By Melissa MoschittoThe liquid gold runway at the Cynthia Rowley show was an apt metaphor for her Spring/Summer 2012 line. The collection was fluid and playful, with one magnificently created piece flowing seamlessly into the next. The key motif for the evening was floral, from intricate patterns etched in gold to vibrant, colorful illustrations. The color palette was primarily blues, yellow, black, white and gold with an occasional splash of aubergine, orange or red for contrast. Models were styled with long textured, carefree hair and fresh faces, a clean look on which to display the dynamic collection. Accessories were not necessary – aside from the wild and whimsical gold shoes and the poppy alt-punk soundtrack at the show.
From sleek printed leggings in the suiting collection to a flowing mid-thigh skirt paired with a structured neutral sweater, the lush prints and patterns kept reappearing in varying formation, offering many surprises in this modern and forward-thinking collection. My personal favorite was an exquisite black structured dress emblazoned with a lacy gold pattern – divine! Cynthia Rowley is able to transcend place and position with her lush designs and it will be exciting to see what influence she has on the upcoming season.
My only quibble? Within the bevy of models, there was only one Black model and one Asian model. I hope in future collections, Ms. Rowley’s models will be as diverse as her design.
