The Tamesis
Lela Rose, a mother of two, is increasingly considering the multi-generational appeal of her designs. Rose’s client base includes gala attendees and dapper wedding guests whose wardrobes are filled with her floral gowns and signature Parker dresses, much to Rose’s delight in figuring out ways to charm their daughters and granddaughters.
Case in point: In the designer’s midtown Manhattan showroom, her in-house marketing director accidentally showed off a soft wool jacket from the latest season. Featuring a defined waist and flared hem, it’s an effortless piece that adds pizzazz to black work pants on a chilly Monday morning.
The brand’s growing range of outerwear at various price points offers options that are refined and refined, but not too precious to be saved only for special occasions. As the designer said, it’s about thinking, “What would she wear to the grocery store?” There’s even a super-buttery lyla-ized leather jacket in ebony and crimson, with no visible hardware or unnecessary bells and whistles.
Roses may be synonymous with flowers (both in name and merchandise), but it turns out she’s just as fascinated by birds. An image of a kestrel found on her father’s ranch in Texas became the starting point for the polka dot patterns that appear throughout the collection, with a cocktail sheath bearing the vague outline of a bird. Although Rose was reluctant to make too explicit a reference to Western wear, her nods to her Texas roots and adopted home of Jackson Hole were evident throughout. Instead, the spirit is evident in beaded fringe on cocktail pants, a built-in draped scarf on a silk shirt, or through fringe-trimmed denim interwoven with multi-colored prints.
Of course, feeling glamorous in a dress is a great balancing act for every generation in a family, and there’s no shortage of eye-catching frocks out there—from those with internal bodices to bodycon sweatshirts with gorgeous jewelry-style embellishments at the waist. Maybe they won’t show up in supermarkets, but they will stand out at the checkout counter.
