Where I’d Like to Be Sept. 9: Evolving Influence 2010

If I were not having a baby, oh, any day now, here’s where I’d be come Sept. 9: Evolving Influence 2010, the blogger conference from Independent Fashion Bloggers. Coinciding with New York Fashion Week, the day-long conference is really a fashion blogger’s dream date with some of the most interesting and influential names, companies and bloggers in the space today. Plus, it’s only $60 – very affordable for a day of smashing networking and information from some really cool voices in the fashion space, among them folks from Blog Lovin’, Lookbook.nu, Style Bubble and New York magazine’s The Cut.

I watched much of last year’s conference online (it was live-streamed), and I’d highly recommend doing that if they offer it again this year and you are also one of the local fashion folks who, like me, will not be in New York this year during the Fashion Week mayhem.

Inside the Goodie Bag: Benefit Cosmetics

Here, a quick look inside the spoils of the Benefit Cosmetics goodie bag given out at the San Francisco style and beauty bloggers event hosted by Wit & Whimsy last week. [Read more...]

San Francisco Shopping Deals this Week

I keep such a close watch on shopping deals in San Francisco that I’m hard-pressed to ever pay full price. Usually when I do, it’s for a piece by a local designer that I have been eyeing for quite some time.

But really, with so many sales, discounts and giveaways happening these days from so many web sites (just counting the number of Groupon-esque deals sites out there right now makes my head spin), it’s easier than ever to get what you need for a little bit less.

One tip I’ll throw out there based on experience from both sides of the situation: blog giveaways are a great way to win free stuff. I don’t obsessively enter them, but I occasionally do, and you’d be surprised how many there are out there. I think my most fabulous win to date was a $170 Emma Carroll necklace from StyleBite. And on the other side of the coin, while we tend to get a good number of entries in our newsletter giveaways, the odds of winning often remain in the 1:20 or 1:25 realm. Not bad odds at all, especially if all you have to do is send a quick email to enter.

One such promotion I’d recommend getting in on this week: the Lia Kes top silent auction. Her clothes are gorgeous, and the proceeds go to a great cause, the Special Olympics.

As for other deals this week, check out the sales and promotions in the What’s the Deal roundup I put together today for 7×7:

What’s the Deal: Union Street Sidewalk Sale, Napoleon Perdis, aha yoga + More

More San Francisco deals

San Francisco Mission District Shopping

Looking for a guide to Mission shops and boutiques in San Francisco’s most indie-minded neighborhood? Et voila.

A story I’d been working on for several weeks ran in yesterday’s San Francisco Chronicle Style section, complete with a map to guide you to some of the Mission’s newest and most intriguing shops for apparel and accessories from vintage and local, independent sources. If you missed it in print, you can check it out online:

Mission District shops share a fierce focus on the unique

Also, anyone who appreciates vintage and work by local folks will get a kick out of all the hateraid-laced comments following the article. It constantly astounds me how quick people are to vilify anything to do with shopping, fashion or style. Last time I checked, most of us were pretty attached to wearing clothes. So if you’re going to put something on your body when you leave the house in the morning, isn’t buying something interesting, unique, eco-friendly and local preferable to just throwing money at fast fashion? Regardless, I never see such harsh comments when it comes to local stories about food, cocktails or cars.

San Francisco Shopping Deals this Week

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s summer sale season. If you’re looking for deals, there are a slew to be had in San Francisco this weekend. One of my personal favorites?

The 40 percent off boot sale at Collective/Taxi CDC right now. It’s happening through the end of the month. I stopped by earlier in the week to check it out and ended up trying on at least 15 pairs of vintage boots. My mission at the time was to find a flat-footed, lightweight pull-on boot that I can wear with summer dresses.

With boots, the challenge for me is always getting them over my Russian peasant woman calves, and I found that the vintage slouchy 80′s styles often fit much better than brand new boots in mainstream shoe stores. I found two pairs for around $35 each. It’s always lovely when you can get exactly what you want for less than you’d expected to pay and from a local, vintage, eco-friendly source at the same time. That’s what I consider a score.

For more deals in San Francisco from labels and stores ranging from Self Edge to Stellarocco and My Boudoir Lingerie, check out the weekly What’s the Deal round-up I put together and publish each Friday on 7×7.com.

While you’re at it, check out the entirely new look of 7×7.com. Whaddya think?