Robert Liptak imposes a new identity on the RTA wardrobe

By

Chenu Alexis

Published
Mar 1, 2023

Last November, Robert Liptak, who has collaborated successively with Rick Owens, Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent and Tom Ford, was announced as the new creative director of the Los Angeles-based brand, RTA. After a pre-fall collection inspired by Las Vegas, RTA continues its journey into the world of gaming with its Fall-Winter collection. 

"After a psychedelic trip to Las Vegas, my second collection has been imagined for a man who realizes that life is also a game. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, sometimes some of us cheat. But you've got to play. An idea that reflects my personal interpretation of life. Sometimes life can seem like this puzzle where you don't know exactly how to put the different pieces together. But you have to keep going.”
 
On this theme, Robert Liptak plays with fashion and incorporates game elements in his collection. Puzzle pieces figure on quilted hoodies and jersey shorts, while hypnotic shapes and optical illusions appear on pants, shirts and silk jacquard tees. There is something magic about RTA's collection and some pieces have a fun aspect, from reversible jackets to labyrinths that light up on T-shirts when exposed to the sun, "a graphic pattern, embossed on leather or nylon puffer coats and jackets, whose shapes are similar to those of a labyrinth," adds Liptak.

The great novelty in RTA's latest wardrobe is colour, which is invited in a bold way with these red leather jackets, and in a play of shades. Another example is the "Dijon" yellow, one of the main colours that is used in crocheted sweatshirts, croptops, shirts, blazers and cargo trousers in yellow suede and in an yellow acid-washed denim set worn by the singer Rauw Alejandro in his latest video clip, Tamo en Nota: "Acid-washed, a very 90s effect that I love," explains Liptak, "which looks like dead yellow to me, deep with shades of green, and it can also be found in purple in women's clothing."

The new RTA men's wardrobe includes a lot of wide leg pants, oversized jackets and hoodies. Finishing touches complete the looks and the tailoring spirit is present through blazers, jackets and pants. In addition, a series of caps are available in a denim velvet that develops a patina over time. 
 
RTA's women's wardrobe has also been repositioned and given a new identity, "more inclusive, aimed at all genders, less urban, open to all categories," says Liptak. "A collection inspired by films and by all the heroines that have marked history, icons of the 70s, inspirations gathered around a triptych drawing of RTA's signature codes, sexuality, mystery and playfulness."
 
Blending androgynous elegance, bohemian chic and disco glam, this season's collection features a mix of relaxed and statement silhouettes rendered in plonge leather, lingerie lace and satin jersey. Collection highlights include cady envers gowns and tent tops, naval-grazing neckines and lace paneling as well as this season's little black dress, in a slinky jersey, featuring a bandeau top with metal logo hardware and an asymmetric, ruched skirt. 
 

The 70's influence is expressed though jumpsuits, maxi skirts, flared high waisted pants, body-hugging button down shirts and halter tops in a rust and purple haze palette. While crop tops and jackets are covered with eyes belonging to secret heroines.
 
The RTA fall-winter collection will hit the stores in July. The repositioning of the brand is also accompanied by a price increase of about 15%, ranging from 145 euros for a T-shirt or 300 euros for a silk shirt, to 1495 euros for a puffer coat or 1995 euros for the suede blazer.
 
"The market response during Paris Fashion Week was very positive," concludes Liptak. "People came in and were very excited about the evolution of the brand, and very excited to see color. RTA is an example of how a fashion brand from Los Angeles can take risks in terms of style. For both men and women, we are coming up with a new proposal, outside the usual clichés of the sea and palm trees, and imposing a new personality. People are excited to see us grow."