District L

I woke up on Saturday morning with a surprising amount of energy and a [relatively] noble craving to partake in an artsy, wine-infused afternoon. What had intended to be a few hours of the Artlog Lower East Side Crawl, ended up being a short stint of narcissism on the New Museum rooftop followed by coloring and cocktails at The Bowery Diner.

Simultaneously sipping a Bloody Maria while melting her fourth and final crayon over a candle, Madisen confirmed our success, “Well, at least we’re doing art…”

Post Amanda LaMela

Last year, our 2011 resolutions were to “be more fabulous” (me) and “wear more dude rings” (Nick.) After a successful year of dude-ring-wearing and fabulizing, it begs the question, “What’s next?” How does one possibly outdo 365 triumphant days of spiked skull rings and super-brunching?

Answer: One doesn’t!

2012 will be the year to decide which old acquaintances should be forgot and never brought to mind. Instead of adding another responsibility to our regimen, sometimes it’s best to trim the unnecessary extras. Below is a short list of things I give the nod to “Auld Lang Syne.”

#1. “Fabulous.”

Funny how the aspiration of one year becomes the restriction of the next, but I can finally accept that this word no longer has any real meaning.  Overused, futile, and uninspiring, “fabulous” takes its final bow in 2012, only to return during re-runs of Sex and the City. And let’s be honest, that should be kept to a minimum too.

#2. Feathered Hair Extensions

I would just like to say for the record that, yes, I had feather earrings, feathered clips, feather necklaces, and even silver jewelry in the shape of feathers… but I never, ever, ever, EVER thought it would be a good idea to have someone braid thin feather strings into my hair. Let’s all agree to leave the quail feathers alone for 2012, so they can focus their energy on being my brunch.

#3. “Just sayin’”

Yes, we know you just said it. We were right here.

#4. Bryanboy

In 2012, I vow to unfollow, unlike, and unsubscribe all things Bryanboy. Why? Because he litters my Twitterfeed with his namedropping garbage and mindless whining. STFU, Bryanboy. We’re over it.

Post by Amanda LaMela

“…The Renwick Ruins, an abandoned smallpox hospital still standing on Roosevelt Island, NYC. Something that once was, a haunted romanticism, evoking memories of its past…”

Gauzy cretonne, dusty chandeliers, and a phantasmal energy set a pleasantly disturbing vibe for Sally LaPointe’s SS12 runway. The air inside LaPointe’s usual West Chelsea venue, thick with artificial smog, rendered the typical pre-show fervor murky and indiscernible.

The designer’s familiar, monolithic silhouettes populated this evening’s showing, however this time with a less organic and more deliberate concept behind them.

The showing embodied a certain sense of finality – that an event had just taken place here, somebody once occupied this space, or at one time these objects served a different purpose. Now, the viewer cannot obtain closure from its current state, there is no resolution and no reassurance. LaPointe’s sepulchral forms occupy a space with their own more subtle brand of preterition; they loom like specters, ghostly forms with a palpable presence.

It’s mid-August. You know what that means, don’t you? Time to start thinking about my birthday presents!

I can empathize; It’s no easy task. As a footwear aficionado in the industry, it can be difficult to predict my desires from week to week – especially during this period of seasonal transition. And yes, I agree… There should be an easier way to do this.

Interestingly enough, people don’t register for birthday gifts – but if they did, I’d open my registry at Casadei, La Petite Cave, and United Nude. Just…hypothetically speaking.

My birthday is only two short weeks away from NY Fashion Week, welcoming the perfect opportunity for early-autumn attire additions. Keeping that in mind...

I can declare with the utmost conviction that the United Nude Spat boot would not only create the perfect foundation for my F’11 wardrobe, but also be a hit in Lincoln Center. In dark brown calf leather and tweed, the tall-shafted boot combines equestrian elegance with femme fatale.

Casadei, the more subtle assassin, maintains a sharp appearance with its Blade collection. Towering knife-like stilettos will satisfy my need for a sleek, sexy shoe, as well as provide the feeling of security during late-night treks back to my apartment.  Isn’t multitasking fun?

And if you’re looking to give the gift of experience, a few bottles of POP Pink Champagne might just do the trick…

Post by Amanda LaMela

TV might be on the radio, but fashion is on the silver screen -- and tomorrow evening, District L will head to the Tribeca Grand for another sartorial screening in the name of style: Kim Jules of Bijules is pairing with Wardenclyffe for the launch of Amasia. Created for Diane Pernet's curatorial project at Vicenza Oro, the film will be introduced exclusively with Italian Vogue.

