District L

"My life didn't please me, so I created my life."
-Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Post by Amanda LaMela

Get ready, fashionistas! District L is becoming an 'On Sugar' site. Hang in there, because our new format is coming soon!

"The women around me, travel, and clashing cultures. My muse has so many guises, she is everywhere."
-John Galliano, talking about his muses in Vogue (March 09)

Feiyue (pronounced Fe-yu-e), a footwear line that caught District L's eye today at Rendez-Vous, combines a modern aesthetic with traditional functionality. According to Raan Parton, creative director for Apolis Activism who was at Rendez-Vous today representing the brand, Feiyue got its start in 1920's China as a utilitarian array of footwear used primarily in Martial Arts.

"All along its history, [Feiyue] has been a reference among all Chinese social categories from the countryman to the politician, from the captain of the national soccer team to the famous Shaolin masters"- Overview Prospectus, Feiyue Shoes.

How egalitarian!

Feiyue's look is a mesh between the functional styling of Superga and the shape and detailing of Asics Tigers (Asics Mexico 66 is quite similar to their signature shoe; maybe Feiyue's influences stretches farther than we thought.) Check out some of the photos we snapped today and you can be the judge.

Check out Feiyue and be sure to pop into an Odin New York to get up close and personal. District L will definitely be picking up a few pairs.

Feiyue Shoes
Odin New York

Post by Nicolas Seraleyva

District L took a trip to the Altman building to check out the Rendez-Vous debut in NYC. We won't give you all the juicy details yet, but a few designers definitely caught our eye.

One of the labels, Pipit, really got us excited. When we approached the designer's area, we instantly fell in love with these screen-printed, metallic Tyvek dresses. They came in flattering silhouettes that would make any girl swoon. So, hold tight! District L is looking to get in touch with Pipit's Dustin Horowitz to show you some of his fabulous photos soon.

SHIN was another label with a fantastic concept. The designer, Shin.Yoon, used high quality jersey knit with strategic nips, tucks, and modifiable rope-sashes to allow the wearer numerous options. Don't worry! We're hoping to show you more from this label too.

Until then, visit:
www.pipitnyc.com
www.shinwonyoon.com

Post by Amanda LaMela

"The body has to be impeccable as well - that helps a lot. If it's not, buy small sizes and less food."
-Karl Lagerfeld, in Harper's Bazaar

District L is off visiting Rendez-Vous NYC and then we'll be hitting up a sample sale.
Hint: The sample sale is on Greenwich Ave.

Later this year, Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland will be hosting a new series on Bravo called "The Fashion Show". The basis of the show is to follow professional designers as they compete to have their apparel sold in the mass retail market.

I am not so sure I like the concept of the show, but since Fern Mallis will be a judge on the series, I guess I'll catch a few episodes.

[caption id="attachment_355" align="aligncenter" width="286" caption="Photo by \"The Boy About Town\""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_337" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Rendez-Vous Paris, March 2007"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_338" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Rendez-Vous Paris, March 2007"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_339" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Rendez-Vous Paris, March 2007"][/caption]

When I first attended Paris Fashion Week in March 2007, one of the stops we took was at the renowned Paris-based tradeshow, Rendez-Vous. Two years later, it seems that the cutting-edge trade show has moved to New York. Rendez-Vous is now going on this weekend at the Altman Building on 18th Street.

“Traffic, while wonderfully diverse at our four yearly shows in Paris, has for several seasons plateaued, or in some cases from certain regions, declined,” said founder Joshua Safalow to Fashion Wire Daily.

Well, if traffic is what you're looking for, you've come to the right place, Josh. Welcome to New York!

Post by Amanda LaMela

"My vision is not about fantasy; it's about reality. I design for women, and I have my eyes on what I want you to look like."
-Yigal Azrouel, in W Magazine