It’s a Wrap: Ali Golden Wrap Vests

Yesterday afternoon, I happened to stop by Shotwell in Union Square and discover these wonderfully unique, versatile and cozy reversible wrap vests by Ali Golden. (Thanks much to owner Holly for pointing them out to me!) I was immediately taken with them and couldn’t wait to post them on SF Indie Fashion and feature them on the 7×7 Glamwatch blog. By a funny twist of fate, Golden herself turned up at the store minutes later, so I got the chance to meet her in person and chat for a few minutes.

A local designer and FIDM student, Golden makes these vests using 100 percent wool. Each is handmade, one-of-a-kind and can be worn on either side and with the dramatic, drapey hoods up or down. As for what to pair them with, the sky’s the limit. Golden says she’s donned them over cocktail dresses to holiday parties, on top of baggy tees during the daytime and with baby doll dresses and boots for venturing around town.

Just don’t let the preppy plaid fool you. When I asked Golden how she landed on this design, she surprised me by saying she’d actually derived the idea from science fiction.

In her words:

“These vests were initially inspired by some of the most fantastic dystopian science fiction artistic endeavors (which i can never get enough of) and my very own post-apocalyptic ideas… When I first started designing them, I liked the idea of a huge protective hood (very post-apocalyptic), but it was obviously extremely important that the vests were as wearable and flattering as they were conceptually interesting. So after experimenting with different ideas, I decided to create a reversible wrap vest with a gigantic hood that also acted as a large collar/lapel.”

Golden is currently at work on her first collection and blogs about her endeavors on her site Creativity Killed the Cat. Be on the lookout for more high drama hoods, as well as knit and woven dresses, come spring. Right now, the only place you can view these beauties in person (unless, of course, you happen to have an in with the designer) is at Shotwell.

The artistic photos are all Golden’s own – she’s also a graphic designer who loves to play with things in Photoshop. The two at the bottom featuring the green vest are ones I took yesterday – thanks to sis-in-law Heather’s willingness to be a guinea pig (you rock!).

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