SFBayStyle

Help Send SFBayStyle's Sarah Granger to Blog the Olympics!

Getting tickets and access to the Olympic games is no easy feat, but SFBayStyle cofounder and editor, Sarah Granger, has an excellent chance at winning a trip to blog from the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February!

Sarah is one of five semi-finalists in a contest sponsored by Microsoft Office that will also send her to the Computers & Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January if she wins. She submitted her BlogHer blog about figure skating to the MS Office contest and so far, so good.

Please join the rest of the team at SFBayStyle in voting for Sarah - http://bit.ly/VoteSarah

Voters can come back once a day every day through November 29th. Every vote counts!

Union Square Ice Rink Opens Wednesday with Olympic Skaters

Wednesday, the Union Square ice rink opens again to entertain skaters throughout the season. This year is special since it's the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, so the U.S. Figure Skating Association, in conjunction with local skating clubs like the Skating Club of San Francisco, is putting together a series of events to highlight the opening this Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m.

There will be a show at noon and another exhibition at 5 p.m. Guests can skate at other times of day, and the daytime event has a requested donation of $20.

Then at 6 p.m., there will be a special reception featuring Olympic Gold Medalist (and Dancing with the Stars champion) Kristi Yamaguchi and U.S. national champion Rudy Galindo across the street at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Tickets for that are $100 and the money goes to the U.S. Olympic skaters.

To RSVP or ask questions, contact Susan Bonn (susanbonn(at)gmail(dot)com) or Stacey Marsh (smarsh(at)usfigureskating(dot)org).

Lily Samii Fashion Show for Arthritis Auxiliary

Next month, the Westin St. Francis will be showered with gorgeous designs by Lily Samii, possibly the most glamorous fashion designer in the Bay Area, in a show benefiting the Northern California Chapter and planned by the Bay Area Auxiliary. On Thursday, October 15, Look models will take the runway for the fashion show luncheon, following a reception and silent auction.

This should be one of the best fashion shows of the year and it will raise money to help fund programs and research supported by the Arthritis Foundation. To purchase tickets, call 415-356-5481.

SF Symphony Opening Night Gala Sizzled with Style

Wednesday night's San Francisco Symphony Opening Gala introduced the new arts season with thoughtful music, fine delectables, and throngs of fetching gowns. As the sun set on the warm Bay Area, the event kept buzzing. Turning up the heat, the concert featured one of People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive," Lang Lang, the 27 year-old piano virtuoso and a trio of dizzying waltzes conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

The evening began with cocktails and parallel dinner events organized by the San Francisco Symphony League and Symphonix, the young professional league. McCall's catered, and everything looked grand, beginning in the tent pavilion, City Hall, and of course Davies Symphony Hall where patrons flocked for the main event.

CRAVE Guide Release Party September 10th

The Urban Girl's Manifesto for the San Francisco Bay Area, aka the CRAVE Guide, has been anticipated for months. As of this Thursday, Sept. 10, it will be released at a party 1 block from the ballpark, featuring SFBayStyle.

The new book includes over 100 women-owned businesses in the Bay Area - boutiques, spas, bakeries, and service professionals - everything the urban girl needs. And the best part? You're all invited!

Hot off the press and sponsored by Battered Bakery, TeaCake Bake Shop, I dream of Cake, Cook! SF, ChefK2, Square Meals and Carolyn Davis Catering, the event promises to be full of sugary sweetness. So please RSVP and come to BoConcept at 101 Townsend St. from 6-8pm on Thursday.

Symphonix Gala Preview Event - Educational and Entertaining

It's hard to believe another exciting season of galas and events is just around the corner. The challenge of introducing each new generation to classical music can be daunting, but as one of the premiere arts organizations in the country, the San Francisco Symphony has been working tirelessly to make this happen. Through the symphony's Volunteer Council, they have several Leagues that support the efforts of the symphony organization by helping with concerts, planning events, providing education and raising awareness. Symphonix, the "young professional" (ages 21-45) League plans their own event series leading up to the Opening Night Gala each year. The first of these events happened last week in San Francisco.

