(for the record, I wasn’t in stockings or stilettos)
Last Thursday, the rain and cold did not stop me from going into the city to stomp the grounds of Appel and Frank’s annual Stocking and Stilettos.
Shoppers go wild for “Stocking and Stilettos” at the Regency Center in SF
There were some familiar faces and some new faces, but either way I enjoyed seeing what the Bay Area’s craft denizens and fashionistas had to offer:
I think Kelley DeSerpa and Christine Meeks (both of them were so enthusiastic and unbelievably friendly) may have solved the muffin top epidemic. They are the creators of the Hip T, an accessory that is simply the bottom half of a t-shirt. Sounds too plain? Well, it isn’t it is meant to cover a woman’s “assets” when needed. In other words, it prevents your thong from showing when you bend over in jeans. It’s a second cover up. This way, you don’t have to be worry if your showing more than you need to when you are wearing a pair of low rise jeans.
I can say that it is easier for girls just to buy a perfectly fitted pair of jeans or a shirt that doesn’t rise up all the time - but it’s just not that easy. This is definitely a more simple solution.
I am a sucker for knits. I am a sucker for socks. So when I saw the Rock N Socks table, I had to take a gander. They were fun, funky and it follows the eco-chic trend with their regenerated cotton.
Kathy Kamel Designs had some glittery gold and silver luxe jewelry - I was diggin’ the peace sign necklace.
Oh! Five baby shoes
EvokeBaby clothing
Ever since my nephew was born, I have been more aware of baby clothing. It’s so fun to look at these tiny sized clothes! Like the fancy kicks from Oh! Five. I especially love those Puma-esque ones on the far right.
EvokeBaby is a no frills clothing line for babies that uses the power of words and color in its design (did that sound too pompous?) I absolutely love the modern graphics by designer Jules Kramer used on the tees - it’s very Japanese and I am a fan of anything Nipon. With words like “Courage,” “Strength,” “Harmony” and “Balance” the clothes get babies ready for a Zen life. The earlier the better.
I took a little snack break at the Claire Squares table. One word: DELICIOUS. When I bit into a sample of one of these shortbread chocolate caramel squares, my taste buds exploded with magical joy. For that 20 seconds of chewing, my mouth was a ground of heavenly delight.
Deirdre O’ Boyle and Stacy Rodgers, designers of the label She-Bible, were one of the few actual clothing labels there. I was intrigued by their collection of dresses, coats and sweatshirts. The construction details were very curious and the subdued palette gave it a very distinct personality. I especially adored the gold buttoned Parkside Jacket (second picture above). I am very interested to see what these gals make in the future.
Doesn’t this display look religious? Well, it’s not - but it can get your delicates immaculately clean. Soak (a Canada-based company) is a pure, gentle way to wash your hand washables and leaving them smelling like everything from a garden of flowers to a citrusy orchard.
Craft denizens and style gurus unite on Thursday, Dec. 6 for Appel and Frank’s annual “Stocking and Stilletos” event. Browse over 70 booths of Bay Area designers as they sell everything from chocolate to jewelry to baby clothes to…well, everything else!
If you don’t leave this event with all your Christmas shopping done, then I don’t know what to tell ya…
When? 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6.
Where? The Regency Center, 1270 Sutter St., San Francisco.
Why? Because you need to get your shopping done.
Who? Check out this mile-long list of local designers (click their name for more info) :
It’s back and better than ever! - Ok, maybe it’s not “better than ever” per se, but it is back. Here’s the latest news in pop culture and fashion this week!
Let’s start with the obivious…Britney Spearslost custody of her kids to K. Fed. Yawn. Now there’s even more mumblings going around about this worthless ordeal. She’s getting visitation rights, there’s useless pics of her going to Carl’s Jr. before releasing the kids into the wilds of K. Fedland and there’s even word that PETA has urged K. Fed to get custody of Britney’s pets. Come on now folks, we all know that she’s just saving those pets so that she can deep fry them and serve them at her next hillbilly themed party.
The body of a dead whale washed up on the coast of Pacifica beach right here in the Bay Area. Researchers performed an autopsy and found that the whale committed suicide due to an overdose of Britney Spears news.
Now for a little lighter fare…Our favorite Bay Area shopping hostesses, Appel and Frank will be hosting their mom-and-baby friendly shopping event, Babes and Babies 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco (located at 3200 California St.)!
San Francisco has opened its NEWEST institution for higher learning: Sephora University! The popular destination for beauty and such will give the opportunity for aspiring makeup artists to make people fabulous one makeup brush at a time. I wonder if there will be a course called BEAUTY 101: The dangers of too much blue eye shadow and Sharpie-like eyebrows.
If you haven’t seen Julie Taymor’s visually tantilizing and joyous Beatles-infused movie musical Across the Universe, I suggest you do so.
Fashionistas rejoice! Project Runway season 4 is comin’ Nov 14! Tim, Heidi, Michael and Nina are all back to rip apart the work of 15 designers (two from San Francisco and two from my homestate of Texas). My world is now complete.
Teri Hatcher was busted by the people of my culture (Filipinos) for blurting out a punchline on Desperate Housewives degrading the quality of medical education in the Philippines. Filipino officials demanded an apology as well as her tongue on a silver platter.
I love this Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel commercial with a blissful Keira Knightley glamorously prancing around to Joss Stone’s cover on Nat King Cole’s “Love.”
I absolutely enjoy all these Appel & Frank shopping events. Even though they have the potential to empty my wallets, it’s just so fun to see local designers and their fabulous work! Click here to see my past posts about the event I went to a while back.
This month, they give us a double header with two fun shopping events:
Here are some more items from the chic stock provided by Appel & Frank:
I purchased the CUTEST (and keep in mind, I loathe the term CUTE) t-shirt from Milk Bomb for my nephew that said “Designated Driver”. I may be tired of ironic screenprint t-shirts for adults, but for kids, I can’t get enough of them. Brooklyn import and founder, Steve O’Neil provides some of the greatest onesies and tees for little tykes that have “explosive attitude.” www.milkbomb.com
Emeryville-based Charles Chocolates has to have the most stylish presentation of their delectable confections. I could’ve stayed at their table all day enjoying their caramel sticks, chocolate peanut butter butterflies, assorted chocolate covered nuts and edible boxes, but I would’ve gained 10 pounds and gone into a cavity-driven sugar shock. www.charleschocolates.com
From Emeryville, Kelley Designs gives us some crocheted bags and hats - but this isn’t your ol’ fashioned granny doilies. Her brimmed caps give some urban flair, while those quaint undergarments may make your mother blush. Think of it as traditional crochet meets modern attitude. myspace.com/kelleydesignscrochet
Now this was fancy - Doug of Recover Your Thoughts fashions old library books and makes them into journals. For one, these recycled books can be considered “green.” Secondly, it brings a certain amount of nostalgic charm to writers. Finally, after looking at these books for a while, it made inspired me to buy one and start journaling again. I felt so scholarly. www.recoveryourthoughts.com
When I heard about this company, I had to check it out! Ho On The Go sells a quirky package that is a 3 oz. disposable foil pack containing a thong, toothbrush, condom and sanitary wipes for, you know, those “hos on the go.” How fun is that?! To make things even better, I met the founder of the company, Sunny and found out she was a former Austinite like myself! So I may have a bias, but c’mon - you can’t get any better than a Ho On A Go! (stay tuned for her Man Whore pack!) www.hoonthego.com
Vichelle Mixon of Mixt Bags chooses some of the most lively, yet not too loud, patterns for her collection of finely made handbags and accessories. To add even more into the “mix” she also makes her own soaps. Fragrant, stylish, sassy and modern - you can’t get any better than that.
I am not necessarily a big graphic t-shirt guy, but when I saw the pieces made by Matt Taylor of Custom Industries, I would reconsider. His shirts give these depictions of his exotic travels to places like Thailand, China and my favorite design, Kazakhstan (”Almaty Circus” pictured above). It’s globally minded and there’s a certain spirtual dimension to the work. As an added detail, Matt informed me that he has some of the shirts’ seams stitched with contrasting colors - very eye catching. For those people who can’t really travel abroad too much, these shirts and hoodies (I was enamored with those) can serve as a fashionable substitute. www.customindustries.net
Oh wow. That shopping adventure took so much out of me. I was like a kid in a candy store. I can’t wait to do it again in June 14 when they have their Chic Summer Soiree. I am so there.
