Lela Rose said her new Resort collection was inspired by Man Ray's works during the Dada period, but at first glance, there was nothing particularly surreal about these straightforward, pretty cocktail frocks. Slim-fitting sheaths came in a color-blocked palette of blood orange, taupe, and mint derived from what the designer described as the artist's "lesser-known paintings," as opposed to his famous avant-garde photography. Subtle details like cloth-covered embellished jewels and unexpected cutouts at the shoulders added new interest to Rose's somewhat predictable, "event-driven" fare. No one's going to argue with a classic cobalt blue gown, but we'd like to see Rose experiment more with looks like the "eyelash" jacquard trousers set, which was a definite standout.
