photos by Jack Cusumano
It was a modernized return to the 50’s for fashion purveyor Mal Moi on November 3rd when it unveiled its Fall/Winter line at Red Light Bar (located at 535 W.
As if plucked from Arnold’s Diner, an Arthur Fonzarelli type—leather jacket and all—opened the show to a soundtrack of updated 50’s classics. He coolly sauntered through the crowd, mingling and swigging generous gulps of beer from the bottles of unsuspecting spectators before settling on the main stage. Faux-hawked models then filed in, where they one by one showcased the designs while showering the flirtatious greaser with affections before being sent away for the next girl. This role play remained fresh and playful until the very last look, in which the heartthrob finally succumbed to her candy striped pencil skirt and white tank with red parachute-sleeved bolero.
Chadwick included the feminine and the flirty with an added bonus of sharp punk edge. She makes a nod to the memorable poodle skirt, one in a red cherry print, the other pairing a sweet pink hue with delicate lace. Her technical skill shines through luscious ruching down the back of several of her curve-hugging pencil skits. The jersey-weight skirts remained a motif in the collection, appearing in punky bold stripes of red and white, black and red, red with white polka dots, cheetah print, and a lacy charcoal rendition with signature ruching down the back. The line was structured yet versatile with unexpected white ruffled mini, adorably racy cream blouse with brassier bearing eyelet, and graphic tees displaying such pleasantries as “Kill me: Fashion Victim”, “Motorhead”, and “Let There Be Rock.”
Mal Moi is the perfect melding of classic and contemporary, demure and drop-dead gorgeous. It encompasses both personalities of the 50’s--the squeakily conservative and post rock n’ roll cool—with proportionate punk rock irreverence. If the wearability of this fall/winter line serves as any indication, Chadwick is on to something. And that’s no jive.
Story by Brittany Middleton