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Showing posts with label rodarte. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rodarte. Show all posts
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| Rodarte | Zimmermann | Marc Jacobs | Altuzarra | Rodarte |
There was once a time when sweet white lace was reserved for a prim and proper sort of girl (or for wedding dresses). When I hear white lace I think of an afternoon tea with my grandmother or Queen Victoria. There is something incredibly Victoriana and rather old-fashioned about a fabric that resembles a doily...or so I thought.
Then fashion week came around.
First it was Altuzarra, with several seventies-style lace blouses and dresses; sure, they were long-sleeved and high-necked, but there's no use in trying to be modest when one's top is as see-through as a newly polished window. Then Rodarte shocked and awed with white lace blouses and leggings that left little to the imagination. Doily-looking or not, there was no denying that Joseph Altuzarra, the Mulleavy sisters, and even Marc Jacobs were making the statement that white lace can be unabashedly sexy.
Still, I don't know if I would walk around in such a top out in public, sans-bra or lining. On the other hand, it would be a great opportunity to show off a pretty bra.
What say you? Will you be trying out sexy white lace, or should it be reserved for tea time?
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| Prabal Gurung | Rodarte | Jason Wu | Rodarte | Monique Lhuillier |
Prabal Gurung had dresses that reflected the twinkling surface of the ocean shore and will look just as fabulous on the red carpet. Jason Wu did an oceanic take on his usual modern glamour. I could totally see Ariel wearing this look to meet Eric on a date (you know, if Ariel and Eric were real people living in the 21st century). And Monique Lhuillier was full of skirts and dresses that quite closely resembled the iridescent scales of a fish (or a half-woman, half-fish, as the case may be).
The trend lends itself to some awesome editorial material, so hopefully Grace Coddington and the like will jump on that opportunity. And then of course there is the recently announced Sofia Coppola version of The Little Mermaid. Can I get my hopes up and pray that the Mulleavy sisters design the costumes?
As I've previously commented upon, the Mulleavy sisters (the designing duo behind Rodarte) have always been inspired by film, and this season it seems that the force was totally with them. They had dresses emblazoned with the Death Star, alien planets from a galaxy far far away, and some of the original trilogy's main characters. I'm pretty sure I said something along the lines of "These are the best outfits to wear to ComicCon if you are a nerd but also quite fashionable and not into cosplaying" ... or something like that.
Rodarte, however, rarely establishes a trend. The brand often feels like a fairytale, existing in its own world and influencing itself but not really other fashion houses. I loved the influence of Star Wars but I didn't feel like it would be an inspiration anywhere else.
And yet the Rodarte show stuck with me. I kept spying Star Wars influences everywhere I went. Dark starry prints on a dress at Fendi. Futuristic utilitarian suits at Andrew Gn and Maxime Simoens conjured up images of more fashionable storm troopers. Reed Krakoff had one look that perfectly resembled a genderbent version of Han Solo.
When Preen featured not one but two looks with Darth Vader's iconic helmet screened onto the fabric, I knew this wasn't a coincidence. It seemed Rodarte was indeed on to something when they dedicated their fall presentation to Luke Skywalker & Co.
Maybe the fashion world is just as excited as the rest of us are for the new era of Star Wars movies that is coming to us soon, thanks to Disney and J.J. Abrams. Maybe fashion designers are more nerdy than their cool all-black ensembles make them out to be.
Whatever the case may be, I am totally digging the Star Wars influence of the fall 2014 runways. Are you?
Pardon my French, but Rodarte Fall 2014 was the shit.
To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much from the Mulleavy sisters this time around. After their, ahem, "interesting" Spring 2014 collection that was widely regarded as a bit of a misstep for the usually flawless sister designers, I wasn't exactly waiting on pins and needles for the follow-up.
I must apologize to Rodarte (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) because for a second I had given up hope. As cliche as it might be, Rodarte was one of the shows that got me to really enjoy fashion and see it as something more than just practicality. Their clothes were cool and creative and they were inspired by unique things like Japanese monster movies, and I really appreciated that original approach to designing clothes.
