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Runway Recap: SF Fashion Week Runway 3 – Couture/Avant Garde Show

August 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A studded dress by Ken Chen and guitar case by Vayaro

This year’s San Francisco Fashion Week went out with a bang last Sunday night at its third runway show of the week, which focused on couture and avant garde designs. Held at Madrone Studios in the SOMA, the show featured local designers Vio Gemini, Ken Chen, Aya Yuroha and Diane Oo, Jackie Princeau, Homme by Dahae Elyse Kimm and Camelia Skikos.

Vio Gemini opened the show with decadent bridal gowns equipped with feathers, Victorian collars and decorative pleating. While most of the gowns were floor length, there were a few pieces with hemlines above the knees. These shorter dresses added a flirty, laid back flair to the classic bridal look.

Next up, contemporary designer Ken Chen paired with handbag label Vayaro for their collection in the show. The two brands blended together seamlessly as Vayaro’s bags added kicks of color to Chen’s mostly neutral, minimal designs.

Jackie Princeau’s array of shift dresses, tailored pants and clean cut tops channeled a classic Parisian chic vibe. Putting a spin on the simple style, the brand topped multiple looks with leather body pieces that added futuristic flair.

Homme by Dahae Elyse Kimm managed to effortlessly combine draping, sleek cuts and modern dye techniques into one fluid men’s collection. The most notable piece was an asymmetrical, dip-dyed jacket that immediately captivated the audience with its modern cut and high contrast.

Closing out the show was former Gap and Levi Strauss designer Camelia Skikos. Her designs, which featured vibrant pops of cobalt blue, showed the most adventurous use of color out of all the designers. Similar to Jackie Princeau’s body pieces, Skikos also used playful shoulder accessories, which added a fashionable spin to streamlined silhouettes.

Below, a few images from the show, produced by the San Francisco Fashion and Merchants Alliance:

A gown from Vio Gemini

An intricate jacket with wire detailing by Aya Yuroha and Diane Oo

A leather body piece by Jackie Princeau

A dip-dyed jacket by Homme by Dahae Elyse Kimm

A modern white cloak by Camelia Skikos

A simple tube dress with shoulder piece by Camelia Skikos

Photography courtesy Shaun Tiangsing

Filed Under: Custom garments, Indie Fashion, Local designers, San Francisco Fashion News, San Francisco Fashion Shows Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Don’t Miss These 5 Things at San Francisco Fashion Week

August 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

A quick overview of the SFFMA Fashion Week schedule

San Francisco Fashion Week is back. Brought to you by the San Francisco Fashion and Merchants Alliance, this year’s theme is A New Beginning and features three days of fashion shows and numerous fashion-related events in different venues around town.

The fashion runway shows, held over the weekend of Aug. 12-14, have been broken up into categories: Emerging Designers, Ready to Wear and Avant Garde/Couture, with one running each night, Friday through Sunday. In addition to the shows, there will also be style events, workshops and art exhibits happening around the city. Here are five things happening this week you will not want to miss:

1. 5 Claude Lane’s Fashion & Art Installation Reception. August 11, 2011. 5 Claude Lane Gallery, 5 Claude Lane, 6-10 pm.

The organizers are encouraging attendees to dress up and get into the fashion frenzy at 5 Claude Lane Gallery on Thursday night for fashion displays and installations featuring up-and-coming designers such as Amanda Everest of Lucky Lu Designs, Michele Battise  of Batisse Fashions and Kajan Padraig, to name a few. The Gallery will also be displaying art by Ross M. Fink and Maya Kabat. It’s also a free event – a great option if you don’t love runway shows or just want to little taste of fashion week.

2. Social Media Workshop at Pigment Cosmetics. August 9, 2011. One Market Street, Studio # 2. Doors open at 6 pm. Tickets available here.

If managing a Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, Google Reader and Flickr account feels massively overwhelming, to head to Pigment Cosmetics on August 9th for a social media boot camp. aimed at helping local fashion industry folks gain a better understanding of today’s popular social media outlets and discover useful tips on how they can benefit your company.

An SFFMA event at Pigment Cosmetics

3. Lucky Lu‘s Collection at Runway Show 1: Emerging Designers. August 12, 2011, Wix Lounge 2601 Mission St. Doors open at 6 pm. Tickets here.

We’re intrigued by the fun, retro-inspired pieces and charmingly feminine details from Lucky Lu. Shapes for a variety of body types and vintage flair make us want to see more from this emerging designer.

4. Keneuoe Vivere‘s Collection at Runway Show 2: Ready to Wear. August 13, 2011, Wix Lounge 2601 Mission St. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets here.

Keneoue Vivere’s line features designs that manage to stay modest and professional without losing fashion forward edge. Along with ready-to-wear, Vivere also offers custom made garments in the fabrics of your choice. A few shots from the designer’s Prior Fall Collection:

5. Camelia Skikos‘ collection at Runway Show 3: Avant Garde/Couture.  August 14 2011, Wix Lounge 2601 Mission St. Doors open at 6 pm. Tickets here.

Best known for her edgy, sophisticated and and just the slightest bit quirky dresses, Skiko reveals a fascination with the human body through her flattering, geometric designs. Below are a few pieces from her Fall/Winter 2010 collection. Head to the show to see what she has in store for next season.

Check out San Francisco Fashion Week for the full list of events.

Photography courtesy (from top) San Francisco Fashion Week, SFFMA, Lucky Lu, Curt H. Bentzinger, Keneoue Vivere and Camelia Skikos.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Fashion & Tech, Indie Fashion, Local designers, San Francisco Fashion News, San Francisco Fashion Shows Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

On Edge: Meet Rising Designer Camelia Skikos

March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While some designers draw inspiration from the schoolgirl look to make preppy plaid skirts paired with chunky knitted cardigans, up-and-coming womenswear fashion designer Camelia Skikos instead turned to her school uniform from communist-era Romania to make bold, edgy pieces that would have surely gotten her sent home.

“I was really inspired by the first experience I had with fashion. I used to modify my school uniform in communist Romania and get in trouble. I want my clothes to make people feel special and escape from monotony and uniformity,” explains Skikos, who was recently named one of 7×7 magazine’s Top 20 Under 40.

Skikos hasn’t lost touch with her rebellious nature when it comes to fashion. Her last two collections featured body-skimming dresses with geometric shapes and cage-like leather cutouts influenced by architecture and sculptures from the likes of Yves Klein, Anish Kapoor and Alexander Calder.

Prior to launching her eponymous collection in 2010, the graduate of Romania’s University of Art designed for various brands in London before winning a lottery-based visa to come to the United States, where she has held positions as head designer for Levi Strauss, designer for Gap and fashion design instructor at the Academy of Art University.

Now, the Diamond Heights resident spends her days in front of an enviable skyscraper view of the city while behind her stands a tall bookshelf stocked with books devoted to fashion and illustration. Despite her glamorous view, Skikos may set her sights elsewhere.

“I’m just about to start my research for the next collection. I always need to travel a little bit before I start. I’m very inspired by the energy of different places and people,” says Skikos of her forthcoming spring/summer 2012 collection, which she expects to launch in the fall.

The designer herself may soon be abroad, but you can find her designs ($300 to $800) locally in the Mission at Wonderland Boutique and at Soma’s 440 Brannan.

Photography courtesy of Claudia Goetzelmann for Camelia Skikos

Filed Under: Indie Fashion, Local designers, San Francisco Fashion News Tagged With: , ,