SFBayStyle

Fashion in San Francisco

Do San Franciscans have style and if so, what is it?

A panel of local fashion professionals discuss San Francisco's sense of style with Chris Shafer on KQED's radio show, Forum.

The panel includes:

Bacca Da Silva, fashion designer of Bacca Da Silva in downtown San Francisco
Ben Ospital, partner of Modern Appealing Clothing (MAC) in Hayes Valley
Elisabeth Laurence, host of "Lives of Style" on KRON 4 TV
Jay Nicolas Sario, fashion designer and contestant on Season 7 of "Project Runway"
Jennifer Jones, owner of Candy Store Collective, with stores in the Mission and Pacific Heights

Click here to listen.

Levi's Offers Printmaking Workshops in San Francisco

 
Photo Provided by Levi's

As part of their Go Forth marketing campaign, Levi's invites you to get to work with their series of print workshops happening now through August 28th. Located in a pop-up storefront in San Francisco's Mission district, the workshops offer opportunities for visitors to use old-school printing presses, create zines, design t-shirts, and talk with local print artists. 

Book artist and printer Taylor Reid works at Center for the Book and was hired by Levi's to demonstrate one of the on-site presses.  She thinks these workshops are a great opportunity for the community. "I've noticed a growing appreciation for hand letter press," she comments. "It's not often people get to see printing in progress and do it themselves."

 

United Streets of Fashion: The Art Institute of California Fashion Show

The Art Institute of California had much to be proud of last Saturday evening at their annual fashion show held in the spacious San Francisco Design Center Galleria. Twenty fashion design students showed their wares to an enthusiastic crowd, which included Oakland Museum of California's Marketing Manager Adam Rozan, Rock and Roll designer Jeanne Rose, and stylist Tyese Cooper. Art Institute faculty member Amy Kweskin was seated in the front row cheering on her students as was Fashion on the Square Producer Y'Anad Burelle, seeking talent for her upcoming show on August 14th.    

Showing muted colors and layers, students were inspired by San Francisco's diverse neighborhoods from Union Square to The Haight. Exposed zippers were a theme as were corset style tops, harem pants, super short skirts, and playful patch pockets. The look for men was comfortable in loose knits, shorts, and layers.  

San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design: FourSite Installation Exhibit

WHO: San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design

WHAT: FourSite: 4 Artists, 4 Materials, 4 Sites.

Installations by four top California artists - Tanya Aguiniga, Paul Hayes, Thomas Hill, and Christine Lee. Using paper, fiber, metal, and wood these artists have created unique visual experiences that prompt viewers to rethink the uses of everyday materials.  

WHEN: Now through September 18, 2010

WHERE: San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design, 550 Sutter St., SF, Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm. Admission $5.

Click here to see more images of the exhibit.

Teatro ZinZanni: Love, Chaos, And Couture

How do you put a fresh spin on a San Francisco favorite? Add a splash of Parisian glamour and mix in some haute couture. Teatro ZinZanni, the long-running production now in its tenth year, livens up the show with a fashionable twist guaranteed to appeal to fashionistas and style novices alike.

“Love, Chaos & Couture: All Dressed up With Someplace To Go” is a limited engagement, high-fashion themed performance running from now until August 15^that the storied ZinZanni cabaret tent, located at Pier 29 along San Francisco’s Embarcadero. The show stars beloved cast favorites Liliane Montevecchi and Frank Ferrante as fashion-obsessed former lovers reunited in the City by the Bay.

Fashionable Food: Paulette Macarons

Looking for a "just-right" pastry for your sweet tooth?  I suggest you try Paulette Macaron.  Paulette brings the element of haute couture in fashion into desserts with Haute Patisserie.  The whole business is stylish from all aspects:  packaging, website, store design, and of course, the macarons.

Paulette Koumetz collaborated with Christophe Michalak to bring Paulette Macarons.  Christophe is a renowned French pastry chef further recognized by the fact he was a 2005 winner of the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie (the World Pastry Cup).

