Zoe Saldina, CFDA fashion awards

The Fall 2012 Runways have been dripping with seductive, edgy looks – hello, could this girl be any happier? – and Balanciaga, as usual, is on top of creating looks with an ambiance of both sexuality and classic polish. One of the hottest trends (and easiest to recreate on a broke fashionista budget) is mesh.

Mesh tops, dresses, socks, and every other garment and accessory you could imagine have been showing up from Versace to Jimmy Choo. However, I think you’ll agree that Balenciaga and Elkin did it best:

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A little tip: a lot of mesh pieces don’t allow you to wear a bra without looking totally clueless, so, I recommend wearing pasties with most of these looks. However, most of the time pasties are a bit pricier than they ought to be (are you listening, pastie people? Get to work on that.) So, an even more affordable solution is using band-aids. They work beautifully, and are a way more economical alternative!

By purchasing a few distinctly on-trend items, like a tweed jacket, an a-line dress or skirt, or some mary janes, you can wear them with your favorite edged-out pieces and enjoy the best of both worlds. That way, you’re staying true to your badass self, while remaining on top of the runway trends.

I decided to pair my tweed jacket from White House Black Market (purchased last year, approx. $100) with my favorite leather shorts from Wasteland ($35), my prized Senso Diffusion Delilahs from Solestruck (on sale for $249), my clam shell purse from Dillard’s(approx. $40) and – last, but certainly not least – some of my all-time favorite pieces of jewelry from WorkPlayDate. I can’t rave enough about designer Angela Agabao, who created the incredible hand piece and spike earrings featured in this shoot. She is a San Francisco based up-and-coming jewelry designer that you owe it to yourself to check out.

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Bebe and Gap have some great tweed jackets this season, Asos is jam-packed with great pencil skirts, A-line dresses are literally everywhere, and Jeffrey Campbell is making tons of updated mary janes. I’d love to see how you’re all making the transition from rocker to classy lady, happy styling!

Photos by the amazing Ben Andrew of The Amusement Park Recording Studio.

Heavily-accessorized Banjara woman turning it out.

Hello, my loves! I’m sorry I haven’t been updating much – school has really been kicking my ass. But, to make it up to you, I bring you some of my favorite picks for fall/winter. Now that the weather here is moving from outrageously hot to somewhat cool, I could not be more excited to finally employ some of my favorite fall trends, and right now my favorite thing is tribal print.

As much as I love all the tribal prints from this season, however, this is obviously a trend that will not stick around for long. We can remember only a year or two ago when we all thought tribal print was pretty hideous, no? For that reason, when we tackle this trend I do not advise investing in high-priced pieces  - as per usual. Instead, there are literally hundreds of affordable options to purchase so that you can rock the trend all season long without feeling like you wasted your money on what will be out by next fall. But, for now, I am in love with it. So let’s enjoy these amazing, technicolor prints while we can!

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Pattern Blocking

Since everyone else is wearing color – as in the Fall and Spring runways were like an acid trip of technicolor dream coats – sometimes I like to do exactly the opposite. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be happily employing this year’s color blocking trend. But, I wanted to go against the grain and see if I could create as much interest and contrast without the use of color.

Blouse is a Ralph Lauren button-up purchased at Macy’s (approx. $50,) jacket is an Audrey 3+1 from Wasteland ($25) – the most killer thrift shop in San Francisco – the pants are from Thrifted, and the boots are Deena and Ozzy purchased at Urban Outfitters (approx. $60.)

Jonathan Rising pieces on display at 440 Brannan

The immaculately designed looks displayed at 440 Brannan, aloft with the grace of trapeze artists, showcased Jonathan David Baker’s garments from his fall 2011 New York Fashion Week runway show: cocoon-like jackets and coats, architectural sweaters and structured dresses, powerful in both their striking impact and delicate simplicity.

