Take a Look at the New J. Crew

With new more luxurious fabrics for men and women, in very Fall friendly colors, J. Crew is no longer in a class with Abercrombie- its better.  If you haven't been into one of their stores lately, I highly recommend you check it out.

Image courtesy of J.Crew

Fashion Police

The hat, the belt, the tee, well...

These looks should be pretty self-explanatory.

Poor poor Clay Aiken.  Leave the

 hair straightener at home!

And speaking of hair... even Al got it wrong.  There is such a thing as too flat and to high when it comes to your "do" guys.

Your jacket should never look like it came from an pop-art

 exhibit.

Did he get dressed in the dark?  Only waiters should be wearing cropped jackets in burgundy- and even then...

Images courtesy of Splendora.com

SF Welcomes XII Threads Custom Clothiers

For all of you guys and gals forced to wear suits 9-5, M-F by corporate America, take note.  There is nothing in the world greater that a custom tailored suit.  You can buy off the rack and have altered, but nothing compares to something being made to address your every bump and lump, to fit perfectly JUST FOR YOU.  New to San Francisco from LA, 12 Threads Custom Clothiers is here for you.  They will even come to your house or place of business for a fitting.  Might I suggest that only those with offices and not cubicles use the latter of the options.  Here is the review from Thrilllist.com:

THRILLIST SAN FRANCISCO

THURSDAY AUG 21, 2008

12 Threads

15 Guerrero (#1), at Market; The Mission; 415.306.4549

"Custom tailors generally limit their valuable house-calling services to clients whose Bentleys drive Ferraris. Starting Saturday, 12 Threads'll fit you at home, and all you need is to not be homeless.  Just arrived from LA, 12T specializes in affordable, fully custom dress wear, which they'll size you for in the comfort of your home/office, any time day or night (unlike other late-night work for hire, you'll end up with something you'll wear, not something you'll carry). Upon arrival, your tailor will take at least 25 measurements, then suss out your desired garment's look, fit, and function (where you'll rock it/how it'll best complement your body/# of pockets...); if you need inspiration, 12T provides prototype sketches, from button-downs (e.g., the tapered/pocketless Milano, the fly-front/spread-collar NY), to blazers (e.g., the Italian-cut, zero-vent/3-pocket "Modern") -- or you can just timidly point to a GQ spread, and try to hold back the tears. Next, select materials, from thousands of cashmere/wool/linen suit swatches (the very same textiles used by the likes of Dior, Ferragamo, & Versace), to 100% cotton shirt textiles in solids/stripes/plaids, to subtler bespoke options like a selection of 40 old-school crests for your sport coat's buttons, or dozens of silk dragon linings ("underneath this Bond-like sophistication lies a Dragonheart").

12T's offering up a slough of opening weekend specials, including 20% off any suit package if you mention Thrillist. Your getup'll take about 4-6 weeks to arrive, or less than 2 with a rush order -- a financial sacrifice best undertaken only if your Pinto drives a Metro.

Check out 12Threads.com; for all your SF opening discounts inquire within" (http://www.thrillist.com/archives/2008/08/12_threads_sf_san_francisco_gear_services_the_mission.html)

Image courtesy of 12threads.com.

Saks is Giving Back on Your Spending

Saks is giving you more than one reason to shop with them this week.  Along with the first look at DVF's Fall Collection, they are offering a runway inspired, limited edition lip color from the show, plus a $25+ gift card for spending $250.  Shop online or in stores, the gift cards go bye-bye after the 21st.

bebe Fall Preview Party

For those shoppers in the San Francisco area, bebe on Grant St will be having a Fall Collection Preview party on Thursday the 21st (yes, tomorrow) from 4:00-7:00.  There will be a DJ and models sporting bebe's newest duds.

Image courtesy of bebe.com

Daily Candy

Not only did I find my eyebrow waxing specialist from their insider know-how, I am a faithful follower of their restaurant and bar reviews.  Let's just hope the newly purchased Daily Candy doesn't loose its honest approach to the content put forth in their daily emails.

