Malandrino Brings Long-Range View to Fashion Week

By Samantha Critchell, AP Fashion Writer

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Catherine Malandrino, using a different vantage point, brings a new eye to Fashion Week

By Samantha Critchell of the Canadian Press

NEW YORK — The earth, up close, is awash with colour - especially in a city with neon signs, taxicabs and a healthy accessories business. But from the distant view that fashion designer Catherine Malandrino used as her vantage point in her fall collection, the landscape is dominated browns and blacks of remote places and, of course, the blue of the oceans.

It’s a rugged terrain filled with exotic creatures, and those seemed to be Malandrino’s muses for clothes that were powerful and primal as they were put on display at the Chelsea Art Museum on Sunday during New York Fashion Week.

With hard-shell heels on their feet that mimicked hooves, models wore sweaters with armourlike embroidery, goat-hair vests, crocodile leggings and a highly desirable wraparound leather bolero. Hardy, warm furs also had their place.

But amid the tough exteriors, there were often fine, delicate details, including a soft cashmere, draped-front flower cardigan, and a lovely, ladylike plisse dress in crinkled velvet.

If you imagine the world as seen from above, Malandrino said in her notes, the contrasts become focal points. “Once viewed from this new perspective, it became natural that the woman who inhabits this world must simultaneously embody strength, ease and raw femininity.”

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Runway Reviews: Catherine Malandrino

Catherine Malandrino is preparing for the opening of 25 stores in Asia, so it’s only fitting that her Fall 2010 collection indulged a “Khan” theme. The French designer focused on Genghis Khan’s rise to power in Mongolia, and she used elaborate fur pieces to hearken back to that time of conquest and the riches that accompanied it. Malandrino’s chiffon party dresses were as delectable as ever, and the leather jackets, accessories, and eveningwear were equally destined for success on the sales floor.

Malandrino channels tribal trends for fall

By Rebecca Heslin of USA Today

Catherine Malandrino showed off her fall collection, which she dubbed “The Wrath of Khan,” presentation-style to a packed house at the Chelsea Art Museum. The well-heeled show-goers entered a gallery where models posed on platforms as statues. Malandrino explained in the show notes that she drew inspiration for this collection by looking at Earth from above. She chose to juxtapose raw femininity with strength through a marriage of draped looks and rugged, earthy materials. Think animal prints, metallic lace and furs. Deep mineral tones like indigo and rust dominated the heavenly knits, distressed leather and killer booties with horn-shaped toes.

We spotted Kate Walsh, Kelly Rutherford, Whitney Port and Mena Suvari taking in the tribal looks. Suvari scanned the goat hair vests and fox fur coats as she chatted with fans and tweeted about the leather leggings.

Walsh, rocking a super-short black lace and knit mini-dress courtesy of Malandrino, claims she’s “obsessed” with the designer and loves the “past, present and future” concept incorporated into this presentation. No matter the season, Walsh says her recipe for effortless style is sticking to H&M and TopShop for basics and splurging on a few signature pieces.

MALANDRINO’S COOL PARISIENNE-MEETS-URBAN-WARRIOR JEWELS

By Beitressa Mandelbaum of W Magazine

On Sunday, alongside her ready to wear presentation,Catherine Malandrino showed a selection of cool tribal-inspired jewelry that included stacked and layered metal collars and cuffs. Only in its second season, Malandrino’s bijoux has the appeal of a chic Parisienne urban warrior, mixing metals, chains and charms in a perfectly distressed, found-this-on-a-recent-jaunt-to-Bhutan way.

See the original article at W Editor’s Blog.