Sporty met feminine in Catherine Malandrino’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection. The designer fused timeless American sportswear with the romantic spirit of the French to craft a line of majestic and geometric print pieces. The goal? To envision the modern New York woman with an aristocratic flair.
Transporting us to the French Riviera, Malandrino took to her French roots to craft a line using French cotton guipure, a largely patterned decorative lace born in France in the 19th century. Using fabrics like stretch cotton jacquard, power mesh, suede and stretch leather, Malandrino once again designed a collection that combined the elegance of Paris with the energy of Manhattan.
To create this vibe, the designer combined a pastel color palette and French fabric to create dynamic pieces like bomber jackets and jumpsuits with mesh cutouts and asymmetrical lines. Colors like pure whites, frosted blues, mint greens and powder pinks appeared in her pieces to infuse her designs with hints of the refreshing spring air. Crocodile print and python leather also made its way into the collection in the form of racer-back mesh dresses and python shorts.
A standout item was an ivory leather open-net cropped bomber jacket with black beading and embroidery, paired with a black sleeveless jumpsuit with pleated grosgrain trim. Pure whites pieces with mesh cut-outs were prevalent, seen in blousons tops, cardigans, and tulle dresses. Even though white was a predominant color, splashes of pastel hues also appeared in the lineup. A teal crocodile embossed trench was paired with a matching skirt, a pastel pink sleeveless gathered dress fit snugly underneath a white mesh cardigan, and a yellow crepe back satin jumpsuit was paired with a pair of salmon patent leather pumps.
The hair was short, slicked back, and poufed. Shades of pastel eye shadow lined the eyes to match the shades of pink and peach lipstick that covered the lips. Looks were accessorized with Swarovski drop earrings, studded belts, and piano key clutches.
Malandrino successfully mixed sportswear chic with Parisian elegance to create a line of dynamic pieces for a confident, adventurous, and feminine woman. And A-list guests like Stefano Tonchi, Elie Tahari, and Hamish Bowles would have to agree.
Kristina Bogos is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected]
