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In this week's edition of the Look Book, New York magazine abandons the "commoners" in favor of a bona fide fashionista, designer Cynthia Rowley. Rowley loves to wear some of her older clothes, which she likens to putting "defibrillator paddles on an old black dress." To comment on Rowley's defibrillator paddles are back-alley fashion consultants Lauren Mechling, Brian Ulicky, and Suzie Lee. Their analysis of Rowley's je ne sais quoi follows.

Lauren Mechling, co-author of The Rise And Fall Of A 10th-Grade Social Climber

If you were walking with your mother in the West Village, what would you say to Cynthia? And would your mother like her? How would the two get along?

She looks like a space-age stewardess, with those Matrix sunglasses and her antenna hand. I would ask her for a pillow and three extra waters.

My mother would most certainly not like her 1600%. Maybe 440% verbal, 410% math, and that s because she has a boyfriend and a kid, two badges of honor that are foremost on Mom s mind these days. But, I m sorry, that carpetbagger clutch and that woven-at-summer camp heart-shaped belt would put Mom off. And what s up with the candy-cane stockings? They look pervy. Beyond pervy.

I don t think we d have a chance to know. My mom refuses to go near people in vintage because she s convinced she ll catch something from them.

If getting a pair of Prada shoes from a boyfriend is Cynthia's idea of the most romantic thing in the world, what's the least romantic?

Going to Pastis with the dude who runs the Boston Marathon barefoot, being turned away at the door by the hostess who d airkissed Cynthia only days earlier, and sitting at an outside table at the dive bar across the street. Anna Wintour would come gliding down the street and Cynthia would hide her face behind a pint glass.

What's in Cynthia's Mary Poppins-esque bag?

Klonopin, Adderall, Percoset, Prozac, Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Serax, Librium, Tofranil, Norpramin, Pertofrane, Aventyl, Pamelor, Elavil, Sinequan, Adapin, Anafranil, Effexor, Nardil, Parnate, and Luvox.


Brian Ulicky, publishing assistant-type

If you were walking with your mother in the West Village, what would
you say to Cynthia? And would your mother like her? How would the two get along?

"I love you a thrillion percent, but only during tax-free week at Loehmann's!" My mom would be busy buying cupcakes, but she might yell "Hey, Annie Lennox!" and lament the voluntary jacket shrinkage. Cynthia would probably let out a tiny scream and jump in the nearest cab.

If getting a pair of Prada shoes from a boyfriend is Cynthia's idea of
the most romantic thing in the world, what's the least romantic?

Lunch at Red Lobster with an editor at Field & Stream.

What's in Cynthia's Mary Poppins-esque bag?

The circus ballerina whose slippers she jacked. Also, three dozen jars of Redken Water Wax (tm), just in case city-drip gives her combover that not-so-fresh feeling.


Suzie Lee, Bloomsbury publicity assistant extraordinaire

If you were walking with your mother in the West Village, what would you say to Cynthia? Would your mother like her? And how would the two get along?

Pastis? Isn't that where grandmas go to lunch now?

My mom admires skinny people, but she'd probably tell Cynthia to drop the glasses, put on the makeup, and grow the hair. Jane Wiedlin is much better at aging that pixie punk look.

If getting a pair of Prada shoes from a boyfriend is Cynthia's idea of the most romantic thing in the world, what's the least romantic?

A fucking pair of Prada shoes is ROMANTIC? I thought only underage movie stars and B-list celebrities could get away with being label whores.

What's in Cynthia's Mary Poppins-esque bag?

Defibrillator paddles