My Style: Ashley Rowe
Ashley Rowe graduated from George Brown’s fashion management program just three years ago, yet the 26-year-old designer already has her signature bustier dresses hanging at TNT and will be a designer-in-residence at the Gladstone next month. We visited Rowe’s soon-to-be-vacated studio at the Toronto Fashion Incubator to find out what shapes her look.
WARDROBE STAPLES
I’m a jeans and T-shirt girl. I wear a lot of basic white tees from American Apparel with jeans. I like acid wash J-Brand Thrashers paired with a blazer and the quilted Chanel purse my mom gave me.
SHOPPING DESTINATIONS
A lot of my wardrobe basics are by The Row, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s line, like black and cream silk tank tops and a black skirt that looks like something Herve Leger would do. I bought them at Holts when I was the assistant to the Dolce and Gabbana specialist. I go to The Gap whenever they do collaborations with designers—I’m dying for the khaki Alexander Wang motorcycle jacket that’s there now.
BUDGET FASHION
I’m saving money, so I won’t buy many summer clothes. Instead, I design them myself—I’m thinking of hand-dyeing fabric in pastels.
BEAUTY INDULGENCES
I go to the Ten Spot on Queen Street for manicures and pedicures—it’s very luxurious. I see Ayla at Sudis in Hazelton Lanes for facials and waxing. I love her.
STYLE INFLUENCES
My mom has an old black wool coat that inspired my fall collection last year. She’s always very put-together. But when I was in seventh grade, she wore a pink leather outfit to go shopping and I was so embarrassed I didn’t want to leave the house with her. Now I appreciate that she stood up for her own style.
FAVOURITE DESIGNER
I love, love, love Rick Owens. I have a coat from his winter collection, which was inspired by bugs but translated really well into his work. I read that he only has one pair of jeans and pants that he wears to everything. I’d love to just have one rack of clothes for a season and then change it up the next season.
COMING UP
I have a Viktor and Rolf tux from H&M, and I wanted to do my own version in black lamé that’s extra-long in the back. Expect to see pops of bold colour—like reds and bits of neon—in my next collection. I’m making a bustier bodysuit in bright yellow-green leather.
I LOVE the Miss Rowe line, I’ve got two dresses (so far) and can’t stop wearing her amazing cocktail dress whenever I go out! Her designs are really well cut and structured.
CLOTHES! CLOTHES! CLOTHES!
Congrats to Ashley Rowe! I worked very briefly with her for TO fashion week. Good to see her living her dream.
After buying my first Miss Rowe piece, it was the detail to materials and craftsmanship that really made me fall in love with this label. Items from the Miss Rowe label are genuine investment pieces as the quality certainly is made to last and transcend from one season to the next. The bustier dresses and A-line tops are definite must haves!
Congrats Ashley! Still need to book my appt to come in :)
i’m glad she’s chosen a regular-bodied girl to be her muse… it’s refreshing to see a real womanly figure wearing her clothes.
I agree – its nice for her to break the typical figure-mould of stick thin girls. Great dresses, will have to stop by when in town! Congrats!