SFBayStyle

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.

Raphael House Gala Roars with the Twenties

Saturday night, the Bimbo's 365 Club came to life in North Beach, transporting guests back in time with its gorgeous nightclub atmosphere, a big band, lounge singers and loads of once prohibited bubbly. Celebrating 39 years as what many call the best shelter for families in San Francisco, the gala aimed to continue successes of previous years, raising nearly 20% of the funds for Raphael House's annual budget.

Entering the main hall, guests were greeted with a glistening presentation by the Richard Olson Orchestra - including a horns section, three singers and a grand piano. With a dress code of "flapper and dapper," men sported fedoras with their tuxes, and ladies came in roaring twenties fringed frocks, complete with pearls, headbands, furs and feathers. The silent auction included a vast array of packages from eco friendly children's items to expensive vacations.

Special Jimmy Choo Launch for a Cause

Thursday evening, our friends at Vivanista and Saks Fifth Avenue are hosting a fabulous shopping event with Wine, Women and Shoes. Featuring the new Choo 24:7 collection by Jimmy Choo, a percentage of purchases from the evening's purchases will go to Children of Shelters, a San Francisco based community organization.

Let's be clear: this isn't just any other shoe shopping event. Wine, Women and Shoes was founded by Napa Valley vintner, Elaine Honig with the express purpose of showcasing unique designer collections paired with exquisite wines. Their special events have collectively raised over $4 Million in funds for women's and children's charities.

It's okay to browse too! Just RSVP to events(at)vivanista.com.

84 Years of Fashion for Charity

Friday, the Junior League of San Francisco staged two elaborate back-to-back fashion shows as an effort to raise funds for local programs including Compass Community Services, the International Rescue Committee, the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. These fashion shows have raised millions of dollars over their 84 years, and this year's did not disappoint.

As always, the children stole the show, but the jovial atmosphere between friends lit the room. It was my first time attending the evening dinner gala show; in previous years I always attended the afternoon luncheon. I now see why it's one of the big San Francisco events people talk about all year long. The festive decor brought to life a world of life sized cards and chess pieces, reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland."

Revelers began the evening in the Penthouse of the Fairmont Hotel (see image of Courtney Bocci, fashion show chair, right) and ended it there, participating in the silent auction before the live auction and dinner fashion show in the ballroom. Double Funk Crunch played on as guests danced following the show.

The League's largest annual fundraiser, some of the city's top volunteers work tirelessly for years to make these events happen. As a result, the organization gives back to those who put in their time and money to providing the community with both memorable philanthropic events and funds for important causes. The past show chairs (shown below) continue to be recognized over the years and there's a camaraderie built between the women who work on these committees.

Partnering with Macy's now for 22 years, the department store has always been an active participant in the show and guests were able to purchase what they saw on the runway. Other major sponsors included Exquisite Cultural and Wildlife Adventures, Epi Center MedSpa, KPMG and SHOPHAUS, but the list of major donor organizations and individuals was a mile long, published in a magazine to showcase how gigantic the project of producing this event is each year.

Next year marks the Junior League of San Francisco's 100 year anniversary, so the expectations will be set high for the show to make another mark on our community.

See also: more of my favorite images from the night. (All photos by Drew Altizer Photography.)

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Sarah Granger is the Founder of SFBayStyle. She is also on the Board of the Junior League of Palo Alto/Mid-Peninsula.

Favorite Photos - JLSF Fashion Show 2010

Some events, it's not enough to just write an article and post a pair of photos. There are just too many good ones to share. So here - after a few hours of pouring through a few hundred images from Drew Altizer Photography - are my favorites from Friday's Junior League of San Francisco Fashion Show:

(Note: For some images, we do not yet have all of the names, but we're working on adding them.)

Model getting ready pre-show.

Child model in make-up.

Junior League Fashion Show This Friday: Through the Looking Glass

For 84 years, the Junior League of San Francisco has produced a fashion show run by volunteers and benefiting community organizations. Partnering with the Fairmont Hotel and Macy's, this Friday will be the 84th annual show. I've been lucky enough to attend several of their shows over the past decade and it has become one of my favorite annual events.

Models are members of the Junior League and their families, and the clothes showcased are for women, men and children. (Spoiler alert: the adorable kids always steal the show!) It's a fun way to support great causes including Compass Community Services, the International Rescue Committee, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities.

This year there are two shows - one champagne luncheon with a reception beginning at 10:30am on Friday. Then the black tie dinner gala begins at 6pm. Both are part of the San Francisco social calendar every year and are not to be missed. Tickets are still on sale - get yours before they sell out!

