Rodarte: States of Matter Exhibition

.

.

.

(Photos: Autumn de Wilde)

Today the exhibition Rodarte: States of Matter organized by MoCA Associate Curator Rebecca Morse opened to the public. The exhibition includes over 20 designs from the label’s various collections as well as the gorgeous ballet tutus conceived for the feature film, Black Swan. Since launching their label Rodarte in 2005, sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy have designed collections that elegantly merges fashion with fine art. Further intermingling art and fashion, Alexandre de Betak (best known for his elaborate runway show sets) was enlisted to help add a little drama to the installation.

Rodarte: States of Matter is the sisters’ first solo exhibition on the West Coast and runs from March 4, 2011 – June 5, 2011 at the MoCA’s Pacific Design Center.

Fleet Ilya’s Spring Colors

Fleet Ilya Slim Cutout Belt

Fleet Ilya Slim Layered Loop Satchel

Fleet Ilya Large Layered Tote

Fleet Ilya Cut-Out Waist Cincher

Fleet Ilya Racer Back Harness Belt

Fleet Ilya Flat Layered Tote

Fleet Ilya Studded Waist Cincher

I’ve always loved Fleet Ilya’s leather mastery, which is on full display with his Spring 2011 collection. Striking a lighter note with an introduction of colors from peppermint green to a vibrant coral, they contrast beautifully with the angular dominating silhouettes of the harness, belts and bags. Shall I take a walk on the tacky side and paint my nails a matching peppermint color? Now I just need to decide which belt and bag to go with the nails.

Anime + Fashion = True Cosplay Love

Last night the Museum at FIT hosted Tokyo Fashion Festa NY, which included a Cosplay fashion show featuring costumes inspired by favorite characters from manga and anime followed by a make-up demonstration on applying your own cosplay and subcultural looks like “Gothic Lolita”. After the event, there was a tea party reception where you could pick up your complimentary tube of paint-on fake eyelashes.

Japanese pop culture as interpreted through manga, anime or videogames has increasingly been influencing fashion designers and artists. Cosplay (costume play) is not a subversive street style but rather more likened to Halloween dress up as popular characters from manga (comic books), anime (animated films), or video games. It may sound like a limited subgroup but interest seems to be growing not only in Japan but also in the US.

Black Swan Inspired Style

Kate Moss Does Vogue Nippon Cover

Vogue begins the new year with a “Kate Moss Special” in the January 2011 issue of Vogue Nippon, which captures the British model’s career in candid photographs taken over the years. Shot by Mario Testino, they are styled with a little rocker chic with a feminine romantic vibe… not unlike Kate herself.

Model-pretty in the NY heatwave

The Sartorialist: Heat Wave, New York City

This is one of my all-time favorite “model-pretty” photos of NYC. What I mean by model-pretty is that it looks staged though it isn’t.

I love Berlin for its authenticity

The Sartorialist: Claude, Berlin

I have a nostalgia for all things Berlin… its sense of style, music, art scene, you name it. But I especially love its people and their no-nonesense sensibilities. It’s so refreshingly honest and this photo says it all.

This is so NYC

Bleecker St., West Village, The Sartorialist