It’s official. I love Lela Rose. She is easily my favorite new designer and her name seems to be popping up more and more these days. From Amy’s amazing dress featured the other day, to Jenna Bush’s bridesmaid dresses…Lela is all over the place. And, it’s easy to see why!
all photos on Brides.com
Although the silhouettes are rather simple, the details are…um, amazing. Each gown seems to be the perfect combination of old world charm and modern femininity. The lace overlays, the tailored buttons, the girly lines. I love every bit of these gowns…
all photos on Lela Rose
To me, it’s the combination of fabric and cut that makes these dresses so pretty…the fabrics are soft and romantic, the cuts are simple and elegant. Each dress is all girl. And I love that. What do you guys think?
Comment by Catherine @ Urban Botanic on 15 May 2008:
I, too, am a huge Lela Rose Bridal fan…her attention to detail is amazing and you’re not going to find the cookie-cutter strapless ballgown in any of her collections! My fave is The Botanical Gardens
Comment by Ashley Brockinton on 15 May 2008:
I love this blog! So clean and chic and….useful too! Great job. I’ll have to start telling my brides about it.
Comment by jen on 15 May 2008:
Ditto… to everything you said!
Comment by Beth on 15 May 2008:
Yes, absolutely, the fabric makes it all come together. I kept asking for beautiful, interesting use of fabric during my search. There were a few Lela Rose’s that were top runners but I ended up with an Elizabeth Fillmore, which was a little lighter and just perfect for my Aug. beach wedding! E. Fillmore uses fabric in interesting and creative/beautiful ways, but the overall feel is lighter and more fluid. Check out her line if you like Lela Rose!
Comment by DIANA on 15 May 2008:
I LOVE THESE DRESSES!
Comment by G on 15 May 2008:
She’s been quietly under the wedding dress gown designer radar but she is going to explode now. I like that her dresses have such beautiful detail and come off so glamorously understated–I almost feel like J.Crew’s line has been ripping her off a little! If I had a chance to marry again… it’d be in Lela’s dresses.
Comment by kat on 15 May 2008:
I looove Lela Rose..though i’d feel like I would never be able to afford one of her dresses.
Comment by SKM on 15 May 2008:
GOR —- GEOUS!
Comment by Lara @ bliss event group on 15 May 2008:
These are BEAUTIFUL! So modern and comfortable looking. I would definitely slip one of these on and forget I was wearing a fabulous wedding dress. Beautiful!
Comment by Jessica on 15 May 2008:
The magazine ad for the third-to-last one (with the round “wheel” patterned lace) has been up on my inspiration wire for three months. I LOVE Lela Rose. I read a couple of interviews with her when her bridal line launched, and she seems as lovely as her gowns.
Comment by Shweta Zachariah on 15 May 2008:
I love this blog! So elegant and chic. I am finding it so helpful to plan my own wedding which is in the coming January. Great job. Abby I needed some suggestions from you - which I have mailed you. I was wondering if you got it.
Comment by M on 15 May 2008:
Her dresses are lovely, you are right about that. But to be fair, you should disclose that they run around 10 grand. So, maybe the top 1% of brides in the US can afford them. I think when you just say they are nice, and don’t mention they cost as much as most people’s cars… it sets bridal expectations super high (”why can’t my dress be that nice?”) That said, as inspiration goes, they are really gorgeous.
Comment by abby larson on 15 May 2008:
Yep, these dresses are very high end…starting at $3995 and going all the way up to $10k.
Oftentimes I love to simply post about things that I find beautiful…
Comment by Inspired Events By Nycia on 15 May 2008:
I would have to agree these dresses are simply BEAUTIFUL!!
Comment by Cameron Clark on 15 May 2008:
Wedding dresses are outrageously expensive. I got a $3,800 dress for my wedding for around $1,400 because I bought it off the rack as a sample and had it altered. I looked into having it made for me for about $1,200, so it is possible to get a designer look for less. I LOVE these dresses shown, but would like to comment (as a wedding photographer) to all you brides-to-be: ONLY consider a strapless dress if you REALLY like the way you look in it. If you never wear strapless, why start on your wedding day? Also, you CAN look fabulous in something that isn’t $10,000, it takes creativity and a good seamstress!