Oscar de la Renta Resort Fashion Show in Lake Tahoe This Saturday

Every year, supporters and friends of The League to Save Lake Tahoe flock to a gorgeous estate near the lake to watch one of the finest benefit fashion shows in the country. This year, as in the most recent years,Oscar de la Renta will be the featured designer, showcasing his 2010 Resort collection, with Saks Fifth Avenue producing the show. This will be the 40th anniversary event, which also includes a live auction and raffle of items from the Ritz Carlton, Bulgari, Boucheron, and of course Oscar de la Renta and Saks.

Composer Philanthropist Gordon Getty Honored by Lavish Gala Performance

"The older I get, the less I know, but I am certain that what we do matters." - from Master Class, music by Jake Heggie, lyrics by Terrence McNally

Gordon Getty is one of those names one automatically associates with San Francisco and the arts, but not everyone knows that he was a student of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Bay Area equivalent to Julliard.  Years later, Getty donated funds to help build the new Recital Hall, named after Getty's principal teacher there, Sol Joseph.  Among his many talents, Getty is also a composer, so it's fitting that for their gala this year, the Conservatory honored Gordon Getty with a performance for him including pieces written by him, to thank him for his passion and generosity over the years.

Jimmy Choo Coming to H&M San Francisco This Fall

 

In a brilliant move by H&M, they have partnered with Jimmy Choo and founder, Tamara Mellon (pictured left) to provide an inspired and affordable new line of shoes and accessories for women and men, to arrive in H&M U.S. stores on November 14th - including, of course, San Francisco.

“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M, to be designing a collection that will appeal to fashion-savvy, street-smart women and to be including some great pieces for men, too,” says Mellon.

A match made in fashion heaven, we look forward to the new arrivals for fall.

Fall & Winter 2009-2010 Fashion Trends List

September is here, so we've updated our annual fall/winter trends list with the latest news and information.

This fall brought an interesting blend of themes and inspiration to the runway - think: Marlene Dietrich meets the Borg and you're half way there. Add in a little winter safari, obtuse headgear and a lot of black, and that's just the beginning.  Booties are back, with an edge and yes, leggings are still here, but looking beyond the fright of another season of returned '80's fashions, there are still many beautiful designs to be found.

Please read on...

Spring - Summer 2009 Trends List

Each season, we come out with our list of styles and trends.  Spring/summer '09 is no exception.  Key trends include mixed nudes, belts of all kinds, and pastels blended with black and white.

Must Buy Items for the season are a tailored white shirt, thick, low hanging neutral belt, and a classic black crocodile clutch.

Here's the list...

Biting into the Crunchies: Innovative Awards and a Great Party

Civic Center Plaza, oft bustling with symphony and opera patrons dressed to the nines hosted a different kind of crowd last night at the Crunchies, TechCrunch awards for best new technology companies for 2008. The ceremony, located in Herbst Theater, brought satisfaction to the Silicon

 Valley faithful,many of whom voted online for the award recipients. Followed by a party at City Hall sponsored by MySpace, the night showcased some of the best and the brightest people and companies around.

Co-sponsored by VentureBeat, GigaOm and Silicon Alley Insider, the award ceremony was the anti-Oscars, featuring mostly men in denim and lots of hoots from the crowd. Winners included Google Reader (accepted by Marissa Mayer, pictured right), Facebook, Twitter and more.  Across the street, the party raged following the awards, featuring DJ ZTrip, wine by Cannonball and a host of geek games. With 900 people in attendance, the event proved to be a combination networking scene and who's who of social media.

Early Fall Fashion Must-Haves

Fall weather is so weird in the Bay Area - one week it will be 50 degrees and the next, 80. So as fall fashions captivate us, we have to ease into it while keeping summer wardrobes one step away - at least until November. Here are some of the top fall looks for 2008 that will work during the transition:

• Boxy jacket - leather biker jackets and boucle jackets work well for early fall, especially in the city
• Purple blouse or dress - add jeans or tights underneath for a warmer ensemble, paired with open-toe platform pumps
• Big necklace - made of chunky beads or large pendants
• Metallic clutch bag - for evening, a great staple that will work in summer or fall clothes
• Ballet flats - comfy and easy for any weather, these are still popular
• Black tuxedo jacket - worn with anything from jeans to dresses and lighter than leather
• Thready knit sweater - for cooler days, wear one of these over leggings, jeans or shorts
• Skinny belt - worn over soft jackets or cardigans
• Gray pants - comfortable and versatile
• Oversized bag - still in vogue, the bag do jour can go anywhere filled with nearly anything

On the face, defined eyes and red lipstick pervaded the runways for the fall collections. But remember, it's a comfortable collection and have fun. For more ideas, see our comprehensive fall fashion trends list.

Inspirational Tuscan Gem in Hillsborough

Monique Lhuillier is known for her fabulous wedding gowns, interlaced and intricate. What is less commonly known is that her family - one of the wealthiest in the Philippines - had a home here in the Bay Area, in Hillsborough, where they would gather together. Whether the home had any inspirational influence on her as a designer we don't know, but she did spend time there. Since then, the Tuscan villa overlooking a wooded canyon peeking out to the Bay has gone through two owners, the second set of which renovated it entirely and it's breathtaking to see.

When Stephanie and Ray Hood first stumbled on this 6770 square foot Hillsborough home, it contained a wide range of styles, most notably Georgian and Meditteranean. Stephanie, had already managed renovations of five previous homes, so after they bought this one, she began working on her sixth. "Every surface" was redone, including floors, walls, lighting, even bannisters. The project took three months including flying in workers from Texas who the Hoods knew and trusted from their previous homes. The floors have been hand scraped, and antiques were specially purchased to fit into the rooms among other key pieces brought from their previous homes.

Get in on the DriverSide

The invitation read: "Remember when websites were launched with great parties? So do we." It enticed me, as was certainly the plan, and so I made it to my first dotcom launch event in a while for DriverSide, the latest venture of Trevor Traina, Adam Jackson and Jad Dunning. Except something was different about this party - we're all older, and it had class. Not to knock any of the other not-to-be-named, mostly defunct companies who hosted great parties nearly a decade ago, but drinking Red Bull at 1015 Folsom while watching product demos is a little different than lounging in Bentleys eating caviar.

DriverSide's mission is to protect car owners - to think about caring for our cars from the driver's perspective or side. The product, launched last month, provides a virtual garage for every car owned by the driver who signs up for an account, and it creates and saves pertinent details about the vehicles such as the recommended service schedule and current estimated resale value. They also list cars for sale and advise on the annual cost to register, insure and operate the vehicles by state. When asked how DriverSide makes money, Traina replied that it's through advertising and e-commerce. "We intentionally refrain from charging visitors for things that other websites do. For instance we let you list a used car for free and give advice for free."

Note to Julie Chaiken: Welcome Home

According to a WWD.com article, the time has finally come for Chaiken to relocate to San Francisco where designer, Julie Chaiken, lives. One of the biggest names in fashion from the area, Chaiken is consistently listed along with ESPRIT, Peter Som and others who are either from here, started here, or live here. But due to the proximity of textile and manufacturing facilities, New York has historically been the only place to do serious fashion design in the U.S.. Tired of the commute and still with her heart in San Francisco, Chaiken will be moving some of her operations to Asia where facilities are also available - at a lower cost - to produce her clothes, while moving the base of the company to San Francisco.

