SFBayStyle

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.

Vintage Fashion Expo

 

Stylish Bay Area locals know the score - vintage clothing is hot. In LA, vintage is on fire with celebrities, stylists, costumers, fashion students, designers, pretty much everyone who's fashionable. They all know to hit the Vintage Fashion Expo when it comes to town and this weekend - March 20-21 - it's our turn, when the fun comes to San Francisco's Concourse.

The Vintage Fashion Expo hosts 100 dealers from around the country, including Oakland dealer Ardis Taylor. Mr. Taylor is known for providing Hollywood with some of their more stylish vintage gear. Most recently he outfitted Christian Bale and Johnny Depp in the film Public Enemies. He also deals in women's clothing and fabulous 40s platform shoes.  When it comes to vintage, Mr. Taylor says what people want is something special. "Overall it's always the most unique  pieces within a decade that people seek out." As for what's new and hot in vintage this season, it's dresses for women and separates for men. "There's also a demand right now among young men for 60s suits," says Mr. Taylor. "That continental look with the tapered pant leg and slim jacket."

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!

Move Over Access Hollywood. Here's Red Carpet Bay Area!

Saturday night will be an exciting night for our friends at Red Carpet Bay Area. At 7:30, KRON4 is showing the first ever episode of their new show. Listed as a "brand new magazine-style program highlighting the region’s unique culture, personality and style," Marybeth La Motte, Mark Hamburg, Greg Marasso, Jan Mabry and Cory Miller bring us an inside look at some of the incredible events that take place around the Bay Area.

This week's episode will showcase Japantown, Charleston Pierce and a Silicon Valley benefit gala. For thirty minutes, viewers can explore new aspects of San Francisco Bay Area life. The show leads into Entertainment Tonight and each show includes six segments "exploring fun new places to dine and shop and explore as well as the local red carpet scene."

“We’ll present some amazing moments from a variety of red carpet gala events along with special visits to some of the region’s most unique attractions in a lively format that captures the essence of the Bay
Area,” says La Motte.

Please join us in congratulating Red Carpet Bay Area and enjoy the show!

Bulgari Store Grand Opening in San Franicsco

 

Enjoying the scene at Bulgari are Mark Rhoades, Mireille Schwartz (sporting a Karen Caldwell original coat), Karen Caldwell, Oliver Caldwell Photo: Drew Altizer

A city buzz for months, the evening finally arrived on Tuesday March 2 for the grand opening of the fabulous Bulgari store in Union Square. Six hundred guests meandered around the new three story Bulgari boutique, sipping cocktails and admiring the bold and colorful Bulgari wares. At 13,000 square feet, the Bulgari SF boutique is the largest in the United States. 

The Bulgari story begins in 1884 when Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari moved to Rome, Italy and opened his first shop, which offered handcrafted silver objects. In the early 20th century Sotirio's sons, Costantino and Giorgio took over the family business and incorporated watches and jewelry with precious stones into the line.  After WWII, the business shifted focus to what would become their signature style -  a large and dramatic look inspired by Greco-Roman classicism. By the 1950s and 60s, distinctive Bulgari caught the attention of American celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. Today Bulgari is a diverse luxury brand offering jewelry, watches, leather goods, fragrances, skin-care, and spas/resorts. 

Spring - Summer 2010 Fashion Trends List

Spring is nearly here... below is our annual list of spring and summer trends for the year, gathered from viewing fashion shows, magazines and catalogs. The intent is to help you build and accessorize your wardrobe through what's in the stores and what's already in your closet. Enjoy!

Themes & Inspiration:

• Rocker Chic
• Military
• Safari
• 1920's
• Soft Feminine
• Nautical
• Monet
• Western

Kiss the Curves Rocks Uptown Oakland

 
Photo: Ron Fulcher

Pantsuit by Ashley Stewart

It was a rockin’ Saturday night on February 6th when several hundred enthusiastic fashionistas gathered at Historic Sweets Ballroom in updown Oakland for Kiss the Curves: The First Ever Plus-Size Fashion Gala in the Bay Area. The evening included a VIP champagne reception, a runway show featuring seven plus-size designers, standard tunes sung by local artists, and an opportunity to purchase goods designed and made by local artisans.

A mere four months ago, Oakland based actor and plus-size model Tracie Collins had a dream to produce the first ever fashion show for plus-size women. Concerned about the lack of quality, chic designs for full figured women as well as the messages mainstream fashion is sending to young girls, Ms. Collins set about creating an evening where full-figured women were the stars. With the help of dozens of industry professionals, Ms. Collins made her dream come true. Women from across the Bay Area showed up ready to hoot and holler and celebrate, finally designs for them. (Photo: Ron Fulcher)

Kiss the Curves: The First Ever Plus-Size Fashion Gala

On Saturday February 6, 2010 at Historic Sweets Ballroom, Oakland will step into the runway spotlight as the city-of-choice for Kiss the Curves: The First Ever Plus-Size Fashion Gala. Highlighting some of the top plus-size designers in the fashion industry, Kiss the Curves ultimately wants to encourage positive awareness of the plus-size community as well as send the message to mainstream outlets that fashion is not limited by size.

