Cynthia Rowley poses with NBC sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak, who was also at the Marymount fashion event. Image courtesy Marymount by Moshe B. Zuman.

We’ve long been besotted with multifaceted fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who has lent her whimsical touch to everything from high fashion (with her own eponymous label) to cheap chic (she’s just released her second line for Target) and nearly everything in between—including baby-blue charcoal grills, books, and bicycles.

Rowley made a quick trip to Arlington Friday to receive Marymount’s 2008 Designer of the Year award, catch the school’s graduation fashion show, and spend some time personally reviewing each senior’s portfolio. In the midst of the flurry of activity, she took a moment to spill about what’s inspiring her now and why she needed to get back to New York as soon as possible.

So are you actually wearing Cynthia Rowley?
I am! My dress, shoes, sunglasses, and necklace are all my own design.

We understand your new line, Whim by Cynthia Rowley, is now being rolled out at Target. Give us the inside scoop on what to expect.
It’s a summer entertaining collection aimed at the fashionable family. There are a lot of kids’ toys, a madras-plaid inflatable pool, pink and blue garden hoses, cool beach towels, even a baby-blue Weber grill. It’s all about summer fun.

Is that your favorite season?
I definitely love summer. The hotter the better! We have a little beach house in the Hamptons where my family [including her husband and two daughters] spends time in the summer and does things like surf and play sports. I’m actually a wicked badminton player. My partner and I play all summer long.