Fashion Development Group » Rodarte

Taylor Swift lands the cover of February Vogue

Sheryl Blasnik — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:09:11 +0000

22 year-old Country Superstar and Grammy winning artist Taylor Swift with her long blonde curls standing at 5’10 inches has sold out entire stadiums worldwide. She has won 100 awards to date including 5 Grammy Awards, 10 American Music Awards and 6 CMT Awards. With her unstoppable spirit and lyrics that speak to all ages she is not going away anytime soon.

Recently Jonathan Van Meter, Contributing Editor at Vogue, interviewed Taylor in a whirlwind day of visiting showrooms in NYC starting out at Rodarte, a label designed by Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy from California. In the interview Swift refers to herself as that awkward kid always feeling on the outside looking in on the cool kids in school.

“So . . . middle school? Awkward,” she says, launching into the first of many comic riffs. “Having a hobby that’s different from everyone else’s? Awkward. Singing the national anthem on weekends instead of going to sleepovers? More awkward. Braces? Awkward. Gain a lot of weight before you hit the growth spurt? Awkward. Frizzy hair, don’t embrace the curls yet? Awkward. Try to straighten it? Awkward!” She starts to laugh. “So many phases!”

Swift is currently working on her fourth album which she says will be about the heartbreak that life can bring. The lyrics sounding like they jumped off the pages of a tell all teen diary.

The interviewer concludes by asking Taylor to name some of the life lessons she has learned along the way. She obliges and says:

1. “If someone doesn’t seem to want to get to know me as a person but instead seems to have kind of bought into the whole idea of me and he approves of my Wikipedia page? And falls in love based on zero hours spent with me? That’s maybe something to be aware of. That will fade fast. You can’t be in love with a Google search.”

2. “If a dude is threatened by the fact that I need security, if they make me feel like I am some sort of princessy diva—that’s a bad sign. I don’t have security to make myself look cool, or like I have an entourage. I have security because there’s a file of stalkers who want to take me home and chain me to a pipe in their basement.”

3. “If you need to put me down a lot in order to level the playing field or something? If you are threatened by some part of what I do and want to cut me down to size in order to make it even? That won’t work either.”

4. “Also, I can’t deal with someone who’s obsessed with privacy. People kind of care if there are two famous people dating. But no one cares that much. If you care about privacy to the point where we need to dig a tunnel under this restaurant so that we can leave? I can’t do that.”

The February issue of Vogue is available at newsstands now. To read the entire “single life” interview with Taylor visit vogue.com

Watch highlights from the photo shoot:

Source: Vogue Magazine

Photographer: Mario Testino

Photos: Vogue

RODARTE CROSSES THE BORDER: NY FASHION WEEK FALL 2010

Sheryl Blasnik — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:05:56 +0000

Rodarte, founded by Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy in 2005, showed during NY Fashion Week they can still stage an amazing fashion show. For Fall 2010, the Sisters went back to their roots to explore the culture of Juarez and small Mexican border towns. They described the inspiration as ethereal “sleepwalking between worlds“, sleepy towns that appeared almost abandoned.

The collection consisted of chunky knits sweaters, crocheted cardigans and intricate knitwear. If there is one thing they have proven over and over it is that they know how to create home spun looking knitwear. They seem to lean towards invoking a nomadic feel when working with wools and knitwear. There were also numerous almost vintage like floral prints in subdued tones. The color palette was varied with shades of pink, ivory and muddy earth tones.

The Mexican reference was seen in some of the aztec prints where they layered mismatched patchwork pieces. Pants were worn under skirts and often with layered socks. Ballerina ribbons entwined the ankles of the models. Nicholas Kirkwood designed the shoes which added another dimension to the collection. The purple, black and white shoes made a statement all their own as did the crimson red shoes.

Embellished and lace hosiery also added to the ethereal feel of the looks as they faded to childlike white fairy tale lace gowns. The last few models remained on stage as the room faded to blacklight and their shoes lit up with tiny bulbs as candles burned and wax dripped behind them. As I said another wonderfully staged collection proving the Mulleavy sisters worthy of their numerous accolades and projects. These young sisters are the “ones to watch“…

PHOTOS: WWD

DESIGNER “RODARTE” DISCUSSES THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND INSPIRATION

Sheryl Blasnik — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:43:19 +0000

By now you may have heard of Rodarte due to their current clothing collaboration with Target. 2 Sisters, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, are the designers behind the always creative label RODARTE which was founded in Pasadena, California in the year 2005. In addition to their diffusion line at Target the brand is carried globally by more than 40 premium retailers. Some of these include Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Barneys and Nordstroms.

Rodarte has also been featured on more than 20 magazine covers including Vogue, the bible of fashion. Celebrity figures have been spotted in Rodarte and added to the label’s couture status.

L/STUDIO has gone behind the scenes to discuss the creative process and inspiration behind the FALL 2008 collection with both Kate and Laura. You may find the inspiration a bit surprising: Asian Horror Films…

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TRIBAL WARRIORS: RODARTE S/S 2010 FASHION SHOW

Sheryl Blasnik — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:21:10 +0000

ADD TRIBAL WARRIORS WITH TATTOOED ARMS, WOOL NETTED HAIR AND GOTH LIPS…… What do you get? RODARTE S/S 2010. Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy have once again brought us the perfect combination of fashion show, theater and presentation. The set resembles a cave with silver smoke. The inspiration is “Organic Native American” with rich, dark colors. There’s gauze, feathers, tie-dye and lattice black leather. Every garment is carefully textured in keeping with the aesthetic. Slamming heels by Nicholas Kirkwood just helped to up the ante. This label is always a favorite of mine. Rodarte starts trends that trickle down to the masses. For Spring/Summer 2009 it was shredded tights which are now at every mass retailer. If warrior arm paint is a trend you would love to sport there is good news. Strawberry is selling tattooed arm sleeves but beware there is only one sleeve per package so for both arms you must purchase 2 sleeves.