I was excited for the Lela Rose show long before it actually began because that morning the backstage was covered in a confetti of gold foil.
In an act of utter genius, the dashing hairstylist Ted Gibson (who you may know from TLC’s What Not to Wear), crushed up the stuff and sprinkled it over chic, teased updos of rolled hair. It was unlike anything I had seen at Fashion Week. And still, the look made Rose’s intricate, refined designs even more powerful as models later trotted down the runway, gold foil floating to the floor in fits of ethereal elegance.
Also while backstage I watched as makeup designed by Romy Soleimani for Beauty.com kissed the lips and eyelids of the models. A neon-yellow green eyeliner by Stila and a rosy pink pout, it look liked springtime had arrived all over again.
And then I found myself in front of the racks of clothes to go down the runway, and my heart beat a little faster. Inspired by Danish industrial designer Arne Jacobsen, Rose had paid attention to his use of “curvilinear shapes and quirky geometry,” and every dress was a celebration of shape.
Actually seeing the clothes go down the runway was a delight, of course, as well. Favorites included a long ivory gown accented with black wood grain lace inserts, a strapless dress embroidered with a column of alternating green stripes, and a citrine silk gazar curved bodice gown. Bursts of aqua and vivid pink appeared in geometric and floral prints on silks and sateens in cocktail-length dresses and sheaths. They were all gowns and dresses much like debutantes would wear at sensational spring galas and lunches. Her collection was truly an event, an experience to see: models whisked down the runway and dresses in light fabrics floated behind them. It was a perfect combination of intelligence, femininity and luxurious elegance.
Take a look at some of my pictures from backstage here, and check out the entire show on Style.com here.