A common topic of conversation at Pre-Fall appointments is retail’s out-of-whack delivery schedule. Once upon a time, Pre-Fall sort of made sense for the clothes purchased in June, because women bought them months in advance and waited patiently until September to wear them. Chalk it up to the fast-fashion brands or the exorbitant prices of much designer gear, but that simply isn’t the case anymore. Many designers now consider Pre-Fall more of a “summer” collection. So what do you want to buy when the weather is finally starting to heat up and you’ve got weddings, weekend trips, and three glorious months of warmth ahead of you?
Lela Rose’s formula looks something like this: white shirtdresses with flowerlike puffs of fringe; graphic lace skirts in a pretty mix of fuchsia, orchid, and hunter green; and lots of slim, stretchy knits. “We aren’t the go-to brand for true casualwear, but we have a customer who is looking for that now,” Rose explained. “She still wants something special, but needs to be able to wear it on her vacation.” A few breezy cotton voile gowns in a painterly wildflower print certainly qualified: “They have a casualness to them, but still feel dressed.”
As for the fancier attire that is Rose’s specialty, she’s experimenting with new silhouettes. “We’re doing a ton of cocktail separates, which is where a lot of our business is going,” she said, pointing out a flared, lace-trimmed black tunic and skinny trousers. “I love pieces that can take you to a black-tie event but aren’t gowns.” Perhaps next season will find Rose trying her hand at a Le Smoking—we can picture it in sparkly fil coupe or with her signature 3-D appliqués.
