OLYMPUS FASHION WEEK SPRING 2007-Cynthia Rowley RUNWAY SHOW By Alison Blackman Dunham aka " Advice Sister Alison"

 

You can read all my posts about Fashion Week and the various designers whose shows I attended, on my BLOG at: http://www.advicesisters.net/advicesistersblog/ but I have also put together my personal comments, comments from the hair and makeup professionals, my own personal photos, plus more comments in my first-ever podcasts for Advice Sisters® readers!  This page is about the Cynthia Rowley Runway Show for Spring 2007!

The show was not held at the tents in Bryant Park, but at the elegant,  Gotham Hall on 36th Street. My first stop was backstage, to meet with Redken Hair Stylist Gavin Harwin.  Although I got there nearly 2 hours before the show, Gavin was already busy at work on the models, teasing, pinning, and scrunching.  

The main hairstyle (a bed-head-type updo) for the Cynthia Rowley show was perfect for her sophisticated, carefree, youthful fashions. To get it, Gavin teased and blow-dried the model's hair a bit, to give it a rough texture. Then he teased it gently with a soft brush. Then, using primarily a lot of bobby pins, handed to him by an assistant,  he artfully and loosely pinned it up.  In this photo, you can just see a tiny topknot at the bottom of the updo, twisted under and secured with an elastic. This pretty (and seemingly effortless) obviously takes a bit of skill, but when I suggested this to Gavin he said: "Don't underestimate women!"

Styling products are very important when you are attempting an updo.  All the products used in the Cynthia Rowley show were  "pro-style" items you can actually buy and use at home, from fantastic Redken. For this gracefully mussed updo, Gavin mostly used Redken "Fabricate #03."  This is a heat-reactive spray texturizer to add dimension, control and body (but you can use this Redken styling product to re-touch for re-styling without stickiness). In this photo, Gavin is using Redken Workforce  #09 Volumizing Spray. The fast-drying, brushable formula helps keep your style frizz-free, shiny, and under control for up to 8 hours. 

  The fabulous Bobbi Brown provided the makeup look for the Cynthia Rowley show. Here she is putting her own talents (and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics for Spring, 2007) on a model. 

Although she was tremendously busy, Bobbi graciously took a moment to explain that since there is a lot of color in Cynthia Rowley's collection, she wanted to play with color in the model's makeup, too.   For Spring, 2007, Bobbi Brown will be offering a violet themed collection, and she used a number of these products in the Cynthia Rowley show as well. For the show, models wore bright violet eye shadow, and a violet blush, but the color was sheer and layerable, so you can translate it to your own style and complexion. Lips were less emphasized, with a nice, beige lip color that was sheer and glossy for a fresh and pretty look.   You can the makeup artists selecting products in the photo above.

 

This is the Bobbi Brown Makeup finished look! The strong violet theme could be challenging for some, but the new, Bobbi Brown Spring colors are sheer and layerable, so you can wear them "as-is," mix them, or wear them over another color entirely, to make this new trend, your own.  Bobbi Brown suggests that, for  women who really don't like that much color, there's a  softer, more natural violet ("Orchid") which will be available in the Spring 2007 palette. "Just put a little on your lower lid," Bobbi suggests.

 

It was 11:30 and the show was supposed to start at Noon, but the clothes hadn't arrived yet!  Reporters were beginning to gather in the front room, where there was a nice lunch for the models , created by the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro: a wrap containing prosciutto, Watercress, Arugula and Chile Ricotta Cheese was featured, along with a salad of watermelon, jicama and bean sprouts with yuzu vinaigrette, and White Chocolate/Dark Chocolate dipped strawberries. There were cans of TAB Energy Drinks (all over the shows this season), champagne, and water. Cynthia Rowley posed with her models, and gave interviews (photos above).  

  Gavin added a few, finishing touches to the model's hair while they waited for the show to begin. 

The theme of the fashion show was: "Candy is dandy, but wicker is slicker." The clothes, much of this collection daywear, incorporated a lot of "wicker-like" ornaments (actually embroidery, leather, and ribbon) in various colors and styles fashioned into lovely, airy designs. The white screens between which the models walked the runway, were also wicker-like patterns that echoed the patterns in the dresses and even, some flirty, open-weave, wicker-type hair ornaments in black or gold, and affixed to the side of the head like a feather or jewel might be. I didn't get too close to many of the dresses, but I loved the color, the diversity, and the wearability of this outstandingly beautiful collection. Playful and chic, all at once, Ms. Rowley designed these, I am sure, with real women in mind. They scream "elegant" and designer," but this is one of the first collections that I've seen for Spring 2007 where nearly everything could be worn by women of all types and ages...do-able from runway to real life. These are the type of clothes you'll reach for above anything else in your closet, every day.  I guess you can tell, I loved Cynthia Rowley's collection!


Apparently, I wasn't the only one who loved the show, which was received with cheers and loud applause. A jubilant Ms. Rowley, her husband, and two children posed for photos, as we headed out into a rainy afternoon, wishing it was already Spring and we could think about wearing those beautiful, Spring clothes. 

©all photos by Alison Blackman Dunham

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