Lela Rose - Fall 2008's Sporty Cocktail Theme

The Texas-born designer, Lela Rose, has a vast background in the aesthetics. She attended the University of Colorado, where she studied sculpting and painting. After graduation, she worked under Christian Francis Roth and Richard Tyler, both prominent fashion designers. In 1996 Lela Rose launched her first collection out of her apartment. This collection featured feminine clothing with lots of embellishments. Her clothes have been worn by an extensive list of celebrities, including Ashley Judd, Mischa Barton, Selma Blair, Molly Sims, Jessica Simpson, and Jenna and Barbara Bush. Lela continues to create simple, timeless garments.

Lela Rose has come a long way since that first collection back in 1996. Her designs have been featured in InStyle, Lucky, Harper's Bazaar, InStyle Weddings, New York Weddings, Cosmopolitan Bride, People, Entertainment, Martha Stuart Weddings, US, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Town and Country, Town and Country Weddings, Inside Weddings, and W. Her designs are casual, timeless, elegant, and wearable.

I attended the Lela Rose's fashion show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York and was delighted by the sporty upscale clothes she presented on the runway for Fall 2008.  This collection supported refined ruffles and a more refined shimmer.  This was a very different look from seasons past.   

The Fall 2008 Lela Rose collection focuses on the venturesome woman characterized by modern agility--the Sporty Cocktail.

-Lela Rose-

And that "Sporty Cocktail" look ranges from bomber jackets to zip-up parkas to racer back swimsuits, but with a cocktail feel adorned in untraditionally rich fabrics.  She deems her day collection as "Susie Chapstick meets Park Avenue."  Her cocktail theme effortlessly spills over to night with the alluring rock star glamour of a young Jerry Hall, consisting of high collars and ruffles juxtaposed with rock star edge.

Her descriptions, though a mouthful, were also eye candy: peacock cashmere felt duffle jacket, birds-eye looped paillette sweatshirt dress, gold dot layered inside out dress, mallard dot gazar layered dress, and fuschia gazar strapless gown, etc. When asked what inspired the various colors and textures, she replied:

I wanted to do a backdrop of salt and pepper so I really wanted to do bright colors. I am kind of a bird lover and started going through bird books of different colors that I loved in certain birds. That's why we had cardinal, gold finch, mallard. I really wanted a very rich color pallet.

Mid 2007 Lela Rose introduced to Payless Shoes an inexpensive line of shoes for women and infants. Some of the pieces were revealed on the runway, including: The Bixby, a round toe d'orsay pump with a satin bow; the Addison, a round-toe flannel wool pump with a wood-stacked heel in a variety of colors; and the Sibley, a round toe flat with a removable pink bow. Her shoes will be available in the fall of 2008 at Payless stores and payless.com.

I Love Shoes® because even one new pair can bring life to any wardrobe.
-Lela Rose-

For a list of retailers, or to learn more about Lela Rose's designs, visit her website, www.lelarose.com.

Written by Kaylene Peoples

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