing dresses had lots of slashed details and prints that looked like watercolors left to run in the rain.

The handbags had a 1960’s look with pieced leather stripes and folded clutches. The purse silhouettes showed retro trapezoid and triangle shapes

Spotted in the front row: Jill Hennessy, Lauren Bush

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