Once upon a time (2003 to be exact), two fashionistas by the names of Karen Appel and Jody Frank decided to have an intimate shopping event in Karen’s home. With products from eight Bay Area designers, 40 guests had the opportunity to browse through a lovely array of clothing and accessories.
Fast-forward to 2007 and the Appel & Frank’s yearly events have become San Francisco’s own shop-a-palooza with more than 65 designers from all over the Bay Area, 700 guests and tons of shopping fun that will sure to rid all of that hard earn money out of your pocketbooks.
On March 24, SF’s Regency Center played host to Appel & Frank’s latest shopping fest called Spring into Style.
As I walked in, tables of local fashionistas and arts denizens were showcasing their work - and this isn’t that sort of “Grandma’s crochet arts and crafts” event. This is classy, fun high end “Craft Couture.”
From food to handbags to clothing to beauty products, the event was like a shopping mall but with a lot more class and no teen mallrats mongering about eating soft pretzels and talking about how hot Justin Timberlake is.
Here are some sights, sounds, tastes and designers (in addition to the enjoyable slideshow above) of the event:
Oakland-based Natalie Rickards of sophie says go! handbags makes this jetsetting screenprint bags that serve as intercontinental flair that can hang from your shoulder or arm. Her latest collection give us iconic scenes from her travels to Malaysia and Thailand! www.sophiesaysgo.com
The paw print of Baby Leo Designs may suggest a line of pet accessories, but the name is derived from Mimi Sweeney’s baby boy and her products are kid friendly bibs and blankets with eccentric, colorful tones. From skulls to muscle cars, the items are like pieces of pop culture art for little tykes! And if you look at the pictures above, each blanket has a signature corner stitch which gives them a unique signature from the respected designer. www.babyleodesigns.com
For retro fancy charm go to Carolyn’s Kitchen! Their products are filled with the traits of classic Mrs. Cleaver-esque kitchen garb with “fabulousity.” Creator Carolyn West (from L.A.) says these dish gloves with fur trim and bejeweled gloves and ’40s kitchen aprons (made from real vintage patterns) are perfect for entertaining. How fancy is that? Donna Reed would be so proud. www.carolynskitchenonline.com
Joy Adams of One Sweet Second makes some of the most fragrant soaps. They are so deliciously aromatic, that some people tried to eat the cubes of soaps she put out for samples. Coming in a variety of “flavors” like plum, orchid, honeysuckle, lemongrass, apricot freesia and pomegranate (I loved this one!). She also has a variety bath salts, teas and gifts that you can eat - I mean - use in the bath. www.onesweetsecond.com
LoLo Bags by Oakland-based designer Loretta Nguyen are remarkably filled with urban hipster personality. When chatting with the sprite-like designer, she informed me that she made a handful of the bags in three weeks - which made me wonder if she got any sleep. The bags rival those that you find at any of those commercialized rags and they are so youthful. She also wisely utilizes the indestructible paper material, tyvek, in some of her coin purses and bags. With anime-esque characters drawn on them (courtesy of one of her friends), she stiches them up and makes them into these wonderful accessories that are very charming.
I had to take a quick break from all the shopping so I indulged - actually I inhaled two cupcakes from That Takes the Cake. They all looked so good and they STILL look so good. I devoured the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting and the vanilla cake. They also had carrot cake, coconut vanilla, peanut butter cup…my mouth is just watering thinking about it. www.saralynnscupcakes.com
For some finely tailored clothes, Al’s Attire in SF’s North Beach provided stocked racks of coats, dresses and hats. Designer Al (who was in one of his own fabulously designed blazers) allows his customers to choose their own designs, fabric, lining, buttons and details for their own custom-made outfit. I absolutley LOVE the high-collared trench pictured above. www.homepage.mac.com/alsattire
For more info on Appel and Frank and their events visit their website.
