As reported earlier, Kate and Laura Mulleavy showed a line-up of battle-worn women painted in tribal tatoos for spring 2010. Today the talented sisters of Rodarte gave Dazed Digital a rundown of what exactly they were thinking in designing such fierce collection.
Inspired by a trip with Johnson Hartig of Libertine to California's Death Valley, Kate and Laura started "imagining this empty house, like what would be left behind. So we imagined this woman who was stranded and mangled and burnt alive, and then being reborn as a Californian condor. What we wanted to say was that this person could tell a story. Their bodies would be a physical transformation, there would be scars everywhere. So that’s where the tattoos on the body come in. And the idea of having hair that looked like it still had ash on it."
Side note: MAC makeup artist James Kaliardos worked with Kate and Laura for a month finalizing the full-sleeve, half-sleeve and neck tattoo designs, and a team of 40 MAC artist worked for over four hours to ink each model on the day of the Rodarte show.
To build the collection, they began by burning, staining and sandpapering all types of expensive fabrics, then spent two months hand braiding leather, plastic and macramé to piece together the look of a stranded woman in the middle of the desert. Ultimately, said the sisters, "it's about empowerment and survival and coming up stronger for it." [Dazed Digital]
Kate and Laura Mulleavy presented a parade of post-apocalyptic warrior princesses for their spring 2010 Rodarte collection.
Models were inked from shoulder to wrist in tribal sleeve tattoos and walked a black sand-covered runway, through the thick fog of dry ice, in Nicholas Kirkwood bondage heels.
Opening the show was section of short dresses with twisted plaid and raw-edged fabric followed by a trio of longer black gothic dresses and a pair of skinny black rocker pants—the former embellished with feathers and strips of leather binding the arms and neck, and the latter with silver zippers and cut outs along the thigh and calf. A beautiful red and black tie-dye section seemed slightly less intimidating, delicately pieced together with strands of spidery wool (reminiscent of Rodarte's fall 2008 cobweb knits), braided belts, and ruched leather.
The Mulleavy sisters are expected to be among the most forward-thinking designers to show during New York Fashion Week and, for this, they did not disappoint. Today they proved why Rodarte remains one of the most highly anticipated and exciting shows of the season.
In what's possibly the most exciting collaboration in the history of Target's Go International line, WWD reported today that the retailer is teaming with Rodarte for a 55-piece collection that will hit shelves on December 20. Prices are expected to range from $9.99 (for knee-highs) up to $79.99 (for a leopard print jacket).
A spokesman for Target says, “What you’ll notice is an amazing eye for detail. . . 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." How many months until December?
Clockwise from top left: Rodarte Fall 2009, Donna Karan Short Sleeve Leather Jacket apx $3,827 @ Luisaviaroma, Madison Marcus Anthem Leather Jacket $750 @ Saks Fifth Avenue, Gar-De Dolly Jacket $1600 @ OAK, Doma Leather Momber Jacket $585 @ Tobi, Rick Owens Self-Tie Washed Leather Jacket $2,334 @ Luisaviaroma.
At the end of every season, after looking at hundreds of shows, there will always be specific qualities that resonate and stay with you. For us this season (and we're sure, many others) one of those things was the color palette at Rodarte. Although there was something almost medical to the grey/green that dominated the show, the glimpes of brilliant metals and pure-as-snow ivories kept it from feeling dismal or, for lack of a better word, ugly. To that end, we decided to round up some great current season leather jackets that touch on Rodarte's unforgettable Fall 2009 color palette.
Today marks our third and final installment of MAC makeup looks from the Fall 2009 shows--and it's a good one. The face charts behind Matthew Williamson and Rodarte--two of our favorites--are both in this batch so prep your your M.A.C. shopping list and get started. Considering the fifteen beauty looks provided by M.A.C. this season, we're pretty sure there will be no shortage of beauty inspiration come Fall 2009.
As reported earlier, Kate and Laura Mulleavy showed a line-up of battle-worn women painted in tribal tatoos for spring 2010. Today the talented sisters of Rodarte gave Dazed Digital a rundown of what exactly they were thinking in designing such fierce collection. 
Kate and Laura Mulleavy presented a parade of post-apocalyptic warrior princesses for their 
Diego Dolcini
Ultimo
Kookai
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