District L

Curiously conquering the aftermaths of our eventful Saturday evenings, DL-and-friends met for Sunday brunch at Caliu.

“Perfect. Just small enough for us to get kicked out,” we mused aloud, as we descended upon the cozy West Village establishment in leather, fur, and last-night’s hair. We quickly began our bottomless mimosa session, sunglasses barely concealing our caustic glances at neighboring tables, and ordered enough Papas Bravas to soak up the afternoon.

Jenni Kayne

Rachel Zoe

Our second stop was the Tribeca Grand Hotel for serious coffee consumption, gold-flecked chocolate tarts, and… an afternoon nap. Yup, it’s all fun and games until someone passes out in The Lounge.

Thankfully, this Pre-Fall season was all about uncomplicated brunch-dressing – easy layering, oversized fur, and playfully grown-up accessories. And it’s okayyy… we’re not real adults yet.

No. 21

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

There are few people in this world that you can depend on for style suggestions – everyone seems to have an opinion, a licensed clothing line, two t-shirt companies, and a personal style Tumblr. So when you find reliable friends that double as unfailing fashion informants, you pay close attention.

This week, I was introduced to MEI New York, an evocative new brand with a penchant for the past. Inspired by 19^th Century menswear and Christopher Payne’s redolent aesthetic, the design duo shares a similar philosophy with the aforementioned photographer – to preserve the vanishing quality and design of yesteryear.

With close attention to detail, the MEI New York F12 collection combines utilitarian with poise for a rich, enduring debut.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Purposefully shaking off this evening’s post-work fatigue, I found myself ascending to the top of The Standard Hotel for the latest INC Editor-at-Large launch.  New York stylist and Voguette veteran, Kate Young, celebrated her newest collaboration at Le Bain. On a stage constructed over the infamous whirlpool, models posed in sequin separates, polka dots, and tribal prints.

DJ Hannah Bronfman spun for an energetic crowd, a further reflection of Young’s devoted following. Guests socialized over champagne, 18 floors above cobblestone, while stealing an exclusive first glance at the INC Editor-at-Large S12 collection.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Reminiscent of Talitha Getty in the early years of her marriage to John Paul Getty Jr., Bouchra Jarra revealed a couture collection that was part-bohemian muse, part-heiress bride. Expertly tailored separates, brass military buttons, and rich fur trim indicated a privileged start, while faded prints in delirious fabrics hinted the escapist’s demise.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Images: The Blonds Runway A/W 2011

“Tulga is going to be the guy doing the door and it’s going to be more…poets. I want poets to come. If you are a poet, you can come,” Andre Saraiva, owner of Le Baron, declared almost a year ago. And after twelve months, a liquor license contretemps, and a stream of unrelenting downtown rumors, the famed magnate of international nightlife is set to open his doors… soon?

So that gives me a bit more time to figure out how to feign “poet” status – which, to me, means attaining the proper balance of insanity and eloquence. The intention seems pulled together, with a fragility that toes the edge, much like Lord Byron and the pet bear he kept at Cambridge or the charmingly bipolar Dylan Thomas.

Simultaneously transparent and obscure, it’s concluded that “Much Madness is Divinest Sense” – she who was the most elegant ticking time-bomb.

No. 21

The Row

Post by Amanda LaMela

Lois Eastlund Runway, October 2011

The pulse of New York style survives on a diverse assortment of emerging designers and independent retailers. Local boutiques generate excitement and satisfy the city’s need for one-of-a-kind pieces that can’t be found at some mall in New Jersey or a Midwestern department store.

Small Boutique Fashion Week was founded as platform for emerging designers and small-scale buyers to connect and achieve further exposure. Twenty designers will present collections of ready-to-buy pieces during the SBFW Runway Show and Market on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Exhibiting designers include Lois Eastlund, Cut & Sew, Dirt Po by Paul Young, Nolan Kouri, and Dirty Monroe.

Dirty Monroe, Fall 2011 Collection

Nolan Kouri

Lois Eastlund Runway, Photograph by Chuck Lau

Post by Amanda LaMela