Catherine Malandrino

1963-Present

(The Cut)

Catherine Malandrino
Biography:

Catherine Malandrino is a current living designer whom expresses her edginess and rocker flare 

through her irresistible designs. Malandrino is a graduate of L’Ecole Supérieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode (Alford). She has helped re-launch Diane Von Furstenberg, created her own collections, worked with various well-known celebrities such as Halle Berry and Madonna, and has become internationally known with her various boutiques. According to Malandrino’s website, her inspiration was to blend the “romance and elegance of Paris with the energy of Manhattan, as well as the couture of France and the casualness of the U.S.” (Catherine Malandrino). She has blended her inspirations flawlessly with her techniques. From her boutiques in France, to her love for the American flag, she has gained popularity worldwide.

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Critical Analysis:

            Around 1998, Catherine Malandrino showed her first collection in New York (Alford). The zeitgeist displayed a time of major changes in America, which inspired her American Flag collection. On January 1, 1990, "Maryland becomes the first state to ban the sale of cheap hand guns, also known as Saturday Night Specials" (American Decades). Microsoft was being created and minimum wage was raised to $4.75 per hour (American Decades). It was a time of gays being recognized as domestic partners and discrimination towards them. This inspired Catherine Malandrino's early work because the spirit of the time was youthful, with a hint of chaos and anger. Her clothing then and now portrays exactly that. Select garments that she has created may seem daring and provocative, but it is inspired by the zeitgeist that she grew up in. The daringly cut clothing is a reaction to the idea of sexuality changing and gays and lesbians becoming public. She uses pastels, pops of bright color, prints, and light and flowing silk fabric to create clothes for the women who likes to be classy, but has an edge to her.

             It is very prominent that her influence was not only the zeitgeist of her time, but also Madeline Vionnet. She constantly follows Vionnet's idea of drapery and light flowing fabric. As you can see in these to photos below; the color, cut, and draping of the dresses are quite similar. Malandrino follows Vionnet's idea and providing a woman with elegance, but Malandrino adds her own twist to it. 

Cather Malandrino's dress

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Madeline Vionnet's dress

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            Catherine Malandrino is an icon not only for her exquisite fashion designs, but also for being photographed. She has been known to be the most photographed woman in America, according to her website, more than the statue of liberty (Catherine Malandrino). Catherine Malandrino said, ““I want to bring softness and refinement to an urban, feminine wardrobe and to help the woman show her character and individuality through her unique clothes”, and that she has done. She is known for draping beautiful silk into liquid like masterpieces, chunky knitwear, and “playful accents to showcase a rock-and-roll attitude” (Alford). Malandrino designs irresistible fashion that accentuates a women flawlessly and helps show her true beauty. This is what makes Catherine Malandrino a fashion icon.

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Analysis of Future Trends:

            Catherine Malandrino has influenced many trends in today’s fashion world. Her flag collection sparked a love for patriotic clothing throughout America. In her collection for 2014, she incorporates color blocking, lace, prints, and muted tones with a pop of bright color (style sight). Catherine Malandrino’s signature is to wow and surprise others with her random vivid colors and rock and roll edge to her sophisticated upscale clothing.

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            Malandrino has created the lasting signature silk draped gowns and dresses. Almost every celebrity being photographed on the red carpet wear a flowing, draped, silk gown at least once. Which is inspired by Catherine Malandrino and signature elegant yet sexy silhouette that she has created toady.

            Personally, I do not own any of Catherine Malandrino clothing, but I do own clothing that is inspired by her. I own many flowing silk shirts and dresses. One item of mine that I have now realized to be inspired by Catherine Malandrinois my prom dress. It is flowing silk draped and fitted at the bust and flowing from there on. Realizing this was inspired by Catherine Malandrino is exciting because of the impeccable legacy she has created with her iconic fashions.

Work Cited:

Tompkins, Vincent, Judith Baughman, Victor Bondi, Richard Layman, Eric L. Bargeron, and James F. Tidd. American Decades. Detroit: Gale Research, 2001. Print.

"The Cut." The Cut. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

"Welcome to the Official Website of Catherine Malandrino." Welcome to the Official Website of Catherine Malandrino. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.