Sneak Peek: Clary Sage Organics Spring 2011 Collection

After SF Indie Fashion scoped out the latest apparel from Pacific Heights shop Clary Sage in a recent update on Fillmore Street shopping, we were happy to snag a few shots of their Spring 2011 collection for women, now available in-store.

Check out these looks from Clary Sage’s yoga-inspired collection, whose casual pieces will compliment a session at the studio just as easily as they’ll tag along with you on weekend brunch. To view the entire collection, visit the store at 2241 Fillmore Street:

Photography courtesy Clary Sage Organics

Gilt City’s Jordana Takes Us On a City Tour

Jordana Havriluk of Gilt City San Francisco

We’re the first to admit that we don’t know it all, and, as such, we’re always interested in what connoisseurs have to say.

For a worthwhile dose of city-centric connoisseur input, we turn to Gilt City San Francisco, the local arm of flash sale giant Gilt Group, and its curator Jordana Havriluk, whose job demands knowing San Francisco shopping and beauty inside and out.

Among her favorites: great local destinations from the top of Twin Peaks to Sacramento Street boutique Sarah Shaw, the Presidio’s SenSpa to Pinkies nail salon and the Nob Hill Spa.

Read on as Havriluk guides us on a style-minded tour of San Francisco must-visits.

Vitals

Years in SF: I’ve lived in San Francisco for 3 1/2 years as a practicing “adult” – which is not counting my 4 years at Berkeley!

‘Hood you live in: NOPA – North of the Panhandle

Favorite SF street: I have to pick just one? Fine, but it’s tough. I’m going to have to say my favorite street in San Fran is Fillmore Street. There is such great shopping (Heidi Says), people watching (The Grove) and eating and drinking (SPQR, La Meditteranee and DOSA). Not to mention movies at the Kabuki Theater and the best chocolate chip cookie in the city (maybe the world?) from Fraiche.

If you had to be quarantined in one SF neighborhood for the rest of your life, which one would you choose and why? NOPA. I love my neighborhood, what can I say! It’s totally up-and-coming and centrally located – which is great when you don’t have a car (like me!). There is so much to do here that being quarantined wouldn’t even be a problem.  There’s Fly Bar for a low-key night of shooting pool, Bar Crudo for the best happy hour – including fish tacos and clam chowder, Ragazza for thin crust, authentic pizza and Falletti’s grocery store for all of the local produce you need to get you through your quarantine!

Favorite SF view: Twin Peaks, hands-down. Hike up on a sunny day for a panoramic view of the Bay Area from the South Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond. It’s incredible.

San Francisco Musts

What’s your favorite place to pick up apparel and accessories by local designers and labels? HELLO by Candystore Collective is an amazing place to find local designers and small, niche brands. Jennifer Jones does an incredible job editing her collections and keeping the store full of clothing and accessories that are completely unique yet extremely wearable.  Not to mention they have jars upon jars of old fashion candy…which can sometimes make fitting into their cute clothing a bit of a challenge!

We need some oh-so-San Francisco clothes for our everyday travels in the City, including a great layering pieces, durable denim and a cozy sweater or two. What boutique would you send us to for a solid selection of wardrobe staples? Seams boutique on Union – the owner Stephanie is also the best!  The store is stocked with brands that work for any and every occasion. I was going on a first date, and I didn’t have anything to wear to dinner out at Benu so I ran over to Seams and the staff had me dressed in no time flat. Oh, and that date night turned into a second, and a third and a…

We’re seriously in need of a dial-down…where would you send us for an indulgent afternoon at the spa? Undoubtedly SenSpa.  Every time I go there I leave feeling uber Zen, completely relaxed and refreshed. My favorite, most San Franciscan, new-agey service to get is the intuitive body treatment.  It’s a holistic mix of mediation, massage, aromatherapy and other healing therapies. Crystals, stones, sound and a good rub down?  Yes please!

Our next special occasion calls for a fun party dress, and we want to stand out from the crowd. Where can we find a great look that we won’t see on every girl at the ball? Sarah Shaw on Sacramento Street carries all of my favorite designers. She carries everything from super chic LBDs to bright and colorful jaw dropping frocks that will help a girl make a splash no matter where she goes.  Make sure to ask for Alex when you get there – she’s an incredible stylist and so much fun to work with!

