Malandrino offers natural palate for New York collection

NEW YORK, Feb 5, 2008 (AFP) - French designer Catherine Malandrino presented her collection at New York's Fashion Week using a palate of "artichoke" and "petrol" colors to finish her autumn-winter 2008 creations.

Malandrino is among designers such as Marc Jacobs, the darling of the New York fashion set, not officially taking part in the week-long event in Manhattan, but showing their collections off-program.

As in previous seasons, Maladrino offered several shades of green in her collection. What was olive in her spring line became artichoke for the autumn.

Evening dresses, cashmere pullovers and single-buttoned flannel jackets were in petrol gray, while olive green pencil skirts were cut beneath the knee and set off by pearl gray pullovers with Malandrino's signature sleeves.

The collection also featured smocks and embroidered crochet work in black over bronze green and set off with a touch of emerald, and biker jackets in supple leather stitched with maple leaf highlights.

"Well beyond New York and Paris, women these days have a sense of taste that is becoming more global, while still keeping its sense of the specific," Malandrino told AFP after her show on Monday.