For those who have not jumped onto the Daily Candy bandwagon yet, even with the acquisition, I highly recommend taking a look at their site.

www.dailycandy.com

"Comcast sweetens its online menu with Daily Candy

Aug 5, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) — Cable and Internet service provider Comcast Corp. is expanding its online menu with the acquisition of Daily Candy, an electronic newsletter catering to women looking for tips on fashion, food and fun things to do in big cities.

Financial terms weren't disclosed. The Wall Street Journal reported the sales price at about $125 million, citing people familiar with the matter who it did not name.

Founded in 2000 by Dany Levy, Daily Candy boasts about 2.5 million readers who signed up to receive daily newsletters in their e-mail. It produces different daily editions for London and 11 U.S. cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C.

Like most Web sites, New York-based Daily Candy makes its money from advertising.

Philadelphia-based Comcast hopes to expand Daily Candy's audience by promoting some features on its other Internet properties.

Besides a general-purpose Web site that anchors its high-speed Internet service, Comcast also owns the online video service Fancast and movie ticket broker Fandango."  (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKrIxMVzYY_fTMMYx4wpXpsaZr5AD92CFCT00)

Image courtesy of Daily Candy

Is That Really Old Navy?

I have the inside info from a reliable source at Old Navy that these outfits are going to hit the shelves the first or second week in September.  Looks like these, at those prices?  Ready... set... shop!  Because you know these looks are going to go flying off the shelves.

From left, color-block cap-sleeved dress ($29.50) with bauble bracelet ($14.50), color-trim blazer ($39.50), color-block tank dress ($29.50) with skinny belt ($12.50)

Images courtesy of Old Navy

Bows Are Back... I Mean Front

Bows are no longer just for little girls, especially when they are a prominent statement on the front of a dress.  These bold additions scream "I am woman, hear me roar," in stark contrast to the menswear inspired fashion being seen as its Fall trend counterpart.  So put away your tie-back-dresses from summer and get ready for those bows to move about-face.

Behnaz Sarafpour Crinkle Bow-Front Dress

$1295

 

Jay Godfrey One-Shoulder Cocktail Mini Dress

$440

Marc by Marc Jacobs Velveteen Bow 

Dress $568

Katy Rodriguez Wool & Silk Bow Dress

$1380

In addition to dresses, you will see bow front blouses in all types of fabrics and price ranges, all over the place.  I especially like this one from the Gap.  It has a removable tie so that you aren't stuck with this trend forever.  It will nicely turn into a basic plain front blouse for next year.

Images courtesy of Saks.com and Gap.com

Mantyhose?????

hahahahahaha  I can't even begin to describe the look on my face when I found out about these.  I can say for the record, that I will never suggest these to my male clients as acceptable alternatives to socks... except for those needing an alternative to Spanx for drag.

This is just something you have to take a look at.  There is actually a site just to promote them into mainstream fashion.

Image courtesy of e-MANcipate.com

SF Fashion Week Taking a Break 2008

The sad truth of the fact is that the economy even affects the small economic bubble that is San Francisco. Hopefully this new election year will bring back the return of San Francisco Fashion Week. Here is what their MySpace page had to say on the issue:

San Francisco Fashion Week Takes a Vacation by Deborah Belgum, Senior Editor July 03, 2008

"For the first time in five seasons, San Francisco Fashion Week won’t be taking place this year. The show’s organizers, who launched the event in August 2004, said financial problems were forcing them to step back and reconsider the structure of the show.

'Although SFFW has continued to grow in popularity, the costs associated with the multiple-day event have also grown exponentially, both in terms of production and for the participating designers. As a result, San Francisco Fashion Week LLC has made the tough decision to postpone the event until it can become more financially stable and also affordable for the area’s best design talent,' the organizers said in a statement.

