CELEBRATING TEN YEARS AT THE TOP OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY, CATHERINE MALANDRINO CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE AND INSPIRE WOMEN WITH HER WHIMSICAL, FEMININE AND BOLD DESIGNS. THE FRENCH DESIGNER HAS SUCCESSFULLY MERGED HER PARISIAN CHARM WITH CASUAL AMERICAN COOL TO CREATE A LOOK BELOVED THE WORLD OVER; FROM THE STYLISH STREETS OF PARIS TO THE SUNNY SIDEWALKS OF LOS ANGELES.
by Margarita Hirapetian

You recently opened Catherine Malandrino Maison in West Hollywood. What made you decide to open another boutique in Los Angeles?

The boutique on Sunset Boulevard was my first flagship store and keeps a very faithful clientele.
[With Catherine Malandrino Maison] the idea was to create an intimate experience where I am sharing a personal image of friends and family around the Maison. It allows me to express my creativity beyond clothes — as a destination that will speak to all the senses. I want to invite my clients to a one-of-a-kind destination; where you walk through a lobby to get to the living room and share a moment by the fireplace or on an intimate patio.

Who is your ideal client?

She is an individual, a lover and a mother. She travels the world. My ideal woman marries the romance of Paris with the rhythm of New York. I design for a woman that dares to use all the codes of femininity to assert her personality.

Is there a particular city today that can be called the “capital of fashion”?

For many years, Paris was known for its traditional craftsmanship and France was the capital of couture. Milan owns sartorial for traditional men’s wear. However, New York today has become an eclectic international scene that is very rich for the designer world.

How important is it for a contemporary designer to work with celebrities?

Dressing the stars enables you to connect with people you admire. I dress a wide range of celebrities including Mary J. Blige, Eva Mendes, Beyoncé, Demi Moore and Charlize Theron.

Celebrity support began 10 years ago with the flag chiffon dress and Madonna during her world tour.

Why did you re-release your iconic American Flag dress in 2008?

This is the dress that placed me on stage eight years ago. After September 11th it became a symbol of freedom for women. With a new election this year, I felt the world needed a change and my “Flag” dress is illustrating my vision of the next step for America.

How would you like to see your brand grow in the next several years?

I want to continue my personal path, and be able to portray my messages through my designs to empower women everywhere.
[ 651-653 N La Cienega
/catherinemalandrino.com ]

Summer’s fast approaching and I know you’re all excited about putting on your favorite bikini and hitting the beach to swim, surf, and tan. Some of you might even have plans to visit a tanning salon to get what one of my friends calls “a base tan.” Although I don’t want to ruin your summer plans, I feel obligated to tell you that this is a very bad idea –– not the swimming and surfing, but the tanning.

It’s no secret that tanning is unhealthy and dangerous. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, tanning can damage healthy skin cells, cause premature aging of the skin, and, in extreme cases, lead to skin cancer. You don’t want to look 10 years older than you are, do you? And I know you don’t want to get skin cancer, which is also the number one most preventable type of cancer. In fact, preventing it is as easy as avoiding excessive sun exposure, putting on sunscreen every day (especially when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors), and avoiding tanning salons like the plague.

Yet despite these warnings, teen girls and boys continue to flock to tanning salons and beaches to perfect that “golden glow.” In an effort to curb this behavior Seventeen Magazine has partnered with dosomething.org and created the “No-Tan Pledge.” By signing it teens promise to protect their skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays by always wearing sunscreen, appreciating their natural skin tones, and giving up tanning beds. The Social Girls have already signed the pledge, and we think you should too!

Sign the pledge today—all it takes is one click.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The blog posts that I composed for socialgirls.com (the website itself no longer exists) were all written under pen names. In this case, I posted as “Taylor.” All of the work, however, is my own. I came up with the concept for each “cool thing of the day,” found a corresponding stock photo, and wrote the entire copy. 

I am quite the fashionista. My closet is full of designer pieces by Rodarte, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, and many others. You might think I shop solely at fancy department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale’s, but you’d be wrong. I buy all of my designer duds at Target. There’s just no way I could afford anything by these world famous designers with my meager allowance, but thanks to the Go International line I can dress like a celebrity!

The latest designer to collaborate with Target, and contribute to my wardrobe, is Zac Posen. His feminine, flirty, and innovative designs are perfect for spring. The collection is colorful and sophisticated with pieces that include a poufy pink dress, a red leather jacket, and a tailored black tuxedo suit. My favorite piece is the pink dress with snap buttons that you can drape and fold any way you like. Check out this video of Zac himself explaining exactly how to wear all the looks. Just in time for summer, the collection also features a floral string bikini and metallic halter bathing suit. Most of the dresses are between $49.99 and $79.99, and they’re so chic you could even wear them to prom! The most expensive piece is the red leather jacket, which retails for $199.00. The collection goes on sale April 25, but as usual I have to remind you to get there early because you know it’ll be sold out in no time. If you see a blonde girl frantically stocking up on all the pieces, that’s probably me. Don’t be afraid to say hi!