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

FabSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:00:22 -0800

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.

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Link Time!!!

FabSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:22 -0700

Spotlight: Kaviar Gauche - Bag Snob
Louise Black beset by angry corset clients - Racked
No idea is too small for Rodarte’s Mulleavy sisters - New York Times
A fabulous Fall bag for under $70 - Lucky
Rachel and Brad pretend to miss Taylor at Paris Fashion Week - The Cut
Someone’s in the kitchen with Zac - Fashionista
Anna Wintour attempts to make friends with teenage girls - Jezebel
Pregnant Jourdan Dunn walks in Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2010 show - Stylelist
Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn bring diversity to the runways - Teen Vogue
Jimmy Choo for Elton John Foundation collection - Nitrolicious
Get wrapped up in our coziest Fall sweater finds - Refinery 29
Bob Mackie's latest over-the-top creations for Cher! - Off the Rack

Rodarte's Death Valley Voodoo Ladies: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:00:22 -0700

Rodarte continues to be a hot ticket at New York Fashion Week. With a unique point of view and celebrity cheerleader Kirsten Dunst, their next moves are closely monitored. I'm always intrigued by their inspirations - in the past it's been Japanese horror movies and Star Wars. For Spring, the Mulleavy sisters took a trip to Death Valley, hence their dusty palette and rugged trimmings. Laura referenced freaky, dark feathery friends: "California condors, the big, bald, black vultures that faced extinction in the late '80s." Aside from the black sand on the runway, the interpretation wasn't too literal - tribal tattooed arms provide some voodoo mystique. Rodarte partnered with Nicholas Kirkwood on their always intense shoes. I'm on the barbwire fence with this once, what about you? Don't forget to check out all of our New York Fashion Week coverage and follow my Fashion Week adventures on Twitter!

Battle of the Rodarte: Watson vs. Bosworth

FabSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:00:08 -0700

The Rodarte sisters, Laura and Kate Mulleavy, cohosted a special dinner last night with Kate Bosworth at the Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor restaurant in London. Of her peach silk and net Rodarte dress, Kate Bosworth said: "It's kind of deconstructed ballerina." If Kate was a deconstructed ballerina, then actress Emma Watson was a rebel dancer in her bold black, blue, and white Rodarte frock. Both stars wore Rodarte's Spring frocks beautifully, but only one can win this battle. Who's it gonna be?

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On Our Radar: Rodarte Catches the Wedding Bug

FabSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:00:22 -0700

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 !

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New York Fashion Week, Fall 2008: Rodarte

FabSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:00:22 -0800

If someone were to costume design a sci-fi ballerina flick, the result might be something like Rodarte's Fall 2008 collection. Tattered loosely-knit fishnets, super studded gloves and Louboutin heels, and Degas-inspired tutus: they were all there.

The sisters Mulleavy have come a long way in a few seasons, and this time around presented a spectacle of ghostly alien girls decked out in everything from a highlighter-green chiffon dress to a red and black yarn skirt. As far as being wearable or affordable, I'm not sure either applies to the collection, but it is definitely beautiful and whimsical - the two things Rodarte does best.

Stay tuned for my interview with one of the designer sisters!

To see more from Rodarte, read more

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Fab Flash: Rodarte Diet Request Causes Vogue Controversy

FabSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:30:22 -0700

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 read more.

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Oscarworthy: Designers And Diamonds Unite!

FabSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:00:22 -0800

It's almost Oscars time, so you know what that means? Diamonds galore! Phillip Lim, Rodarte, Libertine, Jovovich-Hawk, and Alabama Chanin have all joined forces with the Diamond Information Center to celebrate Oscars fashions by creating one-of-a-kind red carpet looks incorporating diamond pieces.

All the gowns, including Rodarte's (left), are currently on display at the Chateau Marmont in LA - today is the last day - so if you're in the area, stop by and report!

If all this Oscar talk is getting you excited for Sunday be sure to tune in to the Sugar network's online Oscar party! Myself and Bella will be doing our always-fun love-it or hate-it polls and Team is hosting a live chat - stop on by!

To hear more about the specific dresses and to see photos, read more

Lim has designed a "Galaxy" gown with the help of a Cartier antique brooch. The Rodarte sisters, Laura and Kate Mulleavy, used five diamond butterfly Van Cleef & Arpels brooches to liven their pink dress. Jovovich-Hawk borrowed a gold and diamond Camilla Dietz Bergeron necklace, while Libertine used 21 Neil Lane brooches to dazzle their 1930s black-velvet frock. Alabama Chanin teamed up with Gem Palace and used $50,000 worth of rough diamond beads along the neckline of her ivory gown. I sure hope someone wears one of these diamond-in-the-rough gowns to the Oscars!

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