District L

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

When it comes to men's sportswear, Perry Ellis' name is an axiom - kind of like how dividing by zero is one of those mathematical certainties that requires no proof or explanation: it simply is. That said, we had no reason to expect anything less than the best earlier tonight as we took our seats for Ellis' spring showing.

Wavering palm trees appeared, projected onto the walls of The Stage, and Amanda and I looked at each other and exchanged that "Oh, okay. It's gonna be one of those shows" glance. Pleasant surprise turned into enthusiasm as we were presented with nicely color-blocked navy and sorbet sweaters, double-breasted pastel linen blazers, and shorts/trousers in understated plaid; plenty of fine microprint details and one super-slick black trench towards the end brought it all home.

There was a distinctly Floridian laid-backedness about the collection, but balanced with a sense of pragmatic New England casual - as if someone had plopped Kennebunkport onto Key West.  But most importantly, the entire row of Macy's buyers directly in front of us seemed very, very pleased.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

As the SS/2011 invites begin rolling in, District L offers a sneak peak inside our ever-filling inbox. We're particularly excited about:

Tibi. On Thursday, September 14, 2010, Amy Smilovic will be taking Tibi uptown to Lincoln Center. After effortlessly contrasting tough hardware with tailored silhouettes last season, we're interested to see Tibi's interpretation of spring 2011.

Perry Ellis. I would write a small blurb about Perry Ellis and which aspects of his collection we're most excited about, but really? Male models. 'Nuff said.

Ports 1961. In addition to our hi-tech RSVP via Fashion GPS, District L received this beautiful Ports 1961 invitation in the mail. On Monday, September 13, we expect that Tia Cibani will be dramatizing traditions -- this time in The Theatre.

Post by Amanda LaMela