Street Lady

Catherine Malandrino’s pretty cocktail dresses and polished separates seem an unlikely backdrop for an installation by street-inspired artist Curtis Kulig, but that’s the just kind of pairing you’ll find at the designer’s Soho store. After a renovation of the boutique, Malandrino gave Kulig free rein to create—in this case, artwork is on a variety of media including Plexiglas and freestanding sculptures, and will debut via a cocktail party tonight.

The French designer first came across Kulig’s work in the office of Paper magazine’s Kim Hastreiter. “She had these skateboards and I just loved this one by Curtis that said ‘Love Me,’ ” the designer tells Style.com. “Then a few months later I happened to meet Curtis at an event through a friend.” The two became friends, and the installation sprung from a few conversations the two had a couple months ago. “I love this idea of the boutique, which started 12 years ago, having different chapters in its life,” she says. As Malandrino’s first retail store, the Soho location holds special meaning. And as for how her ladylike customer might react to Kulig’s bold work, the designer is quick to point out: “My customer is polished and likes refinement, but she’s also very audacious.”

The Love Oui series is on display April 20 to 27 at Catherine Malandrino, 468 Broome St., NYC.