This New Years Eve...

Reminisce old world glamour with its sexy and reckless Le Lido roots. If we've learned anything in 2009, it's that glamour is itching for a comeback. Let's introduce 2010 to luxe.

Purple Diary

Last Nights Party

No Choos 4 U

Thank you! Come again!

ImageLuv

Hop On The Spiral Bitch

Ten Things to End Before 2010

Cheat sheet alert! I've compiled a reference guide of things that should not enter the new decade.

1. Dissing the pint-sized prodigy, Tavi

2. The word "hater"

3. Uggs

4. Crocs

5. Models popping out babies at a rate that rivals Jon & Kate

6. Electric Feel by MGMT at runway shows. (Love the song, but its runway life is over.)

7. Tyra

8. Designer lines at Walmart or Payless

9. Korbel "Champagne"

10. Christian Audigier's assault on the fashion industry

 

Sex and the City 2

You think another SATC is overkill? You assume that a sequel will just be dragging it out? Then shut up. Just shut up. We're not your friends anymore.

Happy Holidays, Fashionistas!

Adam Lippes celebrates his birthday on Christmas Eve. Designer Mara Hoffman is currently enjoying Peru. Richard Renda spends every free moment photographing the winter wonderland that is New York. Designer, Farah Angsana is in Los Angeles celebrating the holidays with her family and friends.

http://www.laurenbishopillustration.co.uk/

Worst Dressed of '09

It's that time of year, dear fashionstas, when we take the time to stop and reflect... and then criticize celebrities on their unfortunate fashion choices.

Call it holiday spirit,  but I find it unfair to make fun of actors and actresses. The only difference between them and the chubby, weird kids in our high school's drama club was a traumatic night at the Beverly Hills Hotel with Jerry Bruckheimer.

But if you're coming down with a case of cabin fever, click here and be amused.

How did they leave out this one?!

Worst Intern Move of the Decade

The office of Grazia magazine turned apocalyptic when an intern, upon her departure, told her boss that she had been getting her full-fat lattes as opposed to skim-milk lattes the whole time.

Please. We don't believe this story one bit. Even a starving monkey on Ritalin could tell the difference between skim and whole milk.

Don't you wish you were a French Train Conductor?

It is vast public knowledge that Christian Lacroix has been reduced to a licensing operation by a Paris court. But, District L was shocked to hear that a new decade will bring a new look to French railway employees. Earlier this month, French railway operator SNCF told WWD that 20,000 employees would be wearing Lacroix-designed uniforms in the new year.

Totally Team Tavi

Tavi, the 13-year-old fashion blogger, has incited industry murmurs since her first front-row invite. Even Anne Slowey has something to say about her. Many people question her blog and her style, wondering if her look and voice is all her own.

"The way in which Tavi speaks about fashion on a video clip doesn't embody the same level of sophistication that is in her writing, neither in tone nor in content," Slowey writes in Elle News Blog.

Well, clearly, Anne. Imagine being a tiny 13-year-old, surrounded by crew and cameras? Most self-assured adults even have a hard time speaking in front of a camera properly.

Many of us have seen Tavi around during our fashion week follies, and we know DAMN WELL that this girl knows her fashion. This past September, I starred in awe at the little chicster as we waited outside for Thakoon at Eyebeam. She had such poise, confidence and sophistication for a girl that age, that I almost considered having children of my own. Ha, just kidding.

Turnout Was Thin

Filmmaker, Daryl Roberts, had organized a protest in front of Chicago's Polo Ralph Lauren store to combat the brand's use of Photoshop to make models look waifish. To noones' dismay, only four people showed up to support the "America the Beautiful" producer. According to the store's manager, the demonstration did little to distract business as usual.

Go cry to Karl.

Oh, and don't worry. We're working on getting a photo of this embarrassingly failed attempt. Until then, here is a photo of Ralph himself...

A Muse

French actress, Anna Mouglalis, is Karl's new calendar girl in the Italian edition of Marie Claire. The actress, who played Coco in the 2009 film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, enchanted dear Lagerfeld enough to have him adorn her in couture, Fendi furs, and other Karl creations.

This leads me to believe one thing: Marie Claire in Italy is NOTHING like the American version.