Each macaron is designed inside and out.  Not only are they soft and fluffy, and made with just the right amount of sweetness and texture, but Paulette's has even gone as far as being a certified Kosher dairy product.

Stylin': Bay Area Rock Fashion 1963-73 at the Museum of Performance & Design

 
  
Designer Jeanne Rose in the middle with models sporting Jeanne's original 1960s designs.

Photo byTony Bravo

For more photos click here

It was a rockin’ time last Thursday evening for the attendees of the multimedia panel, Stylin’: Bay Area Rock Fashion 1963-73 at San Francisco’s Museum of Performance & Design. Designer Jeanne Rose, boutique owner Helene Robertson, and musicians Peter Kaukonen and George Hunter each spoke about their personal experiences with 60s fashions influenced by Rock and Roll music and the youth culture in San Francisco.

The multimedia panel was a special event in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition, Somethin’s Happening Here: Bay Area Rock ‘n’ Roll 1963-1973. Attendees, outfitted in their finest retro duds, perused the exhibit which includes stage costumes worn by Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Sly Stone and Peter Albin as well as photos, posters, and other artifacts from the era. Moderated by exhibition co-curator Melissa Leventon, the lively discussion provided a glimpse into the importance of clothing in the San Francisco rock music scene.

San Francisco Hosts Book Launch Party for Derek Blasberg's Classy

It is good to know I’m not a tramp, as confirmed by Derek Blasberg, New York City’s favorite guy-about-town and author of Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady. At his recent San Francisco book launch party co-hosted by model Maggie Rizer and Gilt Groupe, Mr. Blasberg briefly addressed the crowd saying there was not a tramp to be found among us, “… so give my book to your trampy friends.”

Tramp or not, there’s something to learn from Mr. Blasberg’s primer on how to be a lady. A fashion reporter and NYC society party-hopper, Mr. Blasberg has observed many a faux pas, including the certain trend among young women to go bare under their skirts. (Oh dear, I have nightmares about that.) With his mid-western sensibilities and good manners he has taken on the tramps, determined to help them change their ways. In his book marketed to young adults, Mr. Blasberg offers advice on how to be a lady in every possible situation from traveling to hosting a party to falling in love. He also offers tips in how to dress like a lady; BTW, undergarments are a must.

Pictured right Maggie Rizer, Derek Blasberg, and Gilt Groupe's Alexis Maybank. Photo by: Drew Altizer 

Actress and Animal Rights Activist Tippi Hedren Visits San Francisco

An excited crowd recently gathered at the Barry Barsamian Hollywood Legends Exhibit in the Metreon waiting for the arrival of movie star Tippi Hedren. Known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic films The Birds and Marnie, Ms. Hedren has more recently turned her attentions to animal rights legislation and her wild cat sanctuary, Shambala.

Click here for slide show

Local notables such as Wilkes Bashford, Natalie Wood’s older sister, Olga and Kathy Garver (co-star in the 60s television show Family Affair) were among the crowd of 100 who toured the exhibit while enjoying champagne. Ms. Hedren arrived donning a long black gown with a short Edith Head jacket accessorized with a birds-in-flight brooch made of seed pearls set in gold. Petite and still a stunner, Ms. Hedren addressed the crowd sharing stories of how she was cast in The Birds and her passion for wild animals.

(Pictured above: Tippi Hedren with Barry Barasamian. Photo by Carole Chang)

Cartier and America: Sparkle and Shine

The 4Cs of diamonds were drilled in my head during school: Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat. The 5th C when it comes to diamonds on my list is Cartier. Now showing through May 9th at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco is Cartier and America. If you want a little extra twinkle in your eye, put this show on your must-see list. I wandered in amazement through the museum taking in every gorgeous gem accompanied by the audio tour. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to see the entire exhibit since the collection is vast and extremely diverse.

On display are sketches from the design process showing different jeweled options for clients and the multiple edits required to create the perfect piece. During a video presentation showing the making of a necklace, a young patron exclaimed "It takes all that work for just one piece of that necklace? That must be expensive!"