District L

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through New York

Creatures were stirring with stylish quirk.

The stockings were ordered from ASOS with flair,

With doubts that they matched a damn thing I’d wear.

The kids snuggled up in 300-count threads,

While visions of VPL Pre-Fall danced in their heads.

Dressed all in furs of silver and brown, we headed out to the west side of town.

When out on the terrace, we heard such a clatter,

Yet we feigned indifference regarding the matter.

But just as we handed the bartender cash, a handful of iPhones started to flash.

Out on the roof of The James on Grand, we had the best view in all of the land.

When, what to our blurry eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver dressed in McQueen,

Santa arrived to see-and-be-seen.

In a red coat with black fur trim, St. Nick was looking Lagerfeld-thin.

I thought to myself that something was wrong.

Perhaps these drinks were a tad bit too strong?

But before the next thought could rack through my brain,

He whistled and shouted and called out by name,

“Jimmy Fallon! Sandy Kenyon! You’re not smart or funny!

Get the hell out my cab! Sleigh rentals cost money!

And that Kardashian store belongs in a mall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

Like a dramatized hurricane once named Irene,

He swirled back to the sky with some boozy caffeine.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he flew from the Jimmy

“Merry Christmas, New York! I love this damn city!”

Post by Amanda LaMela

Artwork from Jelly London by Jo Bird

Has fall finally fallen – or is summer here to stay? Despite the unpredictable weather forecast, we harvested our festive spirit on Saturday for an afternoon of brunch, shopping, and pumpkin “picking” at the Chelsea Market.

Heading west for this weekend’s ID Pop Shop, we first stopped to grab a bite to eat at La Bottega in The Maritime Hotel. After an odd combination of food and beverage orders, we crossed the street and braved the weekend crowd to visit Lois Eastlund at the Independent Designer’s pop-up shop. Also making stops at Vernakular Photo Designs and ATTITUDE by Jeanne, we finished our Westside Story with a bottle of champagne from the Chelsea Wine Vault.

Just after the sun set, it was time to journey uptown for Ladytron at Terminal 5. VHS or Beta opened around 8:30pm, stirring the crowd for a Night on Fire -- and by 11pm, we were already Destroying Everything We Touched.

So, before gravity became the seducer, we trekked back downtown for a birthday-turned-soft-opening-party at Parlor New York. We toasted our final few drinks of the night to celebrate 25 fabulous years of Sarah Frances Cagianese -- one-half of the talented sibling duo, Frances Rose.

Post by Amanda LaMela

At about half-past 5pm, I found myself sprinting down 58^th street and descending deep into the bowels of the Hudson Hotel. Socialite darling, Douglas Hannant, was celebrating and presenting his “Pink” launch at Good Units. With a performance by The Vandelles and a relaxed attitude, the Park Avenue Prince was looking refreshingly ‘downtown.’

Two air kisses, one cocktail, and a few photos later, I found myself back on 58^th with the good intention of taking a subway. But with another glance at the darkening skies, I muttered, “F*** that,” and hailed a cab down to Greene Street.

I arrived in Soho on Fashion’s Night Out against my initial judgment. The streets reminded me of Halloween in elementary school – everyone especially focused on their attire, scoping out which door would reap the best goodies. But instead of dodging eggs, I dodged drunk tourists until I finally slid into REALM on 98 Greene.

REALM Boutique was throwing an exceptionally style-list FNO, hosted by Lissy Trullie, May Kwok, Michelle Trachtenberg, Leandra Medine, Susie Bubble and Chelsea Leyland. Champagne in hand, I sifted through racks upon racks of luxurious rarities until boutique owner, Lewaa Abdulkhalek stopped me for an introduction.

Presenting his collection of Jitrois, Lewaa highlighted a few key items – a stretch leather sheath dress, a feather-trimmed cocktail frock, and a bright suede skirt. “Black will always be our best-selling color, but red is the predominant fashion color right now,” he shared. I shuddered in delight as I slipped on a cropped chinchilla bomber jacket. “We have a full-length version coming in soon,” Lewaa suggested. I flipped the tag to reveal the price… $31,000.

“Yeah…” I lied, “I guess I’ll just have to wait for that one…”

Post by Amanda LaMela

There is nothing more painful than the caustic return of Monday after a good weekend -- especially those excruciating moments right before viewing my Chase Checking balance for the first time in three days… But as unavoidable as the first flannel purchase for a new Williamsburg resident, Monday made its bitter return.

So what other option do I have than to reflect upon the past days’ unabashed consumption and celebration?

Festivities began early last week with Anna Dello Russo’s INC launch at Openhouse Gallery. The Wednesday night event possessed the right ingredients for a perfect party – Champagne, models, and a famous style icon.