Chaiken won't be lonely working in San Francisco - she will be at home amongst the growing community of eco-friendly and couture designers like Lily Achatz and Colleen Quen. Consistently recognized as a host for local fashion events, Chaiken has a real opportunity to help San Francisco become a West Coast hub of fashion as more designers choose to live and work here. For a preview of Chaiken's work and to support her efforts, Chaiken clothes are sold at Macy's in Union Square, as well as Bloomingdales, Saks and Nordstrom. She's reportedly moving her office here next month. Let's give her a warm welcome.

Photo: Julie Chaiken, center in black, applauded by models wearing her designs, during the Junior League of San Francisco annual fashion show luncheon in April.

TechCrunched for Time

Friday evening's annual TechCrunch and August Capital Meet-Up challenged the laws of physics as hundreds of people flocked together onto the deck at the offices of August Capital in Menlo Park to view demos of young companies, meet, mix, drink, nibble and mingle. Standing in long lines to gain entrance, partygoers waited in the heat, generally upbeat, greeted by members of TechCrunch and August Capital as they made their way down the steps barely a half hour after I received my first tweet from a friend making his way to the party.

David Hornik, Partner at August Capital and husband of SFBayStyle cofounder, Pamela Hornik, greeted my husband and I at the door. Once inside, we found people from Sequoia Capital, Facebook, techbeat, Wired, SugarCRM and of course Google. As a veteran of three tech start-ups and with my husband now on his third, we felt right at home. Dire Straits and a house mix played in the background while guests, clad mostly in denim, sampled wine and software - only in Silicon Valley could you ever find a party like this.

SFBayStyle Writers Party With Mom Bloggers at Saks

Friday, SFBayStyle writers got together with the Silicon Valley Moms Blog Group writers from all over the country in town visiting for the BlogHer conference and we had a make-up and head shots cocktail party at Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square. About eighty of us congregated on the fifth floor at Saks for wine, hors d'oeurves, and shopping. Most successful department: shoes.

As writers, we're always in need of updated, high quality head shots to attach to our work, so thanks to Beth Blecherman (shown top left with me), SFBayStyle cofounder and Silicon Valley Moms Blog Group cofounder and partner, who arranged the photographers, we were able to get that done. Saks kindly offered their space and make-up artists from Bobbi Brown, Lancome, Nars, Giorgio Armani and a few others as well as Alexander Fekkai hair products. Dawn Dzedzy did a great job organizing from that end. All of the writers seemed to have a good time drinking, talking, primping and posing.

What to Wear for Summer in San Francisco

By now, anyone who has traveled to San Francisco in the summer months has heard the quote by Mark Twain along the lines of how it can be colder than winter in some places. That's true some of the time, but there are also days that are fabulously beautiful and perfect where the view of the Bay is so clear, the air warm and inviting, where tourists need to buy t-shirts instead of the sweatshirts that usually make a bundle at Fisherman's Wharf. And this week, San Francisco is welcoming some fabulous women for the BlogHer conference taking place at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square, so in honor of and as tips for these gals, SFBayStyle has developed a "What to Wear" list for our visitors...

Number 1: layers. If nothing else remains from this list, remember layers. Perhaps it should be repeated one more time. LAYERS. Layers are the key to Northern California living. One jacket or sweater is fine, but two or three are better. Pamela recommends cashmere sweaters.

Number 2: great shoes. Stylish is fun, but at the end of the day if you're trudging at a 60 degree angle up a hill chasing an overflowing Cable Car, you want a pair that's comfortable and functional. I've done it in pumps and it nearly killed me. Trendy open-toe spikes or whatever floats your boat is great for wining, dining, and partying, but for walking and conference going, go for whatever shoes you know won't let you down.

Nordstrom Designer Preview Pictorial

Because many of the fashion shows in the Bay Area provide substantial amounts of eye candy, occasionally SFBayStyle will split it up. Here's a closer look at some of the great style at the Nordstrom Designer Preview benefit for Raphael House from Wednesday, beginning above with the final view of the final designer, Versace. See yesterday's article for more event details and additional images.

All photographs are by Drew Altizer Photography, unless otherwise specified.