District L

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

Using party photos to cover an event is the best excuse I have for consistent narcissistic indulgence. But the fact still remains that Starboard Hudson is a fantastic venue and a lasting DL favorite. We navigated the waters with Starboard Captains, Sarah and Jessica, as well as designer, Rebecca Formichella. With a constant congregation of fabulous night owls, we're already signing up for the next event!

Post by Amanda LaMela

Most people tip their mailman during the Christmas holiday. If we knew our mailman, we'd tip him right before Fashion Week. Invites of all sizes begin satiating our hungry little mailbox; one that exclusively handles junk mail and credit card bills during the rest of the year. As I was rifling through yesterday’s mail, one invite stood out in particular.

When I unraveled the poster-sized Geisha-in-an-opium-den image, I immediately knew I was going to be making room in my Fashion Week schedule. The Blonds had the most fun last season and this invite looks nothing short of extraordinary. But be sure to read the fine print:

Invitation management isn’t the only Fashion Week preparation we engage in. Today I’ll be sitting in on Lois Eastlund’s model casting. Her February 14^th runway show is quickly approaching, so click here to support the fabulous!

Tonight, we’ll be heading west for another debaucherous Saturday evening. Before Starboard Hudson goes on a one-month hiatus, DL will be boarding the boat once more for music, neon, and the occasional makeshift photo shoot. The party at Starboard will return for their Mardi Gras event, taking place on Saturday, March 12. The Chainsmokers will be bringing their high-energy performance on board and Kirill from KirillWasHere will be there to capture all the madness.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Last night was another Saturday and another chance to enjoy new music aboard Starboard Hudson. Beneath the deck of the Frying Pan, a crowd of stylish and well-informed individuals gathered to party with bands like Atypicals and Moon Hooch. Because the first two Starboard parties were such a splash, this ripple effect will continue every Saturday until May 1.

Post by Amanda LaMela

I'd vibe to this. District L always goes overboard at Starboard Hudson.

According to some poll somewhere, the most common resolutions made by resolution-makers included drinking less alcohol, managing debt, and eating healthier.

We know - lame.

That’s why the District L darlings resolved something far more compelling: Be more fabulous.

Over a champagne-infused Sunday brunch at The Tangled Vine, we dissected such a goal. Of course, any effort towards awe-advancement would start with wardrobe expansion. Wearing the equestrian-space-pants I had picked up at the Oak sale the day prior, I had already gotten a head start on achieving our Fashion Nirvana objective.

But one cannot be fabulous on fashion alone. Sadly, there are many quasi-chic-looking individuals who lead conventional lives otherwise. With that thought, we ordered another round of champagne. Three flutes later, step three became more obvious: To be more fabulous, one must preserve their energy for more fabulous things. $22 cab ride? Check.

Three Ninth Street espressos, two White Noise G&Ts, one Jefferies visit, and one Lois Eastlund jumper later, and it was time to take a break from being fabulous. I mean, 2011 had only just begun – we wouldn’t want to burn out!

Heading back to the apartment, I decided to pick up a few grocery items at Duane Reade before retiring the weekend of fabulousness. After spending 15 careful minutes comparing the insane prices of canned pesto, I became exasperated and left. Christ, I wasn’t that hungry.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Photography © Copyright 2010 Rachel A. Cuyler 2010 All rights reserved

What's that? You spent $200 on a table at a tacky club full of tourists who haven't been out since Halloween? Did the one bartender at the party's open bar not hear your drink order... again? Or maybe you decided to "keep it low key this year," only to find yourself splitting a bottle of Korbel with your neighbor and her chubby cousin, Edna.

So sorry to hear that.

District L took a different approach to New Year's Eve. After the fabulous Soft Opening Concert and Party at Starboard Hudson in November, we were HELL BENT on casting our anchor at Pier 66 for the last night of the year.

And cast we did. Being sure to go fashionably overboard for the entire evening, we explored uncharted waters -- hidden nooks and quarters that we had inexplicably missed during round one.

Starboard Hudson, watch out. The next shipwreck is approaching so soon.

Post by Amanda LaMela

My, how things change over the course of a year. Here’s a fun fact: District L’s first post in 2010 reassured readers that we had not yet succumbed to the Twittersphere. Well, guess what? Now we have. So you better be following us.

In the dawn of 2010, the DL founders were preparing to reunite for another glitterati-packed Fashion Week. The unofficial kickoff took place at the Crosby Street Hotel. We braved the apocalyptic snowstorm for a rewarding and sophisticated presentation by Geren Ford.

Our excitement quickly turned to shock and sadness when news of Alexander McQueen’s suicide broke the following morning, the first unofficial day of New York Fashion Week. Confusion and solemnity fell over the tents. The shows went on, but not without somber speculation and mourning over the fashion community’s tragic loss.

As the Bryant Park tents buzzed for the last time, the DL duo made sure to return to old favorites like Georges Chakra and Farah Angsana. Other tent favorites included Richard Chai, Twinkle by Wenlan, and Brian Reyes. Heading off-site, Nick experienced some primal behavior at Catherine Malandrino and Irina Shabayeva.

March was consumed by the Great Editor Switch of 2010 – Single-letter glossies received even more publicity than usual as Stefano Tonchi became W’s new man. Sally Singer, former Voguette, swooped in to take his empty desk at T Magazine.

As spring melted into summer, June presented us with Sidewalk Catwalk – a collective fashion display that included creations from designers like Maria Cornejo, Prabal Gurung, and John Bartlett. Situated between Herald and Times Square, the stylish outdoor display stood defiantly among dowdy tourists until Labor Day.

And before we knew it, Fashion Week returned – this time in its new Lincoln Center location. We were initially apprehensive about our move uptown. It seemed inconvenient and unnatural to leave our home in Bryant Park. Fortunately, our concerns quickly vanished on the first day as Verrier’s picture-perfect presentation lit up The Box. As the week got busier, District L called in for reinforcements. The fabulous Madisen Walker was willing to fill in for us on the last day. As Nick and I ventured to Milk Studios to see The Blonds, Madisen attended the dreamlike presentation by Rebecca Moses.

With a new friend in the District, Fashion Week withdrawals became more bearable. Swatch had its time at the Park Avenue Gansevoort, throwing a glittering, champagne-soaked launch party with Nikki Reed for their “New Gent’s Collection.” Our October schedule also included rooftop photoshoots, a ‘Night of Fashion’ with Ann Yee, and a launch party for “Modern Views.”

November’s cold air didn’t kill the party, as we celebrated two years of Lois Eastlund in the LES on 11/11. Not only did we pick up some fabulous looks from Lois, but her party also boasted the best SWAG bag we’ve seen in years. We were psyched to score edgy accessories from Box 185, handmade jewelry from Attitude by Jeanne, and photo designs by Vernakular.

A few days later, the DL crew headed west – to Starboard Hudson, that is. The Soft Opening Party and Concert took place on November 13, luring hundreds of fun-loving individuals to the lower decks of a once-abandoned ship. The opening party was such a success, that the District L darlings decided to ring in the New Year at this fabulous location.

Post by Amanda LaMela