Cynthia Rowley loves a weekend getaway. In fact, she fancies a quick jaunt so much that she’s willing to take one all the way to Europe. The designer has just gotten back from a tiny beach town in Portugal where she surfed and hung out on tourist-free beaches for three short days. She says that taking a long trip stresses her out, and she doesn’t like to lug a big, heavy suitcase around. These travel preferences were what sparked Rowley’s new Resort collection, which is filled with easy, packable pieces and plenty of covetable swimwear. While there didn’t seem to be a solid through line in terms of aesthetic references, Rowley did well in mixing looks for day and night, specifically with the pretty little ruffled wrap dresses that could easily go from the surf to the bar and back. Also, the prints and embroideries were nice, especially those stitched onto the one-piece swimsuits that she smartly showed worn over T-shirts and layered under sporty stretch knit dresses. A printed skirt-and-sweatshirt combo was also cool, as was a hot pink printed mini that came equipped with chic, floatie-like balloon sleeves.
The Resort lineup was photographed somewhere much closer to home than Portugal but exotic all the same—the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in Staten Island. The garden landscape fit the vibe of the clothes and proved that, no matter where, a weekend away is an enjoyable one so long as you embrace your surroundings, make the most of the time you have, and of course, bring the right outfits.
