Cynthia Rowley American clothing and accessories designer Country: USA

Biography of Cynthia Rowley

Cynthia Rowley is an American fashion designer known for her clothing and accessory lines. She was born in the affluent suburb of Barrington, Illinois, to parents Ed Rowley and Clementine Rowley. Cynthia graduated from Barrington High School in 1976 and went on to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

After completing her studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Cynthia Rowley began her career in the world of fashion. She sold her graduate collection, consisting of eight wardrobe pieces, in various stores in New York. With some earnings and a $3,000 gift from her grandmother, Rowley hosted her first fashion show in her own apartment, inviting close friends, fashion magazine editors, and even Andy Warhol himself. She recalls that among the guests at her impromptu show were also actors whom she hadn't invited or known.

In 1988, Cynthia founded her own brand, "Cynthia Rowley," through which she showcased lines of women's clothing, footwear, handbags, accessories, headwear, umbrellas, cosmetics, fragrances, and even tableware. She soon opened a network of boutiques in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, East Hampton, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Boutiques in Beijing and Shanghai are currently being prepared for launch.

Cynthia Rowley has received numerous awards throughout her career. In 1994, she and Perry Ellis were honored with the "New Fashion Talent" award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She has also been a frequent guest on television shows, including MTV, VH1, and Life of Luxury, as well as The Late Show with David Letterman. Her collections have been widely covered in the press, including Harper's Bazaar, W, Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and The New York Times.

In 2003, Cynthia Rowley collaborated with the retailer Target to release a line of home accessories called "Swell." A year earlier, she co-authored a book titled "Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life" with her friend and editor at The New York Times, Ilene Rosenzweig. She has since released several more books, including "Slim: A Fantasy Memoir," "Swell Holiday," "Home Swell Home," and "The Swell Dressed Party."

Outside of her work, Cynthia Rowley's main hobbies include surfing and skydiving. She is also a passionate collector of contemporary art.

In terms of her personal life, Cynthia Rowley has been married three times. She was married to Tom Sullivan for six years before his passing in 1994. Two years later, she married sculptor William Keenan, with future New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani serving as the officiant at their wedding. After divorcing Keenan in 2005, Cynthia married editor and writer William Powers. She has two daughters from her previous marriages, born in 1999 and 2005 respectively.