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Runway Retrospective: Rodarte

FabSugar — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:46:18 PDT

Rodarte - I can't say the name without having images of fashion-forward dresses float before my eyes. Designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy have taken the concept of a gown and turned it upside down, in the best way possible. Their designs manage to be both ethereal and completely funky - and celebs eat them up! The sisters even created the Black Swan costumes, which were inspired by Edgar Degas's Little Dancer statue. Since Fall of 2006, Rodarte's ready-to-wear has gotten more and more sophisticated and elaborate. Click through to see their runway retrospective, then look forward to their Spring 2012 collection at New York Fashion Week.

Rodarte to Go International For Target

FabSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:37:48 PDT

What a glorious day! It has just been announced that Kate and Laura Mulleavy are designing a 55-piece Rodarte line for Target Go International, which lands in stores and online on Dec. 20. "It’s very feminine, yet very modern. The collection incorporates a rich mix of patterns and fabrications and everything from sequins and bows to faux fur. The key with Rodarte is layering," said Target spokesperson Joshua Thomas. Prices will range from $9.99 for knee-highs to $79.99 for a leopard-print jacket. Also, expect to see a variety of holiday dresses. All of Target's designer collaborations have been great, but this one I'm standing in line for.

And the 2009 CFDA Winners Are . . .

FabSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:05:11 PDT

As expected, the 2009 CFDA awards ceremony brought out a bevy of dazzling models, designers, and celebrities - make sure to vote on our love it or hate it polls! While most came to party, others eagerly awaited the announcement of this year's winners. Let's see who took home the cake . . .

(L-R: Alexander Wang, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, and Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler)

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Rodarte
Menswear Designer of the Year: Tie between Italo Zucchelli, Calvin Klein Collection, and Scott Sternberg, Band of Outsiders
Accessories Designer of the Year: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Proenza Schouler
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
Swarovski Accessories Award: Justin Giunta, Subversive Jewelry
International Award: Marc Jacobs

To see the rest of the winners,

Eleanor Lambert Award: Jim Moore
Eugenia Sheppard Award: Edward Nardoza
Board of Directors' Special Tribute: Michelle Obama
Popular Vote Award: Ralph Lauren
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Sui

WireImage and Getty

On Our Radar: Rodarte Catches the Wedding Bug

FabSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:00:22 PDT

Wedding dresses are getting a fashionable makeover thanks to Rodarte's Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The sisters are trying their hand at designing a bridal gown for filmmaker Miranda July. The avid Rodarte fan says her dress is inspired by previous Rodarte collections but not as graphically bold. Spidery, soft, whimsical Rodarte? Sounds Fab.

Check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage !

Source

Fab Flash: Rodarte Diet Request Causes Vogue Controversy

FabSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:30:22 PDT

The April issue of Vogue has been feeling its share of media heat, first for the possibly suggestive cover with LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, and now for one of the features inside. Last September, a Vogue editor suggested that Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the designers behind Rodarte, see a trainer and go on a diet. The sisters admitted that a doctor had told them to get in shape and said they wanted to be healthier, so they agreed and accepted four months of personal training and a meal-delivery service paid for by the magazine. As a result, Laura and Kate lost 50 pounds combined, all the while keeping a journal which appears in the April Shape issue.

The magazine has a history of chronicling staff diets, but objections rose that such a suggestion to an outside party was out of line. What do you think, are the ladies at Vogue just trying to rabblerouse or is the media concern deserved?

To see the spread more up close just

Hear What One Mulleavy Sister Has to Say and See Behind the Scenes at Rodarte

FabSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:00:22 PST

The Mulleavy sisters are on the rise, and after attending a Rodarte show for the first time, I now see why. Though Laura and Kate's designs aren't everyday wearable or affordable, they are art. And the sisters are evolving. One thing is for sure: Rodarte has found a niche. A fantastical world where women are feminine creatures who inhabit an otherworldly place. Intrigued? I caught up with Laura in the Lexus lounge after her show, and she spoke the creative speak of a designer in her element.

What are you feeling now that your show is over?

I am exhausted, excited, and happy. I was so nervous that last two days and I have no idea why.

More nervous than before?

Oh definitely. I think we were just so invested in it and it was definitely “us.” It just meant a lot for us to do this collection and get to a point where you grow and you can do more; it just felt different.

There were so many textures and colors in your collection. Let’s talk inspiration.

It started with the idea of Japanese horror films and Kabuki theater. Then we had the color red - how do you make red beautiful? Is it through orchids and peaches; do you use blacks, white, grays? And if you want to use all those colors, how do you balance it all? I felt like last season was a lot of watercolor pieces, but this season it felt like a movement of color too but in a stronger way.

