Designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy presented Rodarte's Fall 2026 ready-to-wear collection, featuring web-inspired designs and sculptural dresses. The show highlighted intricate beaded webs and dramatic lighting reminiscent of cinema. The sisters drew from their long-standing fascination with arachnid motifs.
Rodarte, founded by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy in 2006, has long incorporated romantic elements with an edgier twist, as seen in their spring 2008 cobweb sweaters. Their latest Fall 2026 ready-to-wear collection continues this theme with prominent spider web motifs, including gigantic tulle-wrapped wire web hats worn by models on the runway. Laura Mulleavy described the concept as “this idea of webs being spun and just different ways of thinking about it without it being about decay or things that are deconstructed.” Delicate hand-beaded webs shimmer on gowns made from tulle and various Chantilly laces, serving as anchor pieces. The opening look featured a smocked chiffon top banded with lace that drapes fluidly, paired with cascading ruffles and long trains. Other standout items include dramatic sculptural dresses crafted from ruched taffeta. Kate Mulleavy explained she aimed for a midpoint between Renaissance and Gothic aesthetics. The collection emphasizes draping and construction over narrative storytelling. Suspira-inspired lighting created a moody atmosphere, though it sometimes obscured details. Laura Mulleavy noted, “maybe it was more like thinking about great moments of clothing within film and really beautiful lighting.” The designers' affinity for cinema deeply influences their work.
