SFBayStyle

Stay in Season with SeeZenn.com

 
This past Saturday local fashion company SeeZenn.com celebrated the opening of their first pop-up shop in the Westfield Mall on Market Street in downtown San Francisco. Primarily an on-line women's clothing outlet, SeeZenn is popping up for real to help spread the word on their new and unique lines of clothing.

SeeZenn offers itself to a select few international designers as a venue for the US market. Currently they house the Asian line LILY and their in-house line, Sorrce. Both lines are particularly appropriate for San Francisco style with an array of 

• short jackets
• cardis
• sweater tunics
• vintage-inspired floral blouses
• loose dresses 
• cotton-stretch tees with vintage graphics
• tweed jumpers
• and trench coats.

Fabrics are lightweight, mostly polyester blends for easy care.

Budding Entrepreneur from the Bay Area: Audrey Lo

Monta Vista High has had its headlines in recent months with the news of young successful entrepreneurs.  I had the opportunity to speak to one of it's "offspring," Audrey Lo.  Audrey's roots are from the bay area and since then has been riding high on her ambitions to form a company called Ballerinies, a company that focuses on hand-crafted ballet shoes for aspiring ballerinas.

This up-and-coming entrepreneur has always had a passion for dance and has realized her dreams of incorporating it into an expanding company.  Here's a transcript of our interview with this talented individual from the Bay Area.  We talk about how the bay has influenced her aspirations and goals for her company as well as what style means to her.

 

Levi's Curve ID: It's About Shape Not Size

 

 

When it comes to jeans:

FACT: Most women wish they could find jeans that fit better than what they own.

FACT: Most women believe that jeans are designed for women with “ideal” figures.

FACT: Very few women believe that jeans are designed to fit their bodies.

 

We know these facts don’t we, ladies? Levi’s knows too, thanks to a global survey they took to get to the nitty-gritty of women and their jeans. The result is now, finally, we have jeans that fit!

Vintage Fashion Expo

With vintage being all the rage this season, the upcoming Vintage Fashion Expo is on everyone's mind. We can't wait to hit the San Francisco Concourse on Saturday September 18th and Sunday September 19th and start checking off our fall must-have shopping list.

• Camel hair coats
• Structured handbags
• Tailored jackets
• Shirtwaist dresses
• Kitten heel shoes
• Animal Prints
• Gloves
• Cuff and bangle bracelets - lots of ‘em!

Vintage Vogue with Barbara Grigg

Flip through this season's fashion magazines and you will see vintage silhouettes reflected in the designs of Lanvin, Dolce & Gabbana, and Dries Van Noten. The July issue of Vogue featured French actress Marion Cotillard looking tres chic in 50s inspired dresses, and Elle magazine has just launched PremiumVintage, a web-video series tracking current vintage-inspired trends. None of this surprises Barbara Grigg, proprietor of the shop Vintage Vogue in Calistoga. As a dealer in authentic vintage clothing and accessories, Barbara works with Los Angeles based designers, stylists, and celebrities helping them achieve the perfect camera-ready look in vintage.  

Barbara's affection for vintage began in high school in the early 1970s. This Livermore teenager stood out among the crowd sporting 40s jackets paired jeans and platform shoes. With a passion for Lilli Ann suits and everything Art Deco, she saved her pennies working as a waitress and built her collection. In the early 80s, Art Deco jeweler Gail Gum hired Barbara as a picker (one who scouts out prize pieces at thrift stores and garage sales). Before long, Gail told Barbara she had an eye and should start her own business. "So I did," says the spirited redhead, "and I've never looked back."

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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!"

The Fashion Event of the Year - Discarded to Divine

One of the most popular Bay Area fashion events of the year, Discarded to Divine is coming up this Thursday, April 29 at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. Guest designer is Project Runway contestant, Jay Nicolas Sario.

A major fundraiser for the San Francisco St. Vincent De Paul, Discarded to Divine invites local designers and fashion design students to reconstruct discarded clothing into one-of-a-kind pieces for fashion and home decor worthy of bringing in big bucks. This year's lineup of designers includes East Bay artist Anandamayi Arnold. Ms. Arnold usually works with paper, creating paper dresses and small paper sculptures available in the Berkeley store, Tail of the Yak. For this year's Discarded to Divine, Ms. Arnold is working with her mother, a professional dressmaker. The mother-daughter team are keeping their design top secret until the day of the event, but word is it will include handmade ribbon pansies.