Kim Jules is a New York-based jewelry designer that fuses dark humor and modern innovation into her captivating collections. Look out for her Amasia launch tomorrow.

Post by Amanda LaMela

As we go through our daily motions and these hazy summer weeks start blending together, the opportunities to just stop and observe become increasingly rare. Summer is no longer the relaxing season it's made out to be -- growing social calendars have no reverse effects on our unwavering workloads.

As July approaches, it's time to find the perfect wide-brim to hide behind and steal your moment of serenity.

Photo by Jak & Jil

For the first day of summer, guests of the MZ Wallace Summer E-Pop Party enjoyed live music and margaritas at the designer duo’s Soho boutique. Dressed in fresh-yet-relaxed looks, fashionable insiders decorated Crosby Street for food, drink, and an excuse to party. The three-piece band played while beachy videos projected onto the wall, providing a festive atmosphere for this unique luxury handbag brand.

After a long winter and an unpredictable spring, it is time to make another important seasonal decision: Frozen or On-the-Rocks?

Post by Amanda LaMela

We confess: District L is partial to products that are able to boast “Made in New York” on their hangtag. From Lois Eastlund’s mod dresses to the custom creations at Runway Soho, there is something inherently special about apparel made in this town. Since we are always on a search for fresh New York talent, we were delighted when we learned about Sophie Blake and her recent namesake launch at Henri Bendel.

Inspired by Ancient Egyptian design, Sophie Blake offers geometric statement jewelry in her 17-piece debut collection. For more information, visit her site here.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Thakoon Resort 2012 challenges the polished urbanite, inciting a distinctive tinge of wanderlust. By blending West African-inspired motifs with crisp contours, Thakoon Panichgul introduces a more sophisticated perspective to the current bohemian trend. The cosmopolitan collection adorns fitted blazers, tennis dresses and A-lined skirts with ikat prints and mina-khani patterns.

“Resort,” in this case, is an inaccurate term: Rather than signing up for an all-inclusive package, Thakoon’s muse would much prefer to follow her own itinerary.

Playlist inspiration: The Raveonettes - ‘Forget That You’re Young’

Channel Thakoon’s aesthetic with a sound that is distant, yet aware, like the vocal-centric harmonies of The Raveonettes.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Images from Style.com

For a fashion site, we’re pretty keen on the impending apocalypse, wouldn’t you say?

We’ve only mentioned the end of the world in regards to Starbucks and Henri Bendel. And then, of course, we exposed the apocalyptic warnings hidden within the collections of Sally LaPointe, Maisonette 1977, and MARTINmartin. Oh, yeah… we also brought it up again this past weekend…just for fun.

But all jokes aside, if this New York rain doesn’t stop anytime soon, we’re going to have to start boarding an arc. And by arc, I mean a luxury-class Giga yacht.

Thinking about how we’re going to deal with all of those goddamn animals is enough to induce an anxiety attack. Dare I remind you of the stress that comes with packing?! So that is why I created this helpful list:

HOW TO PACK FOR NOAH’S ARC YACHT

Before you start packing things, it’s imperative that you start considering a travel partner. Your initial thought may be to quickly find your soulmate so you can sail happily-ever-after into a sea of nothingness.

But your initial thought is wrong. Cruises are good for one thing – meeting attractive people of the opposite gender. So if you’re going to pick a person to cruise with for all of apocalyptic eternity, it might as well be someone who has great accessories.

Multi-functional clothing. No, I don’t mean jeggings. I am talking about United Nude’s Pin heel. With a shoe that doubles as a weapon, you’ll be more prepared than a soccer mom at a Kleenex conference. And a hell of a lot sexier.

Cotton is chic. And it doesn’t wrinkle like linen. Expect to be psyched when you start unrolling those 40 Lois Eastlund dresses out of your suitcase – you’ll have way more clothing options than anyone else on that boat without exceeding the luggage weight-limit. Plus, dry-clean-only is not ideal for prolonged rainstorms.

EFFEN Vodka. Need I say more?

Sun protection. But sunscreen smells, so what’s a lady to do? We suggested you invest in a wide-brim Carmen Marc Valvo hat and call it a day. It’ll also double as an excuse when you pretend to not notice your irritating neighbors waving from down the hall.

There you have it: District L – your one-stop shop for fashion news and end-of-the-world preparation. You’re welcome, dear readers.

Post by Amanda LaMela