One thing about Lela Rose, she loves a theme. In the past she’s mined fruit stands, The Nutcracker, and the Queen of Hearts for her chipper, motif-heavy collections. This season is no exception. Rose was inspired by C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia (she’s clearly not alone; Greta Gerwig has been tapped to direct movies based on the series). The novel—with its White Witch and heroic lion Aslan—certainly provides enough richly textured inspiration. You can see it in the gold Rose uses as embroidery, tassel fringe, and velvet dresses and suiting, and the delicate, ethereal evening wear. This is very much a collection that speaks to holiday party goers more than beachside vacationers.
A complex mirrored pattern that features a sun, lion, butterfly, and snake lends an ornate drama to the fuss-free silhouettes. In fact, most of the actual clothes are fairly simple: relaxed pantsuits, fit-and-flare dresses, A-line gowns. They’re dramatized by the textiles and embellishments. Luxe? Yes. Safe? That too.
