by The Perennial Style | Aug 8, 2013 | Dwell, Style, Uncategorized

Fashion has always been a passion of mine, which is why I spent years working and interning within the fashion industry. During this time, I was fortunate enough to work for Dallas native, Lela Rose. If you haven’t heard of Lela Rose, she is one designer you definitely want to get to know. Not only are her pieces one of a kind and attentive to detail, but they are all manufactured within the United States.
Lela Rose began her career in art after studying painting and sculpture at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Lela spent her spare time designing vests she created from vintage scarves, which inspired her to enroll in the Parsons School of Design in New York City. In 1996, Lela launched her first collection of women’s clothes from her apartment. Though Lela worked mainly with private clients, her line gained fame in 2001 when she dressed Jenna and Barbara Bush for their father’s inauguration.

Each of Lela Rose’s ready-to-wear collections is inspired by a particular artist, which is shown through the patterns and detail of each dress. Lela’s designs are dedicated to the feminine silhouette, and by using precise tailoring on architectural lines, these dresses are made to accentuate a woman’s figure regardless of size.

Lela Rose is headquartered in New York City, and her one and only boutique (flagship) is in Highland Park Village in Dallas, TX. If you aren’t living in Dallas, no worries, her collection is carried at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and other luxury retailers. What I respect most about Lela Rose is despite how well-known her line has become, she still remains hands on in every aspect of her company. In fact, I received a personal email from her welcoming me to the company on my first day. It’s little details like this which makes me fall head over heels for a company.

Calling all brides! Not only is she an amazing ready-to-wear designer, but her bridal line is to die for! The beading on her gowns is absolutely breath-taking and sure gives Vera Wang a run for her money. She has also collaborated with Dessy to create an affordable line of bridesmaid dresses.

Pictures from the Neiman Marcus Conclave hosted at Lela Rose’s mother’s house in Dallas:



Pictures from Lela Rose’s Mother’s Day Luncheon in Dallas:

Lela Rose and her daughter, Rosie
Rosie and I wore matching skirts to the luncheon


Click here to shop Lela Rose!
by The Perennial Style | Aug 7, 2013 | Beauty, Uncategorized
Last minute dinner plans and your hair is looking drab from a long day in the office? Meet your new best friend: dry shampoo. I am sure you have already heard about the miracles of dry shampoo, but finding a good one is not an easy task (like the time Janie tried the blonde Bumble and Bumble powder that turned the bathtub black afterwards… no thanks), so after years of searching we have finally found our top two: Oscar Blandi and Pssssst. Whether you prefer luxury or simplicity, these two take the cake. I definitely recommend you add these to your beauty routine:

Oscar Blandi / Pssssst
by The Perennial Style | Aug 6, 2013 | Style, Uncategorized
What do you get when you mix one of the hottest shoe designers in the world with an ultra-chic and classic eyewear designer? Leopard, glitter, and gold of course! Jimmy Choo meets Carrera this season on their newest collaboration, and judging by the latest pictures revealed, this is one collection you do not want to miss! A thin sheet of silk inserted into the structure of the frames gives the glasses the rebellious glamour the beloved designers had promised. Take a peek at the newest campaign released from the collection modeled by the one and only Aline Weber. These have definitely been added to my wish list!





by The Perennial Style | Aug 2, 2013 | Dwell, Events, Style, Uncategorized
Happy Friday friends! Last night we attended the Sewell Lexus Design party at 129 Leslie. This venue is hands down my favorite location in Dallas – flashback to Italian Fashion Week. Beats by Jeff Mitchell, fashion by Stanley Korshak, dinner by Dean Fearing (who can hate the Ritz?), and beautiful Lexus vehicles parked throughout are just some of the exciting ingredients to a fabulous evening! The best part about the whole night was all the proceeds from the party were donated to the charity of your choice!

love these invitations




The Perennial Style’s favorite quote



Our favorite photographer – great stache

Ellen: Gianmarco Lorenzi Slingbacks / Black Halo Dress (similar) / Kendra Scott Earrings / David Yurman Bracelets / Ear Cuff
Janie: Mesh Dress (similar) / Louboutin Pitou / David Yurman Bracelets / Earrings

The party ended with these goodie bags filled with fun treats! Not a bad way to kick off a wonderful weekend to come!
by The Perennial Style | Aug 1, 2013 | Style, Uncategorized
Who is the man behind the red sole? We all have come to know and love Christian Louboutin, but do we REALLY know him?

Christian Louboutin knew from a young age his passion was for shoes. Being the only son to a cabinetmaker who was rarely around in his childhood, Christian spent most of his time with his mother and three sisters in Paris. On a visit to a Parisian museum, he discovered a sign forbidding high heels. He became fascinated by the image of the heels and began his first shoe sketchbook shortly after.
Christian was expelled from his school at the age of 16, which opened doors for his future success within the shoe industry. Whether it was designing shoes for a cabaret, working under Charles Jourdan, or countless amounts of freelance work, Louboutin gained the experience he needed to open up his first shop in Paris in the early 1990s.

But why red?
Every pair of Christian Louboutin’s shoes has the trademark red sole. During one of his first fashion shows, Christian felt like something was missing from his designs: something sexy, something fierce, something that would make his shoes his own. As he was mulling over these thoughts in his studio in 1993, he caught a glance of one of his employees painting her nails with red nail polish. That was it! He stole the polish, painted the sole of his heel red, and instantly Christian Louboutin shoes became the iconic heel today.

Christian Louboutin became an instant favorite amongst Hollywood, not to mention Royalty (Princess Caroline of Monaco was one of his first customers!). His famous red soled heels are seen at almost every single red carpet event among stars such as Britney Spears, Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna, the Kardashians, and the list goes on and on. There’s just something irresistible about these handmade shoes. Louboutin’s success hasn’t stopped at women’s shoes. He created a handbag line in 2003, a men’s shoe line in 2011, and is rumored to launch a new beauty line this year!

Just a warning for all you shoe lovers, his shoes are addicting! Click here to see his collection