SFBayStyle

Gatsby Summer Afternoon

"Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!" Jay Gatsby, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Repeating the past is what it's all about for the enthusiastic attendees of the Gatsby Summer Afternoon, coming up on Sunday, September 12th at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate in the Oakland Hills. This annual event is sponsored by the Art Deco Society of California and is in its 26th year.

 

Click here to see a slide show of past Gatsby afternoons

Several hundred people each year gather on the lovely front lawns of Dunsmuir Hellman House and recreate the 1920s by dressing the part and setting up picnic sites. Adding to the ambiance are classic cars and live jazz music. Some people take months to plan elaborate table decorations including china and crystal champagne flutes while others go simple with a blanket and tea sandwiches. Everyone is encouraged to use vintage furnishings, keeping the day as authentic as possible. For those new to the concept, The Art Deco Society provides a detailed guide on their website offering tips from food to fashion.

Juice Beauty with Jennifer Siebel Newsom

There's no denying that San Francisco's First Lady, Jennifer Siebel Newsom has beautiful and seemingly flawless skin. Would you like to know her secret? Ms. Siebel Newsom is happy to share and did so on July 14th at Hotel Vitale where guests gathered to view her premiere commercial spot for Juice Beauty, an organic skincare line.

Ms. Siebel Newsom has long been an advocate for green causes and after becoming a mother last year, she was alerted to the importance of using pure products on her daughter and herself. "I'm so excited to have found Juice Beauty," says Ms. Siebel Newsom, "and it is up to all of us to choose products that are great for us, our families and the environment."

(Photo: Jennifer Siebel Newsom & Karen Behnke. Drew Altizer.)

Fashion on the Square

It's Stylish ... It's Hot ... It's Local

It's Fashion on the Square, the biggest runway show on the West Coast, coming up this Saturday, August 14, noon-5pm at the Westfield Center Dome, 865 Market Street, San Francisco. Now celebrating seven years, Fashion on the Square features designers of adult and children's clothing from around the Bay Area. Show Producer Y'Anad Burrell is pleased to be back for another year, "We are very passionate about keeping fashion alive in San Francisco," says Y'Anad, "and felt committed to making sure we contributed to that effort."

Don't miss this opportunity to view the unique fashions of ten designers and see in the flesh show hosts Bre from America's Next Top Model and Project Runway's Jay Nicolas Sario. It's all happening at Fashion on the Square.

Click here for tickets.

Shopping at the American Craft Council Show in San Francisco

This year’s American Craft Council show, August 13-15, marks the group’s 35th year showing in the Bay Area and to celebrate, they’re shaking things up. In addition to showcasing 250 of the best artisans in the country, the ACC is offering AltCraft – 14 local and visiting artists who create one-of-a-kind objects often made from recycled materials and including jewelry, clothing, hats, shoes, lamps, and greeting cards. Among the chosen is Oakland artist Susan Eastman.

Susan is right on trend with her colorful silk scarves. In the SF Bay Area, scarves are a year round accessory and we ladies can never have too many. Susan hand sews and dyes her richly-colored scarves and she sometimes incorporates pieces of vintage fabric. She finds inspiration everywhere. “I am constantly intrigued by the possibilities of color, texture and form,” says Susan. “I’m usually thrilled by peeling paint or old walls or billboards, rust, grease, graffiti – it all interests me.”

New Designer Alert -- Lauren Nevada

It’s rare that a clothing line that’s not nationally known that can translate well to several different cities.

Well, maybe we should say that those clothing lines might not be nationally known now, but soon could be.

Lauren Nevada, a line from Brooklyn-based designer Lauren Nevada Batchelder, is currently being sold in Barneys in several different cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and our very own San Francisco. How is Batchelder able to design a line that sells in cities that are very different from each other, especially when it comes to fashion?

Vintage Clothing & Style Festival

Readers, save the date: The Vintage Clothing & Style Festival is coming up Saturday evening, August 14 and Sunday, August 15 at the Elks Lodge in Alameda. Last year’s premiere event was a big success and this year promises even more vintage fun.

What’s new this time are themes. Saturday evening has two – lingerie and Gatsby. Co-producer Kimberly Manning Aker has organized vignettes with models donning lovely vintage lingerie. “Bring your husbands,” suggests Kimberly. In anticipation of the upcoming Art Deco Society's Gatsby Summer Afternoon, the ADSC will give a presentation, Getting Ready for Gatsby, offering tips on the best places to shop for appropriate gear, how to put together outfits, and how to arrange a picnic site. This in-depth presentation is guaranteed to inform and inspire.

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.