A look from Catherine Malandrino's AW11 collection. Photo: Imaxtree

When Catherine Malandrino‘s name failed to show up on the New York Fashion Week calendar there were a few rumblings in the blogosphere. But when, last week, Racked started reporting on her closed store, late payments, and disgruntled staff rumors really started to swirl. Now, it sounds like Elie Tahari is in serious talks to buy Malandrino’s entire business. It’s not the first investor with whom Malandrino’s flirted. Last year, the designer brought on an investment banking firm and almost signed a deal with Kellwood, but this deal sounds more promising. Tahari’s been trying to grow his business (perhaps, as WWD speculates, spurred in part by his rival Andrew Rosen’s smart investments in everything from Olivier Theyskens to Proenza Schouler) exponentially this past year with new stores and ecommerce, and acquiring a brand like Malandrino, with loyal fans, standalone stores and an overlapping customer base, is one smart way to do so.