Click the photo for more looks from Catherine Malandrino.
If there were one word to describe Catherine Malandrino’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection, it would be fierce. Inspired by French Art Deco elegance, the collection featured clean and graphic shapes designed for the sultry, expressive woman.
Malandrino displayed her collection presentation style in a window-lit warehouse space. 35 models stood together on a black, raised platform in the shape of a rectangle – occupying the space of the entire room as viewers moved around. Models wore minimal makeup and their hair pin-straight, down, and pulled behind their ears. The extreme simplicity of the model’s faces immediately caused the audience to be drawn to their alluring wardrobe.
Leather and velvet embroidery were seen in a majority of the pieces, but there was also the inclusion of wool coats, double-silk satin gowns, lace, and cashmere.
The collection contained no bright colors. All hues were on the warmer and earthy side – burgundy, nude, ivory, absinthe green – and of course plenty of black.
With her roots in French fashion, Malandrino was successfully able to mend the components of both New York fashion – sultry and sleek – with the timeless and elegant charm of Paris style. Elongated silhouettes, statement collars, and curve-following dresses proved conservative in coverage yet tantalizing in form. The pieces were classy and emanated confidence.
The collection also featured an assortment of pieces of geometric design in contrasting color schemes. A nude colored knee-length dress called for attention due to its shape-heavy pattern in an opposing black fabric.
The same geometric designs were used in a variety of pieces, showing the versatility of the prints and creating cohesiveness to the collection.
The presentation room attracted the likes of New York socialites and stylists, as well as famous faces like Nigel Barker and Bergdorf’s front lady, Linda Fargo, who all seemed wooed by Malandrino’s latest designs.
Alyssa Noud is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected]