The Gala’s Executive Producer is local actress and model, Tracie Collins. A Bay Area native, Ms. Collins attended Actors Conservatory Theater as a child. She went on to start a successful acting career, landing roles in Dreamgirls and Misery Loves Company. Eventually she set her sights on modeling, hoping to show young women a realistic image of beauty. Ms. Collins has modeled for Ashley Stewart, Mocha Bridge Magazine and Orisa Wear Fashions.

Mr. Rick's Martini Club rings in the New Year at Oakland's Lake Merritt Hotel

On Saturday January 9th close to 200 guests of Mr. Rick’s Martini Club arrived at Oakland’s Lake Merritt Hotel ready to ring in the New Year all over again. The question was – what year? The stylish crowd, donning their vintage finest, had entered a time warp and every year from 1930 to 1950 was up for celebration.

Since 1990 Laurie Gordon and Richard Fishman of Mr. Rick’s Martini Club have specialized in presenting 1930s to 1950s swing dance supper club events at various venues around the Bay Area. With themed events such as Casablanca and the Rat Pack in Las Vegas, Mr. Rick's offers attendees a chance to experience true glamour only seen in movies today.

(Photo Credit: Michele Smith)

Gorgeous & Green at Five

 

Gorgeous & Green event co-chairs Zem Joaquin and Nadine Weil

The San Francisco Committee of Global Green USA hosted their fifth annual Gorgeous & Green benefit dinner and fashion show December 8th, 2009. Held this year at the W Hotel in San Francisco's SoMa district, the event celebrated Global Green's smart climate solutions just as the Copenhagen Climate Conference commenced.  

Global Green USA was founded in 1993 and is the American affiliate of President Gorbachev's Green Cross International. Their mission is to support projects that address stemming global climate change, specifically by the development of green buildings in cities around the country. Proceeds from the event went to Global Green's initiatives, including works to rebuild New Orleans with zero-energy homes, advancing the Green Schools Initiative in California and New Orleans, and launching a pilot program to recycle Starbucks cups.

Bay Area Trend -- Winter White Coats

There's a new addition to the San Francisco woman's quintessential wardrobe now that it's December. Worn over the standard skinny jeans, boots and sweaters and under the scarves are winter white coats.

These coats are a bit more high maintenance - any stain will show, so think twice before you wear them out to a bar or before eating pizza in it - but they look it, too. High maintenance, classy and upscale, in any style from a military style or pea coat  to a standard overcoat or a take on the trench (like G by Guess has done in the picture above), the fashionable women of San Fran just got a bit more fashionable.

Winter on the Runway- Fall Fashion Event in Palo Alto, CA

If you’re looking for a fabulous fashion event in the South Bay, Aspiring couture has just the event for you. Winter on the Runway will feature the latest collections from 20 different designers.

Drink, hors d’oeuvers, and deserts from Satura Cakes will be provided to guests.  You even have a chance to enter to win prizes and Fab freebies.

The fashion experience is on December 12, 2009 3pm and 7pm at the Palo Alto Women’s club (475 Homer Ave, Palo A lot, Ca 94031).

Price:

$10 general admission

$20 VIP admission (front row, $10 gift card and more)

 

Purchase tickets at:

Online: www.aspiringcouture .com

Email: aspiringcouture@gmail.com

Phone: 408.710.0732

Ginnifer Goodwin Wears Art Students' Design to EMA Awards

Talk about luck - Ginnifer Goodwin wore students' design to the 20th Anniversary Environmental Media Association Awards, and now those students can add celebrity stylist to their resumes. A group of Academy of Art University students, Priscilla Guimarais, Kumiko Haruyama, Nui Tanapornwattana, Audrey Wang and Tramaine Tillman, designed a collection of sustainable dresses for a class project. To them it was just another project for school, and a fun one at best.

Little did they know one of their sustainable designs -- a strapless dress made from hospital scrubs with three front ruffled tiers that fell just above the knee and a black sash -- would be worn by an actress. And not just worn anywhere, but to a red carpet event. The students created an entire collection for their project, so maybe, after the press from Goodwin, they'll have requests for orders. All of the outfits in 1Oak (which stands for one of a kind) are made from start to finish with sustainable practices. The hospital scrubs used to make Goodwin's dress were treated, dyed and pleated using sustainable practices.

So for the students out there, this just goes to show that some homework assignments shouldn't be blown off...you never know who you might impress.

Meet Curvy Fashionista Marie Denee

Curvy fashionista Marie Denee has a mission – to bring contemporary, sophisticated, edgy fashions to plus size women. This dynamo Oakland resident is doing just that with her plus size blog and her on line plus size boutique.

In 2008 Ms. Denee finished up her MBA and realized she had gathered a lot of specific information about plus size retail. “For my MBA research I focused on the plus size industry,” explains the perky Ms. Denee. “When I finished my degree I realized I have all this valuable information that I need to share.” She began blogging and quickly became a top resource for the plus size community.

