It was a truly “un-S.F.” moment. A line of stylish guests gussied up in cocktail dresses, platforms, and trim-cut suits snaked down the block as a stern bouncer dressed in all black held back impatient line-jumpers from storming their way through the glass doors–at 6:30 p.m. “One in, one out,” he barked. “No exceptions.”
Photos by Nerissa Pacio Itchon, unless otherwise noted.
Bruno Mars at the Orpheum Theatre (Photography by Edric Itchon)
Bringing San Francisco’s fashion forces to their feet on Friday night at the Orpheum Theater, musician Bruno Mars headlined Macy’s annual Passport Presents Glamorama, the annual HIV/AIDS fundraising event that tours four cities across the country in September.
It’s always a curiosity meeting celebrities, especially ones you’ve already formed opinions of well before you’ve ever actually ever seen them in person or talked to them. I get a huge kick out of times when I expect someone to be one way, and they turn out to be completely another. Meeting stylesetter Alexa Chung at Madewell on Thursday night was sort of in that “didn’t expect that” category.
Former MTV host, model, and designer/it girl Alexa Chung at Madewell in San Francisco. Photo by Michelle Drewes.
In town for a personal appearance, on a national tour, to fete the launch of her sophomore capsule collection for the prep-meets-indie-hipster retailer, the 27-year-old model/host/designer/it girl surprised me with her quirky personality (at one point she was doing the Charleston in between signing autographs) and her rather relaxed attitude (she’s a New York transplant but didn’t seem the least bit rushed even as crowds were hovering during our couch interview).
As seen in the San Francisco Chronicle September 18, 2011
Lashfully Lounge in Cow Hollow district, SF. Photo courtesy of Lashfully
Nerissa Pacio Itchon, Special to The Chronicle
Call it the Kim Kardashian effect.
National mascara sales are on the upswing; salons specializing in lash extensions are hitting critical mass; doctor’s offices and cosmetics companies are finding big business in lash growth serums; and semi-permanent mascaras are picking up steam, proving that women are willing to try almost anything to achieve the lush, defined, cheek-grazing lashes that the reality TV stars have helped usher in as the beauty standard for the Tinseltown set.
“It all started with the media and celebrities endorsing prescription Latisse,” says Liv Contreras, a veteran licensed aesthetician and co-owner of Lashfully beauty lounge in the Cow Hollow district. “Then the Kardashians were the ones to really bling out lashes, making strip lashes, extensions and the whole lash trend even more popular.”
As Hollywood-averse as San Franciscans may seem, city dwellers have been quick to jump on the lash bandwagon. Lashfully, which Contreras opened almost 10 months ago with former client Matana LePlae, is one of at least a dozen lash-centric salons that have popped up recently in San Francisco, feeding the growing demand for lash enhancements.
Since the opening of Lash Lab nearly two years ago, bookings at the Cow Hollow salon have doubled to an average of eight to 10 clients per day, says 31-year-old owner Judy Anderson. Her team of five full-time licensed aestheticians focuses solely on lash extensions, and appointments fill up nearly four weeks in advance.
Although lash extensions have been around for decades, the service is starting to go mainstream with increasingly more options available. For women willing to spend the time and the money, it remains a popular, if not a downright luxurious, service.
When done properly, the painstaking process requires a licensed aesthetician to use precision-point needle tweezers and medical-grade glue to attach synthetic, animal or real human hair extensions to each lash. Devotees say the results are worth it.
“I love getting a look I can’t get by simply using mascara,” says Elena Greco, director of brand relations at San Francisco-based online beauty community Beautylish, who visits a salon for lash extensions every two to three weeks. “Also, I like the option of waking up and walking out the door without having to apply eye makeup.”
To read the rest of this story, go to the Sunday Style section on sfgate.com.
Tracy Reese was the first show I attended this week at the Lincoln Center Theater, and it happened to fall on 9/11. I was curious to see what might be in store for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy in the U.S. city hit the hardest.
Sunflower print blouse, cropped high-waisted pant, and mustard anorak by Tracy Reese. Photography by Edric Itchon.
Moanalani Jeffrey photographed in her Nob Hill home with Jacques, her French bulldog. Photography by Clarine Wong.
Moanalani Jeffrey is the only person I know who can juggle shooting a party with a hefty camera while chatting up guests, taking notes, and teetering on four-inch stilettos–all with a brilliant smile. The society columnist for the SF Examiner and an event photographer about town, Jeffrey has an inimitable glam-it-up style that suits her ebullient personality. Whether she’s “click-click-clicking” her way through a Hollywood shindig or chasing after her next subject onto the dance floor, this trendsetting Hawaii-native always has the right mix of fabulous fashion meets practical function for her high-energy job.
William and Kate's balcony kiss seals the deal at Buckingham Palace. Courtesy of The Daily Beast.
Clearly, I underestimated my appetite for the whole royal wedding bonanza. Knackered as I was walking to work downtown yesterday, I passed by Fog City’s newsstand, brimming with Will and Kate covers, which immediately caught my attention.
It’s always a fun challenge interviewing people about fashion who aren’t in the business of fashion. They tend to give you unexpected answers and a fresh take on how “non-industry” people think about (or don’t think about) trends and putting together their own special look. Somehow the interviews tend to be a little more raw and a little less predictable.
British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding was no exception. Sipping on a cup of tea when I arrived at her W Hotel suite, she seemed exhausted from touring, but still managed to rally on the last night of her tour, give me some thoughtful answers to my battery of style questions for the Chronicle, and later perform an electric set.
Sketch from Matthew Williamson for Macy's Collection. Photos courtesy of Macy's.
I’m usually all for checking out fashion designer collabos, especially when it means getting a piece of luxury design at prices that don’t equate to the monthly mortgage. The launch of the Matthew Williamson for Macy’s capsule collection tomorrow is no exception, with the unveiling of limited-edition spring separates and ’70s-inspired dresses priced between $50 to $300.
Courtesy of Sephora.com
Benefit’s Bella Bamba boxed blush may be a mouthful, but the dazzling color is definitely worth talking about. So perfect is this universally flattering shade of watermelon pink, Benefit hails it as “a 3D brightening pink face powder”—and I couldn’t agree more.
