District L

So I'm more than a little obsessed with Mjölk in general - I've been impatient to see what they have in store for Fall since covering them for S/S 11. The preview video they put together for A/W 11 is visually stunning, so I had to go through and grab some of these more poignant moments. Look out for the entire A/W collection, which (we hope) is coming soon.

-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

If you're in the mood for some languid, 90's LA Boho look no further than fellow style blogger FashionGrunge. After checking out this preview vid for their "LA Renegade" spring editorial, we've been swooning for some burnout, pink afternoons, palm trees and textured linen ever since.

I mean come on, what about this doesn't make you want to go hang out in the parking lot of a dry cleaners in Santa Monica? Seriously, it's 68 degrees out and the sun is burning purple.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

Photos by Lauren Brown of FashionGrunge

This was the first time District L had attended a Toni Francesc showing, therefore we had little point of reference by way of expectations besides heresay from seasons past. This spring, however, Toni's "Urban Forest" promised to lead us through "an intelligent forest in which we feel closer and more in touch with our natural surroundings".

A lot of designers tend to go down the "let's take a concept, juxtapose it with its' complete opposite, and see what happens" road, but Toni clearly designs with a steady, disciplined hand. The collection, which featured a number of deconstructed looks in this season's raspberry/cream/sage/carbon palette, had an effortless air about it. Even during the latter part of the show, featuring a number of more sculptural evening looks with wooden accents (not faux bois, like, real wood), every dart, buckle, and pleat came across as completely organic and flowed well. The industrial urban element was almost bellicose- mercerized fabrics in that ubiquitous basket-weave texture gave jackets and wraps a chainmail like appearance, and each model was styled like a woodland sprite in an army ready for war. Toni Francesc made a great first impression; his runway sent chills down our spine, and we like it when that happens.

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

District L has always been a big THUY fan - designer Thuy Diep is incredibly in touch with her customer. Continually producing collections full of both whimsical basics and tasteful statement pieces, any given THUY collection is a fabulous seasonal trend barometer.

Today at Audi Forum on 47th and Park Avenue, her candy-popped spring collection was...well, an eye-opener - the venti soy latte I guzzled down during the mad dash across town didn't wake me up nearly as much as THUY's runway. Structured frocks in waffled beige and cream with black and violet trim formed a great foundation, interspersed with blazers, layered skirts, and shifts in neon mustard and apricot. The two finale looks, glassy bead and sequin encrusted a-liners, were slow-burners but once your pupils had properly adjusted they were real gems (pun could possibly be intended, but it's late so take it as you will).

Post by Nicolas Sera-Leyva

A bold ending to Sally LaPointe's bold showing - watch and see for yourself, and get a taste of the madness.

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

Post and Video by Nicolas Seraleyva