Full Circle: Patemm Pads and a Mother of Invention

Great ideas often are born from chaos, or in Grace Welch's case - from a single chaotic diaper change.  In the space of time it took her to locate her supplies and wrangle a squirrelly baby, her professional background, the influence of her entrepreneurial parents and her desire to go back to work on her own terms came together and the world was gifted with the first circular changing pad.  And what a gift it is.

Piggy Paint - A Treat For Your Little Diva

Since the beginning of sandals season, my "girly" daughter has been asking for her first pedicure.  But because of the harsh solvents and chemicals found in nail polish, I've felt reluctant to indulge her.  As her birthday rolled around, I was delighted to come across Piggy Paint, a line of nail polishes for kids made of non-toxic ingredients that are "as pure as mud."

Piggy Paint is an odorless, water-based formulation that dries into a natural resin film.  It comes in 14 colors from light pink to sparkly fuschia, classic red, as well as more unusual (and boy-friendly) shades of green, orange, yellow, blue, silver and black.  The birthday girl's favorite was Forever Fancy, a sparkly bright pink.  Girls Rule! was more purple-y and a hit with some of her pals.

Back to School with PlanetBox

Is it too early to be thinking about school? My little munchkin will be off to kindergarten this fall, and she asks about it every other day. In her excitement to eat lunch at school, she's already tested out her PlanetBox - a surprisingly fun and "stylish" stainless-steel lunch tray.

PlanetBox couldn't have landed at a better time, as I've been trying to purge plastic from our kitchen due to concerns about BPA and other potentially harmful chemical effects. In addition to being a safe and eco-friendly part of a no-waste lunch, the 'Box has some other nice things going for it.

First, the inside reminds me of a TV dinner tray. (I wonder, do TV dinners even exist anymore?) Since my kids tend to get all bent out of shape when one kind of food touches another food, they like having five separate compartments - and only one latch to open. Extra sidecar containers are great for snacks and can also handle messier foods, such as yogurt, melon chunks, and applesauce.

Berkeley Playhouse's "Peter Pan: The Musical" Takes Flight at the Ashby Stage

I love the theatre. To watch others capture a character and bring such depth and emotion to the room that one becomes completely immersed in another world is a gift unlike any other. As such, I feel the absence of the theatre experience in my life acutely, and so when I saw that the Berkeley Playhouse was presenting Peter Pan: The Musical, I jumped at the chance. At last, here was a production I could take the kids to and perhaps feel a little magic myself. I was not left disappointed. 

From the small yet creatively functional stage to the enthusiastic and well-cast actors, the entire show is a delight. Compensating for a tight space, the atmosphere transitions from nursery to Neverland with ease, and then back again- though you wish it to stay Neverland forever.

Fabulous Fashion Fete on Sunday

The Four Seasons Silicon Valley (in East Palo Alto) is quickly becoming a hot spot for events in the Bay Area. Easy to access off 101 at University Avenue, the Quattro restaurant and rooftop pool bar have become popular destinations, so it should come as no surprise that philanthropic events are moving into the Four Seasons now as well.  This weekend, Gala for Giving is hosting a Fabulous Fashion Fete, featuring clothing, jewelry, accessories and home products.

The first 200 guests to attend receive swag bags. $15 is all it takes to get into this great event, and a portion of the proceeds go to BUILD. Show up at 2050 University Ave. at the Four Seasons (note: park anywhere on Sunday) and the event begins at 2:00pm, lasting until 6:00pm.

Juicy Couture ZooFest for Kids

 

2009 is a big year for the San Francisco Zoo: It's their 80th birthday and the stork has made two deliveries - baby giraffe Niklas and baby gorilla Hasani. To celebrate and to kick-off the upcoming ZooFest for Kids annual fundraiser on June 5th, animal-lovin' fashionistas showed up at Juicy Couture last Tuesday evening in downtown San Francisco.

Spike and Annie

It was no foolin' on April 1st for San Francisco designer Lisa Alexander as she previewed fall fashions for her children's clothing line, Spike and Annie. Held at the Pacific Heights home of Lindsay Bolton, the preview event highlighted pieces such as a corduroy mini-shift dress with bow detail and a linen shirt with embroidery. 

Spike and Annie launched in summer 2008 and quickly became a big hit with celebrity parents like Sarah Jessica Parker and Halle Berry. Using all natural eco-friendly fabrics, Lisa Alexander is dedicated to ethically conscious methods to create her line.

The April 1st event was a who's who of local notables, including Dede Wilsley and Joy Bianchi. A percentage of the evening's sales went to Pets Unlimited.

(Pictured above: Claudia Ross, Lisa Alexander, Joy Bianchi. Photo credit: Drew Altizer)

Peek Aren't You Curious Sale

Now that my order has been securely placed, I feel that it is safe to let you know about the treasures that I just discovered on Peek Aren't You Curious.

