District L

R Bar’s red-drenched interior and downtown location set the fitting tone as guests arrived for Lois Eastlund’s Fashion Presentation. Just minutes away from her namesake boutique on 153 Ludlow, Lois spent her final minutes preparing models as friends and fans shared cocktails and conversation along underlit banquets.

Infusing new and classic color palettes into her signature mod styles, Lois offered the audience colorblocking with a kick: Hued geometrics, metallic trims and glossy, diagonal shapes – each look more eye-catching than the next.

Post-finale, invitees were ushered into the back room of R Bar for a special performance by The Happy Problem. Donning Lois Eastlund designs, their performance included new songs like Curvature, Headcase, and The Prettiest Girl.

Post by Amanda LaMela

My feverish descent into today's internet k-hole has produced these beauties; if I said that I wasn't slightly disappointed that the absolute last original fashion blog idea had apparently been claimed by the genius behind FASHIMALS, I'd be flirting with falsehood.

But really though, you kind of have to just sit back, cross your arms, purse your lips into an simultaneously incredulous and awe-struck duckface, and hand it to them.

In the immortal words of Ezra Pound, "complimenti, you bitch[es]".

Val-eel-ntino Garavani is very, very pleased you were able to attend tonight.

Anna Winpurr is not known to be very forgiving, even to her most esteemed colleagues at Vogue...

...but Grace Coodington knows, deep down, that she really does respect her creative input.

Owlber Elbaz often describes his work for Lanvin as "classic with a twist".

Kitty Litterfeld once incomprehensibly described his diet as "I eat fish, three times a week meat, and if not yogurt, something like this and it rarely continues."

Moar FASHIMALS can be found here. Photos from FASHIMALS, captions by Yours Truly.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

When people tell me to "relax," I tend to have the opposite reaction. It usually starts with your snide smirk and "pump-the-breaks" hand gesture. And it always ends with me spending the next four days contemplating how to kill you and make it look like an accident.

The thing is, my personality is completely incapable of relaxation. Maybe it was the hours of intensive ballet instruction during my formative years or the footwear that always keeps me on my toes. Whatever the case may be, I'm usually wound tighter than a pair of Jeffrey Campbell combats, constantly hovering on the matrix between unrivaled gusto and extreme obstinacy - and I hate when someone suggests that I behave differently.

That being said, relaxation was ever-so-gently implied this season, again and again. This trend of "urban ease," although somewhat of an oxymoron, was communicated in a way that was refreshingly comprehensible and not at all condescending. Soft layers in calm palettes were trimly draped for a casual-but-polished look. The runway soundtracks were comfortably upbeat with songs like "Go Outside" by Cults at the top of the list.

Geometric shapes, cutouts, and varying hemlines offered enough movement and interest to satisfy my restlessness - proof that next season's trends extend beyond provincial complacency.

So...reeee-lax. It's all going to be okay.

Sergio Davila

Nomia

Kaelen

Son Jung Wan

Samantha Pleet

Daryl K.

Post by Amanda LaMela

On NYFW’s Day 5, asymmetry became the Standard Culture. In light layers, sheer fabrics, and a soft color palette, FACTORY by Erik Hart maintained the flavor of urban structure with geometric shapes. Overlooking an evening on The Highline, guests viewed Hart’s collection of varying hemlines, fresh prints, and subtle contrasting.

On Wednesday evening at 9:00pm, Center 548 was filling up with the most dynamic New York characters for The Blonds’ SS12 collection. Inspired by The Playboy Club, this platinum, Bunnylicious showing had all the Swarovski crystals and cufflinks necessary for a 60s revival. Poms, corsets, and tails lined the runway, granting us all keyholder access to this glamorous guild.

After the event, we headed to Submercer for a tail-chasing afterparty. Phillipe Blond, in a glittering nude dress, circled the intimate establishment with David Blond to celebrate yet another sexy season of sensation.

Post by Amanda LaMela

On Day 4 of NYFW, I headed downtown to Gavin Brown for Daryl K, the Dublin-born/Manhattan-rooted designer celebrating 20 years in New York’s fashion industry. Opening with drums and Kusmi Tea, the exclusive showing attracted a stylish crowd of devotees decked out in the label’s sleek slashneck throws and chic leather leggings – despite the unseasonable heat.

With runway sounds exclusively percussive, models matched their aural surroundings in looks that reflected both minimalism and spontaneity. Splash prints were paired with neutral colorblocking, black shift dresses, and sheer overlays. In breezy silhouettes that were both relaxed and metropolitan, models could not fight the urge to dance. Arabesques and pas jetés exhibited the movement and spirit of Daryl K’s anniversary show, an undisputed Sunday success.

Brooklyn designer, Samantha Pleet, debuted her namesake collection in 2006, combining new and old concepts from art, literature, and music. Having since expanded her namesake label to stockists worldwide while collaborating with Urban Outfitters on Rapscallion by Samantha Pleet, this young designer brought New York another season of dynamic inspiration.

Amongst champagne rounds in The Highline Loft, last Saturday’s presentation displayed water-color body suits, twist-knot rompers, and polished trenches.  A blend of coy cutouts and hints of menswear enticed the Francophile within as Pleet’s customized soundtrack, a collaboration with Caroline Polachek from Chairlift, crooned to a crowd of industry insiders and admirers.

Post by Amanda LaMela

In Greek mythology, an angry Zeus commanded his son to create the first woman, a “beautiful evil” whose descendants would torment the race of men. So, Hephaestus formed Pandora, the first mortal female who was given “seductive gifts” by each of the gods. Athena then dressed her in a silvery gown and sent her off to open a big box of fun… or something like that.

Farah Angsana’s celestial SS12 collection boasted silk rope belts, contoured flounces, and ascending waist-lines. Simultaneously soft and bright, Farah’s magnetic presentation obscured the lines between sweet and tempting.

Post of Amanda LaMela