Comment by stephanie on 15 May 2008:
I am obsessed with her style and attention to detail. I would buy one of her gowns without even trying it on if I could afford one! They are sooooooo over the top expensive.
Comment by Kate on 15 May 2008:
I love the dresses. We’re thinking about renewing our vows in a year or two. I really would love to wear one of these. I eloped the first time and wore a blue silk suit. Those are more my style!
Comment by Kate on 15 May 2008:
Also, as far as the price goes…everybody that’s planning their wedding should be a big girl and realize that price of your dress, etc. isn’t what matters. Some people can afford those dresses, some can’t…this blog doesn’t cater to any one budget does it? It’s an inspiration blog and it’s wonderful!
Comment by AshleyL. on 15 May 2008:
the lace dress near the bottom is stunning. it looks like little baby doilies sewn together. beautiful.
Comment by natalie hill on 15 May 2008:
love lela rose.
i’m doing a shoe show for her. love being a size 7.
Comment by Anne-Mette Jakobsen on 16 May 2008:
I discovered these after Amy’s wedding profile.. I hadn’t found anything yet that hit that trigger but I LOVE all of her dresses. I would take almost any of them. The fabrics are beautiful, and the silhouettes and so elegant. Now I just need to find something as beautiful that’s in my budget!
Comment by Lindsay on 16 May 2008:
I LOVE these dresses. Especially the last dress in each set. Gorgeous.
Comment by Heather on 17 May 2008:
Since I could never afford to buy one of her (breathtaking) dresses, I went and bought myself a pair of her (super cute) shoes from Payless :).
Comment by Alyce Smith on 19 June 2008:
I just bought a sample dress from her Fall 08 collection so it was half the price!!!
It’s called the Lighthouse and I’m in love!!
Don’t let the price tags deter you; you can always hop over to http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com which is where I was scoping before this act of god dropped into my tiny hands!
Comment by Amy Maddigan on 27 June 2008:
I am stranded in Montana!! Where do you find the prices for Lela Rose Wedding Gowns? I love her dresses, but need to budget!! Help if anyone can - Thanks!
Comment by Allison on 27 June 2008:
I LOVE lela rose, but cannot even begin to afford her dresses. Does anyone have suggestions of other similar designers?
Comment by Liz on 1 July 2008:
I love Lela Rose’s designs, they are flawless! My cousin actually just wore one of her dresses to her wedding just a few weeks ago and accessorized with amazing pearl drop earrings and a simple pearl bracelet–both of which my sister and I were able to buy for her at Premium Pearl. The site is fabulous for any and all pearl jewelry and definitely the go to store for wedding day earrings and such!
Comment by julie on 29 October 2008:
Really????
I haven’t seen these gowns in person, but from the pictures they don’t even seem good quality. I would think for a higher end label the photography would at least be flattering. Honestly they don’t even grab my attention. For a dress that starts at 4000 I am not impressed.
Comment by junebride on 4 November 2008:
These wedding dresses are just incredible in person, breath-taking really. The fabrics are amazing. I tried on dozens and dozens of dresses and none of them felt the same as the Lela Rose Gowns. Her silk fabrics feel like butter on your skin and none of them feel or look heavy or overworked like some wedding gowns tend to be these days. These pictures absolutely do not do the dresses justice. That may be due to the studio backdrop and/or the uninspiring models, which some of the dresses do not seem to fit properly. It’s hard to look at gowns on other people and in photos, as they look so different on oneself and in person. Worth every penny!
Comment by Danielle on 28 November 2008:
I just bought a Lela Rose sample gown for 3200….less than half the 7,000 it retails for. There is nothing wrong with it! It is called the Lily Pond, look it up, it is so beautiful with handmade flowers sewn up the train. I don’t often show people pictures of it online because yes, the models really do not flatter the dress, if that makes sense. They are too thin and the dresses just hang, not like on a “real” body. I have always described the feeling as butter as well. I LOVE my dress! Look for a sample, its worth it!