The company is the brainchild of some local parents, that also happen to be veterans of The Gap and Lucky. Amy and Scott Williams, Saratoga residents, and Tina Canales, a Berkeley resident have created one of my favorite shopping experiences. I love the mix of classic and eclectic designs. Peek is one of the few clothing lines that my nine-year-old daughter and I can agree upon. (It is the only way I can get her to still wear liberty print skirts and dresses.) The line is designed for boys and girls up to size 10 and one of the few lines that caters to the pre-tween set as well.

Dressing up your little man

Everyone seems to say that shopping for boys isn't nearly as fun as shopping for girls. That may be true, but perhaps that makes finding a nice outfit even more exciting. This week I'm shopping ahead for recitals, weddings, and other special occasions coming up throughout the new year - and hoping to get some good deals while avoiding those stressful, last-minute searches down the road.

Holiday Traditions

One of my favorite holiday activities is to volunteer for The San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy's. At least one Sunday during the season you will find me in front of Macy's Union Square informing passersby about the adorable cats and dogs playing and lounging in their festive window scenes.

As an official volunteer, I stand in front of Macy's, usually sporting a red SPCA jacket or apron, and talk to people about the cats and dogs in the windows available for adoption. Holding a SPCA donation box, I announce to onlookers the names and ages of the available pets as well as the number of animals that have been adopted from the windows this holiday season. People (especially kids) share with me stories about their own pets while generously stuffing the donation box. Volunteers inside the store check on the animals periodically, but I also keep an eye on the little ones to make sure all is well. I report anything amiss to the SPCA staff inside the store.

At the end of my two hour shift, I feel like I have done a little something good for homeless pets. Volunteers are needed now through January 1st. Make it a family affair! Sign up online at www.sfspca.org.

Holiday Sample Sale in The City

Don't miss your chance to get your hands on some Bay Area designer's kid's designs. You can shop locally and save money - a perfect combo in this economy. Your child can be a "recessionista fashionista." Designs that are normally found in high end boutiques, will be available this Sunday at the Bunny and Bee studio in San Francisco.

You do need to RSVP to get on the guest list -  [email protected] Happy Shopping!

 

The Fabulous Holiday Event

Bunny and Bee Studio, 350 25th St., Suite 1, SF

Sunday Nov. 23rd, 12-4

Kid's Sample Sale in Palo Alto

I often miss out on the many great sample sales, as they tend to be in San Francisco. However, a bit of S.F. style will be coming to Palo Alto this Thursday.  San Francisco based designers Glug, and Dagmar Daley will be joining Peninsula childrens designer Wati for a sample sale. Laurie of Lobrid papers will also be there showcasing her vintage inspired personalized stationary. This sale gives suburbanites like myself a chance to dress their kids like hip urban youngsters. I do not have to trek to the boutiques in the city, I can find parking and get some great deals as well. A percentage of sales will benefit Second Harvest of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Here are the details you have been waiting for :
Sample Sale, Thursday Nov. 13th, from 9-3
100 Island Drive (home of Kelli Glazier) Palo Alto

I plan to get there early, as supplies may be limited. I guess I can not ask you all not to purchase the items I may want in my kids' sizes !

Tea Collection Sample Sale

San Francisco based Tea Collection will be holding their yearly sample sale next week.  Tea's unique designs have a huge following.  I suggest that you get to the sale early, drink your coffee and pack a power bar.  You will be competing with serious Tea fans to get your hands on their designs at crazy low prices.  The sale takes place at their offices, on 1 Arkansas St, Studio B in San Francisco. Here are the details :
Friday November 14th, 1-6
Saturday November 15th, 9-12, and then 1-3 for CLEARANCE sale
Monday November 17t, 10-5, with ten percent being donated to your school.
*There is a ten dollar entrance fee, a donation to one of the many charities Tea supports, The Global Fund For Children.  In fact, if you shop online between Nov. 10- 12, fifteen percent of sales will be donated to the Global Fund For Children.  Sign up for updates on the Tea Collection website.

Luella For Tonic

  I am helping to provide 2, 500 school children in Haiti with shoes to wear to school. You can too, or perhaps providing children with dental care in Columbia, or protecting 625 acres of endangered coral reef is your thing. If you are a sports fan, you may want to send 2, 500 soccer balls to Kenya. Thanks to Palo Alto based, Tonic Generation you can be a consumer and be a catalyst for change. As a shopper, I always welcome the chance to feel good about spending money!  At this time, the only products available on the site are T-shirts designed by Luella Bartley. These one of a kind designs are t's that you can wear out, not just to the gym. The designs are modern, and the material is a bamboo and cotton mix, and very soft to the touch. I applaud Tonic for their efforts in giving consumers a better way to consume.