Women's
Catherine Malandrino’s French Twist
Malandrino (center) with models. Photo by Drew Altizer/SFwire.
Designer Catherine Malandrino visited Neiman Marcus in San Francisco to show off her new Spring ’11 goods late last week. The Parisienne-turned-New Yorker, whose heart lives on both sides of the Atlantic, chatted with NMdaily about the South of France-inspired collection, her collaboration with Lacoste (including the logo of kissing crocodiles she created), and the difference between Parisians and New Yorkers.
NM: Tell us about the Spring 2011 collection that you’re showing here today.
CM: It was all about the South of France and relaxed chic. I like the idea of the air and poetry of France, and there’s something that’s very timeless about the icons who are always in my head, like Catherine Deneuve in ‘Belle de Jour,’ Romy Schneider in ‘La Piscine,’ Anouk Aimée in ‘A Man and a Woman,’ and Brigitte Bardot in the South of France. The collection is about timeless chic and sophisticated staples a woman needs in her wardrobe: a cocktail dress, a georgette jumpsuit, a sheer chiffon blouse paired with a masculine pant, and timeless prints like ombre, stripes, and polka dots that are so classically French.
NM: How did you come up with the color palette?
CM: I had in mind the pottery coming out of Vallauris, a little French village known for its high quality pottery, and especially the artist Roger Capron, whom I love. I used the pottery and clay colors like beige and black. I was also inspired by society in St. Tropez and the ideas of tie-dye, ombre, and soft colors for a relaxed summer-chic look.
Photo by Drew Altizer/SFwire
CM: I would say a Parisian woman always has poetry in her mind and an homage. She’s always about a love story. I think the woman in New York is way more dynamic. She’s energetic and tougher, and that’s why she’ll always have a jacket or leather coat on top. She’s protecting herself because she has a tougher life and she’s ready for a bigger challenge. I like the mix of both, however. I enjoy the energy of New York and sometimes I have a tough attitude and silhouette, so it’s not just all about femininity. It’s about femininity for the urban city.
NM: Carven’s designer Guillaume Henry recently said New Yorkers are dressing more Parisian. Do you think that’s true?
CM: I think French women have always been an inspiration worldwide. Maybe it’s the tradition of couture in Paris, and the idea that French women know how to work with heels and how to wear a scarf. I think they’ve been inspiring for American women and Asian women and Russian women. It’s quite a common thread in the world. However, there’s so much movement today and I’m actually inspired by an American woman, and bringing that to Paris is the next step for me.
NM: In addition to your namesake collection, you collaborated with Lacoste for Spring. Are you a tennis player?
CM: I’m a tennis player and a skier and a contemporary dancer. I’m an active woman and I love movement. When Lacoste approached me about the collection, I was surprised because it’s a men’s brand, however, they are French and I grew up with it, so it was very close to me. I knew that I could give a French and feminine twist to a really masculine brand. It’s not really my main thing to do collaborations, but this one made sense because it was a French brand that I have joie de vivre and chic in common with.
NM: You created a new kissing crocodile logo for Lacoste. How did you come up with that?
CM: I wanted to bring this kind of emotion to the crocodile. The crocodile has been very tough and I wanted to show that the crocodile is ready for a woman’s love story.
NM: What’s up next for you?
CM: I want to do more in the accessory world: shoes, bags, and everything that creates the full women’s wardrobe. I started with a shoe collection and I want to go way deeper into that, because women are always asking me for the shoes that go with the clothes and the bags. Then, I want to do jewelry. It’s all a big process because we want to make sure we have the right partner to make it at the best quality that we’re known for.
