SFBayStyle

One Kings Lane Launches Exclusive Sales With Top Interior Designers

Just across from Washington Square Park sits an elegant pink building that houses some of the best views of San Francisco you could ever see. The fourth floor flat with an $8.5 Million price tag served as an ideal location to host the anniversary celebration and Tastemaker Tag Sales launch party for One Kings Lane. The guest list matched the exclusive sound of the program, but in reality, the idea is to appeal to a broad audience of home owners and connoisseurs.

As founder Alison Pincus put it, "the customers are excited to have access to truly unique pieces you wouldn't find in your neighborhood" and the designers are thrilled to be able to move items that perhaps didn't fit in their homes or that they no longer need. (Pincus, pictured left with Ken Fulk and cofounder Susan Feldman.)

To celebrate the new launch, guests were welcomed by bagpipes, cocktails and luxurious decor. Cocktail chic doesn't even begin to describe this crowd. Beginning April 10, they - and the rest of us - will be able to shop online ever weekend for hand-picked items selected by designers and collectors such as Nathan Turner, Ann Getty, Kimberly Ayers, Suzanne Tucker and Kendall Wilkinson.

Finally, it doesn't cost anything to join. This is a sale not to be missed. There's no harm browsing, right?

...

(Photos by Drew Altizer, Sarah Granger)

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.)

...

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!

Slide into the Speakeasy for Raphael House

Raphael House, a San Francisco organization dedicated to combating family homelessness, made themselves quite at home at Slide recently to kick-off the promotion of their annual "One Home, Many Hearts" gala to be taking place April 17 at Bimbo's 365 Club in North Beach. The pre-party was "password required" and guests came decked in roaring twenties threads to celebrate.

Claudia Ross, founder of CrossMarketing PR continues to produce fabulous events to raise funds for worthy organizations and as Chairman of the Board of Raphael House, she's dedicated to making the benefit gala at Bimbo's one to remember. “The Gala is our single most important fundraiser for the year – the revenue generated from this event is critical to our programs and services for our families.” This is no joke - Raphael House has housed over 17,000 children during its 38 years of service.

Ready to buy a ticket? They range from $100 to join in the festivities in April. There will be jazz, gambling and "prohibition-era libations." See you there!

(Pictured above left: Carolyn Bojanowski, Caleb Krasnor, John Warren, Stephanie Warren; right: Claudia Ross. Photos by Drew Altizer Photography.)

Sold-Out Symphonix Soiree Rocks Postrio, Celebrates Grammy Winning Symphony

Those who don't know the San Francisco Symphony may well assume that it's all about long-dead composers like Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. On the contrary, that couldn't be more off the mark. The Grammy winning symphony (yes, you heard us right - they won 3 Grammys in January) led by Michael Tilson Thomas performs powerful music in the heart of San Francisco to packed houses and the young professional league that supports it, Symphonix, has grown 1600 strong, packing Postrio recently for a sold-out event dedicated to underwriting concert attendance for local tweens. Classical music, yes. But far from dead.

 For their first event of the year, Symphonix chose Postrio's art-filled atmosphere filled with works by Lichtenstein, Rivera and Chihuly. With the run of the three tiered restaurant, the revelers wined and dined on behalf of the San Francisco Symphony's Concerts for Kids program. But the party's not really over - this weekend, the symphony will be performing with the Grammy winning chorus, Mahler's 2nd Symphony, also known as the Resurrection Symphony. (Their recording of Mahler's 8th won the Grammy awards.) Inside sources say they sound amazing. Tickets start at $35.

(Pictured top right: Zen St. Clair, James Key Lim, Ye-Hui Lu.)

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!

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

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.