Cynthia Rowley

NEW YORK, February 8, 2007
By Joanna Rodger
The usual oddball celebrity mix turned up at Cynthia Rowley: Alan Cumming, Molly Shannon, Russell Simmons, and Tatum O'Neal. But those weren¿t the only stars under the sky-high ceilings at Gotham Hall. Cynthia Rowley was looking heavenward, to the aurora borealis.

Starshine and shimmer were ubiquitous, as they were throughout the New York shows. Metallic brocades, glistening sequins, liquid lamé—all were cut into the sixties minidresses and skirts that came to completely dominate the show. (It would have benefited from a good edit.) The few variations in silhouette were the best looks, including slim trousers topped with floaty blouson tops and seventies brimmed hats, and a chic burgundy calf-hair car coat. The quilted satin pieces, on the other hand, fell rather flat.

But while Rowley may not be big on construction details or luxury fabrics, one thing can be said of her: She always has her tongue in her cheek. The witty thematic visual cues included a trompe l'oeil flame print, and long braids referencing comet tails, with the models in the final turn clinging to a Rapunzel-length plait worn by the lead girl.