Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, Lili Reinhart, King Princess, and More Star in Rodarte’s Spring Look Book

The Rodarte world is ever expanding, with sister designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy working through a variety of mediums, from film to fashion. Their Spring 2020 collection, to be shown via appointments in New York next week, is being unveiled exclusively on Vogue Runway with a series of dreamy portraits of the Mulleavys’ muses. In the surreal images, Gabrielle Union poses like a princess, Lili Reinhart snuggles a pup, and January Jones and Kiernan Shipka have a Mad Men reunion in layers of tulle and taffeta. “As we’ve become more confident and comfortable in our design voice and really seeing what our personality is within the design world, it’s been really nice to think artistically about creating a world behind each collection,” says Laura of swapping the runway for portraits.

“We wanted to create painted portraits,” she continues, citing the Surrealists and the interplay of graphic colors as references for the Spring 2020 collection. “In the end the images have that quality, not knowing whether or not someone has been painted or photographed.” The dreamscape scenes include topiaries, columns, and the occasional petit four.

For many pictured here, including Yalitza Aparicio and Rowan Blanchard, embodying the Rodarte spirit comes naturally. Over the past two or so years, the Mulleavys have established their brand as a force to be reckoned with on the red carpet, dressing these actresses and many more in pieces that challenge the conception of what a “celebrity style moment” can be. “It’s really exciting to know that people who wear our clothes feel beautiful and they do feel that they are for, sometimes, a special occasion,” says Laura of their celebrity clientele. “The red carpet is an important way that we communicate, just as runway shows are an important way that we communicate, or being able to do a museum show even.”

When it came time to cast this season’s look book, the designers looked among their friends and the women who inspire them. Both sisters are mum on which picture is their favorite, though they will admit there is always a special place in their hearts for Kirsten Dunst. “Knowing Kirsten, we have such a sister relationship with her,” says Laura. “She’s so important in our lives, shooting anything with her is so emotional. The moment we had her on set here was just a very special part of the day. She just has the most magic heart.”