Photo: Courtesy of Lela Rose
New York-based designer Lela Rose is known for her sculpturally ladylike silhouettes, from her ready-to-wear collection to her beautiful wedding dresses. We caught up with the designer in the days following her recent presentation in New York City at Bridal Fashion Week to hear about her inspiration, her favorite part about designing bridal gowns, and her top style tips for brides on the big day.
Lela Rose's bridal aesthetic is about effortless luxury.
"I think of it as casual luxury, as our gowns are for the bride who wants luxury, but doesn't want to look like she has been planning this occasion since she was a little girl. One of our early retail partners dubbed the collection 'organic couture' and I think it really does fit the brand style," Rose explains of her designs. On her inspiration for this season, "It started with drawings I discovered from Jessie M. King, a 19th century Scottish illustrator. The Spring 2016 collection is timeless with a youthful, enchanting feel. I love the way we incorporated matelassé and corded lace."
Not surprisingly, Lela Rose loves designing for brides.
"I love to design for brides, because each gown has a unique personality, as opposed to ready-to-wear, where the pieces all work into one or two ideas, and the collection has more similarities throughout," she explained.
Photo: Courtesy of Lela Rose
Her favorite bridal silhouette? It's perfectly suited to her dream woman to dress.
"I love an off-the-shoulder neckline and find the shape and style to be incredibly flattering. I am loving the outdoor weddings where the scenery is all around, and so natural. I love the individuality that a beautiful landscape can create," she explained. Her dream woman to dress? "I would love to see Audrey Hepburn in "The Magnolia Tree" gown. I have always loved her look and style and feel she would be the perfect look for this dress."