With two-story scaffolding at the back of the runway and New York street noise on the soundtrack, Catherine Malandrino sent out a collection that seemed designed to prompt appreciative wolf whistles from construction workers. There were plunging blouson minidresses, one-shoulder and halter-style black jersey numbers accented with silver chain-mail links, and white-on-white polka-dot poufs (yes, bubbles were a big theme). Subtle it wasn't, and after a pretty fall showing full of day clothes like houndstooth coats, jacquard suiting, and smock tops with tailored pants, it was somewhat disappointing to see her focus so much of her attention and flair for detail on evening clothes, and give them such an obvious eighties slant. On the upside, she showed some strong trenches with dramatic, me-against-the-world collars. And there were two smart suits. One came in silver and another in black, and though plenty sexy, they conveyed a kind of authority that can keep those construction workers at bay.
