After almost a week of cold snaps, it was fitting that the sun-loving Cynthia Rowley shop on Palm Beach ushered in the first warm day with a visit from its namesake.
With a growing crowd perusing the store’s clothing and accessories—glasses of champagne in hand—fans of the designer all turned their heads as Rowley walked into the shop with her husband and daughter, dressed in a matching floral white lace tee and pant set. She had just arrived in Florida 45 minutes prior to walking through the door, and to her delight the store manager was wearing the same top, her own design.
“Every time you open a store, you just never know, you hope and wish that people will respond,” Rowley said of the Palm Beach location.
Just four months old, the store opened in November with a focus on the beach- and sun-loving culture of South Florida. Spring and summer dresses filled the racks, some with heavier fabrics, but mostly light-flowing cuts, colorful accents, embroidery, and floral patterns. On the tables, sunglasses, bathing suits, bikinis, and bold jewelry were on display.
“We have a real sun-loving kind of feel to the collection,” Rowley said. “Kind of relaxed, but still sort of feminine. A lot of just summer fun dresses.”
And there’s more to come for the line. Rowley set off for Portugal on Monday to join American surfer and Guinness World Record holder Garrett McNamara to explore 100-foot waves and a men’s line collaboration. In her existing women’s line, Rowley has updated swimwear and wetsuits into modern pieces with color blocking, geometric shapes, and scalloped edges. In the shop, a black surfboard with the 12 symbols of the zodiac calendar rests on the wall.
But before she set off again, she had a list of locations she wanted to visit before she was in town, including a trip to The Breakers, vintage stores on Dixie Highway, and her parents’ home further north. This weekend, the designer is headed back stateside to go to Washington, D.C. to attend the March for Our Lives rally.
Cynthia Rowley, 340 Royal Poinciana Way Suite 322B, Palm Beach; 561/517-0576
