Lela Rose’s design team is all-female. That’s why, she explained, it’s not enough for them to just make pretty dresses. They need to make wearable dresses too: “We’re super into things that are comfortable and that you can wear all the time because we’re in the clothes all day long every day,” she said.
That ethos led spring 2026 to have a focus on breathable materials and airy cuts—stretchy knits, poplins, cottons, and linens, yet done in an elevated way: a black midi dress was styled with a vintage-inspired, Western-style pin, a classic black cardigan was made to be translucent. A floral skirt set, meanwhile, was made of basketweave: “easy and beautiful, and you can be in it all the time,” said Rose.
Florals, a Lela Rose house code, were present throughout. Many flowers took on a watercolor-esque form, while others were crocheted or sewn on as fanciful embellishments, including on a white sheath evening gown where a yellow sequined bloom adorned the front.
There were a number of separates in the collection. This, on a base level, is because separates sell well for brand. Yet it was also because Rose believes they represent the city-country lifestyle her brand seeks to emulate. The Lela Rose woman is someone who goes to a charity gala or fundraising luncheon in New York City, but she also hosts outdoor barbecues at her home in the Texas Hill Country or Jackson Hole, where she pairs a full skirt with a white T-shirt or a top with a pair of jeans. “Our customer travels a lot,” said Rose from her own house in Wyoming. “I just have a real appreciation for a wardrobe that can move around and has to fit the different needs of where you are.”
