District L

Last night, the Metropolitan Pavilion was buzzing with anticipation for New York’s third season of IvanaHelsinki. Ivana’s powerful SS11 debut had earned her a devoted following of fellow artists and industry insiders.

The showing opened up with a short video projected onto the wall – images of young girls in an open coastal plain, tiptoeing the line between playful and otherworldly. An acoustic, folksy rendition of R.E.M’s “The One I Love” began as muted reds, blues, dusty auburns, and tribal prints charged the runway. Models, adorned with paint on their faces and hands, presented Paola Suhonen’s signature motif of seasonal inspiration -- a “balance between white arctic summer nights and endless winter sadness.”

“I design for the ones who love moonlit fields, pirates, dark forests, crummy motels, champagne states of drunkenness, fragile butterflies, passionate relationships, cowboys and guardian angels,” Suhonen proclaims.

IvanaHelsinki... you had us at "pirates."

Post by Amanda LaMela

There are a lot of months between February and September. Six to be exact. So in order to survive the days between fashion weeks, we encourage delusional daydreaming and a touch of self-absorption to numb the separation pains:

Load your iPod with the best runway playlists and leave last season’s blazer at home – because when you turn your everyday life into one big fashion show, no one can ever give you standing room.

Mundane Activity #1: Morning Commute on Casual Friday

Mental Retreat: Seventies Marina by IVANAhelsinki

On Your iPod: “It is Familiar” – Bodies of Water, “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

A buoyant saunter down Broadway will effortlessly coordinate with Ivana’s breezy look – even if entering your office feels like walking the plank.

Mundane Activity #2: Picking up shoes at the cobbler

Mental Retreat: Daytime RockLuxe by Rebecca Minkoff

On Your iPod: “Fake Tales Of San Francisco” – Artic Monkeys, “Moving To New York” – The Wombats, “Rich Girls” – The Virgins

Some people might ask, “Why do I have to get all dressed up to go to the cobbler?” And that’s why some people won’t get an abandoned pair of Choos for free.

Mundane Activity #3: Renewing your license at the DMV

Mental Retreat: Post-Apocalyptic Amusement Park by martinMARTIN

On Your iPod: “People Are Strange (Chew Fu Manjamango Remix)” – The Doors

People are strange when you’re a stranger. And there is no place stranger than the DMV, so you might as well play the part with style.

Let’s face it – No one’s “to-do” list is exclusively fabulous. Even Anna has to go to the dentist sometimes. While next Monday's activities might not be Tweet-worthy, you don't have to make it look that way.

Post by Amanda LaMela

It's been awhile since we've done our last Kirill-inspired street style post - so there was a lot of scandalous new material to sift through and pull trends.

It never takes long to determine la mode de la minute: New York falls fast for trends and then rejects them even faster. And at this very second, the kids want stripes.

Now, I know that a "stripe trend" wouldn't be all that earth-shattering. Jason Wu, Isabel Marant, IVANAHelsinki, and Kimberly Ovitz were all parallel to this trend back in September -- but now that the typically-daytime look has descended into nightlife, you know these freewheeling fashionistas mean business.

Post by Amanda LaMela

After a post-NYFW weekend spent catching up on sleep, nourishment, and the occasional phone call, District L found time to delve into our messy runway notes.

We started the week together at MAINENTRANCE, celebrating DJ Riggs and Berry Bachen's launch of their new creative space. As street-style photographer, Mr. Newton, furiously snapped away, guests enjoyed cocktails and music in the hidden Midtown location.

The first official day of New York Fashion Week in Lincoln Center was September 9. Our schedule for the evening included a picnic-perfect Verrier presentation, followed by a collective showing called Concept Korea. The next day, Nicolas ventured to the tents solo, where he enjoyed Buckler, EDITION by Georges Chakra, Ports 1961, and Alexander Berardi, just to name a few. We later met up on the Lower East Side for a fabulous Fashion's Night Out with Lois Eastlund.

Our weekend started in the Studio with Mik Cire. His male models must have gotten rowdy that night, because Rebecca Minkoff's girls were rocking a bit of morning-after attitude the following day. While I attended Minkoff's model presentation at the Box, Nick headed to the Audi Forum for some Thuy eye-candy.

We reconvened over EFFEN cocktails in the IMG Fashion Lounge before heading to see Joaquin Trias' intelligent design. We then attended Custo Barcelona's party-girl parade before jetting downtown to catch Sally Lapointe's inspiring debut show.

Monday rolled around, bringing Monique Lhuillier's delicious temptation to the Stage. Later that evening, the District L dyad met up for sorbet in Key West - I mean, the Perry Ellis runway show. Post-Perry, we cabbed it down to ION Studios to check out ANN YEE's model party over wine and remixes by Crystal Castles.

Tuesday brought us two fantastic fairytales:  TIBI and Toni Francesc. Afterwards, we headed to Toni's afterparty at Veranda, where we drank Given and chatted up Aimee from Song of Style.

We met up the following evening to witness some Lynn Wyatt-chic at Zang Toi. On Thursday, Nick attended the Argentina Group Show before meeting up with me at Milk Studios for The Blonds. After devouring our much-needed dose of sparkle, sex, and spunk, we headed back to Lincoln Center. Helping out with our hectic schedule, Madisen Walker remained uptown to cover Rebecca Moses, or rather, cover-to-cover Rebecca Moses.

The last New York show of the season was IVANAhelsinki. After searching relentlessly, Paola Ivana Suhonen found her sailor - in sun-washed nautical prints and rope-coil boots.

Post by Amanda LaMela

District L recently received an invite to IVANAhelinki, the first Finnish designer to show at New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. With a collection titled, "Where The Fuck Is My Sailor?" ...well, we were wondering the same thing.