In the past two years, Fashion has been turned on its head. A global pandemic has transformed the way we see fashion and the way we dress when going out. As Covid-19 restrictions have begun to lift globally, more people have been looking to spruce up their going-out wardrobe as events, happy-hours, and gatherings become more normalized. Rodarte, an it-girl staple brand, made every going-out fantasy a reality with their new Spring 2022 collection, as shown at Paris Fashion Week.
Rodarte began with Kate and Laura Mulleavy in 2005, and was founded in Los Angeles. Most notably, Rodarte dressed and styled musicians Chloe and Halle for the Met Gala this past year, as well as singing duo Haim. Singer Lorde is also well known for wearing Rodarte to events during her album release press cycle.
The first look from Rodarte to take down the runway was a structured white Maxi dress, complete with Rodarte’s famous tailoring, especially seen in the neckline. Incorporating corporate style pieces such as tailored blazers and blouses has been seen as a big trend this fall as well as a trend we will see throughout Spring 2022. Rodarte continued with this theme throughout the collection, silk maxis paired with blazers and structured necklines. However, in typical Rodarte fashion, bright vibrant patterns were incorporated in the more modest and structured pieces, these prints including zebra and other black and white motifs. Rodarte continued a black and white theme throughout the collection, with pops of neon colors such as pink and orange, a big trend for spring and summer 2022.
Some of Rodarte’s standout pieces included their collection of lace dresses. Rodarte included lace and beaded floral prints throughout the collection as well. A large trend this season is the revival of the “naked dress” first popularized on Sex in The City. Rodarte took their own play on the naked dress with see-through lace maxi dresses. Although they are full-length, full-sleeved with high necklines, the sexiness of the dresses is seen in the billowing layers of see-through lace.
Rodarte stayed consistent with their branding with the use of beaded applique flowers, and 1920’s inspired beaded fringe on dresses. Rodarte sent out flocks of models clad in beaded flapper style dresses ranging from black and white to the colors of the season consisting of an electric blue, hot pink, and orange. Rodarte played with niche and DIY trends, with their Alien-themed poncho and Mushroom patterned silk pieces, as seen most recently on Lorde. Rodarte also played with Makeup styling, incorporating art and face paint to further tap into artistic and feminine energy. All of the model’s hair was left natural and mostly untamed as the push for “natural beauty” on the Rodarte runway drove not only the fashion.
The last third of the collection starkly compared to the beginning, consisting of a series of “naked” style dresses. Models were clad in flesh-colored silk dresses, minimal makeup, all while barefoot. Rodarte accessorized each dress with a single long chain. Although minimal, this was one of my favorite sections of the Runway show. I enjoyed the use of skin-toned silks on each model, contrasting with their natural skin tone. As the models walked, the silk clung to their skin providing a beautiful illusion and silhouette of the fabric clinging and complementing the model’s skin and body. Rodarte used this section to applaud and display the natural beauty of femininity and the female body- an objective the founders of Rodarte have been succeeding at since the founding of the brand.
Rodarte’s Spring 2022 show presented everything an it-girl could want, from structured blazers and power suits to sparkly jaw-dropping fringe dresses and simplistic naked-style silk dresses- ranging from fleshy tones to the neon colors for the Spring 2022 season. If Rodarte isn’t on your “brands to watch” list, it should. Every it-girl will be wearing, buying, or feeling the influence of Rodarte this upcoming Spring 2022 season.
Works Cited
Nast, C. (n.d.). Rodarte spring 2022 ready-to-wear fashion show. Vogue. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2022-ready-to-wear/rodarte/slideshow/collection#50.
Yotka, S., Bennett, A., Ellenberg, C., Okwodu, J., Taylor, E., & Valenti, L. (n.d.). Rodarte News, collections, fashion shows, Fashion Week reviews, and more. Vogue. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/designer/rodarte.
Comments