Lela Rose loves a theme. Last season, the designer staged a streetwear show complete with fruit stands and banana phone knitwear. For Pre-Fall, Rose found inspiration at the bottom of the ocean. The danger of choosing something as literal and broad as food or fish is that clothes can quickly slip into stupidity. Thanks to the basic muted palette, this season’s outfits never felt over the top.
The gold open-knit sweater with tiny fish charms has me absolutely obsessed with the nimble spines (a game of fishnets), and the use of abstract blue waves with orange and pink botanicals And delicate organza dresses to illustrate. But not every reference is so straightforward. A crushed blue pleated dress was inspired by flowing water, while pants adorned with a geometric sequin pattern were what Rose called her “buried treasure pants.” Like most of Rose’s collection, it’s handsome and durable with a touch of eccentricity.