The second half of last week enjoyed its good share of meet-ups. My first stop was Ludlow to visit designer and friend, Lois Eastlund. As I browsed through her new color-ways and styles, we caught up and discussed a particularly exciting photo shoot on the horizon.

Two Bisousciao macrons later, I finally summoned the courage to elbow my way through Soho. When I finally exhaled inside Bloomindales, I was immediately drawn to a table of megawatt LARUICCI cocktail rings like a sorority girl drawn to glittery puff paint and plastic stemware. Designer, Lauren Ruicci, was busy greeting impressed visitors at her weekend trunk show.

“We have a lot in the works for fashion week,” she hinted, “but I can’t really divulge much yet!”

After a bit of self-pampering and shopping, it was time for another rooftop rendezvous with friends -- once again, falling into a champagne haze in the name of birthday celebration. But by 8pm, it was already time to start pulling ourselves together for the Digitalism show at Terminal 5.

Post by Amanda LaMela

For the first day of summer, guests of the MZ Wallace Summer E-Pop Party enjoyed live music and margaritas at the designer duo’s Soho boutique. Dressed in fresh-yet-relaxed looks, fashionable insiders decorated Crosby Street for food, drink, and an excuse to party. The three-piece band played while beachy videos projected onto the wall, providing a festive atmosphere for this unique luxury handbag brand.

After a long winter and an unpredictable spring, it is time to make another important seasonal decision: Frozen or On-the-Rocks?

Post by Amanda LaMela

During an aimless jaunt around Soho, the District L duo wandered into Opening Ceremony on Howard Street. Amongst racks of mesh t-shirts, Sevigny-sanctioned merchandise, and ironic ruffle leggings, I spotted a small, yet provocative shoulder bag by Fleet Ilya. The structural cage frame, embossed leather strap, and stud-detailing prompted my post-brunch investigation.

Fleet Ilya’s husband-and-wife design team maintains an underlying outright theme of bondage and fetishism in their luxury leather creations. With meticulous attention to functionality and a continuous focus on sensual power, this playful label certainly exhibits an ability to dominate.

Post by Amanda LaMela

For once, this wasn't what I was muttering to myself while bulldozering my way through a crowded bar with a full-to-the-brim G&T in each hand.

I did, however, manage to down a few flutes and globes this past Saturday evening in SoHo at 75 Spring Street for UK Breast Cancer research charity Too Many Women's Cocktails and Shopping Event.

Masterminded by TMW Ambassadors Georgie Downie and Kate Becker, along with friends Kaley, Kenner, and Karoline Bolt, the intimate affair boasted donated designer goods from the likes of Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Marc Jacobs, Tibi, Steven Alan, Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Matthew Williamson, and Zac Posen. DVF herself even donated a selection from her A/W 2010 collection, including a beautiful reversible gilt coat pictured below.

Friend and former VICE comrade Kaley Bolt gave us the grand tour of the event space, the New York office of cutting-edge international advertising agency Smoke and Mirrors. Low lights, a superb selection of womenswear (the XL Loro Piana wool pullover in the photo below was one of the last remnants of the men's rack by the time I arrived), and an overall generous spirit made for a fantastic evening.

And what a successful evening it was as well - when all was said and done, Kaley & co. managed to raise nearly $10,000 for Breast Cancer research. Needless to say, after doing our part, I felt ever so slightly better about the next morning's extra sybaritic brunchtime shenanigans...and those of the night that preceeded them.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

I knew I made the right decision last night when I found myself barely 10 feet away from Cherry Vanilla herself at a reading in the Coco de Mer on Elizabeth Street, hearing these very words.

Fresh off of a nationwide tour for her racy new collection of memoirs entitled Lick Me: How I Became Cherry Vanilla, the former Bowie publicist and front woman for The Police and The Cherry Vanilla Band recounted vicious tales of groupie debauchery to an intimate gathering of local publishing industry figures and assorted musicians (including The B-52's Kate Pierson) in the cozy Soho erotic luxury outfitter.

It's refreshing (sometimes) to be in your early twenties and think you know everything, only to have someone like Cherry come along and remind you, "All those nefarious little deeds you get up to every weekend? Well I did them first, and I did them better." She had us duly enthralled somewhere between graphic descriptions of David Bowie's emaciated, nubile body standing naked before her in the Presidential Suite of a Howard Johnson's and an epic ode to her tour bus days, a cathartic poem entitled A Groupie's Lament.

Gives us something to aspire towards - plus the shoe chair certainly didn't hurt either. So definitely be sure and pick up a copy of Lick Me: How I Became Cherry Vanilla at your local sex shop today...or on Amazon, whatever.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva