CYNTHIA ROWLEY: SS23 NYFW READY-TO-WEAR

CYNTHIA ROWLEY SHOW SCENERY / IMAGE COURTESY THE KR PROJECT

One thing about Cynthia Rowley—she knows how to choose a show location. On Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of joining a mixed group of influencers, editors, and other industry professionals in viewing Cynthia’s Spring/ Summer 2023 Ready-to-Wear collection. This season’s show took place right off the Hudson River at the golden hour of sunset. The combination of gleaming sun on cruising sailboats and the gentle breeze hinting at fall was nothing short of a magical setting for last night’s show.

 At half past six o’clock, the crowd silenced, and a percussion group began their set on a walkway above the audience. The first model took to the reflective runway draped in sheer black chiffon, and the show had begun.

The Spring/Summer 2023 collection falls beautifully within Cynthia’s typical fun, colorful world, but adds an edgy twist, mostly in its fabrics and color choices. The pieces range from bright pink floral dresses to black sheer cargo pants and tops. Beading and fringe stole the show in usual Cynthia fashion, but it is the use of black in these pieces that really caught my attention. I enjoyed her incorporation of this classic color, not typically associated with the brand’s aesthetic. Cynthia herself wore a brown and black striped tee, a pattern displayed on her runway, and leather pants, furthering her nod to an edgy spring.

FINAL WALK THROUGH / VIDEO COURTESY THE KR PROJECT

Sheer chiffon also threaded through this collection; multiple looks included see-through tops and dresses, allowing opportunity for visible undergarments or bare chests. This is a trend we can expect to follow through the next few seasons, as we have seen it’s prominence across this week’s runways (Prabal Gurung, Tory Burch) and recent celebrity appearances (Janet Jackson in Christian Siriano, Florence Pugh in Valentino).

This collection is a fresh breath of spring for the girl who brings the party with her wardrobe— perfectly encapsulated on the runway by Cynthia’s models strutting the looks to “Her” by Megan Thee Stallion. She is boldly living in color and not afraid of showing a little skin, and I am more than here for it!

In addition to a beautiful new collection, I cannot commend Cynthia and her team enough for creating such a stunning show. Thank you to Cynthia Rowley for having me at this event—I hope to see you again next season!

xo

KR

PRE-SHOW PHOTOS / IMAGE COURTESY THE KR PROJECT

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