NYFW’s humorous fashion show is hosted by Cynthia Rowley

Cynthia Rowley chose an entirely new approach for her New York Fashion Week presentation at Sony Music Hall with an all-female comedy fashion show to display her autumn/winter 2023 collection.

The immersive event included an hour of stand-up comedy performed by Cynthia Rowley-clad performers Claudia Oshry, Esther Ku, Arden Myrin, Nikki Glaser, Ego Nwodim, Michelle Buteau, and Rachel Feinstein.

Cynthia Rowley stated in the programme notes, “I start each day with ten minutes of stand up. I’ve long expressed the wish that fashion was funnier. The attitude more so than the clothes. This summer, with the help of my friend and business partner Seth Herzog, I hosted a stand-up comedy night at my Montauk store, and it became obvious to me that the moment had come to fulfil a long-held ambition of mine to host a large number of my favourite funny women on one stage.

Using examples from the autumn/winter 2023 collection, such as enormous pastel paillettes, sheer fabrics, and classically fitted pick-stitch pieces created in the brand’s distinctive athletic fabric, Rowley continues, each performer wore personalised attire created with them “in mind.”

Features included Ku wore a pastel dress with dazzling mini and macro paillettes, while Glaser stood out in a boxy brilliant blue suit over a micro silver bra top. Nwodim made a statement in a two-piece red scuba-looking outfit with flared slacks.

“I see fashion and comedy serving women in the same way,” added Rowley. “If you can be funny, you can feel confident. If you love what you’re wearing you feel confident. And if you can have both, even better.”