When I arrived at Greenwich Village Country Club on Friday night, the pre-show set-up was already in full force. Hair, makeup, and models were in a frenzy to prepare for Lois Eastlund’s runway preview. The model-to-photographer ratio was 2-to-1, with plenty of modish flash for all.
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
Last night marked three years in the LES for Lois Eastlund. Friends and fanatics celebrated in her 153 Ludlow boutique with an evening of mingling, drinking, and most certainly, shopping. Lois Eastlund’s loyal following donned her crisp, comfortable signatures for Friday night’s festivities. Adding new pieces to her collection of versatile, color-blocked dresses and distinguishing mod styles, guests were snatching the looks that walked her runway just weeks ago. Vibrant tones and slick fabrics juxtapose basic black for a look that reflects the neighborhood just below E. Houston – flexible, energetic, and distinct.
The 11/11/11 event was sponsored by Boutiika, ATTITUDE by Jeanne, ID Pop Shop, and of course, yours truly.
Post by Amanda LaMela
Has fall finally fallen – or is summer here to stay? Despite the unpredictable weather forecast, we harvested our festive spirit on Saturday for an afternoon of brunch, shopping, and pumpkin “picking” at the Chelsea Market.
Heading west for this weekend’s ID Pop Shop, we first stopped to grab a bite to eat at La Bottega in The Maritime Hotel. After an odd combination of food and beverage orders, we crossed the street and braved the weekend crowd to visit Lois Eastlund at the Independent Designer’s pop-up shop. Also making stops at Vernakular Photo Designs and ATTITUDE by Jeanne, we finished our Westside Story with a bottle of champagne from the Chelsea Wine Vault.
Just after the sun set, it was time to journey uptown for Ladytron at Terminal 5. VHS or Beta opened around 8:30pm, stirring the crowd for a Night on Fire -- and by 11pm, we were already Destroying Everything We Touched.
So, before gravity became the seducer, we trekked back downtown for a birthday-turned-soft-opening-party at Parlor New York. We toasted our final few drinks of the night to celebrate 25 fabulous years of Sarah Frances Cagianese -- one-half of the talented sibling duo, Frances Rose.
Post by Amanda LaMela
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
There is nothing more painful than the caustic return of Monday after a good weekend -- especially those excruciating moments right before viewing my Chase Checking balance for the first time in three days… But as unavoidable as the first flannel purchase for a new Williamsburg resident, Monday made its bitter return.
So what other option do I have than to reflect upon the past days’ unabashed consumption and celebration?
Festivities began early last week with Anna Dello Russo’s INC launch at Openhouse Gallery. The Wednesday night event possessed the right ingredients for a perfect party – Champagne, models, and a famous style icon.
The second half of last week enjoyed its good share of meet-ups. My first stop was Ludlow to visit designer and friend, Lois Eastlund. As I browsed through her new color-ways and styles, we caught up and discussed a particularly exciting photo shoot on the horizon.
Two Bisousciao macrons later, I finally summoned the courage to elbow my way through Soho. When I finally exhaled inside Bloomindales, I was immediately drawn to a table of megawatt LARUICCI cocktail rings like a sorority girl drawn to glittery puff paint and plastic stemware. Designer, Lauren Ruicci, was busy greeting impressed visitors at her weekend trunk show.
“We have a lot in the works for fashion week,” she hinted, “but I can’t really divulge much yet!”
After a bit of self-pampering and shopping, it was time for another rooftop rendezvous with friends -- once again, falling into a champagne haze in the name of birthday celebration. But by 8pm, it was already time to start pulling ourselves together for the Digitalism show at Terminal 5.
Post by Amanda LaMela
Early Saturday evening, DL headed over to La Petite Cave to stock up on festive swills for the upcoming holiday. With the first day of summer behind us and the Fourth of July only a week away, it’s time to work on perfecting that patriotic panache. Our fridge is now lined with personal bottles of Pommery POP Champagne, all dressed in Betsey Ross attire.
Assuming the appropriate beverages have been determined and the proper trip, rooftop, or event has been reserved, we’d like to suggest a few special New York-made pieces that will add a touch of local flair to the weekend’s festivities: The fizz may be French, but these threads were born here.
Made Her Think: Little Love Bomb Bag
“Make love, not war” with this utilitarian leather bag by Made Her Think.
Box 185: Blue Feathered Earring
A touch of color can go a long way – especially in a single feather earring. The photo above, shot by Jeffrey Fried, features a design by Box 185’s Sara Keiser.
Lois Eastlund: Mod Patterned Dress
Colorful and light, this Manhattan creation offers a stylish remedy to the heated hitches of summer.
Post by Amanda LaMela
District L is Amanda LaMela & Nicolas Sera-Leyva
