I just got back from the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show and boy, do I have a story to tell!

As I stood in the basement of the Regency Center in San Francisco, I thought I was in a club with the psychedelic lights, music boomin’ and the snaking line to the bar. I stood there with my camera scoping out the crowd to see if I can snap a few shots of stylish people at the pre-party. But before I could even think of asking someone to take their picture, the crowd started to herd themselves upstairs to the Grand Ballroom for the runway show.

I took my seat and heard the hobnobbing and schmoozing around me when all of a sudden, a Gen Art usher came up to me and said she was an avid reader of “Dressed.” It put a smile on my face and it made me feel so worthy!

The lights began to dim and after regional event director, Dana Castro gave a few words (and after I spotted Kara Saun in the audience - I swear, she’s following me), the show started off with Janezic by Michele Janezic:

Her collection invoked the style of actress and singer, Jane Birkin via Earthy tones and ’60s and ’70s panache. As I watched the collection make it’s way down the runway, I couldn’t help but feel grounded. The plaids added an interesting feeling of masculine warmth to the collection, while the use of chiffon in some of the garments gave a delightful feeling of feminine airiness.

Next up was Distilled by Matty Merrill…

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I liked all the collections, but this one had to be my personal favorite of the evening - but I think I might have a bias because it’s a men’s line. Most of the time, I give a lot of attention on men’s designers because it is seldom done. Merrill’s vision with this collection had stylish geek appeal, sartorial wit and boyish charm. From the striped socks to the vibrant colors, I was hooked from the very first look. I loved his use of seersucker blazers and pants. More than that, I find that the risky pairing of slim shorts and blazers confident and endearing. If Angus Young of AC/DC, Jeff Spicoli from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” Pee-Wee Herman and Screech from “Saved by the Bell” had a lovechild, Merrill’s collection would be it.

After the Distilled collection - I ran across a problem. It seemed that my camera did not want to cooperate with me that night. It was acting all wonky and I was getting very frustrated because the Podoll collection was about to take the runway. After missing a few of the looks, the camera started to work in my favor - but not totally. I did manage to get one good shot from the work by designers Lauren Berdell Podoll & Josh Podoll:

Using silk satin, bamboo linen and Italian cotton knits, the design duo experiment with shape in ways that aren’t too avant garde. The collection flowed together in a Japanese minimalist sort of way. Origami-style dresses floated on the runway while the plain color palette made us pay more attention to the construct of the garments.

My camera starting to agree with me by the time Sara Shepherd’s collection started coming out:

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Not a stranger to fashion shows, Academy of Art alum, Shepherd (who has also showed at New York Fashion Week) had a fierce collection of garments inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - and a stylish adventure it was. With garments named “Queen of Spades dress” and “Mad Hatter jacket,” Shepherd pushes us down the rabbit hole of some finely made clothing. Combining masculine tailoring with soft elegance, she creates some beautiful pieces that are not only eye-catching, but smart and flawless - particularly the main look pictured above. I LOVED that model. She knew how to work that runway and then some.

And last but certainly not least, Amy Sarabi graced the runway with her creative presence…

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Sarabi’s collection was the most intriguing in that she has a way with manipulating shape that makes it odd and beautiful at the same time. I am freaked out by the mushroom silk jersey top (main picture above) - but in a good way. As the garments trotted down the runway I couldn’t help but lean in and take in all I can of each petal on the petal skirt, the pleats in the pants and each panel on the twenty panel skirt. There is the kind of fashion experimentation that turns into a circus and then there is the kind of experimentation that is executed so well that it sticks to your eyes long after it leaves the runway - Sarabi does the latter.

And as always, there’s my favorite part of all runway shows. When the designers come out with their respective collections…

That certainly was a breath of fresh fashion air…

Last Wednesday, I attended the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion launch party in at the Cinda home store in San Francisco.

The place was hustlin’ and bustlin with some fancy people in anticipation for their Fresh Faces in Fashion show on Aug. 22. Although not directly related, this event serves as the unofficial launch of San Francisco Fashion Week, which lasts from Aug. 23-25.

The show is virtually an event for up and coming designers to strut their stuff. Big honchos in the industry like Zac Posen and Chaiken were discovered through Gen Art, so this thing is quite a big deal.

But that night, Project Runway Alum, Kara Saun was the star of the night. She was there on behalf of Botox. Okay, I know what you’re thinking - she was not there to promote it in THAT way. Kara was chosen as the fashion industry expert to promote it as an aid for excessive underarm sweating for women.

So yeah, it may sound kind of silly, but it’s true. Some women can’t even wear their favorite clothing because of uber-pit stains so that’s when Botox steps in - and if Kara says its good, then it must be.

After chattin’ about the cause for a little bit, Kara (who was in a lovely dress she made herself and this FIERCE gold ring) and I gabbed a little bit.

“I’ve been traveling a lot lately,” she says. “I showed at this past L.A. fashion week, still doing costume design and pretty much staying busy.”

I also talked her ear off about how much I loved her season (she was in the very first one) of Project Runway. When she gets the chance, she watches the new seasons, but she is always on the go. The next day she was off to New York for another Gen Art event.

“Everytime I come to San Francisco, it’s always business,” she says. “I have never really got to relax and enjoy this city, but one day I will.”

Well, when she comes back Wednesday for the Gen Art show, hopefully she will have time.

As for the scene at Cinda, it was oozing with finely dressed folks…

However, there were some in particular that caught my eye…

At this Wednesday’s fashion show, Amy Sarabi, distilled, JANEZIC, Podoll and Sara Shepherd will be showcasing their collections, while accessories designers amytorello, bryna nicole and
NolaBella Jewelry will be displaying their works of art!

Stay tuned for pics from the show!