Lela Rose at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NYC

I’m writing from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City right now, and I’m finding it quite hard to tear myself away from fashion events and sites to sit down and write. Yesterday I checked out Lela Rose’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection; she is a noteworthy designer not only because she is from Texas—Dallas, that is—but because of her eclectic inspirations. Her inspiration for this collection came from the neon sign graveyards of Vegas and the amusement park of Coney Island.

At first, the words “graveyard” and “amusement park” didn’t ring romantic in my mind and I began to wonder whether or not zombie brides and ten-year old girls eating hotdogs would emerge onto the brightly lit runway. But once the show started, the audience, and myself, were captivated by the nostalgic representation of the “burnt-out bulbs, electric and playful spirit” Rose envisioned. Her collection told a story about time, fading light, life, and a longing for “what was.” The story was told with bleached metallic tweeds, striped paint twill, and washed out voile. Blocked silhouettes, cyclone prints, chipped embroidery and carnival stretched cotton were other components of the collection creating a romantic and nostalgic vibe. I cannot wait till this collection is available for purchase. Previously, you have found Lela Rose at a local Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, or online. However, you’ll want to check out the Lela Rose for Payless Spring ’12 shoe collection.

Celebrities in attendance included Susan Sarandon with daughter Eva Amurri, Mandy Moore, famous stylist Robert Verdi, and Desiree of Gal about the Globe, to name a few.