Lela Rose - Couture designer, master hairstylist

Lela Rose makes the most gorgeous ready-to-wear dresses. I wish I could afford them but most cost upwards of four figures. The Spring 2012 collection is to die for at Neiman Marcus, and all of them are so elegant, especially with some long hair and twists to the side (and adding additional strands with bangs progressively). 

Luxe inspiration

I've always loved pleats, but have only found the shortest skirts to show off the trend. The longer stuff with pleats usually looks too stuffy and more fit for my grandma than for me. But Burberry Prorsum does it right for the Spring/Summer 2012 collection (shown at left during London Fashion Week) with its Pleat Front Heritage Skirt in Womenswear. It retails for $995 (see title link), but is great for inspiration, with the high, fitted waist, full skirt with gathered pleats at the waist band, and adjustable button tab with a concealed zipper. Of course, I have to give a shout-out to those beaded wedges - they steal the show!