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Look like Kate - High Fashion/Low Budget in San Francisco
- by karey_ann
- -
- April 20, 2009
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A guide to maintaining your rep as a superior Fashionista in hard times (what, you can’t afford to buy that $6000 Chloe dress now that your third start-up went belly-up? We’re crying for you, we really are). Even if you take the moral high ground (“paying more than $50 for an outfit is socially irresponsible” nag, nag), in SF there are always ways you can still look highly expensive.
Step #1
FIND YOUR FASHION MUSE (S)
The Sartorialist
A frickin’ fantastic site – blogmaster and talented photographer Scott Schuman put his two talents together to make The Sartorialist.com. Mr. Schuman posts pictures of the enviably put-together on his site and lets the style obsessed minions gush and gossip (which they do, amply). The “every day” people photographed here show how the newest trends are worn “in the wild”. They will blow you away, as will the quality of Schuman’s photographs.
A woman caught by Schuman's camera in Milan
Vogue.com
Yeah, I know you are too cool for such a pop-y site. But they have videos of Everyone’s most recent runway shows. So get over yourself – the web address is so easy to remember, you don’t even have to bookmark it if you are that embarrassed. Jeez.
Step #2
PEOPLE WATCH
Possibly the best way to meld your personal aesthetic with the unique flavor that is the Bay Area. Even though SF isn’t renowned for cutting edge fashion, you can still be inspired by those around you . . . just pay attention. Best places to grab a tasty beverage and gape:
Revolution Cafe
3248 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Situated deep in the Mission. Take in the Hipster meets 40s elegance – LOVE IT – but leave the dirty “neon” Hipster out of memory.
Situated deep in the Mission. Take in the Hipster meets 40s elegance – LOVE IT – but leave the dirty “neon” Hipster out of memory.
Golden Gate Perk Internet Cafe
401 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108
2nd story seating makes this a perfect voyeur perch with plenty of places to stare: the hyper-fashioned stylists and patrons at nearby Festoon, the brand-name retail proprietors out for lunch in their newest offerings, the chain-smoking Academy of Art students and purveyors of black, black, black across the street.
2nd story seating makes this a perfect voyeur perch with plenty of places to stare: the hyper-fashioned stylists and patrons at nearby Festoon, the brand-name retail proprietors out for lunch in their newest offerings, the chain-smoking Academy of Art students and purveyors of black, black, black across the street.
District Wine Lounge
216 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
For a look at the bourgee winos.
For a look at the bourgee winos.
Best Fashionable People Watching
Plant yourself at Revolution Cafe to catch a glimpse of the Elegant Hipster
Step #3
ATTEND “THE SHOWS”
Chillin events
The brainchild of husband and wife team Irene and Houston, this event has seen many manifestations and a few different venues. It is a laid-back yet high-energy nighttime marketplace where local and non-local designers alike come to show and, hopefully sell, their wares in a trunk show layout. The amount of talented designers and fresh ideas will get your head swimming, as will the beverages and live bands that lend themselves to the festive air. Lucky attendees will run into Irene who is disarmingly beautiful and gracious. Definitely a see-and-be-seen venue, so dress accordingly.
Sample Sales
Few and far between and in random spots, sample sales are a great way to get pristine designer clothing and accessories for a fraction of the price if you’re willing to get them a couple seasons late. Daily Candy is a great way to hear about them:
STEP #4
SHOP
Indie shopping website - get the boutique locals
A good web resource for boutique shopping in SF is Indie Shopping SF please ignore the leopard print site background (what were they thinking?). The only missing are Therapy in the Mission and Lower Hater in the (duh) Lower Haight, where it is always easy to load up on of-the-moment accessories – Lower Hater has one-of-a-kind pieces from local designers – bonus points for garments made from recycled materials!
Therapy
545 Valencia St. San Francisco, CA 94110
Step #5
SWIM THE MAINSTREAM
Yeah, I know you are also too cool for these stores. But they have amazing runway copies that are a lot easier to wear and A LOT cheaper. Not great places to buy cornerstone, classic wardrobe pieces but both adequate for trend buys. So wrap yourself up your best incog-inducing headscarf and head downtown, just don’t tell anyone I told you.
Step #6
STRETCH YOUR SHOE BUDGET
Shoes, beautiful designer shoes! At Rabat – all in the $100-$500 price range. Look for sales to drop your shoe-expenses around August and end of Feb. My personal trick that I can’t believe I am sharing with you? Lots of smaller size shoes aren’t purchased and are put on sale. Snap ‘em up, get ‘em stretched at a cobbler. Some can stretch a pair of flats two sizes for as little as $20, like Jack’s Shoe Service. I can’t believe I just told you that. Really.
SHOP
STEP #7
FIND A GREAT TAYLOR, WORK A LITTLE HARDER TO BEFRIEND THAT AMAZING SEAMSTRESS . . . OR (gasp) LEARN TO SEW
Get those outdated legwarmers magically turned into the latest cropped cowl-neck sweater. Turn your floor-length taffeta bridesmaid dress into a show-stopping mini-skirt. Convert those Crocs into . . . um, no, just throw those Crocs away, preferably into the neighbor’s trash bin to avoid being found out.
Great seamstresses for hire:
Glenda Pongiglione (415) 282-2161
learn to Sew at Stitch Lounge
If you have the sewing asset, High Fashion on a Low Budget just got a lot easier on your wilting pocketbook, and A LOT more fun! Create your own patterns and looks and churn them out yourself – Stitch Lounge Urban Sewing is an a killer space for learning to express yourself through creating your own duds.
Final step: Strut Your Stuff
Just be sure you can actually walk in your shoes!
Other resources for San Francisco fashion
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I LOVE this guide. People watching (and criticizing) is a craft and one I’m damn good at.
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Stitch Lounge is on my list of places to go when I FINALLY make it out to SF, date to be determined. Yay craft!
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This guide puts Denver to shame… Denver is a city where it is challenging to get inspired by fashion… unless you are in Aspen and like to explore the idea of wearing different animals on your feet and ankles.
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