Rodarte

Rodarte never fails to charm me with its insistence on girlish whimsy and dangerous levels of sweetness- and the Mulleavy sisters have done it again- achieved a collection that is all at once fun, vibrant, frilly, and fantastical to capture every inch of the human imagination. While their latest collection is rife with Rodarte’s usual bows, ruffles, light pinks, and wispy lightness (physically and thematically), black leather (albeit ruffled and pleated and fun in its own right) provided a juxtaposing darkness to the looks that only served to uplift the bright, happy vibes of the rest of the collection.

Inspired by classic musicals and their leading ladies from the ’30s to the ’70s, this collection was nothing short of theatrical with its oversized shoulders, fresh, floral headpieces, logoed belts and earrings, and kitschy, clear plastic heels that remind me of something I might have slipped onto my Barbie’s unrealistically-dainty foot.

Come to think of it, this whole collection seems like a perfect choice to outfit a battalion of dolls, which is exactly the kind of fashion I love. Something unique and sweet that nobody would consider wearing out into the actual world. Well, maybe it’s time we make the world a better place with fashion choices that make us feel more alive.

Check out my favorite looks from the show below:

All images from Vogue.com

If asked what kind of child I was, my mother would probably say “imaginative” or something similar, as I quite literally had more imaginary friends than real friends (and hey, I like to think I turned out alright!). While some parents may have seen this as a cause for alarm, my parents encouraged me to put my wellspring of creativity to good use. So, I became a writer.

I only started with that anecdote to help explain why I fell into fashion in the first place. It started with magazines and editorials. Although I am normally an avid reader of all sorts of media, I’ve never been one to actually sit and read the various articles in a magazine. I’ve always been drawn directly to the shoots and editorials, my eyes hungry and ready to feast on the visual splendor of the newest fashion collections.

This pastel, frilly frock played beautifully with the somber, eerie mood of a graveyard in the midst of a downpour. Photo: Vogue.com

Runway shows were the obvious next step in my progressively increasing addiction to the art of fashion. Sure, I love the practical collections that will be sold at all of the big department stores and online retailers, but it’s the artsy, non-practical stuff that leaves non-fashion people asking “who would wear that?” that really gets my blood pumping.

The Rodarte Spring/Summer 2019 ready to wear collection managed to stimulate my fantasy brain, plunging me into a vibrant world of absolute decadence and sensory overload. Sheer dresses, crocheted shifts, metal armbands, floaty veils, giant ruffled shoulders, frilly tiered dresses, embroidered capes- and all in a rainy graveyard? I mean, the location alone is enough to inspire daydreams for days to come. My story-seeking brain was groomed, pampered and fully slaked with this richly textured and vibrant collection. The unexpected rain even added to the drama of the event, as the sound of the rain accented the soundtrack and models had to more carefully maneuver their environment.

As Maya Singer so aptly wrote in her review of the collection for Vogue.com,

No one is better at provoking daydreams than Rodarte—it’s impossible to watch one of their shows without fantasizing about the kind of life these looks demand, a life of endless decadence and romance. You could see them as the ghosts of possible selves.

And I could really only ever hope that one of my possible selves could wear clothes this hauntingly beautiful.

Check out my favorite looks from this collection below: