"Shrinking violets need not apply. Resort, chez Malandrino, is sexy and citified. Inspired by Dita Von Teese's so-retro-it's-modern take on the forties, the designer focused on curvy silhouettes, showing cap-sleeved dresses with pleats and drapes to accentuate the figure. While the sorbet palette was unabashedly soft and girlish, the addition of snug leather jackets trimmed with chains—Malandrino's feminine version of tough chic—balanced the scales."
"Citified" is a good way to describe it. The color palette may look a little subdued for, say, wearing on a cruise, but it's perfect for drinks in the city. Not a lot of variation in the silhouettes. It's short and clingy almost all the way down the line. We like every single look here. Then again, it's so basic that it would be kind of hard not to like everything. Still, understated isn't necessarily easy to do and in this collection, she certainly does it well. These are clothes that most women can either see on themselves, or would like to see on themselves. Fabuleuse.
[Photos: FirstView - Slide: ProjectRungay]
63 comments:
Nice stuff! I agree with what you have to say about it, TLo.
And I'm not usually a fan of asymetrical looks, but that lemon yellow dress (#6 - 3rd row, 2nd column) is AMAZING!
Tlo said:
"These are clothes that most women can either see on themselves, or would like to see on themselves."
BINGO! I also like every dress here. No, unfortunately, I could not wear them all at this stage of life and figure, but they are clasically pretty. Oh, that last, long gown... who couldn't wear that! LOVE IT!
After the scary images from the Zac Posen collection, this reminds me that not all designers come from Mr. Toads Wild Ride. Thank you for sharing these!
Master Posen should take note. This is what a woman wants.
Even the unusual black/grey dress in the 7th row is lovely. So many designers can't do unusual AND pretty.
And think of what a bundle they saved on models. Or is that a group of septuplets?
Oh boy! I can definitely see myself in some of these. Specifically the very first look and the bronze and purple halter dresses with the belted midriffs. Gorgeous!
I thought the model was a little "catalog". But the collection is great.
Over all it is an lovely, although not particularly resort.
Love the red dress with the multi layer ruffle skirt and the white blouse with the black skirt.
These are lovely. I could see myself in any one of them. My only quibble is the belt on the last gown; I find it a bit distracting and would prefer something simpler. But what really strikes me about these designs is that they are clearly meant for women with curves, not stick figures.
Merveilleux!
I think the entire collection is wonderful! It's "what a woman WANTS!". I especially love the black/grey asymetrical neckline short cocktail gown in the 13th and 14th frame. SIGH!!!!
----StkrShock
C'est magnifique!
When/if I lose 10 lbs, shed ten years and grow a foot, I'd wear every single one of those looks!
I'll take one of each, please!
I'm drooling.
I LOVE this collection! Catharine Malandrino is one of my favorite designers.
I'm going to print one of those pictures out and put it on my fridge.
Absolutely fabulous!
Very pretty collection, but also not very inspiring. And these clothes would only look good on a few body types.
does the short black high-necked dress seem like a dead ringer for christian's reese's wrapper one? uncanny, say i!
There is a Catherine Malandrino outlet near where I live, but unfortunately, the few things I've tried on there do not fit me well. The size is fine, but her clothes are very long in the torso, and they always sag-bunch at the waist. And although discounted from regular retail, I don't have a good enough tailor to spend the dough for badly fitted, albeit beautiful dresses. Poor me.
Here's what I love about Malandrino. You get the idea that a real woman will look better in her clothes than the stick-thin clothes hangars who wear them down the runway.
I just know I would rock the shizz out of that gold off the shoulder number!
Ooo, j'adore.
One of the best judges EVER and a fabulous designer. I have two of her dresses and I love them.
Other designers need to take note!
1. This is draping done correctly and interesting and innovative without swamping the figure.
2. The jeweltone dresses as well as the little black number with the pockets have to be the among the first elegant "pocket" dresses I've ever seen. For once the pockets don't give the wearer an unusually wide look or appear to be based on a modified apron or house shift.
An excellent all-around collection.
~Zombiebirdhouse
Helloo. THIS is how you do color!
And nice to see someone showing looks that don't make the models look like either hookers or refugees.
--GothamTomato
potty mouth princess said...When/if I lose 10 lbs, shed ten years and grow a foot, I'd wear every single one of those looks!
I thought to myself, "Oh, how sad, potty mouth princess only has one foot. I wonder what happened to the other one?"
Then I realized you meant grow another foot taller and had myself a huge laugh.
I love that skirt!
I don't mind that most of the dresses are described as somewhat understated or that the color palette is fairly subdued. In fact, I think that's what makes them all the more wearable, or a gal's go-to dress for cocktails, a small dinner party, meeting his/her family & friends, etc. Pesonally, I really like the contrasting belt with the smoky gown (last image). It makes the piece more standout than standard red-carpet or fundraiser fare.
- edina -
These photos are eye-candies! Love this resort collection - pretty, wearable, elegant and timeless!
I never really looked at resort collections but now I'm thinking I should as these looks are gorgeous. I especially love that yellow dress.
Beautiful, jewel-toned colors - from all of the looks you can divvy up outfits to work on the universe of women's hair colors and skin tones - some for the pale, some for the darker, and so on. The color variety in this collection is very shrewd. That topaz dress is RICH.
Ah, would that I had the social life to justify having a few of these dresses in my wardrobe.
I though all were winners except the flowy double gray gown, which seemed uncharacteristically elderly compared to the rest of the collection, though the belt was a dash of verve that salvaged it.
All the best,
NDC
She's a very talented designer and effortlessly fabulous. I love her collections. She takes simple to a new level. Even when I don't like her designs I still appreciate the level of craftsmanship involved.
Bill,
thanks -- i thought potty mouth only had one foot too -- then i thought, 'why does she have to grow a foot for these dresses? they're not a pair of shoes!'
i would still be wondering if you hadn't figured it out for me - lolol.
sorry, i have baby brain and connot figure out such complexities at this stage. maybe next year.
Vive la France!
Love it. Although the little black dress looks a lot like Christian Siriano's peanutbutter cup wrapper dress from the Hershey's challenge.
http://flickr.com/photos/lobstar/2329670800/
First impression is that
I LOVE IT!!!!
Must go back and look much closer to make sure.
SisterZip
sarah said...
does the short black high-necked dress seem like a dead ringer for christian's reese's wrapper one? uncanny, say i!
You're kidding right?? But to answer your question. No.
OK....now THIS is some fashion that I actually understand. And I'm with you, Potty Mouth Princess! I'd wear them all if only...
Not sure about that weird bondage-y one, but otherwise, all very nice.
By the way, congratulations, Sewing Siren.
[*%@*@!&cheater@#**!Ismellafix@@$&*&@]
Ah, so simple, so pretty.
I'm loving the black/grey assymetrical number. I don't love the bronze one with the center-front cootch peekaboo-ish thing, it's making me think 80s and not in a good way.
to have the budget, it is to sigh ...
Magnifique!
I am so glad that Catherine was able to overcome her "intimidation" of Vincent Libretti.
Clothes so beautiful, but model horifyingly skinny and the clothes didn't hang right on her.
"Sewing Siren said...
sarah said...
does the short black high-necked dress seem like a dead ringer for christian's reese's wrapper one? uncanny, say i!
You're kidding right?? But to answer your question. No."
Same reaction here. At least it made me laugh.
I LOVE all these looks, finally a collection I can get apprieciate as a whole and not just a peice here and there.
My favorite is the black dress with the cut out neckline and the chiffon bubble skirt overlay. So chic!
It's pretty funny though, as I am reading this post bravo is running reruns of PR and the episode thats on is the one where they go to Paris and Catherine Malandrino is the judge :)
Holy run-on sentence!
I want that purple dress!
I love this collection! I am usually drawn to color, but here I am especially drawn to the two black dresses and the black skirt w/white blouse. All are very beautiful, though.
Oh, that is a wonderful yellow, as opposed to the retina searing yellow that ZP chose.
Gorgeous all the way down the line.
This is also one of the rare collections that I think would look far better on a size 6 or 10 or 14 than the size 0 Skeletor model. These clothes were meant to drape curves!
Aw Bill, you're too much! *smooches*
Seriously, at 5' (on a good day), I am certainly vertically challenged and if what the poster mentioned about her styles being long-waisted, most of my growth would have to be in the torso!
I still flove every single one of 'em, despite my lone foot. :-)
Nice. But why is it so... shiny??? I don't like so much shine on my clothes.
Can't you just see Catherine Deneuve in any one of these dresses?
Chic perfection.
Love it. Beginning to end, just fabulous.
Wow, clothes that women would actually want to wear! I am completely in love with the full length dress and the shorter black halter dress.
The model was a bit lackluster, but the collection itself was beautiful (although the pockets could go).
More charmouse???? She didn't do anything interesting or spectacular with it. where's the fashion?????
Gorgeous!!
She knows what women like,
beautiful simplicity like this.
They would look even better on women with breasts (like many of us). So where can I get these?
I even like the shoe that is worn just about the entire time. Does anyone know anything about the shoes?
I'm kind of bummed out that the bubble hem isn't over yet...
bill said...
potty mouth princess said...When/if I lose 10 lbs, shed ten years and grow a foot, I'd wear every single one of those looks!
I thought to myself, "Oh, how sad, potty mouth princess only has one foot. I wonder what happened to the other one?"
Then I realized you meant grow another foot taller and had myself a huge laugh.
12:19 PM
OMG
LOL
I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Fabulous!! Bravo Catharine!
Love every one of them so much that I'm tempted to print them all out and pin them on the wall next to my gym bag just to get myself motivated. I can totally see myself in any of them. Sexy as all get out, but classy, which is what most of us gals aspire to.
Je l'aime, je l'aime, je l'aime.
The only quibble I have is that the model reminds me of Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who I'd prefer not to be reminded of. YMMV.
Guess I'm not "most women" as I would not want to wear any dress in this collection. I don't really like the silhouette and I hate the colours. To me, it all just looks boring. Only thing I like about it is that some of the dresses have pockets.
That orange dress-- not to mention the model-- is a total ick.
Fabulous collection!
"Ava said...
That orange dress-- not to mention the model-- is a total ick."
I don't see what's wrong with the model.
that black skirt with the rectangular appliques looks awfully similar to a marc jacobs dress- anyone familiar the layered hearts number Victoria Beckham recently wore??
I love it♥
Definitely feminine and lovely...and classy!!!
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