Fashion Crushes

Looking for some holiday arm-candy to latch onto for the party season? As the next two months lead up to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, it is time to look for a Page Six date!

Wish-list of Fashion-Friendly Boy-Toys Who Are Always Camera Ready

Olivier Zahm: A personal favorite, he made it onto Style.com's Top Party People List. He also takes a plethora of chic and sexy photos for his Purple Diary.

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld: Another fashionable man to make it on Style.com's list, the 24-year-old son of Carine Roitfeld is known for his partying, art exhibitions, and fashionable connections.

Derek Blasberg: If you've behaved all year, Santa might just get you a front-row seat next to Derek Blasberg, Style.com's contributing editor and resident partier. Unfortunately, we haven't been behaving... but we think that might work to our favor.

Reader Tip: More Mara

Hey District L readers! Here's a tip to keep your wardrobes chic and satisfied: Mara Hoffman will be holding a sample sale on 120 West 28th street (4th fl.) between 6th and 7th avenue. The sale starts Thursday and runs until Saturday.

All Mara Hoffman Fall, Winter, and Holiday collections will be up to 80% off.

Good Morning, Starshine

Recent Style.com trend coverage created by Tommy Ton exposed the subtle switch from aggressive 80s looks to softer 70s silhouettes. Sorry, Tommy, but we've seen this coming months ago.

Sartorialist's photos, as well as a few hand-picked photos recently uploaded onto Cory Kennedy's Facebook, illustrate how the 70s look has already earned its street cred.

So throw on some Strawberry Alarm Clock and find your best aviators. Looks like this trend has some staying power.

Because It's Saturday.

go wild.

But Isn't That Just...

So call us philistines actually don't because we'll find you, but Dior's latest brainchild has left us a bit...perplexed.

Targeted at your fussy, 5' 2" girlfriend who steals your jeans while you're still asleep in the morning, Dior Homme has launched a line of its own signature skinny silhouette denim...for les femmes. The new line is called Petite Taille (small size en francais) with prices hovering in the bridge line range.

So Dior Homme Femme? I guess we kind of get it, but maybe it seems a little...gimmicky? Perhaps a simple misnomer, but isn't that just...Dior?

2012 Came Early

Here's a fun quiz for you all:

Question: What's more horrifying than Coco Perez, more depressing than Gaultier for Target, and more frustrating than Max Azria's collaboration with Miley Cyrus for Walmart?

Answer: Christian Lacroix is finally over. The commercial court in Paris has ruled that the couture house has been reduced to a licensing operation.

Couture will never be the same.

Fashematics.

District L recieved a tip about a fantastic site called Fashematics, where blogger Jonathan boils influence down to pure equation.

With remarkably accurate resultz, might we add.

It looks like District L finally found a math class it can pass.

We found his most recent project, Fashematical, which features our favorite catwalk stars as "part of either a horde of zombies or an army of robots, hell-bent on taking planet Earth for themselves," particularly enticing.

Naturally, evil machine overlord Karl presides over them all. We can't think of a more perfect society.

Word on the Street: Care, Be, Pu

 

Farah Angsana Update

Farah Angsana spoke to District L months ago about her glamorous designs that have insiders calling her "the next Valentino."

Seems like the fabulous Farah is fashionizing as we speak! About a half-hour ago, she posted this photo on Facebook:

"Mission completed!!!"

Spongebob GlamPants?

Karl Lagerfeld bestowed his talented ability upon one fortunate individual. That lucky character happened to be SpongeBob SquarePants. A homage to Marc Jacob's tattoos, perhaps?

Donning him with thin black shades, fingerless gloves, and a tall starched collar, the new glam SpongeBob figurine was then auctioned off for $1,500 to benefit the World Wildlife Fund.

Karl? Are you feeling okay? You are acting out of character, dear.

Pick Up Some Piaggi...

Enigmatic Vogue Italia editor Anna Piaggi has finally decided to open up a bit...her wardrobe, that is.

Tomorrow's "Fashion Through the Ages" auction at Christies in London will feature prominent pieces from the style icon's extremely eclectice wardrobe.

In addition to highlight pieces such as the Gaultier Cone Breast dress (the same that Madonna wore), there will also be original Karl Lagerfeld sketches of Piaggi and her outfits.

“If he liked how I looked, he would take out his pencils, if not, he said nothing," she mused on her own fleeting status as KL's muse.

Also, just because we can- before you go join the unwashed masses proclaiming Lady Ga...we mean, Stefani Germanotta as the new messiah of fashion icons, take one look at Piaggi and consider reconsidering.

None the Wiser

Only a few months after the former D&G publicist faced charges for computer trespassing and eavesdropping, Alice + Olivia has taken Ali Wise in as a consultant.

Looks like Alice + Olivia needed to be consulted awhile ago.

How could we forget? It was only July! Ah, fashion: Where memories die faster than the trends.

Wise will be consulting on events and celebrity relations for the brand.

Proper Attire

Listen up all you South Beach partiers! It's time to keep your eyes peeled for a fresh batch of New York chicsters in town to present Proper Attire. We already knew that Brian Reyes and Alexander Wang were properly suiting up, but it appears that artist Keith Haring will also be promoting the designer condoms tonight at the Mondrian.

We also got word that fabulous Adam Lippes is in town. Wonder if he'll make it to Miami's hot New Yorker affair...

Remember when designer mints were big about five years ago? Well now its hot to be fashionably under wraps. Keep it safe, Miami!

Let's Keep This Blip on the DL

We know, we know... District L was M.I.A. for a little while, but do not fret! Between Southeast Asian travels and upscale retail events,  we've been busy staying on the edge of culture and fashion. Can you blame us? We're doing this for YOU!

Ok... we lied. We were doing this for us. But lucky for you, our dear readers will always be the third-party beneficiary to our extravagant escapades.

For now, let's catch up on the fabulous people on our radar:

Tomorrow, Isaiah Garza will be having an exclusive trunk show on LA's FIDM campus outside the Museum Shop. Our friend Isaiah had attempted to hold a trunk show in Beverly Hills a few weeks back, but was robbed of his merchandise shortly before the event! Show your Garza support from 10am to 4pm, buy a few fabulous items, and be on the lookout for Winona!

Fashion Week photographer, Richard Renda, has been eternalizing New York as he spends his weekend shooting the holiday windows with friends. Have you seen him around? You'll know because he's Totally Cool®

Britt Aboutaleb of Fashionista is currently reporting from Paris. Her and the team will be there for the Sonia Rykiel / H&M fiasco. Hold on to your sunglasses, Karl.

And finally, fabulous designer, Farah Angsana is enjoying the post-holiday snow in Zurich.

Above is a shot I took from the Saks / W Magazine Social Style Event

that took place earlier this month. Can you say, "Pure Luxury"?!

OH HAY GUYZ.

Thank Karl. We have liftoff.

Despite all of this economic-downturn-crisis-nuclear-meltdown-overdrive-apocalypse nonsense, it would appear that District L can salvage that last shred of hope for the human race, as people are apparently still shopping. Shoes, to be exact. According to the NY Times, 1.5 billion dollars worth, up a staggering 7.9 percent from last year.

"“I would argue you wear out shoes more than you wear out handbags,” said Marie Driscoll, an analyst with Standard & Poor’s Equity Research who is adept at rationalizing her own shoe purchases. Living in New York, she walks everywhere.  “I use the argument, ‘If I spend $150 to $300 on shoes, this is my car.’ ”"

Sure, the article features blatant references to Macy's, Midtown, and Merrell but at least people are starting to get the picture. That only speaks for some, we all know people are still shopping the labels that matter.

 

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Susan Plagemann was named the new Publisher of Vogue yesterday by Charles Townsend. She will be reporting to Tom Florio starting January 4, 2010.

After publicly declaring her love for the designer, it seems that Rosie O'Donnell and Eileen Fisher are "breaking up." Rosie, after performing in Love, Loss and What I Wore, got word that her beloved Eileen was in the audience. She ran over to the designer, gushing about how her clothes have changed her life, only to find out that overweight bitchy women are "not the image [they're] going for." Shot. Down.

Charlotte Blechmen, Gucci America's VP of PR, will be leaving the company on December 5. Ciao! Arrivederci!

Ok, so who's next?

