25

Mar

Rain and Shine: Junior League of San Francisco Fashion Show Launch Party

The Junior League of San Francisco never lets a little rain come down on their parade. Proof positive? Last night’s poppin’ launch party for the 85th Annual “A Fashionable Legacy” Fashion Show Gala . Partygoers came out to the swank One Leidesdorff in high-heeled droves braving wind-blown ’dos and soggy weather for the shindig, which featured a silent auction, live ’80s cover band, apps and cocktails.

Partygoers danced, drank, and bid on silent auction items at One Leidesdorff in SF's Financial District. All photos courtesy of Moanalani Jeffrey.

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Events/Food/Philanthropy/Women's Wear

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15

Mar

Dark Swan Meets Steampunk at the “Spring Into Fashion” Show

A corset with removable tulle skirt by Dark Garden. Feather headpiece by Dollymop.

With all the big industry news as of late, from Dior’s fallen star to an American sportswear designer planting a flag on fashion’s sacred ground, it’s no wonder I’ve had a bit of ADD lately when it’s come to local fashion.

But the drama managed to make its way back to San Francisco on Friday at the “Spring Into Fashion” couture fashion show held at the Bently Reserve, and I couldn’t have been happier to see a little razzle dazzle at home.

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Designers/Events/France/Philanthropy/San Francisco Chronicle/Women's Wear

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02

Dec

Inside the Sephora Employee Sample Sale

There are definite perks to working at an international beauty company, one of them being the annual Sephora Employee Sample Sale that I eagerly partook in for the first time just before Thanksgiving. The sale is more like an epic company-wide event, where tickets are sold weeks in advance for entrance and the chance to score sweet deals on products ranging from high-end hair tools to pricey skin creams that claim to be better than Botox.

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Beauty/Events/Philanthropy/Shopping/Travel

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23

Nov

Don’t Miss This Event: Arts of Fashion Competition and Show on Dec. 7

Winners of the Arts of Fashion Competiton 2009 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

For the past two years, I’ve been involved with the internationally recognized Arts of Fashion Foundation, which in my opinion is one of San Francisco’s best-kept industry secrets. The non-profit organization, founded by Nathalie Doucet, supports young fashion design talent from around the globe with scholarships, masterclasses, and internships at prestigious and creative fashion houses, including Jean-Charles de Castelbajac,  Anne Valerie Hash, and San Francisco’s own Nice Collective, to name a few.

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Designers/Events/France/Philanthropy/Women's Wear

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30

Sep

Macy’s Passport Rewind: Macy Gray, Tracy Reese, and Guys in Undies

Macy’s Passport was a whole different show this year, largely due to its format and venue change from Fort Mason to the Orpheum Theater, and an even bigger focus on the live music and dance elements, rather than the fashion.

Artist Macy Gray headlined this year's Passport show at the Orpheum Theater. All photos by Edric Itchon.

The largest and longest running HIV/AIDS benefit and fashion show in the country, “Glamorama” made its way beginning in early August from Minneapolis to Chicago to L.A., before finally finishing its tour in San Francisco on Sept. 24. Headliners included Grammy Award-winning musician Macy Gray, singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson, as well as women’s wear designer Tracy Reese.

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Celebrities/Department Stores/Designers/Events/Menswear/Philanthropy/Women's Wear

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12

Aug

Beauty and the Bike: Why I love Kiehl’s and the LifeRide for amfAR

Motorcycles ridden during the LifeRide for amfAR parked at the Kiehl's Fillmore Street boutique. Photography by Edric Itchon.

I admit I can be a fair-weathered beauty product fan. With the sheer number of brands and products that launch every day, and the loads of press samples I receive, I tend to have “Beauty ADD” and end up trying just about anything new—at the high risk of a skin freak-out.

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16

Apr

Earth Day Fashion: Not an Oxymoron

Courtesy of Fleece-A-Nista

Skeptical already? So was I. Any pitch I receive touting “Fashion and Earth Day” usually conjures images of burlap bags and hemp dresses.

Not pretty.

Fleece-A-Nista and Convert, on the other hand, are two worthy newcomers to the Bay Area fashion mix that are verifiable finds appropriate for such a green-minded holiday (April 22).

For those city slickers out there squeezing the last of the season from the Tahoe slopes, Fleece-A-Nista has the perfect pieces for your après ski or boarding activities.

Not only does SF designer Jeanne Feldcamp create surprisingly beautiful silhouettes out of a typically technical (read: unsexy) fabric, but also her company employs a “zero-waste production” process by which all scraps are used as stuffing for her original collection of graphic pillows.

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Designers/Events/Menswear/Philanthropy/Shopping

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13

Apr

Spring Fashion Calendar: Clothing Swap, Designer Appearance and Parties You Won’t Want to Miss

Courtesy of DiscardedtoDivine.com

Give and Take

What: First annual Give Two, Take One clothing swap and clothing drive presented by the Academy of Art University’s student fashion club and the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco

When: Saturday, April 17th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Academy of Art University 79 Gallery, 79 New Montgomery Street (between Mission and Jessie Streets), San Francisco

Why: Update your overstuffed closet while enjoying live jazz music by The Sebastian Parker Trio, snagging beauty advice from local artist Chris Scott, and supporting a worthy cause.

Info: Entrance is free for those with swap tickets or donation clothing.  Otherwise there is a $2 cash entrance fee. For every two items of clothing and/or accessories donated, donors will receive one “swap ticket” to exchange for one item of their choice at the event.

Acceptable donations include clothing, jewelry, shoes and other accessories such as hats, scarves, gloves, belts, and handbags. All items should be clean and in excellent condition. Undergarments, children’s clothing, or any items with signs of damage and stains will not be accepted. All remaining items will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps to feed, clothe, and shelter more than 75,000 individuals per year.

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Art/Department Stores/Designers/Events/Philanthropy/Shopping/Web Sites

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08

Apr

Your Do-gooder Deed: Enter Darphin’s Online Contest

Darphin Hydraskin Essential. Courtesy of Darphin Paris.

Between email, Twitter, Facebook and the seemingly endless lists of blogs and social networking sites out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the chatter. I’ll often have post-web surfing remorse after spending way too much time not getting “real work” done, derailed by a friend emailing me a random but funny You Tube clip or happening upon an intriguing marketing campaign that’s gone viral.

Darphin Paris is the latest such company to snag my ever-wandering attention on the web, and not just because their line of gorgeously packaged and effective products have proven to be one of my beauty counter favorites.

In an effort to promote their best-selling Hydraskin Essential moisturizer, Darphin has launched  www.50littleluxuries.com , which asks readers what they’d do with a $50 windfall. Every entry submitted on the website equals a chance to win a full-size bottle of its reformulated all-day Hydraskin emulsion and a New York City spa getaway for two, and more importantly, a $2 donation to the IDEAL Providence Farm, a women’s cooperative in Ghana. The contest ends April 21; winners will be announced on May 1. Not only did I post my entry today completely guilt-free, but I spent a few extra minutes doing a little good online!

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Beauty/Philanthropy/Shopping/Spa/Web Sites

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