District L

Images: The Blonds Runway A/W 2011

R Bar’s red-drenched interior and downtown location set the fitting tone as guests arrived for Lois Eastlund’s Fashion Presentation. Just minutes away from her namesake boutique on 153 Ludlow, Lois spent her final minutes preparing models as friends and fans shared cocktails and conversation along underlit banquets.

Infusing new and classic color palettes into her signature mod styles, Lois offered the audience colorblocking with a kick: Hued geometrics, metallic trims and glossy, diagonal shapes – each look more eye-catching than the next.

Post-finale, invitees were ushered into the back room of R Bar for a special performance by The Happy Problem. Donning Lois Eastlund designs, their performance included new songs like Curvature, Headcase, and The Prettiest Girl.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Parisian designer, Kevork Kiledjian, made his New York debut last February with an A-list show at Milk Studios. After a successful, buzz-worthy collection, the dynamic atelier returned for Resort 2012, with a presentation just as strong as his first.

Maintaining a tone that is both sultry and fresh, Kiledjian mixed body-con silhouettes with sheer overlays and geometric cut-outs. The look, which is reminiscent of Versace circa-1979, is modernized with neutral color-blocking and crisp fabric contrasts.

Playlist Inspiration: Glass Candy – Beatific

Channel Kevork’s sultry perspective and late-70s inspiration with the synth-rock influences of Glass Candy.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Images by Style.com

After spending Tuesday afternoon lunching at The Park and attending Nico Lena’s debut presentation, we finally made it back up to Lincoln Center for Tibi’s runway showing. Pink beanies, single-button blazers, and arm warmers lent a grungy 90s vibe to Tibi’s signature femininity. Set to a downtown backdrop, the girls of Tibi combined their tough attitude with flowing crimson frocks and soft fur vests. Amy Smilovic’s unexpected arrangement fit perfectly with one of DL’s favorite emerging trends – the smell of teen spirit under a warm black hole sun.

Post by Amanda LaMela

At the end of every fashion week, when all is said and done and we return to that featurless grey void known as the months of March through September, we can always rest a bit easier knowing that we've come away with three things - an amazing slew of runway reviews, a host of party pics to sift through, and some bangin' new tracks to add to our runway playlists.

When we aren't scribbling down notes, live-tweeting, video recording, or picture taking during shows, we're keeping our ears open for that other oh-so-important facet of show production: Music. So after firing up Shazam on my iPhone and giving everything we tagged a good listen through (and making the subsequent necessary purchases on iTunes), we've each picked out our favorites - check them out below!

Nicolas' Pick: The New Division - "Starfield"

Heard During: Mik Cire in The Lincoln Center Studio

Majestic and moving, with mildly washed-out vocals and a fantastic walking beat - perfect for Eric Kim's super-composed, almost romantic Fall collection for the label.

Amanda's Pick: Tiga - "Shoes"

Heard During: martinMARTIN at the Audi Forum

An edgy, sexy selection for martinMARTIN's no nonsense runway. Plus, may we add, probably the BEST music video we've ever seen - we're addicted.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

Vivienne Tam's girl this season is on the run. From bolting down damp Shanghai alleyways in the dead of the night to assiduously avoiding eye contact at an elegant Hong Kong gathering, she's hiding something and will stop at nothing to conceal it. Is she a spy? A fugitive? We'll never know. In an A-line dark wool peacoat, or a Huang-shan inspired opera gown, she has the power of disguise down to an art. Don't chase, you'll never catch her.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

We're closing in on what is sure to be yet another fantastic MBFW at Lincoln Center, and we at District L are getting ourselves pumped in the best way we know how - stomping around Manhattan like megalomaniacal crazy people with scary electro from our "Runway" playlists at full blast on our iPods.

So yeah, sorry I came up behind you so quickly on the walk from the L last night - I'm not a rapistmuggermurderkiller, I swear. It's just that the sidewalk is so narrow, you're really slow, this Kavinsky is really head-banging, and I'm all cracked out on the Red Bull I've been drinking all day.

So what is District L hoping to hear in the tents this A/W? We'll tell you - without further ado, allow us to present our official A/W 2011 Audio Wishlist for runway!

…and no worries, it's not just a bunch of MGMT and Fischerspooner. It's 2011, you can relax.

1. Take Me Over - Cut Copy

Fun, dynamic, a good opener with a touch of doe-eyed innocence.

2. Little People (Black City) - Matthew Dear

Just the right amount of attitude, catchy but with some edge and mystery.

3. Make You Mine - Breakbot

Downtempo yet bouncy, reminiscent of Daft Punk without all the cliche.

4. Starlighter - Jupiter

Sexy - what could be more perfect than a song about a woman entering a room and demanding everybody's attention?

5. Motorcycle Boy - Mr. Flash

A solid "walker", with a twinge of roadhouse grime.

6. Empathy - Crystal Castles

We keep jockeying for Crystal Castles, and this is just the right song for the Mik Cires and Sally LaPointes of our world.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

Fashion GPS, the "next century" software technology rolling out for S/S 2011 at the Lincoln Center, promises to "create a digitally enhanced experience" for fashion week attendees. Well, we at District L know a puffy press release when we see one; "next century" and any noun with the adjective "enhanced" attached to it could be ripe for trouble.

In what DL interprets to be the Modern Goddess, Ports 1961 sends us an ethereal, neutral preview, mixing in sporty and fresh details. Relaxed, but distinguished, Cibani creates a mysterious fervor with her prematurely-released sketch.

Yup, that's right. On Thursday, my view of the Trias runway show was mostly blocked by this hat. Why, after Tavi's couture calamity, would show attendees continue to wear obnoxious hats after the music starts and the lights dim. I understand the innate urge to make a statement in the tents, but your statement shouldn't drown out the sound of the designer's.

Post by Amanda LaMela