To read the rest of what Laura has to say and to see Fab pre- and post-show photos,

read more What about your choice of fabrics? Tulle and mohair and silk tulle. Anything light and see-through. Organza. Or has a quality that it seems to be broken but it’s so sturdy. I love that. I am San Francisco-based, so I wanted to ask you about the Bay Area and your time at UC Berkeley. We grew up in northern California – Santa Cruz, Monterey - and then moved to southern California in high school. But we both went to Berkeley. If you can go to college, I would tell anyone to try to go to Berkeley. I had the most amazing professors. There was something about being taught by someone that was the best at their field. There’s something really amazing about that campus too; it’s really beautiful. At what point in time did you guys talk about becoming designers? We always wanted to be designers, but we never really talked about it. It was what we loved, but I never considered going to design school. I wanted to learn other things. Everyone has a different way of working. I think we work by trying to learn things and then seeing how it works. Can we talk about those Christian Louboutin shoes?! Oh yeah (laughs). You need a base, and if you can imagine something delicate, I can only see it going hand in hand with something harder and graphic. The heels were six-and-a-half inches, but I didn’t know they would be! We knew we wanted them high. We were very careful with the girls, and they were girls who could walk in them. We practiced a lot. They were excited.

View 12 Photos ›

The Best Runway Beauty Looks From Rodarte

Brittney Stephens — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:15:51 PST

Rodarte is well known for its romantic design sense and meticulous, elaborate gowns. Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy use intricate hand-stitched detailing and always pair their designs with artsy, ethereal hair and makeup. In anticipation of their Fall 2012 show, we're taking a look back at the most striking beauty looks from Rodarte's runways.

Here Are All of Prada's Drool-Worthy Spring 2012 Shoes and Accessories

Fashionista — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:24:43 PST

We're excited to bring you the best fashion finds, shopping stories, and style news from one of our favorite sites, Fashionista. Today they're giving us a peek at Prada's Spring 2012 collection:

As soon as those '50s hotrod stilettos and colorful boxy leather handbags hit Prada's spring 2012 runway you could fairly see the wait lists forming, visualize them getting scuffed in the gravel of the Tuileries and photographed by every street style blogger. Even the generally unamused Cathy Horyn was tickled by them, and suggested wearing the "purely silly" heels on your next Match.com date. She praised the collection for its "machismo" against a sea of tired '20s frocks.

So here are all of Prada's delightfully quirky, insanely awesome, spring shoes and accessories, up close and personal. It's nice to appreciate the details–the brake lights and flames leaping off of the metal stiletto heels or the clutches with fender clasps–even if it's from your computer screen and not your own closet. These oughta give those now ubiquitous Miu Miu glitter booties a run for their money.

Click over to Fashionista for a look at the whole Spring lineup of shoes and accessories.

Elle Fanning Looks Saintly (Literally) in Rodarte Couture in A Magazine

Fashionista — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:34:11 PST

We're excited to announce our new partnership with one of our favorite sites, Fashionista. We'll be bringing you some of their best fashion finds, shopping stories, and style news. Today they're giving us a peek at Elle Fanning's gorgeous editorial in A Magazine:

Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy curated the latest issue of A Magazine, and for the editorials, they used their favorite muses Elle Fanning and Kirsten Dunst. Rodarte has just posted Elle Fanning’s story on Facebook, photographed by Bill Owens, and it’s gorgeous. Fanning alternately looks like a kid - carrying a surfboard, wearing a Pearl Jam T - and a saint, wearing a crown and Rodarte couture in a ’70s California living room. The editorial is inspired by the Mulleavy’s childhood experience growing up in California, and the result is hauntingly nostalgic.

Photos: Bill Owens/A Magazine

Click over to Fashionista to see all of the amazing photos of Elle.

Best of 2011: Breakout Style Star of the Year

Brittney Stephens — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:00:41 PST

This year brought lots of new faces to the fashion game and there were five lovely ladies who spent most of 2011 on our collective style radar. Hailee Steinfeld not only graced award season red carpets left and right, but also became the face of Miu Miu's Fall campaign. Elizabeth Olsen showed that she's not content with staying in her sisters' stylish shadows, showing off one gorgeous look after another at events - and it pretty much goes without saying that the perfectly polished Pippa Middleton may have even become bigger than her royal sister this year, showing enviable, casual-cool street style and red carpet looks. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Elle Fanning, solidified her place in the industry by serving as the muse for Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, while singer/actress Selena Gomez caught our eye with risk-taking runway gowns at various music industry events. So, which girl gets your vote?