We want to step up our beauty routine in preparation for our next vacation-big meeting-romantic date….any suggestions? Ok, here we go: Pinkies for the best mani-pedi in San Fran. Nob Hill Spa for facial – and don’t forget to sit on the patio afterward for a spa lunch and a few rays of sunshine. Lashes by Liv for super lush extensions. Preston Nesbit for color – everyone always asks how my color looks so vibrant but natural! And finally Patrick Richards for cut, because he is as skilled a stylist as you will find anywhere and will always leave you in a good mood.

More San Francisco shopping

The Easy, Eco Glam of Frock LA

First off, don’t let the L.A. thing deter you: Frock Los Angeles has Bay Area ties through and through. Not only is it eco-minded in an oh-so-San Francisco way, it’s the debut label from U.C. Berkeley grad Victoria Tik and will be hitting the runway at the Charity Fashion Show coming up on April 2 at Fort Mason. But here’s what really drew us in: the line’s easygoing style, which pairs sustainability with subtle vintage appeal.

We recently got a sneak peek at the label’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection, and we’re happy to be able to share a few shots with you. Tik has created a collection ($90-$220) of quietly elegant women’s apparel that’s cut to flatter a variety of body shapes, made of eco-friendly fabrics such as certified organic cotton, bamboo and soy and – adding to the low maintenance California vibe – each piece can be machine washed and tumbled dry. Neutrals and muted, pair-with-anything hues such as leaf and dark grey make the pieces all the more versatile. Like what you see below? You’ll find Frock LA at indie-friendly retailers such as Moxsie, UStrendy and Fashionstake.

We’re especially enamored of the reversible Angie dress, which can be worn with either a plunging neckline or as a sophisticated cowl neck backless number, and the deep v-neck Ashlee jumpsuit, designed by Vanessa Curry of the Pussycat Dolls.

The Ashlee jumpsuit (left) and Angie dress from the Fall/Winter 2011 lookbook

This dress can be worn as show or reversed, with the deep V in back.

Designed by Vanessa Curry, the jumpsuit has a hand sewn twist in front, an elastic drop-waist and pockets.

Designer Victoria Tik in her studio

More eco-friendly San Francisco fashion….

Photography courtesy Ian Maxion and (studio shot) Jennu Huong for Frock LA

Good Stuff: Finds at Vintage Fashion Expo

The Vintage Fashion Expo is completely wonderful and also completely overwhelming. I left Saturday’s event after several hours feeling like I’d only scratched the surface. But really there’s so much there that I think you could spend all day and still walk out thinking that.

The booths contained clothing and accessories from the high-end to, frankly, the B.O.-tinged. Most vendors fell somewhere in between, and many were traveling versions of small vintage boutiques dotting the West. I saw signs from Scottsdale to Venice Beach and back.

Of course I became immersed in wandering among the racks and forgot to take adequate notes, so there aren’t any vendor names attached to these (bad reporter, I know, but sometimes I like to just forget about the reporting part of it all and just enjoy it as I go).

A few images from Saturday:

Snake bracelets, priced at $75 each

I was in love with this leather jacket, but it was too big. Love the curved hem and v-neck.

Perfect condition Levi's

New obsession: mesh purses. The purses in the next few shots were from the 1920's and cost in the neighborhood of $400 each.

Apparently, these are all Whiting & Davis bags. The mesh is handpainted.

The vendor for the mesh bags in this picture and the ones above is The Nostalgic Lady.

A mesh bag at another vendor

An upcycled cashmere sweater with an original design by Stella Neptune

Once you get past the Katherine Chancellor hands...you'll see my one purchase: an owl ring with blue and light brown stones. I love the colors, and it also has an expandable elastic band, so you can wear it on any finger.

All photography taken quickly and unprofessionally with an iPhone

Snap Judgment: Bright Light Designs Sagitta Ring

Our very-visual, (almost) chatter-free snap judgment of the day: the wink of elegant danger from the hand-fabricated Sagitta ring in polished brass, $85, by Oakland’s Bright Light Designs, the limited production jewelry house of artist Meagan Esther Reelitz.

More snap judgments