The CultureMap Interview

Designer Cynthia Vincent talks caftans, contemporary fashion and Talitha Getty

Designer Cynthia Vincent, of Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent.
Photo by Aaron Fairooz
Vincent says every girl should own a caftan.
Jonathan Vu/Flickr
Vincent is known for mixing patterns and bold prints.
Jonathan Vu/Flickr

Cynthia Vincent, designer of Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, a contemporary line known for its bold prints, traveled from New York City to Dallas for spring market at Fashion Industry Gallery. To get some insight into her line, we chatted with Vincent, who knew at age 6, that fashion was her future.

CultureMap: What inspired your spring 2013 collection?

Cynthia Vincent: I was inspired by various cultures. I looked at Uzbekistan and Mayan tribes. For a modern look, I manipulated Ikat prints and Aztec designs, mixing different patterns. I think of Talitha Getty going to Morocco, in the '70s.

CM: What influenced your resort wear collection?

CV: Venice Beach meets Marlon Brando. I was at a party when I met his architect, and the idea just came to me. I love the flower print — and vintage meets modern look — on some of the key pieces. And, of course, bright, bold colors.

CM: It seems like there's a sense of nostalgia for another time period — does the past greatly influence you?

CV: I certainly have a romantic perspective. Quality was different. The industry was different then. But today, fashion is very exciting. People can really express themselves.

CM: What can we look forward to for fall 2013?

CV: Think of a nomadic girl in urban life, wearing faux fur, leathers and lots of knits.

CM: What's your perspective on contemporary fashion?

CV: I love that you don't design throwaway clothes — you can and should take them from season to season. That's the biggest compliment to me, when I see people wearing my dress from three years ago.

CM: What do you, personally, love this fall?

CV: Bordeaux and raisin-colored clothing. When I haven't seen something in a while, I just gravitate toward it as it's reintroduced.

CM: What should every girl have in her closet?

CV: A caftan, for day-to-night wear. It's perfect, even for shorter girls.

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Dance-floor dreams

Dallas bank launches big 2025 prom dress drive with 7 drop-off sites

Photo courtesy of Comerica

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Comerica Bank is hosting its biggest Dallas-area prom dress yet in 2025, offering more ways to donate than ever before.

Comerica's 10th annual North Texas Prom Dress Drivewill take place during the month of February at seven participating banking centers, including two new ones for this year. All donations will help teens served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County, Dallas CASA, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas to make their prom dreams come true.

The public can drop off formal dresses and accessories at these participating Comerica Bank locations in Dallas, Frisco, and Plano:

Mockingbird-Abrams: 6260 E. Mockingbird Ln., Dallas (new)
Preston John Hickman 4111 Preston Rd., Frisco (new)
Chapel Hill-Tollway: 2560 Dallas Pkwy., Plano
Forest-Inwood: 5200 Forest Ln., Dallas
Lovers Lane-Devonshire: 5647 W. Lovers Ln., Dallas
NorthPark: 8850 Boedeker St., Dallas
Parker-Premier: 3310 Premier Dr., Plano

Contributors do not have to be bank customers to donate.

The drive kicks off on Saturday, February 1 at the Mockingbird-Abrams, NorthPark, and Parker-Premier banking centers, which will be open from 9 am-12 noon, while the other locations will start accepting dresses during normal business hours on Monday, February 3. (No banking on Sundays.) The drive will run through February 28.

“For nearly a decade, we have partnered with our colleagues, customers, and the community to send thousands of teens to the prom, including more than 200 students last year,” says Beatrice Kelly, Comerica Bank senior vice president and director of community development banking, in a release. “We hope to serve a record number of teens through this year’s drive in honor of our 10th anniversary.”

The dresses can be new or gently used, but they do ask that garments be cleaned. (A good rule of thumb: Donate them as clean as if you were trying to resell them at a picky consignment store.)

Dresses and ensembles of all sizes are welcome (including plus sizes, 20 and up). They are also accepting donations of new or gently loved shoes, purses, and accessories.

Once the donations are collected and assembled, a "shopping" event for the teens will be held at a later date. Watch for more information to come on the event website.

Project Beauty is also partnering with the bank to help collect dresses, donate beauty swag bags, and give a complimentary prom night makeovers to one lucky teen from each benefiting agency.

Since 2015, Comerica has donated nearly 6,600 dresses, including 380 in 2024, to Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County and Greater Dallas. For more information, visit comerica.com/promdress.

Comerica's is the second local prom dress drive announced for 2025. St. Andrew United Methodist Church's Prom Closet is also currently accepting donations in Plano; more information here.

comerica bank families prom dress charity