Cynthia Rowley Interview

Audra: The first Cynthia Rowley is a high profile fashion designer and just like any of us working moms, she juggles career demands with raising kids. Well, Leslie found out that she’s making even band aids into a fashion statement and definitely takes a mom to come up with that idea. Take a look.

Leslie: From the catwalk to the red carpet, Cynthia Rowley is well-known for dressing celebrities, but it all started in the early 1980s because of how she dress herself.

Cynthia: I'm really was discovered on a train on my way to school in Chicago and went to the Arden Institute there and a woman asked me about a jacket I was wearing. And I went to her office and showed her the collection and she bought it. And that was sort of the beginning.

Leslie: A beginning that is grown from dresses to include handbags, sunglasses, shoes, you name it. Plus she squeezed the time for her two girls.

Leslie: How do manage to balance it all?

Cynthia: Well, that’s -- being a mom that’s the fun part. I mean, it’s all fun, but I never ever once think, you know, I have to do some -- you know -- do something with my kids. I love it. They come and hangout with us here at work.

Leslie: Now how much pressure do you feel to look fashionable every single day even when you're picking your kids up from school?

Cynthia: Well, I mean that’s -- it is hard to always kind of keep it together. I wasn’t wearing this to drop off this morning.

Leslie: But this is yours. Now there a lot of circles and circle designs in your fashions this coming for spring.

Cynthia: Yeah, I guess, you know, I was thinking about -- I think the big thing is staying true to what I think people know us for and know the collection for. But also they're like really trying to do something unexpected that you never seen before and then, new ways to sort of show a little skin without being overtly sexy or bare, just sort of like a little peek-a-boo or a little peephole.

Leslie: Now I have to tell you, our host Audra loves your handbag.

Cynthia: Oh, that’s so nice.

Leslie: How do you come up with your designs?

Cynthia: I collect contemporary art. I spend a lot of time in galleries.

Leslie: What does the purse or handbag? What does that do for an outfit in your opinion?

Cynthia: Well, I think it can kind of make bright jewelry also, you know, shoes are -- well, I just think you should have a lot of shoes. So you have a lot of choices. That’s my philosophy.

Leslie: I think it takes a mom to come up with this idea. How did you come up with the dressing up a cut or a boo-boo?

Cynthia: I think about all these things because I was looking at my kids putting Spongebob and Dora band aids on and I thought, why should they have all the fun. Why can't, you know, I want to have -- when I get a little blisters something on my shoes or from my shoes. I want to have something fun to dress it up with.

Leslie: So these aren't just for kids. These are for adults. You got sequined band aids, you know band aids.

Cynthia: Put them in sequins, those are tiny little runway show. There’s even one that just as Cynthia Rowley, so you can wear your label right on your skin.

Leslie: And do you make your kids wear that one all the time?

Cynthia: No, no, definitely not. We don’t focus too much on fashion and appearance and clothing. I’ll let them dress themselves. I do believe that hardwork really pays off. And I really - I do work really hard, really long days. And I think especially to have my kids see that, I think they see that. That’s what you have to do to make your dreams come true.

Audra: Thanks a lot Leslie. I have to say I love her handbags, love them. And if you like them, now you can enter to win a free 10 of fashionable band aids just by heading to our website, look for the link.