Cheryl Shops

Where & When: Sunday, February 14 at 10 a.m., the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: There are designers who make clothes that are merely pretty, and then there is Lela Rose, who manages to make pretty clothes that are borne from interesting places. Case in point: this collection was inspired by night skies, Hubble telescope imagery, and the Galapagos Islands. These disparate sources resulted in lovely textures and colors, from a flame-orange anorak dress to a "lagoon-print" sheath dress, and clustery-beaded dresses meant to evoke moon rocks. Metallics played a strong role--the better to evoke a galaxy--with a starry metallic bouclé jacket, a futuristic liquid lamé jumpsuit, and a series of glittery party dresses. One can only imagine the colorful conversations that Rose's dresses might inspire amongst the society types who tend to wear them.
Standout Look: While Rose has some great separates--flouncy jackets and fresh-looking miniskirts among them--she truly excels at dresses, both of the daytime and nighttime variety. I thought this shimmery "asteroid silk" number was a refined yet relaxed take on the eternally flattering goddess look, with a one-shouldered design that smartly covers the upper arm.
Bonus Points: Rose is a Southerner and knows the meaning of hospitality; her shows always feature generously stocked gift bags, and her publicists at Krupp Group are some of the nicest in the biz.
Where to Buy: Visit LelaRose.com for stores.