District L

It’s the Tuesday night before New York Fashion Week… and I’m starting to panic. I’m not at all organized for the week ahead, my wardrobe is in complete disarray, and I desperately need to arrange for a manicure. But to avoid any further catastrophes, I finally sat down to confirm each and every RSVP.

Helios&Luna is our first show tomorrow, unofficially kicking off Fashion Week for us at 11:00am. Inspired by the paintings of British conceptual modern artist Martin Creed, Helios&Luna combine his bold strokes and robust shades with the brand’s aim of versatility.

So here’s to finding our last little ounce of inner balance at our first show of the season.

Post by Amanda LaMela

'Boho-techno,' a phrase one would probably use to describe Lemonade or Tanlines, has now become an emerging concept on Paris runways.

Damir Doma’s newest collection of wooden necklaces and chunky fur vests, titled "Bohemian Techno," still manages to reveal his futuristic leanings with some serious asymmetry. Like a cyborg with a fine arts degree and an affinity for unconventional travel, Doma’s Pre-Fall 2012 collection advances the trend of polished maverick.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Despite a crowd of angry protesters, guests filed in for yesterday’s relocated GULI show at Cipriani 42nd Street. Little did the activists know, this forced location change was a perfect fit for GULI’s rich SS12 showing. Opulent and romantically pharaohic, Gulnara’s spellbinding collection drew influences from Middle Eastern and Asian cultures.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Last season, ROCHAMBEAU introduced us to sun-kissed, Nordic men with good intentions. Carefully balancing structure with staunch, the ROCHAMBEAUs of AW11 impressed guests with well-edited depth.

And it seems that the label’s tune of “taking chances” continues, as ROCHAMBEAU moves away from the silent stability of last season and into something tougher, darker, more dangerous.

I suppose the mothers of Laurence Chandler and Joshua Cooper were too fond of the boys from last season. Maybe AW11 texted too much, asking where they were and what they were doing and who they were with and if it would be okay if they came along too. Perhaps it was the last straw when AW11 stopped by with chicken soup and wide eyes when the design duo lied and said they were too sick to go out.

Whatever the case may be, ROCHAMBEAU’s new boy has a motorcycle, a few tattoos he doesn’t remember getting, and a penchant for breaking laws. But this isn’t superficial suburban “anguish” – No, these SS12 boys lived on Avenue C in the 90s and learned a few things from their short stint in Ossining.

Chandler and Cooper have yet again pushed the envelope, instilling a memorable concept and hooking fans for another season.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Lela Rose knows that this city is rarely quiet, so on the 10-year anniversary of September 11th, she prefaced her AM show with a moment of non-silence. The Studio darkened and John Lennon’s “Imagine” resonated through the sound system as hands eased, cameras lowered, and what seemed like a universal spinal chill passed through the room.

Once the desired reflection was achieved, the lights lifted to invite an up-tempo beat and a defiantly positive collection, as if to reassert to the world, “There is no stopping New York.”

Crisp, yet feminine separates in colorful prints were paired together in a playful game of mix-and-match. Classic silhouettes bounced in breezy chiffons and flirted with coy cutouts. The show closed with “Go Outside” by Cults – an uplifting ending that infused the right touch of optimism for spring.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Tomorrow is the official start of New York Fashion Week and our schedules are already packed with preparatory tasks. Between organizing RSVPs, booking hair appointments, and attempting to minimize travel times between shows, it's hard to find a moment to rest. And when our bodies finally find a second of intermission, our minds are still busy contemplating which songs from Era Extraña or Portamento will be playing on this season's runways.

So, while tomorrow's schedule will be comparatively light to the rest of the week, there are decisions to be made and champagnes to be consumed between the hours of 6:00 and 11:00pm: Fashion's Night Out.

Post by Amanda LaMela

For many New Yorkers, this past week marked their first “earthquake,” as well as their first “hurricane.” Air quotes aside, it has been an eventful few days – on Twitter, at the very least.

Now, with the onset of New York Fashion Week, we face another highly anticipated whirlwind of events. And while a shower of invitations had entered our 10-day forecast, we were not predicting hail.

Despite our own miscalculated predictions, hailstones arrived in our mailbox – two transparent cubes imprinted with the specifics for Sally LaPointe’s SS12 runway show in microscopic font. Sally LaPointe, known for her show-stopping collections and innovative invites, continues to outdo herself each season. With cube invitations and an impervious reputation, our RSVP is crystal clear.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Traveled, adventurous, and opulent.

This season continues to divulge the next chapter of fashion's cultured bohemian. In rich furs and sequined detailing, the FW11 woman enjoys elaborate embellishments while maintaining her effortless attitude and 70s-style sophistication.

In feathered fringe from Binetti and glam-rock silhouettes from Maisonette, the modern-day Brigitte Bardots will come out to play.

Maisonette 1977

Binetti

Gucci

Norman Ambrose

Post by Amanda LaMela

On the seventh day of Fashion Week, we headed over to Lincoln Center to celebrate 40 years of Allegri with a cocktail party, display, and model presentation. Under an artful arrangement of umbrellas, Allegri injected their Italian heritage into a memorable event for guests and industry insiders. Check out the video recap they sent us below: