District L

After a pedicure, a cocktail, and a good night’s rest, I am finally ready to evaluate this first half of New York Fashion Week, in all of its crazy, hazy fervor.

We eased into the week on Thursday, with Douglas Hannant, The Vandelles, and the newly-discovered REALM. Champagne was consumed, dancing ensued, and the night ended with a little white lie.

But Friday was a fresh start – and my first stop was the Metropolitan Pavilion for IvanaHelsinki. After a painted procession of feather motifs and tribal patterns, I met up with Nick for Sally LaPointe’s heart-stopping runway show at 548 W 22^nd street.

As expected, we left LaPointe feeling mentally stimulated and pleasantly mystified – so the cab ride to Exit Art served as the perfect break for inspirational debate. Once we arrived to Parke & Ronen, our churning little minds were momentarily halted by a parade of men wearing -- uh… what were they wearing? Oh, now I remember…

With one flick of a hand fan and a speedy cab ride, we pulled into Lincoln Center for Falguni and Shane Peacock. Experimental combinations of patterns, adornments, and mixed-media hoisted this design couple to the top of our list. The show closed with singer-songwriter, Porcelain Black, in a bold stomp down the runway in mixed-mesh and a gun-embellished bodysuit.

Saturday started with an express blowdry at Butterfly Studio Salon. As soon as the stylist boosted me out of my early-morning cocoon, I fluttered out of Butterfly and right back to Lincoln Center for Son Jung Wan’s intoxicating collection.

Giddy off the first show, I headed back downtown for Samantha Pleet. Drawing in a vibrant crowd, Pleet indulged guests with peek-a-boo cutouts and feminine silhouettes in muted sherbets and golds. Then, just a few blocks over, Kaelen invited us to a forest fairy dreamland at Drive In Studios.

I narrowly made it back to Lincoln Center in time for a model presentation by Farah Angsana. With flounces, silk rope belts, and rising waist-lines, Angsana decorated the Box with her modern versions of Aphrodite.

Post-Farah, we took a break at the Hudson Hotel to organize our notes, update photos, and grab a drink – after all, we hadn’t brunched all day. After recharging – ourselves, as well as our phones – we headed down to Good Units for the Eva Minge runway show.

Venexiana was our last show of the day. Juxtaposing her elaborate collection with the punkish sounds of The Dickies, Kati Stern brought Day 3 to a strong and invigorating close.

Sunday morning started early with an Americana-inspired collection by Katya Leonovich, followed by optimistic motivation by Lela Rose. The afternoon then quickly approached, bringing Daryl K’s drippy floral prints, with live drummers and dancing models.

After a quick break, I made it back to the tents for GUiSHEM’s sexy and assertive model presentation. With angular motifs, color blocking, and sharp necklines, designer Guillermo Jop challenged the sweetness of spring.

Custo Barcelona was my last show of the day. Guests packed in, 3D-glasses in hand, awaiting Custo’s Mirame looks. Icons of Summer by Cold Cave vibrated through The Stage, as Custo presented his technologic prints for SS12.

And now that Monday is almost complete, it’s time to stock up on enough Starbucks and business cards for part two!

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.

For many New Yorkers, this past week marked their first “earthquake,” as well as their first “hurricane.” Air quotes aside, it has been an eventful few days – on Twitter, at the very least.

Now, with the onset of New York Fashion Week, we face another highly anticipated whirlwind of events. And while a shower of invitations had entered our 10-day forecast, we were not predicting hail.

Despite our own miscalculated predictions, hailstones arrived in our mailbox – two transparent cubes imprinted with the specifics for Sally LaPointe’s SS12 runway show in microscopic font. Sally LaPointe, known for her show-stopping collections and innovative invites, continues to outdo herself each season. With cube invitations and an impervious reputation, our RSVP is crystal clear.

Post by Amanda LaMela

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

Head to EVA for Sally LaPointe's retail event TONIGHT. Enjoy champagne and discounts until 9pm.

Take a look at what's happening there now...

It’s about time – Time to analyze, time to applaud… time to acquire.

In the past few days, our mailbox has been filling with Ghosts of Fashion Week Past. On Tuesday, the stylish spirit armed the postman with a Sally LaPointe booklet-turned-photo-reel. Maintaining her keen concept of a Latent Panorama, LaPointe conveyed imminent darkness with hi-contrast backstage negatives and crimson backdrop shots.

And as Sally’s foreign landscape grows closer and clearer with Polariod-like suspense, so does the ability to acquire some LaPointe of our very own. You see, EVA BOUTIQUE seems to understand the DL dilemma – Tribeca tastes on a Murray Hill budget.

So, on April 21 from 5-9pm, EVA BOUTIQUE will be hosting an exclusive shopping event with 25% discount off the Spring/Summer 2011 collection and up to 80% discount on the Fall/Winter 2010 collection.

We’re so in. See you then at 355A Bowery.

After revealing designer events and a sharp photo montage, the Ghost of Fashion Week Past returned today, bearing reminders of Norman Ambrose in the form of a thick spiral-bound book in our mailbox. Ambrose, the California-born Milan-cultivated designer, amazed show-goers this season with his irreverent sophistication and 70s glamour.

We’re dying to get our hands on some Ambrose – until then, we’ll just covet from a distance and try to channel Faye Dunaway circa-1974.

Post by Amanda LaMela

In typical District L style, we'd perhaps open this post with a clever paragraph wherein we reminisce fondly about last week - what with all the rushing too and fro between venues, furious, finger-callusing live-tweeting, and countless moments of anticipation as the plastic was peeled back from the runway time and time again. We might even throw in an alcohol-related pun, hurl a barb at the sucky realities of returning to the daily grind, and spit some vitriol about people on the subway.

But the fact of the matter is that it's 10 PM on a Tuesday and we'd rather just jump straight to the LaPointe (sorry, had to) - here are our top 5 picks for best collections from NYFW A/W 2011:

1. Sally LaPointe

This one should come as no surprise - ever since attending the plucky designer's debut show last September, we've been staunch supporters of LaPointe's dark, alien aesthetic that resonates as simultaneously precise and effortless. Did her Fall collection climb straight out of the primordial ooze of a Roland Flexner print? Or did it reverse sublimate from thin air to monolithic vibrancy?

2. Bensoni

Gothic wedding vignette? How rad was that? The duo behind Bensoni is all about balance, taking inspiration from the past yet tempering it with forward thinking. Needless to say, they didn't disappoint for Fall. There was a hefty dose of 90's gloom and doom in their presentation this season, but taken to the next level with an infusion of minute detail and texture play that has become a contemporary design mainstay.

3. Mik Cire

Mik Cire's Eric Kim is an accomplished design professional, and his collection this season made that fact more evident than ever. Last Spring, Kim gave us slouchy asymmetricality in linen and jersey; this Fall, he presented crisp, sharp tailoring in leather and gabardine. A quality that we value most in a designer is something Kim possesses in spades - the ability to surprise and deliver the unexpected without allowing their trademark sensibilities to become lost.

4. Maisonette 1977

Designer Jane Ibrahim stirred something far down inside of us with her evocative Fall line for Maisonette 1977. Taking inspiration from Christopher Nolan's "Inception", she served as the architect behind a towering metropolis rising out of the ether of the subconscious. It was well-edited, modern, and to be quite honest it just had a certain je ne sais quoi about it that drew us in deeper, deeper, and deeper still.

5. NOMIA

Like Bensoni, NOMIA was another delightfully intimate affair in the Standard's Highline Room - a perfect setting for an enticing collection of sleek, geometric sportswear that can easily find a home in any closet (or bedroom floor, whatever). We have to give praise to lines like NOMIA that strike rest firmly in that hard-to-hit intersection of concept and accessibility. Like Madisen said, "[The Standard's] attuned blend of nature, urbanity, and notorious exhibitionism matched perfectly with the theme of NOMIA’s runway."

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

This New York Fashion Week began like all of its predecessors – one day early. On Wednesday, February 8, District L welcomed in Fashion Week at 320 Studios with Mimi Plange and her collection of “Scarred Perfection.” Inspired by African tribal traditions of body modification, Plange’s presentation effectively emulated deliberate repetition with ruffles, pleats, and embellishments.

Thursday was the first official day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and District L kicked it off backstage with Irina Shabayeva. Before viewing her fiery-hot-icy-cool runway collection, we took a moment to snap photos of the pre-show preparation. After the show, we chatted with Irina and discussed the basis of her inspiration – life, death, rebirth, and evolution.

The following afternoon, Norman Ambrose presented his flawless answer to society’s unfortunate lack of innovative elegance. With feather details and glittering gowns, his 1970s vibe of decadence was the perfect setting to recapture irreverent sophistication.

Later that evening, Nick and I headed over to experience Sally LaPointe’s picture-perfect Polaroid-inspired runway collection. While we were Chelsea-bound, Madisen ventured to The Standard to view NOMIA in all of its sensually streamlined glory. We then met up to spend our Friday evening at Bedlam for NOMIA’s afterparty – drinking, dishing, and surveying the evening’s gaggle of PYTs.

Unfortunately, the sun returned a bit quicker than expected. When I realized morning had become a reality, I grabbed Saturday’s gear and rushed up to Lincoln Center for General Idea. The 9:00am runway show was inspired by the letter-M; but more specifically, “mountains” and “military.” Watching each male model emerge from the runway tent made my headache melt away like in an ice cap South America.

By 10:30, I wandered over to The Box for Binetti’s model presentation. The collection exhibited an effortless air of exotic affluence. I lingered in this luxury fashion safari for awhile before walking right into a Betsey Johnson interview. As I watched her animated facial expressions, I dialed up my P.I.C., “Get the hell over here. You’re missing EVERYTHING.”

After Nick arrived uptown, we decided it was time for brunch. We green-eggs-and-glammed it at a nearby haunt while assembling our coverage from the morning prior. Once we enjoyed a solid hour of bottomless champagne, we sauntered back to Lincoln Center for Vivienne Tam and Mik Cire.

While we remained uptown, Madisen journeyed over to Philip-Lorca diCorcia’s book signing for Eleven. The event, which was held at Chelsea’s David Zwirner Gallery, showcased diCorcia’s photographic portfolio with W magazine.

Around 6:30pm, Nick and I entered Maisonette 1977’s dream sequence. Jane Ibrahim’s lucid visions transported us to an unpredictable, volatile urban-utopia. After deciding that Maisonette 1977 was a top choice for FW11, we closed the day of shows with Toni Francesc. That night, we celebrated Mik Cire’s fantastic collection at his Hudson Terrace after-party.

Sunday morning began as Sunday mornings usually do – brunch. When we finished our bellinis, we stopped at OAK for a pre-show purchase and then trekked back over to The Standard. After killing some time on the 18^th floor, we headed downstairs to enjoy Bensoni’s Gothic Wedding Vignette.

We finished off the weekend with Zang Toi’s Sunday night show in The Studio, which was an undeniable crowd pleaser. As the cheering faded, we headed back downtown to prepare for the last four days of the season.

My Monday line-up started with MARTINmartin at the Audi forum, while Madisen and Rachel made their way up to Guishem. After enjoying a collection of androgyny, destruction, and reincarnation, I rushed over to Studio 580 for friend-and-favorite, Lois Eastlund.

Tuesday morning began bright-and-early with a presentation by Trias. As soon as we finished adoring Joaquin Trias and his personal definition of luxury, we traveled back downtown to The Park for delicious cocktails and bites. Such nourishment led our revitalized bodies to the Chelsea Art Museum for Nico Lena’s debut event. The event’s reception brought quite the crowd – and yes, that crowd did include Dustin Diamond.

Our second stop of the evening was Lincoln Center. After enjoying a glass of Kim Crawford, we made our way into Tibi’s 90s-infused collection.

Day 7 of Fashion Week began with a frantic search for someone to apply my false lashes. Once I achieved such a task, we headed over to The Standard for the strong and silent boys of Rochambeau. About 50 photographs later, we ventured up to Allegri’s cocktail party and presentation in Lincoln Center’s courtyard. We enjoyed the perfect combination of models with mannequins while sipping wine and chatting with emerging designer, Loris Diran.

Post-chat, we darted backstage to get an inside peak at Anna Sui. As models were preparing for their walk of folklore and fantasy, we snapped a few photos of the hectic scene. Of course, I had to bolt before Sui even started to make it to Milk Studios in time for The Blonds. The flaxen-haired duo presented an unforgettable drag-and-dragon show, daring us to even try to find another show more outrageous. While we watched two dancing dragons galloping down the runway, Rachel and Madisen attended Odd Molly’s model presentation in The Box at Lincoln Center.

We ended our Fashion Week follies at the Three Year Anniversary of Pinstripe Magazine on 93 Grand. As we toasted our glasses of Star Vodka in the Buckler Store basement, we mused, “So, what do we have in mind for next season…?”

Post by Amanda LaMela

The Blonds took this season’s emerging Asian-inflected trend and literally ran with it. The show opened with dragons. Two dragons. TWO LARGE DRAGONZ darting around the runway. Once the opening Chinatown Brasserie drag montage and dancing dragon entrance came to a close, The Blonds Shanghai’d the audience with their sparkling runway lineup. The collection revealed a slew of tongue-in-cheek details, including oversized chopsticks and googley-eyes. With glittery Kabuki “bobs,” cascading silk kimonos, and their signature crystal-studded corsets, David and Phillipe Blond wowed a front row of designer Sally LaPointe, Amanda Lepore, Susanne Bartsch and a host of other Manhattan nightlife fixtures -- it was anything but a drag.

As the last designer bowed out after her finale on Friday, the DL darlings took that cue to celebrate. Seconds after finishing up our final words for Sally LaPointe’s coverage, Nick, Madisen, and I wandered over to Bedlam for the Nomia afterparty. While enjoying our fair share of vodka sodas, we admired taxidermy decor, shared photos from our shows, and literally stumbled into Alan Cumming.

Needless to say, making it to General Idea the following morning was not easy – but it happened. The menswear collection was inspired by the letter-M, from the consonant’s shape to the words “mountain” and “military.”

After camping out in the Studio, I headed over to Binetti’s presentation in The Box. The first phrases jotted down in my pad were “foreign opulence” and “luxury safari.” And before you even ask: Yes, I would wear an ostrich-fringe silk-layered dress while hunting a tiger at the Ivory Lodge. Or maybe a beaded caftan.

Thirty-six photos later, I ambled out of The Box to grab yet another life-saving Starbucks. Betsey Johnson was holding a very animated interview a few feet away. At this point, I knew a phone call was necessary, “Nick, wake the hell up. You’re missing shows. And the many faces of Betsey.”

Post by Amanda LaMela