Lela Rose
Texas-born Rose has been designing classic ladylike frocks favored by Mandy Moore and Mindy Kaling since 1998. For the past few Fashion Weeks, she’s showcased her collections amid stellar city backdrops — from Washington Square Park to the streets of Tribeca to Greenwich Village restaurant Loring Place. On Monday, the designer will host a breezy presentation at Grand Banks, an oyster bar cum schooner moored at Pier 25 in Tribeca. “If I’m lucky and we’re at a restaurant,” she tells The Post, “I’ll sneak a snack from the chef!”
What can you share about your inspiration for this season’s show?
I like to design based on multiple facets — not just the colors and fabrics but on the fantasy of where I would wear them. This collection has a whimsical seaside feeling, and is being shown on a boat complete with nautical stripes, lobster rolls, Aperol Spritz cocktails and even “sail away” bandanas, to inspire your own ocean-bound trip.
What’s your Fashion Week good-luck charm?
My dog, Bobbin [a Norwich terrier]. And before him, Stitch. My dogs don’t miss a show.
What kind of music do you and your team listen to while you work?
In the studio, we’ve been loving the new Florence + the Machine album [“High as Hope”].
Which of your celeb fans embodies your aesthetic the most?
A favorite over the years has been Kate Middleton: timeless, classic and modern.
LaQuan Smith
Going into his eighth season at Fashion Week, 30-year-old Queens native Smith counts style powerhouses Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian as fans of his sexy, often body-conscious designs. Serena Williams even walked the runway at one of his early shows, back in 2010. “The inspiration for all of my shows is rooted in female empowerment and the strength of femininity,” he tells The Post ahead of his Sunday show.
What’s your craziest backstage memory?
One of my top backstage memories is flying Cardi B and Yo Gotti out to my runway show in Dubai. As Americans experiencing the beauty of the Middle East, everyone was so inspired that the “Bodak Yellow” music video ended up being shot somewhere in the desert on our trip — with Cardi in a LaQuan Smith PVC look [from the fall 2017 collection].
Who’s sitting in your dream front row (dead or alive)?
My dream front row would probably include Grace Jones, Eartha Kitt, Anna Nicole Smith, David Bowie and Tina Turner.
Do you have a good-luck charm or superstitious pre-show ritual?
[I’m] not superstitious at all. I think the best good-luck charm is working your ass off every six months to produce something truly original and beautiful. That’s difficult in today’s landscape of fashion.
Do you have a motivational phrase you say to your team before the show starts?
Before the first models hit the runway, as a group, we like to say a quick prayer, giving thanks to where we were and where we are now.
Christian Cowan
When British designer Cowan was just 18, Lady Gaga’s stylist spotted one of his looks on Instagram and ordered a bunch of his designs for the star. The rest is supersparkly fashion history. Now 24 and showing for the fourth time at Fashion Week on Saturday, Cowan’s penchant for “extra” manifests itself in crazy-fun costumey pieces, from over-the-knee glitter cowboy boots (recently worn by Kylie Jenner) to sequined tuxedos and gigantic hats fit for a (drama) queen.
Which NYFW runway show do you think heralded your fashion-world arrival?
A look that really set everything off for me was my “growing” sequin dress: It’s a silver sequin dress where the sequins grow in size until they are massive on the train. Paris Hilton closed the [February 2017] show in it, and it was iconic. It made headlines and was my first show in NYC, so it was really special to me.
Then the other look that became iconic was my black-and-white checkerboard trench coat: Cardi B wore it on her [“Invasion of Privacy”] album cover. It’s probably my most famous look!
How do you choose what you wear to your show or presentation?
Every season I think, “I’m going to plan what I wear this time.” Every season, in a rush, I pick [from] what’s not in the laundry! I’m too busy thinking about dresses and headpieces to think about my look.
Who would be in your dream front row (dead or alive)?
David Attenborough, next to Anna Wintour, next to Amy Winehouse, next to Oprah, next to Joan Crawford would be the most epic front row.
What’s your pre-show stress snack or backstage treat?
I drink about 400 gallons of water a day, and then it’s all about miscellaneous snacks that randomly appear backstage — I’m not that picky! However, I have to have an oat milk mocha latte, otherwise I’ll be a sleepy mess.
What’s your go-to song to get models pumped up before they walk?
George Michael’s “Freedom!” is always a safe choice, but if not that, then Britney Spears’ “Toxic” is sure to fire up the backstage [vibe].
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