Rodarte Costumes the NYC Ballet Spring Gala

Kate and Laura Mulleavy designed costumes for Academy Award winning movie Black Swan with great fanfare (and controversy).  The gorgeous feathered costumes for Natalie Portman were as much the star as the Oscar winner herself.

Since then, the Rodarte designers have been on a roll with theatrical dressing.  They have collaborated with the Dutch National Ballet and just debuted the clean, modern, stripe costumes for the New York City Ballet
Spring Gala pictured above.  The team was a reunion of Black Swan creatives, with choreographer/dancer (and husband to Natalie Portman post-movie) Benjamin Millepied and the actress herself as gala chairman.

Up next?  The Mulleavy sisters are working on costumes for the opera.  Specifically, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Don Giovanni.   

I'm hoping they will tackle Broadway next...How about an update on Jekyll and Hyde?
Photo from racked.com

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Rodarte Costumes for Black Swan

Black Swan, the dark, ballet thriller by Darren Aronofsky opened Friday.  In fashion, all of the buzz has been going to the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte.  They designed seven of the edgy, Goth-chic costumes for the stylish movie.  The theme of "duality" played out on stage and off.  

For Prince Siegfried's character, the designers were inspired by mechanical birds.  The costume is vividly detailed with floral embroidered cheesecloth and distressed velvet.  Odette's costume is a constructed pancake shaped tutu.  It was embellished with white angora wool to emulate branches growing up the skirt.  

This may be the first film for Kate and Laura Mulleavy, but the designers have previously found horror and ballet to be muses for their collection.  

Update 1/31/11: While the Mulleavy sisters received many accolades for the fashionable look of this film, one hard-working designer has been left out of the spotlight.  In an interview for film style blog Clothes on Film, Award-winning costume designer Amy Westcott noted that while Rodarte may have been responsible for seven looks, there were many other costumes that were created by herself and Zack Brown.  

Ms. Westcott also clarified the difference between a fashion designer's role and her own position.  A fashion designer may conceptualize looks for the screen.  However, a true film costumer researches every tone and color on film, wear-tests each costume and is on set every day to ensure the comfort of the actors.

Amy Westcott Sketch

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Red Carpet Recessionistas

Remember when gawking at stars on the red carpet was about drooling over unattainable couture gowns?  I don’t know if it is the recession, the Obama effect, or the general democratization of style, but celebrities are flaunting bargain finds in front of paparazzi.

The early pioneer of the high-low red carpet look was Sharon Stone.  In 1996, she was the star to dress for the Academy Awards.  She made the best fashion press of the night when she declared she grabbed a Gap turtleneck from her closet for the evening.  (She failed to mention the Valentino skirt it was paired with).  As a result Gap was elevated to a serious fashion brand and even sponsored this year’s Met Costume Gala.

FLOTUS Michelle Obama is often seen mixing young designers with mass apparel brands like Talbot’s and J. Crew.  Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men struck a glamorous pose in a very attainable Topshop dress.  

One answer to this phenomenon would be the high end designer collaborations with mass market brands.  Edgy label Rodarte and Zac Posen recently created fabulous dresses for mega-retailer Target.  Natalie Portman was seen in a $40 Rodarte, Claire Danes sported the Zac Posen on the red carpet.  Gap has hired many a young designer like Prabal Garung and Thakoon for special projects.  Isaac Mizrahi has a special collection for Liz Claiborne, sold at J.C. Penney.

With funds no longer a problem, the rest of us plebeians have no excuse not to be red carpet ready.

Photos by Jason Kempin/Filmmagic,Steve Eichner,Marc Stamas/Getty Images

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