Lela Rose
Lela Rose commenced the tenth anniversary of September 11 with a moment of silence, followed by playing The Beatles’ “Imagine” while guests sat in total darkness. Touching, indeed, but one would expect no less from a designer who’s kept up with her tradition of gift-wrapping homemade biscotti for everyone attending her show.
There was a vibe of starting anew, a sentiment that was expressed in both her musical tribute and on the runway: Ready-to-wear felt almost like a blank canvas for optical prints, faded stripes and color-blocking. Cheery shades of tangerine and sunset yellow splashed across her classic, structured shifts, while stacked wedges showcased colorful candy-like embellishments.
Textures were rich in the way of porcelain-chipped dresses and burlap jackets (the one lined in bright orange was particularly awesome).
The collection capped off with a dream-like sequence of princess gowns: some were dripped in metallic gold, others a bit dotty with tulle tutus to boot. A highlight was the two-piece, striped bustier and full skirt combo: pretty and perfectly polished, much like Rose’s front row set, which included Mandy Moore, Susan Sarandon, and a blushing bride-to-be Eva Amurri. The daughter of Susan Sarandon gleefully revealed that Rose is designing her wedding gown, as well as those of Sarandon and her bridal party. “A Lela Rose wedding!” Amurri said. Ah, to dream.