Discarded to Divine, Thursday April 29, Saint Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, SF. VIP reception at 5pm. General reception and silent auction at 6pm. Live auction and runway show at 8pm. For more information call 415-977-1270.

Fashion and Student Trends Host Spring Fashion Show at UC Berkeley

Berkeley is not known for its sense of high fashion. But that is of no consequence to 100 UC Berkeley students who belong to the campus fashion club, Fashion and Student Trends (FAST). By producing a fashion show each semester, FAST offers interested students hands-on experience in many aspects of the fashion industry from design to photography to promotion. Currently the UC Berkeley fashionistas are busy bees getting ready for the spring 2010 fashion show coming up this Sunday, April 25. 

FAST co-president Helene Truong says the club is completely student run and in their fifth year, they are growing in popularity. UC Berkeley has no fashion design or merchandising program, so club members come from various unrelated disciplines. “FAST gives students an opportunity to explore fashion as a hobby,” says Ms. Truong, “and an entrance to a possible future career.” Ms. Truong, a junior majoring in Media Studies, is in her third year working with FAST. She explains that students interested in fashion design present their ideas to a committee and if chosen to present in the semester-end fashion show, they must commit to designing 5-7 pieces each. The progress of the designers is monitored with various deadlines and meetings. Students wanting to model are given training sessions and throughout the semester FAST sponsors various workshops and guests speakers on all aspects of the industry. Other club members volunteer for photographing the show, mixing the music, promoting, backstage managing and all the other necessary tasks of putting on a fashion show. The club also works with local fashion industry businesses, like Paul Mitchell Beauty School who provide some of their students to style hair for the show.

SF Ballet Presents Exclusive Michael Kors Fashion Show Next Week

A handful of fashion shows in the Bay Area make the list of the best every year. Sitting at the top of the list is the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show. Partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue, they always showcase a fall designer collection fresh from the New York runway. This year, Michael Kors was selected.

Wednesday the 28th, the fashion show, previously a luncheon event, will move to cocktail hour at the Westin St. Francis on Union Square. Beginning at 5:30pm, cocktails, live auction and the fashion show (featuring professional models) will show items in the Michael Kors collection that are available for purchase for fall/winter 2010.

In terms of philanthropic bang for your fashion show buck, this is one of the best deals around. Tickets start at $175 and $100 of that is deductible, going straight to the SF Ballet. Limited seats are still available.

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.

Mireille Schwartz dons her own Creation at the Mid-Winter Gala

This year’s Mid-Winter Gala, hosted by the Fine Arts Museums' Junior Committee was a smash hit, raising a record $400,000 for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and attracting an array of well-clad attendees. Alexis Swanson Traina was spotted in Dolce & Gabbana, Committe Chairman Allison Speer was wearing Oscar de la Renta, and Committee Benefactor Mireille Schwartz was looking tres chic in … Mireille Schwartz.

Mireille has become part of the hot new DIY design trend. Inspired by her good friend Karen Caldwell, who just started her own line, Karen Caldwell Design, Mireille decided this year she would create her own look. “The process began when I was shopping for the Gala and couldn't find the "right" dress,” explains Mireille. “I kept identifying a beautiful gown, but not in my size, or a fabulous fit but the gown wasn't my style.” Mireille soon realized that she didn’t have to sacrifice a thing; she could have exactly what she was looking for by designing her own gown. Why not? She sketched some ideas, keeping in mind jewel-tones, classic lines, and glamour Hollywood draping. Her daughter helped choose the fabric and color and a local seamstress, whom Mireille calls her new Fairy Godmother, whipped it all up.

The result is a lovely red silk chiffon one-shoulder gown with rosette accents. “The seven hand-tooled rosettes on my dress signify life, vitality, and most of all whimsical fun,” says Mireille. “I try and not take myself too seriously; there are festive moments in fashion if you're willing to have a giggle with or at yourself.”

Well done, Mireille. We hope to see more of your designs in the future.

(Photo by Drew Altizer)

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.