District L

Aside from the uptown vs. downtown turmoil that currently plagues fashion week preparation, it's the technological transformations that have been the talk this week. According to IMG releases, the airport-style kiosks that are replacing the harried PR girls of yesteryear will speed runway show check-in and minimize gatecrashing.

Taking a cue from The Boom Boom Room and Central Park's South Gate? Maybe fashion is ready to reintroduce indulgence and abandon democracy.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Stop running, Carrie- they beat you to it.

Which is why ENK International and IMG Publishing are teaming together to present three special issues of Fashion Week Daily's print edition to provide exclusive coverage of the World Shoes and Accessories Exhibition in Las Vegas.

Fashion Weeks worldwide get massive coverage; understandably though, it would seem that ginormous tradeshows do not. If you've ever been to a ginormous tradeshow in a convention center 30 miles away from a city with no particular mind towards buying massive amounts of anything, like we have, then you'll understand why the press doesn't exactly blow their wad over them.

But...shoes. We forgot about the shoes. A tradeshow for shoes is just moaning for press coverage. Who better than IMG to provide?

"We are thrilled to be working with ENK to launch a new set of dailies devoted to our most enduring obsession: shoes!" expounded Brandusa Niro, senior vice president of IMG Publishing, on the subject of reminding us just how much we love shoes.

Well thank Karl.

Another New York Fashion Week has come and passed, but not without one last District L review of the week’s wild events.

Friday the 13th spelled bad luck for Yigal Azrouël who apparently did not want Ashley Dupré, Eliot Spitzer’s former call girl, in the front row of his show. Yigal claimed that when he reviewed the seating chart with Kelly Cutrone, this scandalous celebrity’s name was nowhere to be found. The fabulous designer concluded to WWD, “I’m not going to work with [Cutrone] anymore.” He then added, “I’m really not happy about it.”

Paris and Nicky caused a paparazzi stir on Monday as they entered The New York Free Library for Jill Stuart’s show. While I adore the fun-loving Hilton sisters, attendees found it annoying that they were fooling around for the duration of the show. This further reinforces my beliefs that, for the most part, Young Hollywood and New York Fashion Week do not mix.

Later that evening, guests were surprised to see Carine Roitfeld at the William Rast show. For some reason, Justin Timberlake and Paris Vogue don’t seem all that compatible.

On Tuesday afternoon, Behnaz Sarafpour was cut a raw deal. While his invites read 2:30pm, the IMG schedule said 2:00pm. The time discrepancy caused his venue to be half-empty at the start of his show (or half-full, depending how you look at it.)

The Armani store on 5th had its opening party Tuesday evening. Anna, Carine, Chace Crawford and the Beckhams were on the guest list. PETA protestors also made an appearance… outside.

3.1 Phillip Lim showed on Wednesday the 18th. Surprisingly, the show was not well attended and some standing room guests even snagged first and second row seats! On the other hand, Kanye and his entourage didn’t give up their first row spots. He strutted in just as the lights dimmed.

Richie Rich’s first show as a solo designer was also on the 18th. While Kanye didn’t make it to this show, 40-something sexpot Pamela Anderson was there to grab the spotlight.
“She totally embodies the Marilyn Monroe of our times,” Richie Rich gushed. Really??

Speaking of Marilyn, Marilyn Agency celebrated their 10th anniversary at Rose Bar last night. There’s no better way to toast the end of an eventful Fashion Week than with a glass (or three) of Veuve.

…and that’s just what District L is about to do! Cheers!

Post by Amanda LaMela

"I still get goose bumps when the lights go down, the music starts and the first shows begin. It's thrilling."
-Fern Mallis, Senior VP of IMG Fashion

Post by Amanda LaMela