Rodarte SS2010 New York

[zamb]

While objectively I could like some things about this, I detest everything that these and the Proenza boys stand for........
However, since I'm a fair man, I decided tp post it anyway




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[zamb]

the rest




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[Sombre]

While objectively I could like some things about this, I detest everything that these and the Proenza boys stand for........

I haven't followed the label closely. What is the Mulleavy sisters' design philosophy?

[almroth]

It reminds me of: xena: warrior princess. not in a good way..

[zamb]

I haven't followed the label closely. What is the Mulleavy sisters' design philosophy?

I dont know what thier design philosophy is, nor do i particularly care for it, I just hate the idea of a manufactured superstar.............
what I have seen in terms of work from these girls, when compared to their story really doesnt add up. it is too perfect, too polished and too staged, that is what I detest about this whole business, where there is a blurring, almost to the point of not being indistiguishable, the talent of the "designer" and the people working for them.
I remember when Olivier Theyskens started his label, it was really great, his talent was exceptional, but you could see the flaws, the experimental failures and the growing pains of a brilliant mind searching for excellence. I dont see that with these girls or the proenza boys, everything is just toooooo perfect, then I have to wonder who is doing the actual work?

[Sombre]

Ok, I see what you mean. Valid point. I remember seeing one of their collections for the first time (S/S 08 I think) and being awed. It did (and does) look like coherent work. I wonder though, if it's more like they're playing it safe, because they really haven't ventured vary far from the collection that gained them critical praise. I think everything produced since then has been quite similar. It could be that they are afraid to make mistakes, which is why we see no experimental failures.

[zamb]

Ok, I see what you mean. Valid point. I remember seeing one of their collections for the first time (S/S 08 I think) and being awed. It did (and does) look like coherent work. I wonder though, if it's more like they're playing it safe, because they really haven't ventured vary far from the collection that gained them critical praise. I think everything produced since then has been quite similar. It could be that they are afraid to make mistakes, which is why we see no experimental failures.

it goes deeper than that, learning to make great clothes, and designer clothes is not an easy thing to do...........
for girls who never studied fashion, and and got to the game very late, I dont see how the could be that good this fast..............

[Sombre]

I didn't know they never studied fashion. Ok then that is strange. it is like me walking into an art gallery with a painting I made last week when I was bored and having everyone fawn over it (I cannot even properly draw a stick man). In that case it does raise eyebrows. I'll have to try to find out more about them.

[Sombre]

Well, no, it can't really be like that. I was exaggerating. Obviously they must have some kind of talent, but the point Zamb raises is a good one.

[Vanna]

It is entirely possible to have passion for art/design apart from academia. In my own experience, people who care enough about a subject take it upon themselves to learn as much as they can about the history and application. I do not think that not having an diploma from a fashion school invalidates their point of view; they never seemed like fast-fashion types and their past collections indicate that.

And, as far as the collection goes, I think I'll quote Faust's daughter, "Too many strings."

[Faust]

Smooth, Vanna! LOL.

I don't know the story behind the label, but I guess Zam thinks it's sort of like PHI, where Michael Dell's wife got bored of being an expensive housewife and decided to play fashion. She hired a young designer to do the actual designing. Is that what you mean, Zam?

[zamb]

Smooth, Vanna! LOL.

I don't know the story behind the label, but I guess Zam thinks it's sort of like PHI, where Michael Dell's wife got bored of being an expensive housewife and decided to play fashion. She hired a young designer to do the actual designing. Is that what you mean, Zam?

Yes, kind of. I've followed their work, not really closely but to some degree from the beginning and I dont see any youthful exuberance in it, the kind of polish and presentation, from the beginning suggest a greater depth of knowledge that could only have come by either alot of money or years of experience (or both), but their story claims they have neither

Mona, I dont necessarily believe that one has to go to fashion school, or any kind of academic institution to have knowledge in a given field................. I myself am a testament to that, I had a business for seven years before I went to fashion school, and about 90% of the knowledge I now draw on to do my work did not come from any kind of schooling, but through years of consistently working and developing my skill level. If i took such a position i would be contradicting my own life experience............

[christianef]

i bet the one girl is really john candy and this will be the theme for the next dan brown novel. conspiracies aside, ive never saw much interest in Rodarte, i can understand the appeal conceptually, but the aesthetic doesn't resonate with me. this i think is the worst of everything so far though a few of my friends of belgium seem to love it so again maybe its my own bias. i don't think i would ever consider purchasing a piece, personally. its not a brand i connect with.

[tricotineacetat]

the kind of polish and presentation, from the beginning suggest a greater depth of knowledge that could only have come by either alot of money or years of experience (or both), but their story claims they have neither

Besides the fact that I don't see the same quality of polish in their actual designs (I am actually horrified how they can get away with their fairly simply constructed, decorative dresses to be discribed as being couture-like), I don't see what's wrong for an emerging designer to wish for his presentation and designs to be perfected and professional by appearance - Ultimately, not having to struggle with delivering quality and believable 'luxe' (ultimately that is the pricepoint that you eventually end with, when you produce small series' runs) is what everyone is looking to achieve. As a designer you want to be taken seriously by the surrounding industry, from retailers and press people, to gain support and eventually make the next step up that is necessary to stay in business.

[tricotineacetat]

Regarding the collection, I am always dubious when little stylist tricks such as the obvious tattooed arms and the stage design distract as strongly as that from the actual clothes. Upon closer inspection, you actually get to notice that the clothes are neither impressively refined (A shame that people seem to have overseen Sophia Kokosalaki as being the designer with the most obviously refined draping expertise) nor offering a progression to what the sisters have previously created.