District L

There are some characters you always expect to run into at Fashion Week. When I met Isaiah Garza back at Bryant Park during the SS/10 shows, I must admit, I wasn’t expecting a repeat encounter. It’s not that I didn’t acknowledge his enthusiastic attitude and passion for the industry, but it isn’t rare for young hopefuls to fly into New York on a whim, only to leave less enamored then they arrived.

Isaiah, who was designing accessories at the time, approached me at the tents to talk about his latest collection of custom hair adornments. But back in September 2009, I was just a sleep-deprived intern at WWD and knew damn well that I did not have the pull to help promote my new fierce friend.

Now, after two quick years, I’ve come to anticipate Isaiah’s message promptly a month before each Fashion Week, confirming that we will be sharing yet another sponsored cocktail under the tents. This season’s pre-Fashion Week message hit my inbox according to schedule, but it said a bit more that the usual, “Will I be seeing you again at the tents?” This time, Isaiah had the pleasure of sharing his most recent and exciting achievements.

On 1-1-11 at 11:11am, Isaiah launched HauteShopLA.com, an online concept retailer that offers a serious assortment of discounted designer goods. Fully prepared to take on the new challenge that fashion retail has become, HauteShopLA also opened a store and complete photo shoot studio in Downtown LA. In conjunction with this new launch, Isaiah also introduced FashionMunster.com, a personal style blog with celebrity interviews, personal style updates, and runway coverage. Interviewing front-row regulars like Nigel Barker and Olivia Palermo, TheFashionMunster’s YouTube channel is certainly one worth following.

Clearly, a lot can happen in two years. See you for a celebratory Fashion Week cocktail in Lincoln Center, Garza!

Post by Amanda LaMela

This morning, WWD reassured us that Paris Fashion Week remains unaffected by Europe's current terror threat. To the untrained eye, the editors and other members of the fashion elite seem unfazed, but District L will clue you in on the real story:

Anna Wintour: Assistant #3? I've heard murmurs about terror in Paris. Check everyone within 500 yards for red paint... Hello? ...Well, don't just stand there - GO.

Andre Leon Talley: Oh, my dear! It looks like I'll have to change into my Louis Vuitton 'Nonchalance' cape. I'd hate to ruin my purple mink.

Outside the Louvre, smoking a cigarette.

Ines de la Fressange: Karl, darling... Is something bad happening here? Anna's assistant is scouring the Louvre for suspicious activity and Andre is hiding in his Nonchalance cape.

Karl Lagerfeld: Wrong here? Other than this never-ending pregnancy trend, the obesity epidemic, and society's obsession with "love"? Probably.

Ines de la Fressange: Just warn me. I'll just hide inside your collar and -

Karl: Wait! Look!

Ines: What?!

Karl: Are those jogging pants?? I thought I notified the press. Those are the world's stealthiest weapons of ass production.

Post by Amanda LaMela

"I have always been a fan of designer partnerships with mass retailers. I think it is a great way to bring fashion to everyone. It is an exciting challenge to try and interpret my aesthetic into a mass-produced product with a specific international source as the focus."

Anna Sui, on her new diffusion line for Target, in an interview with WWD.

Why, Anna, why? This has got to be something like the 7th Horseman (or Horsewoman) of the fashiopolypse. The camel's back has to break eventually...

After Peter Som famously stepped down from his position as creative director at Bill Blass, which was owned by NexCen Brands at the time, we've heard nary a pindrop from the great American sportswear house.

Well apparently, the Bill Blass name has now come under the control of Korean company Peacock International Holdings L.C.C. who, according to WWD, are currently on the hunt for a new creative director to spearhead the re-launch of the Bill Blass brand.

How refreshing! Let's hope Peacock's management doesn't butt heads with whomever they decide to bring on board as much as NexCen did with Peter Som.

Saks Fifth Avenue Previews Bill Blass Fall 2008 Collection

Saks Fifth Avenue Previews Bill Blass Fall 2008 Collection

As of yesterday, Marc Jacobs and boyfriend of one year- sexy manpanion Lorenzo Matone- are officially engaged according to WWD, People magazine, and several other reputable sources.

Said Matone of the impending union in a statement to Fashion Week Daily-"We experienced a really great vacation in St. Barth's recently. It was during the winter in December. It was super warm, people were relaxed, tanned, and we were having an amazing time with our friends. So why not? Maybe a New Year's Eve wedding in St. Barth's would be really fun."

The couple is currently in Matone's native Brazil in Sao Paulo, breaking the news to friends and family and also opening Jacob's new store in the city.

We have one word: hot.

"Once were princes, now are thieves"- Mara Hoffman on the inspiration for her Fall 2009 Collection, WWD

Post and Video by Nicolas Seraleyva

"I wanted to give my city girls a piece of the rain forest before it's all gone."
-Lela Rose, on her inspiration in WWD

Post by Amanda LaMela

“Sophia Loren said grazie to America when she received the Oscar; this is my way of saying merci to the first market to open up to my world.”

-Giorgio Armani on the Armani Manhattan Megaflagship store, WWD

"We imagined snow. We're also focusing on the major codes and basics of the brand."- Christophe Lemaire of Lacoste, WWD

-Post by Amanda LaMela