District L

Feiyue (pronounced Fe-yu-e), a footwear line that caught District L's eye today at Rendez-Vous, combines a modern aesthetic with traditional functionality. According to Raan Parton, creative director for Apolis Activism- a humanitarian conscious menswear line that also caught our attention today- who was at Rendez-Vous today representing the brand, Feiyue got its start in 1920's China as a utilitarian array of footwear used primarily in Martial Arts.

"All along its history, [Feiyue] has been a reference among all Chinese social categories from the countryman to the politician, from the captain of the national soccer team to the famous Shaolin masters"- Overview Prospectus, Feiyue Shoes.

How egalitarian!

Feiyue's look is a mesh between the functional styling of Superga and the shape and detailing of Asics Tigers (Asics Mexico 66 is quite similar to their signature shoe; maybe Feiyue's influences stretches farther than we thought?). Check out some of the photos we snapped today and you can be the judge.

Check out Feiyue and be sure to pop into an Odin New York to get up close and personal. District L will definitely be picking up a few pairs.

Feiyue Shoes
Odin New York

Post by Nicolas Seraleyva

"With the research skills and portfolios these kids have, there will always be people who want them. In fact, I know there are already. I just can't say who."- Louise Wilson, Professor and Mentor to MA Students at Central Saint Martin's, on the fears of graduating into today's delightfully energetic and totally unperilous job market (she isn't worried...neither are her students I'm sure).

The Central Saint Martin's show is always a sight to behold, and you can expect a full report so, so, so soon here on District L. I hate to make you go without, but be brave and hold tight. We can get through this together.

"I haven't been to Egypt, but it's one place I've always wanted to go," said Siriano. "So it was my interpretation of what I feel like it should be, or my fantasy of what I think it is...I wanted the collection to be powerful, but I still wanted it to be soft and still feminine, and still wearable."

Christian Siriano, on the inspiration for his Fall 2009 Collection, Fashion Wire Daily

Yes, I know NY Fashion Week has come and gone (sadly) but Christian Siriano has been doing a fantastic job of staying in the public eye, unlike most of the other Project Runway winners (Chloe Dao? What ever happened to her?). He's definitely the most successful-unlike Season 4 winner Jeffrey Sebelia and the live-action Bratz movie costume gig he scored.

Run, little one, run.

I've been following Doo.Ri since September of 2005 and it's really stunning to see how far she's come in less than 4 years; the former lead designer for Geoffrey Beene and CFDA-Swarovski Perry Ellis Award winner has already launched a bridge line, Under.Ligne, featuring T-shirts and her signature jersey dresses. I really have to say, however, how utterly sublime her Fall 2009 showing was. It really and truly encapsulated the mood and trends of the season in a totally cohesive and fluid collection of looks.

[caption id="attachment_282" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Doo.Ri- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

Detailed tights, picking up on the printed legging trend, and lusciously draped jersey in a robust shade of this season's violet.

[caption id="attachment_283" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Doo.Ri- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

Cascading iridescent vinyl fabric with bead detailing.

[caption id="attachment_284" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Doo.Ri- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

Sheer, diaphanous detailing on the sleeves and torso- another emerging trend for fall.

[caption id="attachment_286" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Doo.Ri- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

Balmain-inspired shoulder play, and more detailed tights. Who could ask for more?

Doo.Ri deserves every ounce of praise and plaudit that comes her way this season; what a fabulous collection. We're all looking forward to seeing your work for Spring 2010.

9AM- PROJECT RUNWAY, The Tent, Bryant Park
10AM and 11AM- RALPH LAUREN, 275 Hudson Street
12NOON- TADASHI SHOJI, The Salon, Bryant Park
2PM- CHADO RALPH RUCCI, The Tent, Bryant Park

And another NY Fashion Week comes and goes...until June for Resort, my love.

[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.

Was it a scheduling snafu? Lack of interest? Or was it simply poor timing? Conjecture flurries like the hugely inconvenient snowstorm brewing outside of District L at the moment, but Behnaz Sarafpour's Fall 2009 Collection is undeserving of whatever bad rap its half empty venue may garner it.

A surefire hook, I believe, for drawing the audience into your look is clean cut sophistication with an irreverent edge, and I think Behnaz nailed it. Two-toned jersey shifts, fur and metallic detailing, circle skirts in wool and tulle, splashes of cutout, and chic outerwear paraded down the catwalk with a demure, sexy air. Not everyone can be a Marc Jacobs or a Narcisco Rodriguez when it comes to color choice and silhouette- some have a market to corner and clearly Behnaz Sarafpour has found hers. Her sportswear separates are great additions to any outfit; expect to see them on some high-profile backs for the Spring 2010 shows.

[caption id="attachment_249" align="alignnone" width="320" caption="Behnaz Sarafpour- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_250" align="alignnone" width="320" caption="Behnaz Sarafpour- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_251" align="alignnone" width="320" caption="Behnaz Sarafpour- Fall 2009 RTW"][/caption]

9AM- J. MENDEL, THE SALON, BRYANT PARK

10AM- NANETTE LEPORE, THE PROMENADE, BRYANT PARK

11AM- MICHAEL KORS, THE TENT, BRYANT PARK

12NOON- RICHARD CHAI, THE SALON, BRYANT PARK

1PM AND 2PM- OSCAR DE LA RENTA, 583 PARK AVENUE

2PM- 1909 VICTORINOX, CELESTE BARTOS, NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

3PM- 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, THE TENT, BRYANT PARK

4PM- ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH, THE SALON, BRYANT PARK

4PM AND 5PM- MARCHESA, CHELSEA ART MUSEUM, 556 WEST 22ND STREET

5PM- DOO.RI, MILK GALLERY, 450 WEST 15TH STREET

5PM TO 7PM- MICHAEL ANGEL, TWELVE21, 12 WEST 21ST STREET

5PM TO 7PM- VIVIENNE TAM, VIVIENNE TAM BOUTIQUE, 40 MERCER STREET

5:30PM TO 6:30PM- DEVI KROELL (RTW AND ACCESSORIES), MILK STUDIOS, 450 WEST 15TH STREET

5:30PM TO 6:30PM- TORY BURCH, PRINCE GEORGE BALLROOM, 14 EAST 28TH STREET

6PM- MILLY BY MICHELLE SMITH, THE PROMENADE, BRYANT PARK

6PM- JUAN CARLOS OBANDO, EYEBEAM, 540 WEST 21ST STREET

6:30PM- OUMLIL, AUDI FORUM, 250 PARK AVENUE

6:30PM TO 8:30PM- SAVANT, MACCARONE GALLERY, 630 GREENWICH STREET

7PM- ANNA SUI, THE TENT, BRYANT PARK

7PM TO 8PM- DANA LEE, DACTYL, 64 GRAND STREET

8PM- STANLEY ADAMS, 232 WEST 30TH STREET

8PM- MACKAGE (MENS AND WOMENS OUTERWEAR), THE SALON, BRYANT PARK

8PM- RICHIE RICH, WALDORF-ASTORIA, GRAND BALLROOM

8PM- UNTITLED 11.11, THE PINK ELEPHANT, 527 WEST 27TH STREET

8PM- JULIANNA BASS, 336 WEST 37TH STREET

9PM- PROENZA SCHOULER, 508 WEST 26TH STREET

"Classic style, combined with comfort and modernity."- Sergio Davila, on the inspiration for his Fall 2009 Collection, WWD

Post and Video by Nicolas Seraleyva

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

Post and Video by Nicolas Seraleyva