Explain to me this: how is it possible that the same two sisters responsible for imagining and producing the dreamiest virginal make-your-own-prom-dress collections this side of Hanging Rock can also make the raciest f*ck-the-prom-let’s-go-dancing tight little things this side of Balmain? The Rodartes (to lightly paraphrase the great Grace Coddington) will be celebrating their tenth anniversary later this year and although they didn’t exactly reflect back or produce a 'Best Of' they did pick up pretty much from where we last saw them – that dream of a S/S 15 collection.
Those high-waist second-skin tight trousers, today in leather with white lace panelling down the sides, and strappy sandal/boot hybrids have become an unexpected but familiar Rodarte staple. Here they were paired with ruffled pastoral lace blouses and tweed blazers or short patent leather bomber jackets, trimmed with bright blue or ochre fox fur. The opening ‘eight panel’ leather skirt appeared to be literally that – panels of leather stitched together but its fancier cousin, a hand-beaded black and gunmetal sequinned number signalled at flashier things to come – like a blouse dripping in sequins and lamé tucked into a pair of leather lace pants (the British type, not the American). Shimmery net and lace blouses were layered underneath more homely fine knits and the fantastic outerwear we’ve also come to expect from these two like a blue and black ostrich and fur patent leather coat. Sheer black lace dresses had daisy and star sequins, and feathers trimmed their always asymmetric hemlines.
I sincerely hope some young thing in Hollywood is brave enough to wear one of the Rodarte disco dresses on a red carpet soon. Disco-ball sequin shiny or pretty in lace and marabou feathers or, more often than not, both, they were so much… what’s the word? Fun!