Baker’s namesake line, Jonathan Rising, premiered in NYFW only shortly after he graduated with his MFA (master’s degree) in both fashion design and knitwear from the Academy of Art. At the line’s West Coast preview and reception in San Francisco
(that I attended while interning for Scene Magazine) the designer revealed his impressive accomplishments, inspiration, and future plans.

One cannot help but be impressed by Baker’s propensity for over-achieving; after graduating from high school at 16 and becoming an accomplished hair stylist and trainer for Toni & Guy at 18, Baker found himself falling in love with fashion during London Fashion Week. He then came to San Francisco to study fashion at the Academy of Art, and found himself fascinated with knitwear.

“I got really into knitwear – I did a lot of tailoring at first, and then I merged the two,” Baker said. “Knitwear is traditionally sweaters or whatever, but I like to incorporate more tailoring. I like creating my own textiles. I don’t do weaving – I have sent out for it, but it’s nice to be able to design my own fabric. I also like to create textures – there’s so much texture in my line. I’m more into texture than I am colors, or anything else, and knitwear gives you more freedom to play with that.”

For his latest collection for New York Fashion Week, the designer said that he was inspired by both 19^th century Kyoto underground culture – think geisha houses and underground gangs – as well as raw, early ‘90s Kurt-Kobain-esque grunge. As for the type of woman he expects to see wearing his line: “The kind of girl I wouldn’t want to mess with!”

“I think I keep my sisters in mind when I design,” Baker said. “I have three sisters and a brother, and my three sisters are really, crazy-protective. They’re the type of people who are very vocal about what they think – back when they were younger they were probably a bit more forceful about what they thought,” he said with a laugh. “They’re tough chicks.”

As a student, Baker spent five years doing technical work, NYFW alterations, fittings, styling and hired interns for Rodarte. Since Baker started working with Rodarte, they have gone from a small label to a household name for dressing trend-setting stars such as Kiera Knightly, Emma Watson and Natalie Portman, and as costume designers for Black Swan.

“I called Rodarte when they were just getting started and told them I really loved their last season, which was their second season, ever,” Baker said. “They decided to interview me and wound up inviting me to New York Fashion Week to intern with them. We had all these people helping back stage, but nobody knew how to alter clothes, so, I jumped in and started sewing – and I’ve worked with them ever since! I’ve learned so much working with them.”

Baker’s experience is evidenced by his meticulous craftsmanship and versatility of design – his pieces appear androgynous, even masculine on women, but on men are more feminine and gentle.

“I think some people think I like to do more androgynous pieces because I want women’s wear to be more masculine, but in fact, growing up, I’ve always thought women were stronger in my house than the guys were, so I see women as being more bold, and owning it, and that’s the type of girl I keep in mind. I tend to be shy – this is a good way for me to say what I can’t say.”

Baker said that his next line, to be shown in Canada’s fashion week, will be inspired by technology and military, and he is currently looking to expand his mainly private-client-driven label to retail outlets. For information about carrying Jonathan David Baker’s line in your store, call 415.730.7667.

Givenchy’s Fall ’11 Couture line captivated me in a way that no line has in quite a while. The nearly all white collection was nothing short of ethereal – just looking at the pieces transports me to a tranquil dream world, where everyone’s body is cradled in soft, beautiful, feather-light garments.

Then, I am rudely awakened by the reality check that these pieces cost as much, or more, than a semester at my university. So, that won’t be happening any time soon.

Determined to re-create the looks at a cost that us non-royals can afford, I searched until I came upon these:

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P.S. Click here to listen to the song that popped into my head while I was viewing this collection – Dreamworld, by Rilo Kiley.

Fierce and Frugal

Cheap is the new chic – hopefully, by now, I have convinced many of you to knock it off with the over-splurging on designer digs when affordable alternatives are plentiful.

And to the nay-sayers who say that cheap things are poorly made: I can tell you from years of experience that treating your affordable items well (i.e. taking the time to hand wash things in the sink – it’s called being nice to your clothes, people) and maybe a little tailoring here and there, will keep your favorite bargain finds looking flawless for years to come.

