District L

Last night, industry insiders gathered in the Chelsea Art Museum for the Bar III Spring ‘12 Preview Event. With champagne and cameras in hand, guests snuck their first glimpses of the line’s trend-right prints and contemporary layering.

In earth-tones and fresh patterns, models posed amongst a mingling crowd, circling cocktail trays, and music by Brendan Fallis.

Post and images by Amanda LaMela

It was 8:00pm and the backstage of The Studio was already buzzing. Photographers, subsisting on bottles of Fiji Water and Starbucks Frappuccinos, pushed through to get their perfect pre-show shot. Models in tightly braided chignons and lethal manicures sat around and texted, while make-up artists scurried frantically to prepare them for the last show of the day.

Irina Shabayeva’s femme fatale tone for hair and makeup was clearly no coincidence. “The inspiration for the collection was Fire and Ice. I wanted to show the symbolism of these two elements,” she tells District L. She elaborates on her concept, explaining how these two natural components are strong representations of life, death and evolution.

While working on her Lincoln Center debut, Irina also launched a collaboration line with INC and has been designing her own bridal collection. When we asked how she keeps it all together, she responded, “I’m actually not sure! It’s come to the point where I have to budget my time to a tee – almost down to the minute. But we’re expanding into different markets, and that’s really exciting.”

Despite all the fervor backstage, she had a moment to gush about her different projects. “I absolutely love doing bridal. It’s a time where someone is looking to buy something truly special and creative. It’s OK to get excessive with it.”

Before we bid adieu to the accomplished young designer, she took a moment to express her excitement about making it to Lincoln Center. “This has been very, very exhilarating. Finally! This was always my dream.”

Post by Amanda LaMela

Carine Roitfeld shocked the industry by announcing her departure from French Vogue this morning. After 10 years as editor, the waif-like, candid Parisian admits, "I have no plan at all."

With killer heels and a nearly shadowless silhouette, young Carine got her start by modeling. Roitfeld began appearing in the pages of magazines like French Elle when she was 18-years old. Her evolution from model to muse was effortless, eventually becoming the consultant to Tom Ford at Gucci and Yves Saint-Laurent.

Maintaining that French Vogue would ultimately impede her creativity, it's assumed she might return to her a-muse-ing ways. Olivier Zahm is already set to publish her biography by Fall 2011, which will undoubtedly result in additional media reaction.

We're hoping a migration to New York? Diddy already took that last train to Paris, but we're sure she'll make it out in time.

Post by Amanda LaMela

A song that's been played on mainstream radio is much like an aspiring model over the age of 18 - unlikely to make it onto the runway. But when a promising, young starlet is discovered, she can be found at every show that season. Rewind to New York Fashion Week last September and count how many times you heard Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

February's shows will soon arrive, pulling another artist or track out from obscurity. But we want you to find it first. We understand that scouring music blogs for a solid track can sometimes feel like trying to spot a real Louis Vuitton in a suburban high school. Authenticity is becoming increasingly difficult to find in every industry.

Until now.

Last week, a friend turned me on to TheSixtyOne, an internet radio station where artists upload their own work for review. But instead of submitting their music to the office of a record label, they open it up to thousands of independent voters. The site's lean towards social media allows listeners to share, as well as compete with other users' musical tastes. With an account song tracker, you'll have digital proof that you "liked it first."

Post by Amanda LaMela

A new form of life had been engineered in a London design studio and then sent to assimilate with the LFW culture. Todd Lynn synthesized a brood of model warriors, donning high python collars and triple-covered-platform booties. Evolving out of both luxury and intelligent design, Lynn created a wearable, avant-garde collection. Muted and functional, yet aggressive and forward - Todd Lynn's model army is one we'd like to join.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Images by Style.com

The initial event listing has finally been released for the return of Fashion's Night Out on September 10, 2010. While additions are bound to be made in the next 24 days, we have created an anticipatory list of parties that might even make Anna smile.

3.1 Phillip Lim - Phillip will be making an appearance at his Mercer Street store on September 10, 6pm to 9pm. Afterwards, he will join the Rag and Bone team for a street-side party. With performances by My Gold Mask, Lim maintains the chic party aura he established back in 2007.

Alice + Olivia - Are you willing to brave Midtown for FNO? Are you mystifyingly tall and thin? If you answered yes to both of these questions, head over to 80 W. 40th Street for Fashion's Night Out to win a chance to be in the Alice + Olivia S/S11 runway show.

ALTER - If you're a Brooklynite at heart and love a good Photo Booth party, the Fashion's Night Out event at ALTER will suit your needs. Sip champagne and check out the newly unveiled collections at 140 Franklin Street this September 10th.

Twinkle by Wenlan - Twinkle by Wenlan will be teaming up with Coclico to celebrate FNO for a night filled with champagne, shopping, and surprises. After Twinkle's solid show last season, Wenlan is certainly a designer to keep on your radar.

Post by Amanda LaMela

So basically, Naomi Campbell is running around midtown somewhere and nobody, not even the NYPD, can find her.

After erupting into a rage for some unknown reason earlier this afternoon, Campbell proceeded to slap and punch her 27 year old driver from the backseat of his Escalade. After he pulled the car over near East 58th and 2nd and dialed 911, the thwarted Campbell flared her eyespots and bolted from the car.

The 5'10" supermodel is now lurking somewhere in the depths of midtown, slithering through the shadows like a moray eel, waiting to strike. Police are reportedly sweeping the area, calls from the precinct to her publicist have gone unanswered, and several small children have been reported missing.

So much for taking a break from injuring and hospitalizing.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

So which Carlos Miele girl turned down an entire runway season to perform a major role at Carnaval in her native Brazil?

Click here to find out!

Photo from Style.com

Which model was starting vicious fights backstage at Rag & Bone on the evening of Friday the 13?

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[caption id="attachment_260" align="aligncenter" width="603" caption="Heidi uses her X-Ray vision to detect danger at Fashion Week. "][/caption]

"Hey what? Heidi Klum in a gold lame jumpsuit saving a catwalk full of models from a loose screw? I LOVE HEIDI KLUM WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS?"

The answer is new favorite website Modelinia, a website about that much admired but probably much taken for granted part of fashion week and the industry as a whole: oh yeah, THE MODELS. On Modelinia you can see some pretty amazing stuff: Chanel Iman rapping about her southern roots, Heidi Klum selling bras at a Victoria Secret, newbie models getting their 23-waist asses kicked by a pair of Louboutins.

Probably the real highlight of this website though is Heidi. Heidi Heidi Heidi. Have her shout something ridiculous and you could sell me anything.