Another season, another artist. Having looked at the work of Jim Hodges, Man Ray, and Joan Mitchell in the past year, that s become designer Lela Rose s inspiration mantra. "I ve always collected art, so I like to pick a different artist for each collection," she said at the photo shoot for her first official pre-fall line. This season s choice? Abstract expressionist Clyfford Still. Still s colorful brushstrokes appeared on day-to-night cocktail dresses and on the bottom of the cropped pants that Rose paired with a woven wool and silk paneled jacket. Sequined embroidery dripped from the neckline of a T-shirt styled with a gray matelassé ball gown skirt for a similar effect. Rose imagined that look for the gala girl who wishes to opt out of wearing the obvious column gown or a heavy floor-length beaded frock. Other pieces were likewise driven by Still s graphic hand. Tops among them was a black crocheted-to-look-like-lace number.
