Nadezhda Lamanova's name was known not only in Russia but also in Europe. She was repeatedly recognized as the best fashion designer and couturier. Lamanova was among those who achieved success on their own. She started her career from scratch, without any protection. By education, she was a geography teacher, but she did not want to teach in school and moved from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow at the age of 20.

In Moscow, she began working as a seamstress in a workshop and soon became a leading specialist. Gradually, her clients became wealthy aristocrats, and Lamanova decided to open her own business. At first, she had a small shop, but each year the number of orders grew. She became the most famous couturier in Moscow and in 1904 received the title of Supplier to Her Imperial Majesty's Court.

From the beginning of the 20th century, her clients included French aristocrats. Nadezhda Petrovna collaborated with the famous designer Paul Poiret. One of the features of her style was the draping method of creating clothing: the dress sketch was made directly on the person, using pins to hold the fabric. All costumes and dresses were perfectly tailored to fit. Lamanova taught this method to her workers. According to contemporaries, she paid well but demanded quality work. Lamanova also dressed actors of the Bolshoi Theatre, creating costumes for productions of "The Marriage of Figaro," "Zoykina Apartment," and "Princess Turandot."

After the October Revolution, she was arrested, and she was only released thanks to the intervention of Gorky. Her enterprises were nationalized, and she had to start all over again, developing everyday clothing. Lamanova worked until the end of her life and, according to various sources, passed away from a heart attack in 1941.