Celebrating the New Look of CHANEL

San Francisco's Maiden Lane was ablaze with activity last Thursday evening November 19th, when several hundred devotees of CHANEL turned out to celebrate the boutique's reopening. A destination store on the Lane since 1988, CHANEL relocated earlier this year while the original boutique was completely redesigned.

The redesign was headed by New York architect and long time CHANEL collaborator Peter Marino. Sleek and tres moderne, the new boutique is a spacious two stories, highlighted by a 25-foot glass wall lining the stairs to the second floor. The wall is created from black metal and glass and backed with sheer gold laser cut fabric. Suspended from the wall are white lacquer shelves showcasing must-have handbags, shoes, and costume jewelry. To provide a bit of respite and comfort for shoppers, each floor has lovely tweed slipper chairs and sofas. The new space is both elegant and classic, with much attention paid to nuance and detail, offering customers a distinctively CHANEL experience.

New CHANEL Store Opens Friday in SF

Just in time for the holidays, the newly renovated CHANEL boutique reopens this Friday in San Francisco.

In a special event for customers and friends, the opening day will feature sounds of DJ Michael Smith, complimentary make-up sessions, a sneak peak at the '09/'10 "cruise collection" (i.e. gorgeous resort wear) and limited edition jewelry.

Expect the best quality in everything in the store. Opens at 10am, closes at 6pm. 156 Geary Street.

Vintage Clothing & Style Festival

 
  

Hold on to your hats fashionistas, I’ve got exciting news! Sunday, October 25 is the big day for some yesteryear thrills at the Vintage Clothing & Style Festival. This all day event happening at the Alameda Elks Lodge is not just about vintage fashion but also about living a vintage lifestyle.

Two years ago vintage enthusiasts Kimberly Manning and her business partners Roberto and Jula Isola decided they wanted to broaden the scope of a typical vintage show. Their desire is to offer not just retail but also an opportunity to socialize, interact and discuss all things vintage. “We want this Festival to celebrate vintage in a way that all ages, sizes, races and sexes feel they too can wear vintage,” explains Ms. Manning, looking tres chic in a 1940s pale pink knit dress embellished with red dragonflies at the shoulder. “Vintage can be for everyone.”

Celebrating the first African American Cover Girl Katiti Kironde

We were all very excited earlier this year to see our lovely First Lady Michelle Obama on the cover of Vogue. But back in the day an African American woman gracing the cover of a top fashion magazine was just not done. That is until Glamour magazine broke with convention by putting Katiti Kironde on their August 1968 College Issue.

On Friday October 9th, Ms. Kironde’s daughter Mireille Schwartz hosted a reception to honor her mother and celebrate the 41st anniversary of that landmark issue in fashion magazine history. Local chic elites gathered in the garden of Ms. Schwartz’s San Francisco home sipping cocktails and chatting with Ms. Kironde who hails from Connecticut.

SF Fleet Week-Style Elevation Event featuring Innovative Designers

An ongoing tradition since 1981, Fleet Week signifies a celebration to the men and women of the armed forces. This year not only do we have the option of viewing the Blue Angels, but we also have the opportunity to check out San Francisco Bay’s best emerging fashion and accessory designers at Style Elevation's Weekend Pop Up Shops on Grant Avenue in San Francisco's North Beach. 

Multi-talented entrepreneur Karri Ann Frerichs is the woman behind Style Elevation, an online retail shop launching this holiday season. In conjunction with the launch, in October Ms. Frerichs is hosting a series of retail happenings in various San Francisco shopping neighborhoods, highlighting the latest fashion trends from around the bay area. These happenings cater to the business growth of new and upcoming designers as well as the local business communities, using the "pop-up shop"scenario where empty spaces are utilized for retail extravaganzas. 

Twenty designers will present and sell their collections directly to the public in retail spaces around 1418 Grant Ave. on Saturday, October 10, 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 a.m., through Sunday, October 11, 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. If you love art, there will also be a fashion photographers showcase at Live Worms Gallery, 1345 Grant Ave., on Friday, October 9 from 5:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

See all the designers who have registered here.

Vintage on the Ave

Oaklanders with a flair for vintage are thrilled to welcome Mercy Vintage Now  to Piedmont Avenue. Former proprietors of All Dolled up Vintage in Berkeley, co-owners Karen Anderson and Jenny Della Santa made the move to the folksy neighborhood earlier this summer.

What sets Mercy apart from other vintage shops is their fabulous open space with high ceilings, gold moldings and white walls. The clothes are well organized and kept tidy. There's plenty of merchandise but not too much and no musty smell.

The fall collection at Mercy includes '40s to the '80s. There are lots of coats, suits, sweaters and evening dresses to be had at very reasonable prices. Ms. Anderson says the hottest era right now with her clientele is '80s - shoulder pads, neon colors, boyfriend jackets. Ah, ha, just what we're seeing in the mags! Mercy also has an array of super cute reconstructed t-shirts. How green is that?

Mercy Vintage Now, 4188 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 510-654-5599.