Producing a three-day runway show every August grew costlier after the event moved to a new location two years ago. Initially, San Francisco Fashion Week was held inside the 1,000-seat Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, an architectural gem in the city’s Marina District. But it wasn’t the ideal place to host a runway show.

In 2006, the show moved to the Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center, located in the trendier South of Market (SoMa) section of San Francisco. The Galleria’s four-story atrium, surrounded by walkways that overlooked the runway, was a better fit for a fashion show. However, it was much more expensive than the Palace of Fine Arts, a domed structure built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.

'We’ve decided to take a break this year and look at other ways to resolve the financial issues on this,' said Donna Berry, a spokesperson for San Francisco Fashion Week.

To view the rest please go to: http://www.apparelnews.net/fashion/news/San-Francisco-Fashion-Week-Takes-a-Vacation/page1 Thanks for all the love and support! "

(http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=94767970) image courtesy of MySpace.com

Bloomingdale's Shopping Event TONIGHT

Girl's Night Out August 7, 2008

Fashion Valley & San Francisco 6-8PM Stanford 2-4PM

Spend $200 in Y.E.S Contemporary Sportswear & get an exclusive snakeskin embossed studded cuff! (that's free stuff people)

Check out fall fashion's newest releases, sip tasty treats and get ready for your most rockin' season yet.

Image and info courtesy of Bloomingdales.

If I Had a Million Dollars...

... my closet would be stuffed full with everything from the Net-A-Porter.com (pronounced net-a-portay) website. I love this site because you can buy MANY hard to find runway items not found anywhere else. Admittedly, the site is very expensive. But that's the thing about runway clothing- there is a trickle-down effect that stems from the runways into mainstream fashion. So go ahead, eyeball that $6000 outfit with the Christian Louboutin shoes. When you do so, remember that you don't have to spend a million bucks to look like one. Print out that page and take it shopping with you. You can recreate similar outfits with a little know-how and some shoe leather. Take friends or a personal shopper along with you (had to throw a little plug in there for myself) for advice.
Here are three great style tips for fall fashion:

(1) Try Separates = blouses + skirts + bags
(2) Dress Up = jackets + dresses + boots
(3)Wear The Pants = knitwear + pants + belts

Images courtesy of Net-A-Porter.com

Men's Consolidation Sale at Saks SF

Saks scours their stores nation wide for the best menswear, then consolidates it into a hand full of lucky locations to be put on sale. It's time for the Menswear Consolidation Sale, and San Francisco is one of the lucky stores getting the goods.

Take an additional 25% off for a total of UP TO 70% OFF original prices. Get ready, sale starts August 7th.

August In-Store Designer Events at Saks SF

Here are the upcoming Designer events for Saks San Francisco.



Oscar de la Renta Fashion Show benefiting The League to Save Lake Tahoe
Saturday, August 2
The Fritz Family Home in Sunnyside
For ticket information, please call 530.541.5388

Oscar de la Renta 2009 Resort Collection Trunk Show
Monday, August 4 through Wednesday, August 6
10 to 5
Oscar de la Renta Boutique On Three
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 415.438.5292

St. John Fall Collection Trunk Show
Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28
10 to 5
St. John Department On Four
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 415.438.5395


SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

384 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-986-4300

HOURS
Monday - Wednesday, 10 AM - 7 PM
Thursday - Saturday, 10 AM - 8 PM
Sunday, 11 AM - 6 PM

Image and information courtesy of Saks.com

Dare to Go Bare.... Not Any More!

Ladies, enjoy those bare legs while you can. This fall is all about monochromatic outfits from head to toe. The defining trend of the season will be tights. Save your black and nude colored stockings for next year, this fall is all about color, and the hard to find hues of the season. This summer has been all about neon, a revival of 80's flash. When shopping for fall's biggest trend, think autumn crimsons, yellow ocher, persimmon, violet, blue.

Pictures courtesy of www.Style.com