“Fashion is a human fantasy…” Catherine Malandrino.
Last Saturday, as the fashion world made its way to Paris, I had the incredible pleasure of discovering next winter’s Catherine Malandrino ready-to-wear collection. This French designer, based in New York for the past 20 years, is known for her dresses that exude sobre sex-appeal (an often difficult combination to pull off!) Her designs are an ingenious blend of French elegance and urban glamor. Her collections are always anchored around ”a feminine and urban sensuality, desire, temptation and even sometimes revelation.”
Finally, the Malandrino woman is “a fine mix of Catherine Deneuve in “ Belle de Jour,” Anouk Aimee in “A Man and a Woman,” Faye Dunaway in “The Thomas Crown Affair” and Jane Fonda in “Klute.” Can you see that woman somewhere deep in yourself?
The photos above were taken at the famous parisian hotel, The Bristol, for a photo-shoot removed from the cluster of Fashion Week…enjoy!
xoNS
Natacha Steven is a French fashion blogger living in NYC reporting from Paris Fashion Week exclusively for The ZOE Report—follow the rest of her adventures right here on tumblr (and after you do so, go check out the rest of her awesome site!)
You know the drill by now…it’s Natacha here, checking in from the final days of Paris Fashion Week!
VIKTOR & ROLF MONOCHROME
Viktor and Rolf’s show at the Tuileries garden revealed how to push the envelope in all black and white. The signature bow was beautifully hand-worked and spruced up throughout the collection in an ornate yet delicate fashion. Ruffles, fur and lengthy legs were the name of the game at V&R.
CHANEL : BAD GIRL CHIC
The Chanel runway shows are always highly anticipated—for several reasons of course, but among them, primarily decor. The Chanel models walked a runway circling an enormous terrestrial globe under the glass roof of the Grand Palais. The collection is ”chic and sexy”, as declared by Karl Lagerfeld before specifying: “the sexy is subdued, not sexshop sexy.” The skirts are short, but the legs are covered with leather stockings, black or white, matte, patent, or even embroidered. A few centimetres of skin are visible between the stockings and the skirt. Somber colors dominates the silhouettes, with shades of black, grey, and navy blue—but not without the occasional pink. A rock vibe can be interpreted from boots with chains and embroideries that make the jackets sparkle! Overall, it was a magnificent show that pays high tribute to the French luxury market.
JAY ARH ROMANCE
Jay Ahr definitely embraced short skirts and dresses with a lot of leg action. If flashy and subtle joined forces, this collection would be the perfect depiction—statement pieces without overdoing it. The center dress in a soft blush flowed beautifully, and still exposed some leg in the middle as the model walked.
ELIE SAAB: ORNAMENTAL RIGOR
Black, white and petroleum blue silhouettes go head to head. Absinthe yellow softens out the darker colors. The strict lines of the outfits are balanced out by plays on transparence that are present throughout the collection. A very elegant collection, incredibly fine and detailed—with British embroidery, lace, sequins, and mesh, which seem to come straight out of an old Russian film.
THE MIGHTY WORLD OF LOUIS VUITTON
Along with Fendi, LV was my favorite show of Fashion Week. The collection, the decor, the models…all breathtaking.
The models walked the runway in a 20th century hotel where fifty doors opened in succession to divulge to the public silhouettes that would transport them to the post war period of the twenties. The length of the dresses varied from below the knees to above the ankles, and the choice of materials such as satin and alternations of sheer gave a very sexy vibe to the outfits. Kate Moss closed the show with a see-through dress entirely embroidered—a downright marvelous piece. Marc Jacobs goes above and beyond every new season and never ceases to amaze us.
NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD : JEWELRY FOR THE FEETS 
Our feet work hard—they deserve to be lathered up in a cocktail of snakeskin, fur, royal blue, lace and the likes. Award-winning Brit shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood killed it with his shoe collection preview during PFW. Heads up ladies, his new collab with Erdem is on its way as well.
YOUR WARDROBE MUST FOR NEXT FALL/WINTER
Next winter, furs and leathers will be amongst the most indispensable items.
With regards to color, if your wardrobe is principally black and white, then you’ll fit in perfectly with the monochrome trends favored highly by designers this season. Don’t hesitate to add a soft touch of pale pinks and sky blues, that will also reign supreme amongst the signature colors of next winter. Face the cold head on wrapped up in a coat or long cape that goes down to your ankles. The skirts too will be long next winter. They often fall bellow the knees and all the way to the ankles. The waists are high, and lengthen the silhouettes. In conclusion, don’t forget the trend: the masculin-feminin, the tomboy looks, the items that we’ve stolen from our boyfriends as well as the pantsuits a la Rachel Zoe, the geometric motifs and finally, the tunique dresses on pants!
Voila!
xoNS
Natacha Steven is a French fashion blogger living in NYC reporting from Paris Fashion Week exclusively for The ZOE Report—follow the rest of her adventures right here on tumblr (and after you do so, go check out the rest of her awesome site!)
Bonjour from sunny Paris!
Fashion Week is in full swing and the designers are continuously marvelling us with their chic, elegant, sleek and glamorous silhouettes, perfect reincarnations of the 50s Parisian woman.