The past few seasons had been shaky, and Rodarte kind of fell from the top of my must-see list. It's sad to admit but true. I kept expecting to fall in love again and again and after a few seasons of just not feeling it, I kind of gave up any expectation.
And maybe that's why I felt such a strong appreciation for Tuesday's show. This wasn't only a strong collection through and through, it was a redemption.
Well, consider yourself redeemed in the eyes of the fashion world, Kate and Laura.
You should have done Star Wars dresses ages ago.
For a fall collection it was quite full of colors - all the colors of a Tatooine sunset, perhaps. The first looks were rather bohemian in the best, intellectual sense of the word, with girls walking out in colorful berets and shawls draped haphazardly around shoulders.
Then there were the awesome coats. I could imagine how delighted editors and bloggers must have been when they saw the glimmering jackets make their way down the runway, thinking about how that is something they could wear during this horrid polar vortex thing.
Nothing makes me happier than seeing colorful coats. It's so easy to resort to blacks and grays when the weather is less than stellar, and I would absolutely love to wear that sparkly blue coat when the temperature dares to drop below - gasp - 50.
The gowns were divided into two groups - Renaissance and Star Wars. I enjoyed both sections for different reasons, but I must say that the Mulleavy know how to turn something that could come across as kitschy into something that is sassy but also super cool.
The Death Star and Two Moon dresses are the best choices for a starlet who is hoping to geek out but not wear Yoda on her skirt, but even the dress with Luke Skywalker is so perfectly matched to his own ensemble that it doesn't seem that odd to have him there.
My only criticism for this show is that it seemed a bit disjointed, thematically speaking. I don't know if I quite understand how bookish bohemians, Renaissance princesses, and intergalactic Jedis have in common.
I'm not complaining though. I love that this is such a huge improvement for Rodarte, and from what I've heard others are quite pleased with the collection as well!
Props to you, Rodarte. You're back on my list of favorites.
Versace Fall 2013 Couture makes the midriff glam and the loose-knit sweater a work of art
Once upon a time, sweaters were created to keep people warm during cold winter months. Essentially some person way back when eyed the fluffy, wonderfully-insulated sheep and enviously tried to make him or herself just as warm and cozy as the sheep with its warm wool - and thus, the sweater was born. Or something like that.
But society has evolved a lot since the first days of wool-based clothing and clothing is no longer about just stayin' alive (currently listening to this and had to put it in there, it seemed just too fitting) but about self-expression and fashion! and all that. We have evolved and live luxurious lives compared to the lives of our forefathers, and now we wear sweaters that look cool, not ones that keep us warm.
Phillip Lim keeps it short & sweet with his lacy sweaters
You may not know this, but cropped tops are kind of a thing right now. Especially during the summer, nothing seems to be more popular right now than baring your midriff and flaunting your fabulous toned abs.
But summer is a fleeting season, destined to end quicker than we want it to, and soon fall will spread over the lands and cause the leaves to change colors and the temperature to drop and the crop-top hipster girls will have to fold away their belly-baring T-shirts and simply await the return of spring, right? WRONG!
For fall, the cropped top takes the form of the more seasonally-appropriate cropped sweater, so don't stop the ab-work yet. And the looser-knit the short sweater is, the better. Like, it should look like a kindergartener made it. Or a Mulleavy sister. And if it's hand-dyed and spun from golden fleece and costs over three-thousand dollars you win at life. Just don't yet your cat near it.
Case in point: spider-web-like knits from Rodarte's Fall 2008 show
Well, my friend, luckily I live in Southern California where it never gets too unbearable. But I say suck it up. We have evolved to wear clothes out of style and how cool they look, not how comfortable or insulated we are, right? That's what heating systems are for. And it's not like you wear this look when its below freezing temperature and snowing. But if you are yearning for a crop top to sport during winter, this is your chance.
Alexander Wang and Free People have fabulous options for those of you daring enough to try this trend
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