Cynthia Rowley’s clothes are fun. They are not made to break new ground, but rather create an air of easygoing happiness. There is a print. There is a ruffle. There is a scallop here and there. This season, Rowley injected some magic into that ethos, shooting her lookbook in Central Park at the carousel, an uplifting choice. There were plenty of her signature print dresses, but the standout looks were the embroidered pieces, like a wide-sleeved short black frock with charming pink embroidery at the neck. A hot-item alert were the skinny jeans with a funky tropics-on-acid print.
The important tried-and-true garments from the label are the rash guards and swimsuits, which stem from Rowley’s love for surfing but are popular well beyond ocean lovers. The pieces, which often give coverage on the arms, cater to a whole population of modest dressers. Rowley recently found this out when she was asked to create a customized burkini—now buyable—for Muslim model Halima Aden in the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. This season, modest dressers, avid surfers, and people who just want to cover up on the beach will be impressed with Rowley’s selection: She created a superchic, very groovy “wave camouflage” print bodysuit that allows the bather to blend into the ocean, achieving a sartorial swim fantasy for all.