DIOR : THE POP ART TOUCH
The Belgian Raf Simons continues to interpret the codes of Dior in his second collection of ready-to-wear for the illustrious fashion house, presented Friday. He adds a strong personal touch and an homage to Andy Warhol—in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation, the major works of the artist are reproduced in several looks.
The designer transports his audience through a dreamlike decor, with light blue floors and large clouds whose reflections shine in enormous bubble mirrors.
From the first silhouettes, one will recognize the “Bar” suit with its puffy tail, certainly the most iconic Christian Dior silhouette. The strapless ”Miss Dior 1949” dress is also on the runway, but in black mesh and embroidered leather. 
Spotted at the show: brand ambassador Marion Cotillard & the lovely Olivia Palemro
ROLAND MOURET : WINTER IN DRESSES
Straight dresses, with square shoulders, very tight, down to the knees: dresses perfect for the red carpet that one can already perfectly imagine on faithful clients from the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Kate Middleton.
GOOD HUMOUR AT ISSEY MIYAKE
Out with the greys, in with color! The models, on a snow white podium, flash their most beautiful smiles to win over the cold of winter. Coats and jackets with multicolored tartan prints, blue, purple, pink, red or grey, appeared one by one to the rhythm of an experimental mix with Scottish sounds.
ISABEL MARANT: A PURE COLLECTION
A simpler, less charged collection compared to the previous ones, with cowboy/Elvis vibes. Besides a few studded pieces, the collection is refined in shades of navy, black, gray and ivory. The designer reinterprets the wedged sneaker in a low boots version with velcro scratch.
NICCA RICCI : POETIC COLLECTION
Original decor enhanced by the enchanting presence of Katia and Marielle Labèque on the piano. The musicians performed “Two Movements for Two Pianos” by Philip Glass side by side on the grand pianos at the Nina Ricci show. All the signature trends of the brand are respected and reinterpreted according to daily tastes. A romantic and elegant line that we’re eager to see in the stores.
BARBARA BUI : BLACK ON BLACK
The collection is almost entirely black. The silhouettes are androgynous glam in straight short dresses, aside from the looks with pants, where the tuxedo is reinterpreted.
VANESSA BRUNO : MASCULINE VS FEMINE STYLE
Vanessa Bruno commenced the show with a series of menswear attire—pinstriped suits, oversized blazers, and pleats slowly eased into a series of clean-cut embellished dresses and tops. The combination of black, white and gray was greatly emphasized throughout the beautiful collection.
A few more snaps from around the city :)
Bisous, à demain for more fashion shows!
Natacha Steven is a French fashion blogger living in NYC reporting from Paris Fashion Week exclusively for The ZOE Report—follow the rest of her adventures right here on tumblr (and after you do so, go check out the rest of her awesome site!)
Hi Everyone!
After New York, London and Milan, the fashion industry is investing Paris for 9 days of ready-to-wear runway shows. Here’s my report on the start of a FW that commences with the rising talented youth. Amongst them, Cédric Charlier and Anthony Vaccarello from the city of Lights.
Dries Van Noten dominated the catwalks Wednesday, on the second day of fashion week, with a masculine and somber selection.
The look was dark but joyful by the insertion of feathers and bright stones. With base tones of black and grey, bits of sparkle peppered into the garments really make it shine.
There are also little touches of fuchsia and acid yellow. Floral motifs make appearances on trousers, dresses and skirts, in pastel tones on grey background. 
On the South American side, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, based in New York for Lacoste, presented a sensual collection, monochrome—looks in black, midnight blue or petrol blue. His volumes are on the larger side, especially at the shoulders. It’s as though a fine woman had slipped into a man’s coat! A few silhouettes wore standout prints: a wild bestiary, with tigers, wolves and night owls.
It’s a new era for Balenciaga: The young New York stylist Alexander Wang really paid tribute to Cristobal Balenciaga in his first collection, all pure elegance.
The collection is dominated by somber tones, with lots of black, sometimes in contrast with whites.
The cuts are feminine, with fitted and flattering waists. The trousers are high-waisted, pulled in by a delicate bow—notably, the bows as a tribute to Cristobal Balenciaga, who was extremely fond of them.
Alexander Wang revives a few other signature styles: the volume in the back, the rounded shoulders. Furthermore, the knee-length skirt is shorter in front than it is behind.
It’s the start of a splendid PFW, elegant and pure. To the contrary of Milan FW, the clothes are kept devout of overbearing embroidery and color, and perfectly illustrate the natural chic of the French woman. After the shows a sweet break at Angelina, a typical parisian salon de thé, famous for it’s amazing hot chocolate!!
Bisous,
Natacha
Natacha Steven is a French fashion blogger living in NYC reporting from Paris Fashion Week exclusively for The ZOE Report—follow the rest of her adventures right here on tumblr (and after you do so, go check out the rest of her awesome site!)
Check out what Kanye and other steezy dudes are wearing at PFW:
They Are Wearing: Paris Men’s Fashion Week
Photo by Kuba Dabrowski
Marc absolutely killed it for Louis Vuitton Spring 2013!
Images via Harper’s Bazaar
