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Rodarte Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:35:12 PST

Leave it to Kate and Laura Mulleavy to not only draw a star-studded front row - hello, George Lucas, Natalie Portman, and Dakota Fanning - but to deliver a stellar, 1940s-inspired Fall '12 collection too. One part cave-drawing-infused, one part retro femme, and one part Australian outback-reminiscent, Rodarte showcased a beautiful mix of totally girlie pieces with both red-carpet appeal and wearable ladylike style. The sister duo paid close attention to feminine details á la Peter Pan collars, artfully structured ruffles, and metal star appliqué hair combs. Yet, never ones to shy away from throwing some quirk into the picture, they added literal hand prints to long, flowy evening gowns and added cowboy buckles to double-strap leather belts. The biggest covet-worthy takeaway from today's show? After several seasons of collaborating with key shoe designers like Nicholas Kirkwood and Christian Louboutin, the Mulleavy sisters debuted their first-ever in-house shoe collection. We're calling it: Rodarte's two-tone pumps with heels made of plexiglass, sexy dominatrix-inspired spat heels, and lace-up boots will be Fall '12 It girl items. All in all, it's a gorgeous autumnal lineup, just begging to be worn.

Trends: Cropped cable-knit sweaters, hand-print chiffon dresses, and 1940s-inspired silhouettes.
Colors: Warm, earthy tones like rust and terracotta juxtaposed against cool neutrals.
Key Piece: Super-cute chunky cable-knit sweaters paired with terracotta-hued trousers; diaphanous hand-print chiffon dresses.
Accessories: Ladylike round-toe pumps with heels made of plexiglass or filled with sand, sexy lace-up gladiator-inspired spat heels. Look out for the subtleties in each heel design.
Who Would Wear It: Front-row attendees Natalie Portman and Dakota Fanning are high up on the list, but we think a plethora of A-list talent will be clamoring to wear this collection. Don't be surprised to see Taylor Swift, Alexa Chung, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning flaunting Rodarte's wares, too.

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

View 2 Photos ›

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,

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.

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Drew Barrymore and Natalie Portman Have a Double Date Night For the Ballet

Allie Merriam — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:25:58 PDT

Drew Barrymore and Natalie Portman had a double date night in NYC yesterday. The actresses both brought their guys along for the New York City Ballet's 2012 Spring Gala. Drew, who wore a white Chanel dress, posed with fiancé Will Kopelman. Natalie, meanwhile, wore Dior to smile for pictures alongside husband Benjamin Millepied. Benjamin, a dancer himself, choreographed a piece for the Spring debut. The Rodarte sisters, Laura and Kate Mulleavy, designed costumes for his ballerinas. It was a reunion of sorts, since Benjamin, Natalie, and the Mulleavys also worked together to costume and choreograph Black Swan. Gilles Mendel and Swarovski also provided outfits for other works that are currently being staged by the Ballet.

Kirsten Dunst and Garrett Hedlund Return Home to LA Together

Allie Merriam — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:35:53 PDT

Kirsten Dunst and Garrett Hedlund arrived at LAX together last night. The couple have been dating for a few months now, having met while making On the Road back in 2010. Their picture, directed by Walter Salles, will make its debut this month at the Cannes Film Festival. Hopefully, Kirsten and Garrett will take the opportunity to go public with their romance, but they won't be the only stars on the red carpet supporting their movie. Kristen Stewart also stars, as does Tom Sturridge, Sam Riley, and Amy Adams. Kirsten was just in NYC to attend Monday's Met Ball. For the annual fashion extravaganza, Kirsten Dunst wore a Rodarte suit-dress designed by her good pals Kate and Laura Mulleavy.

Sneak Peek - Rodarte For Opening Ceremony Fall Lookbook

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:42:32 PDT

The Rodarte X Opening Ceremony collaboration has been a match made in heaven since its inception in February - and the love is still going strong for Fall. For their second collection with OC, designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy culled inspiration from Scandinavia, creating a soft and textural collection comprised of long silhouettes, pretty blush hues, and fur coats. The lookbook, modeled by twins Gwen and Donna Loos, shows a nice mix of themes with silk ruffled maxidresses, mohair cardigans, and Fair Isle knits for the girly girl and black leather skirts, sheer dresses, and long-haired fur toppers for the dark angel. The collection will be available early in October both in stores and online. Here are some Fall pointers we gleaned from the collection:

Pink is here to stay. Instead of a hot pink hue, opt for lighter blush tones come cooler weather.
Get textural. We love all of the furs, ruffles, and embellishments seen in this collection.
Embrace printed trousers. Instead of opting for a pretty LBD at your next dressed-up event, experiment with a pair of standout trousers.

Now peep the complete lookbook in the slideshow.