Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte were chosen as part of LACMA's Director's Series on January 18, interviewed by its director Michael Govan. Rodarte's Fra Angelico Collection was donated to the museum's Costume and Textiles Department. The sisters joined Michael Govan and Costume Council presenters to speak about the influence of art, film and literature on their designs.

The sisters explained in a Q/A setting, that fashion wasn’t there only early pursuits, some others included political science and botony, hence the influence of their own father working as a mushroom botonist.

Having being sisters, and individuals in their own right, they strangely share most things, and the obvious, which is their love for design. Most recently noted for their award-winning costume design for the movie “Black Swan”, both sisters admit to having somewhat of a dark side. The love of this may have helmed from their love of films such as “The Lost Boys”.

The sisters found it somewhat of a rigorous task to match the right tone of color to emulate the art of Italian painter Fra Angelico, which the collection is inspired by. The collection is being displayed in the The Italian Renaissance gallery at LACMA.

Originally designed for the Pitti Immagine Uomo fashion fair in June of last Florence, Italy last June, and was recently donated by the Mulleavy sisters to LACMA’s Costume and Textiles Department and will remain on display at the museum until February 5. LACMA’s Costume Council were the presenters of this affair and chose RODARTE as a part of their ongoing Directors Series.

-Jae Joseph