kdunst by rodarte

kirsten dunst styled by kate and laura mulleavy for the current issue of lula. liked it so much, i made an image my banner.

help prease? i'm searching for the perfect sartorial holiday image to make as my banner for the month. if you've any favorites — please send them my way.

chicago has turned into a winter wonderland...can't wait for the semester to be over so i can enjoy it! i'm thinking baileys, ice skating, holiday movies. my boyfriend is a peanuts/animation fanatic who's made me promise to watch every animated holiday movie ever made with him. in turn, i've made him promise to watch "prancer" and "the family stone." kate and i are buying each other tickets to the nutcracker for our xmas presents. jack and i have decorated our apartment to the hilt (including his james franco-adorned stocking). so, so excited for this holiday season.

snow + love + cuddling with warm drinks = best time of year, peanuts.

xox,

sassafras

images: moodboard

rodarte 2010

i'm disappointed. i don't really love this collection. except apparently the white pieces, which couldn't be less like me. i'm usually such a huge fan of rodarte, but this season doesn't seem to exhibit any fresh inspiration. merely a reinvention of their uber-layered, tattered aesthetic. 

in the land of the 'oughts, anything goes. i'm just looking for that "anything" to be truly spectacular. 

image source: style.com

a love affair with rodarte

On the whole, I prefer pieces and designers that embrace a unique point-of-view, one that is recognizable, statement making. And while I don't personally expect, and nor do I expect other people, to always identify and strongly respond to a designer's concept, or the perspective from which their collections derive, I have immense respect for any designer or design team who really owns their own vision and works to communicate that in every piece they create.

Now, we all love Rodarte, but the Mulleavy sisters are stand-out examples of creating collections that have a focal point, ardently embracing a personal aesthetic that immediately communicates "Rodarte" in everything they create.

I found this wonderful interview in Gravure Magazine with Kate Mulleavy, where she explains how she and Laura developed their line, and from where they draw their inspiration.

"Laura and I are very tied to this idea of creating clothes that we felt like were very thought out and meticulous and also reflective of what our inspiration and interests are, but I wouldn’t tie it to one philosophy or the other."

Kate Mulleavy


Laura Mulleavy


"To me the thing that we seem to be drawn to doing is a balance between something that is very fragile and delicate but also beautiful but also slightly strange. I feel like that tight rope act, between doing something that has such delicate beauty but that is also slightly off kilter or weird, is the balance that I hope people associate with our work."

Current collection images



"I think the thing that we would hope that people would describe about what we are doing is that it felt like it somehow belonged to us, in a sense that there was something that was unique enough about it that it looked like our vision that was a specific voice and that we had a place among the designers that have done something that is recognizable to the designer."

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Although there's obviously been a distinct evolution in their vision and creativity, the through line is the incredible texture, movement, layering, mixing of patterns and shapes. The artistry of their clothing is one of a kind, without question. Can you imagine the thought that must go into the draping, the pleating, the ruching of each individual piece? The Mulleavys are true artists, in every sense of the word. I think they're utterly sensational.

mmm...good, good looks

So I know fashion month is over, and I'm a little late with this...but having just started this blog, I figure it's allowable.

Some of my favorite looks from New York (London, Milan and Paris will come later this week):

I loved BCBG Max Azria's oversized, uber-structured coats


Love love the cheekiness of the glasses and these fabulous palazzos from Jenni Kayne...told you I love all things oversized.


Peter Som...such good styling


Two of my favorite things: Jessica Stam and Rodarte. I really love how strong the Mulleavy sisters' point of view is...you can certainly always tell a Rodarte piece.

This Marc Jacobs look is insane...the boots, the turban, the draping with the sleeves, those sunglasses...I would wear ALL of this, exactly how it's styled.

I wish I could wear hats. Everything looks so fabulous with a fedora. And bell sleeves. Jil Sander knows this obviously.

I loved the random swimming cap-esque headpieces from Threeasfour. I'm also a sucker for good draping of any kind.

Zero + Maria Cornejo. I'm also a sucker for zippers...and unbelievable shoulders.


3.1 Phillip Lim...soooooooooooo good. I loved the cropped wigs. Reminiscent of YSL last fall. Which I loved, of course.

There are sooooo many more amazing looks out there, this is by no means a representation of "the best of the best." Just merely a taste of some that really stood out to me (thank god for Style.com lookbooks).