Cruella Devil Wears Prada

Bee Shaffer, fashion-princess-turned-borderline-contemptible, shocked New York when she spoke condescendingly about her mother's industry in The September Issue. Now she has further proved her need for a publicist by dressing as Cruella Devil for Halloween.

Really, Bee? Fur? Devil Wears Prada? You're not biting the hand that feeds - you're basically chopping it off.

Leave it to Guest of a Guest to have the priceless photos.

Quotable

We are not only people having fun or partying, traveling in private jets and kissing celebrities. We are hard workers, responsible for thousands of people's jobs.

- Valentino, on the importance of the fashion industry

"Of course, I am not eternal"

Farewell?

This is what 75-year old Giorgio Armani had to say yesterday after hinting that it may be time to appoint a successor.

"I'm already organizing staff who will continue my work...of course I am not eternal, there comes a time when you must hand it over."

Armani spoke to reporters while in Moscow, having recently jetted in to attend a slew of Armani-related events, including several Fall 2009 presentations and parties.

Recent management changes made within the company have indicated an easing of his workload. Rumors are flying about a possible sale of the company. While there has been no speculation about new creative heads or designers, the industry waits with bated breath until the dreaded day when an announcement is made- and we all know the implications of such a declaration.

Long Live "King Giorgio".

Tip: Laura Dawson Sale

District L readers:

Laura Dawson's last 3-day sale was so popular she's having another one. But today is the last day, so act fast!

Just go to her online store and buy a fabulous piece from her A/W collection, then get another for free.

Enter promo code 26-27-28 at checkout, and sit in anticipation by the front door.

Don't You Know Who She Is?

"I just got robbed in the street in front of the Thyssen museum . . . My wallet, cash and all my credit cards!!"

From Diane Von Furstenburg's twitter page after she, well...got robbed in the street in front of the Thyssen museum in Madrid. She was there, of all things, to receive a Telva Fashion Award. How ironic!

Not ones to take things lightly, District L has already dispatched its army of bitchy queens and PR girls on a search and destroy mission after the bastard.

Maybe this is some karmic payback after allowing MTV to film "The City" at her HQ in the Meatpacking District?

White Break: Bangkok Art & Culture Center

District L recently made a jaunt down to Siam Square in downtown Bangkok to visit the recently inaugurated BACC (Bangkok Art & Culture Center), where we chanced upon a fabulous little exhibition called "White Break".

White Break

"While everything turns to black and dark, it feels like to the end of the road, white is like the light leading to the beginning"

-Jitsing Somboon

The mini-exhibition was inspired by this one quotation, celebrating the color white and it's many representations and interpretations. Coming from dark and tan obsessed North America to pale and white concerned Asia brings the exhibit into a whole new perspective.

Any celebration of white clothing (a personal favorite) is brilliant by me, and a big fuck you to everyone who told me it was impractical.

Since when is fashion always practical?

 

Things That Fabulous People Hate...

Christian Louboutin stated that designing clothes would be his "idea of hell." Cindy Crawford, on the other hand hates catwalks. (I guess if you made your living by not eating, it's okay to bite the hand that feeds.) Speaking of not eating, here is more recent evidence that King Karl hates fatties.

We at District L have our own list of dislikes. On our laundry list? This.

No, this is not the line outside of 1Oak on a Saturday night. This is the crowd waiting to get inside Abercrombie on a Monday afternoon. With the stomach-turning stench of high school wafting down Fifth Avenue, this Midtown disaster ranks pretty high on our shit-list.

Quotable

"I was like, 'Are you really sure you want my name on your ass?' He said, 'Yes.' I didn't want to do it on his ass. I thought he should think about it, so instead I did it on his back, and said, 'You should still think about it! Do you really want my name on your back?' And he said, 'Yes.'"

Christian Louboutin, on one of his more vehement fans at his "Shoe Signing" last Thursday at Bergdorf Goodman.

 

Rosso Reveals.

Charismatic Diesel head Renzo Rosso has some big news.

S/S 2010 in Paris for Maison Margiela revealed that enigmatic Margiela himself was no longer desigining for the label.

Rosso, whose Staff International group currently runs Maison Martin Margiela, has just announced that he is very, very close to annoint...we mean, appointing a new head designer.

