District L

Want to be MintCastle royalty?

MintCastle is a new member’s-only website providing unique offers on luxury experiences and uncommon merchandise. The online lifestyle magazine presents deals for insiders who appreciate the unexpected and covet originality.

Chiefs of Enchantment, one of District L’s creative cravings, is the upcoming feature on this trendsetting site. We first met designer, Rita Watson, at Lu Magnus back in March -- and our strong fan following continues. Watson creates innovative headdresses and modern diadems from materials such as feathers, freshwater pearls, and vintage sleeve trims.

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Click here to shop MintCastle and take home the crown.

Post by Amanda LaMela

It was a laissez-faire affair last evening at Lu Magnus gallery. Arriving at the Lower East Side space for New Fashion: Works by 6 Emerging Designers, we were instantly reminded of another favorite designer's presentation, Ann Yee Collection back in S/S 2011 at ION Studios.

If you'll recall, at Yee's showing, models engaged attendees, chatting, mingling, and lounging lackadaisically in oversized shades. The mood at Lu Magnus was just as bright and easy, with models clustered cheerfully together sporting the designs of emerging talents like Guy French, Steve Zerbe, and of course our personal favorite R+R - the clever and subtle collaboration between designers Rebecca Formichella and Rita Watson.

Among those showing that evening, R+R was definitely a stand-out - their soft, feminine forms were lent a hard edge by way of clever texture play and asymmetry. Inspired by tales of childhood and nature, each look possessed at once both an innocence and a darkness - a youthful playfulness pitted against a deep, impenetrable wood.

The skilled young duo, recently graduated from SCAD, petitioned to work together on their final senior project, rather than pursue independent final collections. Their dedication to collaboration speaks to their maturity as designers and to their continued success. It's reassuring to see talent that have such a defined point of view, and a refined aesthetic, so early on in their careers.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva