Cynthia Rowley, the New York designer who traded art-world aspirations to design a carefree, vibrantly colored clothing-and-lifestyle brand, opened her first Orange County store in April at Lido Marina Village. Intended as a pop-up through October, it’s likely to be permanent, and that’s a good thing. Surfwear and swimwear are part of Rowley’s brand DNA, making the cheery, light‑filled boutique a perfect match for O.C.
Rowley’s whimsical surfboards do double-duty as the shop’s decor, and her print wetsuits ($265 to $295), perhaps the store’s biggest draw, are so adorable that some customers wear them just for hanging out on their boats. Seventies-inspired dresses ($250 to $595) in painterly florals can double as beach coverups or just about any other way you want to wear them.
“The appeal of these pieces is that however you put them together, they work,” says store manager Ann Eshelman, at right. “Everything takes on the personality of the wearer”—or, you might say, of the occasion. Case in point: A popular black sequined pencil skirt with a smattering of color ($395) would be a dream piece to pack for a Palm Springs weekend. Dress it up for evening—check. Then pair it with a white T-shirt and sneakers for daytime and you’re ready for some fun.
Lido Marina Village
949-220-4810
cynthiarowley.com
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