Elda De La Rosa, a Chicago fashion designer, is known for her formal handmade creations. Her tailored-ruffled cocktail, form-fitting evening, elegant bridal and commitment ceremony ensembles are created intricately, leaving the women who wear them feeling special and beautiful. Iridescent colors, ruffles, A-line styles, long trains, bust and derriere accentuation, and gorgeous lace are all attributes that these awe-inspiring dresses and gowns embody.
“Generally, I am known for my couture gowns; they are gowns with a lot of details, like layers or ruffles and detail stitching,” says De La Rosa.
- Image by FashionFocusChicago via Flickr
She works closely with her clients to design dresses specifically for the woman, catering to what they want for their wedding or special-occasion garments.
“The hardest part of being a fashion designer is that when you design on a personal level, you can make a beautiful garment but if the client does not have the confidence in themselves, it is hard for the garment to radiate,” says De La Rosa.
De La Rosa launched her own couture line in 2001 and, also around that time, opened her first boutique in Andersonville. She recalls watching her mother and aunts sew when she was young.
“The transition of watching them sew and me wanting to be a fashion designer was very natural,” says De La Rosa.
De La Rosa studied fashion at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Illinois Institute for Art and Design. She prefers designing formal wear than causal wear; she says when she started working with bridal wear, it led her more toward formal wear. Her influences are Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Chanel.
Lucero (Shining Star) is De La Rosa’s most popular design. “It was the dress chosen to be part of the Oscar Dress Design Challenge 2010 and even though I did not win, I still received international exposure,” says De La Rosa. A momentous opportunity for any designer, The Oscar Dress Design Challenge in 2010 included nine designers (including De La Rosa) from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Phoenix. They created dresses and competed to have them worn and featured in the Oscar’s red carpet segment. The gown is silk taffeta and is a blue and gold iridescent color. The one shoulder A-line gown, is carefully tailored and a gorgeous color and form.
De La Rosa loves what she does. She says the best part of it is that she has the freedom to create what she wants. “Every time I envision a garment, sketch and then sew it, I am marveled when I see the finished product.”
De La Rosa has been featured at the Rush/Presbyterian Fashion Show and Red Hot Chicago, on NBC news, on bridechicago.com, in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Social Bride and Chicago Bride Magazines.
Yanria Soriano, De La Rosa’s assistant, is in charge of accounting and office-related aspects of the business. Yanria says, “The biggest impression the customer or buyer get when they acquire an Elda design is that the garment was meant specifically for them and their body. Elda’s designs always fit a women’s body like a glove, therefore, the client always feels empowered and beautiful.”
Head to De La Rosa’s website, www.eldadelarosa.com or visit Edgewater and check out her boutique 5555 N. Sheridan Road, Suite 0015, in Chicago.
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