She knows what she likes: good food, good music and New York in the summer.

And when it comes to her fashion sense, New York-based Lela Rose has a pretty clear idea of what works for big events. For instance, the designer dressed Jenna and Barbara Bush for their father’s 2001 inauguration and has seen her looks make red carpet appearances on starlets such as Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway. So it’s only fitting the Texas native is now branching into bridal. She launched a line of wedding gowns in 2006, and this year said “I do” to bridesmaid dresses and a collection of wedding footwear and bags with Payless ShoeSource.

Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose made its debut on the runway in February with Rose’s bridal gowns. Her ready-to-wear line, meanwhile, continues to pair up with shoes from her Lela Rose for Payless collection, which launched in 2007.

Rose recently took a break to talk about her own I dos, fashion icons and shunning the post-Labor Day ban on white.

Beach or mountains? “Mountains. I don’t like getting all sandy and just sitting there and sweating in the sun.”

Best weekend getaway destination: “New York City. I love to stay here. In the summer, it clears out and no one is around. It’s so fun.”

My minimum sunscreen SPF: “50. I turn lobster. I was never one of those Coppertone girls.”

Top fashion icon: “Audrey Hepburn.”

The funniest person I know: “My husband. He just has this wicked dry sense of humor.”

BBQ or Tex-Mex? “Tex-Mex. I love grilled quail and the queso and the chips and the margaritas.”

When I’m in the design studio, I’m listening to … “Arcade Fire, MGMT, Kings of Leon, The Killers.”

Favorite wedding day memory: “When my dogs came down the aisle with fresh flower collars on.”

Ice cream flavor pick: “My own homemade ice cream called Brown Bread. It’s an almond base, with bread crumbs that have been baked in butter and brown sugar with almonds. It’s just delicious.”

My biggest Scrabble point win was … “‘Obviates’ for 176 points.”