For a warm daytime outfit in San Francisco, i.e. a damned cold day back home in Texas, I threw together a few of my favorite pieces for a look that is comfortable and effortless, without sacrificing my need to imitate high fashion.

For this look, I’m in my white H&M blouse ($22), my Forever 21 tribal pants ($18 – inspired by my encounter with the fabulous Erin Wasson), my gold Versace look-alike belt from Goodwill ($2) and my Deena and Ozzie lace-up canvas boots ($30.)

Surprised?

Side note: be on the lookout for an upcoming post in which I review San Francisco area thrift stores – you won’t want to miss this!

Swap.com and Lulu's present: SwapLulu's

As sustainable, responsible consumerism becomes increasingly important to fashion-lovers everywhere, “swaps” are becoming commonplace. For anyone who hasn’t heard of them, yet, swaps are events in which a group of women, whether it be a few friends or a large, company-orchestrated event, bring clothing, shoes and accessories that they no longer want in order to trade with other attendees. (Quelle surprise.)

On Thursday the 23, Swapaholics and Lulu’s teamed up for SwapLulu’s at Madrone Studios in San Francisco. As the 200+ attendees filtered in, dropped off their unwanted clothing and headed for the wine and hors d’œuvres to mingle, representatives from Swapaholics prepared the clothing donations and over 100 pieces of free clothing, shoes and accessories courtesy of Lulu’s for the frenzy that was soon to take place.

At 8 p.m., the attendees – who had been congregating near the entrance to the swap room in anticipation – exploded into the room with squeals of excitement. They quickly began rifling through the tables piled high with clothes,  and hungrily grabbing things off the racks. For the low price of $20 per ticket, everyone left with something they loved – many with arm’s full of dozens of things they loved – thanks to donations from other women at the event, and contributions from Lulu’s.

Bonus responsibility points: clothing that was left over from the swap was donated to Goodwill.

A design by Best Construction winner Dallas Coulter

The Art Institute of California – San Francisco has a reputation for their fashion design program, so the annual senior fashion show is quite the production. If it weren’t made clear throughout the show by the various speakers, attendees may be surprised to learn that the exquisite designs and unique concepts gracing the runway last Saturday (June 18) were created by students, barely beginning their foray into the fashion world.

Aside from serving as an exhibition for seniors to show off the design education they received, the event is also a competition for the budding designers. Two $1,000 scholarships were doled out for best construction and most creative, and a $2,000 scholarship was awarded for best overall effect.

The competition was judged by accomplished designers Bacca da Silva, Angela Medlin and Joseph Domingo. The winner of best construction and a $1,000 scholarship, Dallas Coulter said that she would be graduating next quarter and fittingly described her corsets, meticulously designed bodices and architectural evening wear as “hauntingly beautiful.” Her use of an all-black palette was the perfect backdrop to highlight  her incredible feather accents and architectural construction.

The most creative and $1,000 award winner, Autie Carlisle is already selling her designs at Fiat Lux in San Francisco in addition to private client work, and plans to move to New York soon in order to “expand her expertise.”  The dread-locked designer’s pieces are bohemian, yet chic – and perfectly put-together. Her individual point of view as a designer already appears well developed, so it will be interesting to follow her throughout her career.

Cameron Stewart, the recipient of the Best Overall Effect award and a $2,000 scholarship, is graduating and expanding his line of menswear that is somehow wearable and effortless, yet powerful in its presentation. His casual looks are intriguing to the eye, like an intricately decorated evening gown, but simultaneously comfortable-looking. Cameron knows exactly what the stylish and cool man he is creating for wears, and produces it in a way that is familiar without ever crossing into the realm of boring or ordinary.

After seeing what the designers featured in the show created as students, their careers in the apparel design industry are sure to be promising – be on the look out for more from them as they move forward in their careers.