According to a twitter post from T magazine's Horacio Silva, "Just had a chat with Diesel's Renzo Russo who says he is this close to naming a new designer at Martin Margiela." The next post read, "Russo stressed that Martin Margiela will continue to be involved with his namesake label, albeit at a distance."

Knowing the Maison's history of shrouding everything it does in mystery, District L really cannot speculate as to who this individual may be.

Rumors, however, of Rosso's intent to buy Ittiere have been denied. One man can only be so fabulous.

Whoa whoa, hold on a sec.

Surprisingly, something noteworthy totally escaped our attention.

While scouring the internet, we came across this little gem on FashionWireDaily that captured our interest.

“I was very influenced in my choice by Tim Gunn, who had invited Lindsay to be a judge [on Project Runway]...his comments that she had a great sense of fashion and knew what works and doesn’t work, were pretty significant to me.”

This came directly out of the mouth of Mounir Moufarrige, CEO of Ungaro.

This is the first of several heart-stopping revelations in the article, entitled "The House of Ungaro's Lowdown on Lindsay Lohan".

Frankly, we were rather shocked to learn that Tim Gunn of all people was the "deciding vote" as it were, to appoint Lohan as the new creative co-director of the major Parisian house.

Moufarrige reveals the reasons behind the final decision, and even behind the fact that she was being considered for the position at all. At first, his rationales seem legitimate.

"We need to bring in younger and cooler and trends to Ungaro. This team can provide that."

"He added that [Estrella] Archs and Lohan had been spending more time together in Los Angeles and New York, but added that this fitted in more with his “long-term vision of the Ungaro woman. She is a combination of the American and European girl.""

Okay, okay, but hold on a second. It gets better.

“Lindsay already had an Ungaro coat at the age of 13...her own mother used to wear Ungaro. You could not sit on a settee or chair in her place. Her home was full of brands. You had to sit on the floor!”

Well, shit. I had a Burberry overcoat when I was 13, I assume I'll be taking up my new position as creative co-director any day now.

The article then goes on to list all of the various events, photoshoots, and interviews Lohan was late for or skipped out on entirely leading up to her Paris showing.

“Lindsay Lohan is not a designer, we are not pretending that she is. But she is a great merchandiser who can bring lots of ideas. You will soon see that,” said Moufarrige.

We all saw how that turned out. Case closed.

Quotable

"We know Marc Jacobs doesn't take the fashion world too seriously, so maybe clogs were his way of having a joke at our expense. But you can bet your last penny that these noisy shoes will be all over the high street come spring."

Rachel Holmes, Guardian UK, laments the "klompen" filled runways of LV and Chanel

Honestly, we have to agree. WTF.

Gilt, not Guilt.

Karl and Mini-Karl are listening. Tread lightly.

Ugh, enough already.

Shopper's guilt is on the rise, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. It's hampering the luxury retail goods market, and our mood.

"It used to be about keeping up with the Joneses, and now it's about outsaving the Joneses," said Gilt Groupe co-founder Alexis Maybank of the recent spike, obviously related to our super-stagnant, completely and irrevocably fucked economy.

The article even goes on to elaborate on how the pang of guilt produced by the prefrontal cortex is the exact same one produced after a smoker finishes a cigarette. What it should really produce is the exact same reaction that occurs in our prefrontal cortices after we pound a bottle of Moet- "another plz."

A valid point the article makes is that "Browsing and buying release a variety of emotions. Selecting clothes and trying them on produces a high. When shopping feels good, that's the dopamine in your brain, the same euphoria that eating chocolate can generate."

Witchcraft, voodoo, and make-believe to be found in the article includes:

""Luxury shame"—epitomized by the showy act of walking out of a fancy store with a big shopping bag [and that's a bad thing?]—is one of the main reasons for the estimated 20% jump in online luxury sales this year."

"Another tactic for taking some of the guilt out of shopping—offering a charitable-giving component"

"Other companies are putting more emphasis on the "guilt-free shopping" that is said to come with buying environmentally safe products."

Wah, wah, wah.

Whatever happened to buying something just because? Because it's high quality? Because it's luxurious? Because you want it.

District L doesn't appreciate being made to feel like an arrogant turd for wanting to invest in luxury apparel and accessories without all of the environmental, philanthropic, and smarmy strings attached.

Stop crying before Karl hears you.