If there's one thing that is as dear to Lela Rose's heart as fashion, it's food. So for the second season in a row, the Dallas-born designer chose a trendy New York restaurant to showcase her collection at New York Fashion Week.
Rose, who is so well-known for her knack of throwing a good dinner party that she wrote a book about entertaining titled Pret-A-Party, scattered the Loring Place restaurant in SoHo with pink match books bearing the words, "Eat Drink Dress Lela," served a menu that included wood-grilled broccoli salad and tuna tartare, and sent everyone home with a tin of fresh-baked cookies.
"As someone who who loves to entertain, I believe in the power of a good meal spent with others as a moment to relax, reflect, and exchange ideas," particularly during these turbulent times, she said in her program notes.
The intimate affair, which attractedThis Is Usstar Mandy Moore, had the feel of the kind of style shows that were once held in upscale department store tearooms, where models milled about while patrons took a break from shopping for a few nibbles. It was also a great opportunity to see the clothes up close and notice the intricate embroidery and delicate lacework in each design.
Although Rose showed her fall collection, spring was in the air. Tulips of various sizes are woven into dresses while larger tulips are painted onto gowns or reflected in a tinsel pattern. Pink is a predominate color throughout the collection, with standouts including a mohair coat, knit dress, and bell-sleeve jacket and slacks in various cotton-candy shades.
The latter two looks also featured a detachable mink collar, as did other styles in the collection, so the wearer can easily remove the collar and wear the ensemble practically any time of the year. (The collars and headbands are available for sale immediately online or at the Lela Rose flagship boutique in Dallas, with a portion of sales going to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.)
Other stylish standouts that look more attuned to chilly weather are an oatmeal-colored cable knit dress with matching pearl-encrusted scarf and cap, and a miniskirt dotted with fluffy pink mink circles and worn with a black long-sleeved turtleneck.
Mandy Moore, Lela Rose.
