San Francisco Independent Fashion
Our very-visual, (almost) chatter-free snap judgment of the day: the oh-so-chic sophistication of the carrot-shaped Lis Cream pants, $109, made of biodegradable Tencel fabric by San Francisco-based eco-friendly label Amour Vert. Wear the tapered legs rolled or down for an array of summer looks.
More snap judgments…
Thankfully for local ladies, you don’t need a week at the beach to make sense of the new summer 2011 collection from Zoe Bikini. That’s because the latest styles to arrive in the San Francisco swimwear label’s Mission boutique are just as ready for summer music festivals, Russian River dips and Dolores Park days as they are for the sand.
Designer Zoe Magee has been covering the necessary parts of Bay Area babes from her current Mission location for well over four years (and that’s on top of nearly two decades sewing swimsuits) and keeps it local by manufacturing each suit right here in San Francisco. Though her suits are undeniably sexy little numbers, Magee puts an emphasis on creating suits for a variety of body types and is happy to tweak styles to get the perfect fit.
“Within each collection, I design different style tops and bottoms, and they can all mix and match depending on what your body type and interests are. When necessary, I can tailor to fit and make minor adjustments to existing garments,” she tells us.
With some pieces currently in the store and others scheduled to arrive over the course of the next month, the current collection (tops and bottoms sold separately and start at $68) features simple hardware and a color palette of charcoal, burgundy, teal and bright white alongside several suits that mix solids and prints. Details such as fringe, ruching and braided straps add visual interest.
“The whole collection is about having fun, feeling sexy and looking good,” says Magee.
Below, more pics from the collection.
Photography courtesy of Zoe Bikini
More San Francisco fashion news…
With a holiday weekend on the horizon, there’s much to do for style-seekers in San Francisco this week. On the SF Indie Fashion Calendar, find ways to master your unruly locks, indulge in shoes both sexes will adore, mingle with fashion bloggers, witness a styling competition, shop with smashing views of the Bay and party hard in support of local art and independent designers.
You can find details on all of these events and more happening this week on the SF Indie Fashion Calendar.
Convertible bike purse by Haley Toelle
At last week’s California College of the Arts 2011 annual fashion show, students’ design creativity was on display as graduating seniors presented looks ranging from the functional to the feminine, with sheer fabrics and asymmetrical one-shoulder pieces appearing in more than one collection.
Fashion show sponsor Surface magazine presented two awards at the end of the evening. Surface Designer of the Year went to Patricia Lucia Arroyo, who stole quite a bit of the audience’s attention with a sexy dress draped in chains. Johnny Paul Vera, with his bold and sheer feminine suits, took Surface’s second award, a New York City internship with Nicole Miller.
An opening segment, titled ‘Fashion Functional Gear’, came started the show with a wow-inducing its first piece, a slick convertible bike purse by Haley Toelle. The segment showed pieces from a class devoted to blending fashion and industrial design. Sustainability was another demonstrated theme, thanks to the use of natural and organic fabrics in many student pieces.
Check out these photos for other CCA fashion show highlights:
Hooded wrap coat by Jacky Safer
Graphic print slip dress and coat by Jacky Safer
Silk chiffon dress by Anna Huang
Suit by Johnny Paul Vera, recipient of Surface Magazine's Nicole Miller Internship in New York City
Second suit by Johnny Paul Vera
Third suit by Johnny Paul Vera
Zipper-seamed dress by Patricia Lucia Arroyo, Surface Magazine's Designer of the Year
Chain dress by Patricia Lucia Arroyo
Photography by Christophe Tomatis
The Sophie (left), $195, features three-quarter sleeves and a mid-thigh length, while the Tilda, $245, channels '50's chic.
Vintage appeal awaits in the long-sleeved Pauline (left), $265. The easy-going Tess, $195, remains versatile and universally flattering in double-knit with an empire waist.
Going all night is overrated. It’s going all day that’s the real challenge. To help with that, there’s Lesley Evers, a Berkeley-based designer whose easy-to-wear dresses, tunics and skirts pair poppy prints and cheery hues with updated takes on retro-minded silhouettes.
For summer, Evers’ eponymous line includes day dresses, A-line skirts and classic tunics in prints ranging from mod graphic dots to oversized blooms. Cinched waists on styles such as the Tilda and Pauline bring structure to those who seek it, while options like the Sophie and Tess shown here are as comfortable and forgiving to wear as they are feminine.
Want to see the latest from Evers one fine day soon? It’s available in boutiques around the country, but Bay Area fans can head to Oakland’s Bella Vita tomorrow for a trunk show featuring bubbly and the latest from the local line.
More local designers….
