New York Fashion Week spring - summer 2013: Rodarte
NEW YORK -- Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy showed a bejeweled, brocaded and bewitching spring-summer 2013 women’s collection during New York Fashion Week.
The inspiration: “Fantasy role-playing games,” Laura Mulleavy explained backstage after the show. “Especially the ‘80s versions.”
Photos: NYFW Week celebrity sightingsThe first words out of my mouth -- especially given the metal dragon earrings snaking around the ears of each model -- was “Dungeons & Dragons,” but Mulleavy shook her head. “Not just Dungeons & Dragons -- all of them.”
The look: Although there were garments that could have been conjured up from the days of dragon-slaying at the roll of the polyhedral dice -- breastplate-like pieces, rich brocades, jewel-encrusted leather jackets -- there was just as much borrowed from other fantasy worlds, especially the future, with “Tron”-worthy geometric color blocked pieces, iridescent silver skirts and shoes with computer cut graphic heels, and the undersea world, represented by coral-like prints on form-fitting tops.
Several eye-catching pieces that didn’t seem to fit the fantasy role-playing narrative (unless one considers the hedgerows and garden parties of Alice down the rabbit hole) were the green and white ivy trellis prints on silk gowns and dresses.
The scene: Tween blogger turned filmmaker and author Tavi Gevinson, whom we hadn’t yet spotted at NYFW was in the house, as was actress Kirsten Dunst, and the entire audience was bathed in the glow of long, fluorescent light bulbs that framed the top of the runway.
The verdict: The sisters Mulleavy have a knack for creating garments that are wholly transportative, whether the destination is mythical Medieval times, or a Jetsons-worthy future yet unrealized, and this season they rolled the 24-sided dice on a world that melds both, and you know what? We’re totally game.
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