Judging the Judges: Catherine Malandrino Spring 2008 Collection

La Malandrino recently showed her Spring 2008 collection and it is (quelle surprise) fabuleuse. Taking her inspiration from the rich colors and sights of St. Paul de Vence in the south of France, she explained "It was inspired by all the organic things and the lightness that you find there in the summer."

The collection is polished, cohesive, feminine, French and très, très chic. We love her use of color, which is exuberant and restrained at the same time. She uses blacks and whites extensively, but when she uses colors, they're deep and rich and sophisticated. There's a slightly retro bohemian 1930s vibe, but the emphasis here is on "slightly." There's nothing costumey about these looks.

Honestly, we rarely see a collection and love every look - and we might have some minor quibbles with a few of the pieces - but this is one of those times where the whole thing is just so gorgeous and so perfectly rendered that we're just awed by the pretty.

Et vous?

(Photos: FirstView)