May 21, 2013

Future Fragrance: Ineke’s Hothouse Flower

Due out this September is the latest fragrance from artisanal San Francisco perfumer Ineke. With notes of gardenia and tea, the new Hothouse Flower scent continues the local company’s tradition of offering up fragrances with botanical roots and everyday wearability.

One of our favorite ways to try this line without committing to an entire bottle – and also an amazing hostess gift – is the Ineke Deluxe Sampler Collection. It’s $25 and includes sample size versions off the line’s seven scents.

More San Francisco beauty

Ineke Fragrance Contest

San Francisco perfumer Ineke is known for its unusual and, many would say, addictive scents. This week, the company is offering a chance to win a full-size bottle from its new Floral Curiosities fragrance collection.

To enter, head to the Ineke Facebook contest page, fill out a few simple questions (don’t worry, we weren’t sure how to rank the scents, either). But do your best, and you’ll be in the running.

More San Francisco beauty

The Do List: San Francisco Fashion Events April 11-17

Bay Area fashion fans won’t be bored this week, thanks to the sheer variety of style-minded events on the SF Indie Fashion Calendar in the days ahead. What’s in store? Oh just the City’s biggest live fashion competition, a nightclub runway show featuring local designers, a vintage fashion fair, a noteworthy Berkeley trunk show, the preview night for Discarded to Divine and much, much more.

  • Start the week off with a bang by heading to the Fashion Feud Final Competition on Tuesday night, when the winning designers from the three previous rounds will compete in a rapid-fire 60-minute sewing competition while attendees drink, mingle and shop from local vendors. Once designers Crystal Hermann, Kryztina Lazar and Sally Marie Hahn have completed their garments, models will compete in a walk-off before judges Joseph Domingo, Zoe Hong and John Robblee.
  • On Thursday, Project Ethos brings an evening of local art, music and fashion to the clubby-club atmosphere of Ruby Skye. During the 10 p.m. fashion show, local names such as MENK, Danielle Pettee and Zoe Hong will show their apparel alongside the Frederick’s of Hollywood swimwear collection.
  • Friday evening brings the first chance to view the apparel, accessories and items for the home created by local and nationally-recognized designers for Discarded to Divine, an annual fashion event and auction showcasing work made using cast-off or recycled textiles in support of St. Vincent de PaulĀ  Society and its programs. While the main event isn’t until April 28, a free preview night at the de Young Museum offers the public a chance to view for the first time garments from designers such as Louisa Parris, gr.dano, Christopher Collins, Connie Walkershaw, Shay Miles and many others.
  • Once Saturday sets in, there are two reasons to hit the Bay Bridge. The all-day Alameda Point Vintage Fashion Faire brings over 50 vendors offering apparel and accessories for men and women hailing from as far back as the Victorian era to the 1980′s. If you missed the recent Vintage Fashion Expo, this is another excellent opportunity to scope out professional vintage dealers and their wares. For new merch from independent sources, head to Berkeley for the Rue Atelier Spring Trunk Show, featuring apparel by Sofie Olgaard, hats by O’Lover Hats milliner Elwyn Crawford and scents from perfumer Ineke Ruhland. All designers will be in the store for the event, and you’ll also find bubbly and treats sweetening the deal.

You can find details on all of these events and more happening this week on the SF Indie Fashion Calendar.

A Very Indie Christmas

As almost everyone who knows me is well aware, I try to shop from small, independent labels and companies whenever possible. So you can imagine, Christmas was no exception. In fact, it was a very indie Christmas in my world.

Under the tree for me this year:

Ciara Convertible Clutch by Melie Bianco, available at Fancy French Cologne. I love this bag because it can be worn in multiple ways and is made of vegan faux "leather."

Deluxe Sample Collection by Ineke. I love Ineke perfume, but I like to use different scents all the time, so this sampler was perfect for me - a great way to have all of this local perfumer's scents on hand instead of committing to just one. At the moment, I think Derring-Do is my favorite for daytime.

Downtown Dress, Maison by House of Spy. This dress was available at Heritage Row in San Francisco this fall. Not sure if it is still in stock, but I love how easy-to-wear it is. Goes with everything, very comfortable, but stylish - and a bonus for me - something even a breastfeeding mom can wear (yes, that dictates so many of my fashion choices these days - gotta have easy access).

Hero Utility Belt by Onanya. Another baby-friendly find. I was having trouble carrying any kind of handbag when I have my son in the Baby Bjorn. This solves the problem. I can carry my phone, wallet, keys, etc. and have him strapped on all at the same time.

A few of the gifts I gave this year:

Personalized Snowflake Ornament by Cheeky Frills. For my godson's 2nd Christmas.

Houndstooth Hoodie by Mvand. For my brother-in-law, who is in constant need of "labeless, trendy, skater sweatshirts." This fit the bill and was made-to-order in Portland. It's also super lightweight - great for the warm Marin weather.

Grandmothers Charm Necklace by Thoughtfully Adorned. For my mother-in-law, who has a charm bracelet and requested a special charm to commemorate my son's birth. The designer made two charms for me, one with his name and birthdate and another with baby shoes in a heart.

Karate Casual Pants by Beta Brand. Very lightweight chill-out pants, another purchase for my bro-in-law.

And now onto the year-end-sales (my husband and I often don’t buy anything for each other before Christmas because, when it comes to clothes and accessories, you’ll often find them MUCH cheaper just two days after Christmas. It’s like a knife in the chest to see something half-priced 48 hours later. So we buy for everyone else before the big day and then shop for each other afterward).

Ineke’s Lastest Scent: Gilded Lily

San Francisco perfumer Ineke has added another scent to its fragrance collection. Dubbed Gilded Lily ($88), the seventh scent from the classically-trained Ineke Ruhland mixes top notes of pineapple and rhubarb with the floral scent of Goldband Lily and base notes of earthy patchouli and oakmoss.

To celebrate the new scent’s arrival, the company is offering free shipping through Nov. 11.

A way to try all Ineke’s scents comes in the form of the Deluxe Sample Collection, which features sample sizes of all seven scents packed in a hard gift box (perfect for wrapping up and bestowing on someone you dig). Even better? The budget-friendly $25 price tag.

Photography courtesy of Ineke