San Francisco Music Blog

If you're like us, you've been hitting up the racks at Forever 21 more than you'd like to admit. And maybe after you've shown up wearing the same outfit as your cubicle mate for the third time in a row (like we have), you've finally realized that it's time to add more "curated" pieces to your wardrobe. ​

Kirsty Evans

​The New People World center, which just opened with much fanfare in Japantown this last weekend, is a monument to the increasing American interest in Japanese pop culture. This modernistic glass and steel structure houses two clothing boutiques, a shoe store, a gallery, a store selling all kinds of cool toys and housewares, a coffee shop, and the brand new Viz cinema in the basement.

Kirsty Evans

​The mall opened on Saturday with a huge street fair centered around two stages, one in Peace Plaza and another just outside the mall itself, and a row of exhibitor booths. Highlights included the Harajuku Kawaii Experience on the main stage, during which TsuShiMaMiRe, Red Bacteria Vacuum, and Noodles all played live. There was also a makeover courtesy of temporary mall guests 6%DOKIDOKI, the winner of which got a return ticket to Tokyo courtesty of Japan Airlines. Other events included the premier of the movie 20th Century Boys, with a special appearance by one of the film's stars, actress Takako Tokiwa, and a fashion show by Baby The Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates.

Most people rummage through their closets for something to wear for work, then run back home and change into something for happy hour -- then they might just have to have that third look when happy hour turns into an all-night thing.

Well, what if you could combine everything into one look so you don't have to go home, change and then meet up with your peeps for a fabulous night out? Look no further than 7 For All Mankind, with its new store in the Union Square area.

Let's shop talk! The designs for Spring seem to lack a bit of color, but 7 jeans are classics, perfect for new recruits or die-hard fans (they exist - the brand started in Los Angeles in 2000). Try this on for size: 7 jeans have created a series wherein there's only seven hundred and seventy-seven jeans with the same design. Once those are gone, they're gone. Each pair is marked with its edition number. So which number are you going to get? I recently got a sneak peak at the fall line for 2009 and can't wait to see them out in full color. Let's just say the accessories are going to be awesome! They have "break up" bags and others suitable for many moods: playful, chic, sophisticated, each with an appropriate touch of flare, and with an all-encompassing look for both work and play.

7 is just that little bit of hope for the fashion conscious, where surely many astute FIDM, SFI, and AAU fashion students will go when the semester is over. I suggest you take a browse at the new Spring line and UP your wordrobe if only to reduce that time spent lollygagging at home trying to find that perfect work/night-out outfit.

Mission Indie Mart
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Independent
Better Than: Shopping corporate!

The line stretched down the block for most of the day as eager shoppers waited to spend some cash at the Mission Indie Mart. The event began almost two years ago as a monthly shopping event in founder Kelly Malone's back yard in the Mission district with a few local designers, vintage sellers and BBQ. It then expanded, taking over Mission Street's 12 Galaxies for a monthly party with booze, DJs, food and of course, even more local art and vintage. When the venue shut down, Malone moved to Thee Parkside. Taking advantage of the spectacular warm weather, vendors took over the parking lot, with a few squeezed inside. But then Malone moved to Western Addition and Indie Mart moved with her, now residing at the Independent once a month. Weather permitting, several vendors set up shop outside with the rest inside on the floor, the stage and upstairs.

Indie Mart takes a suggested $2 donation at the door to support different organizations each month. Last month, money went to women's cancer charities, and this time around it went to SF Women Against Rape. There's a DJ, an open bar and channeling the days of back yard Indie Mart -- BBQ. Sausages, hot dogs (both vegetarian and not), corn on the cob, the biggest pickles ever and a large assortment of condoments. It felt like summer!

These are just a few of the Indie Mart Highlights:

Kingdom Cake - Cupcakes by Chelsea Mead
Everyone loves cupcakes! These happen to be some of the most astoundingly gorgeous cupcakes I've ever seen in my entire life. They come in two sizes: mini or large. The big ones have heaps of frosting and glittery sprinkles. I've only sampled the smaller -- the red velvet being my flavor of choice. Whether you want one or not, it's worth it to stop and just look at these darling little baked goods.

Turk + Taylor - Designs by Andrew Soernsen and Mark Lee Morris
Turk + Taylor make great graphic t-shirts. An orange shirt with a print of a lobster bib on it and an old school hunting shirt with a fox hiding on the back are just the beginning. They print on nice soft shirts with even better prices. Their Indie Mart t-shirt prices start at $10 or $20 for some of the older prints. A great deal for a very cool shirt.

Recent S.F. to NYC transplant artist Tauba Auerbach is featured in Vogue magazine this month. We're not surprised, because Auerbach is afire, and has been for a while now. The opening reception for her show "The Answer/ Wasn't Here" at Jack Hanley last May was a madhouse, and she's just plain talented. She works with letters and symbols, mostly, stretching them, distorting them, and pointing out the ways in which other people stretch and distort them. At the moment, she's "working with the Cambridge University logician Byron Cook, designing new mathematical symbols for his research on what's known as 'the halting problem,'" according to Vogue. Why is the fashion magazine interested? Auerbach is also collaborating with Comme des Garcons on some t-shirts, but we think the real reason is that the editors like the way she dresses. --Hiya Swanhuyser

Photos by Janine Kahn

IKEA's a magical place full of cheap furniture, Daim chocolate and $0.50 hot dogs. It's also not a bad place for a newish couple to grab starter decorations (disposable, sadly, like many a relationship) for their Christmas tree. Cruising their website, I decided my favorite deal was the KALLT decorator set in red, a 48-piece ornament box to the sleighbell sound of $4.99. What I didn't expect to find when I finally descended upon the Emeryville branch (note: most decorations aren't available online), was a sea of black.

I'm not sure what those Swedes were thinking, but black garlands, balls and hearts? Perhaps it's a statement about the crap economy and bleak times ahead? Maybe their design team lost a bet to its resident goth? Whatever the logic behind these gloomy decorations, the Bay Area buyers didn't seem to be particularly enthralled: most of IKEA's red, gold and blue ornaments were swiped from the display while stacks and stacks of black remained. See more photos of said decorations below...

(Photos courtesy H&M)

By Otto Chan

The world is going to hell in a hand basket. I mean, seriously, Armageddon must be near when you’re too scared of the plunging stock market (and dwindling retirement funds) to buy those skinny jeans, and the only way you’d feel better about yourself is if you rummage through your old clothes and do some fair trade at the nearest Buffalo Exchange.

All right kiddies, let’s say you want designer clothes but you really don’t want to buy the he wore/she wore-already outfit (at wacky “vintage” prices that rise as the economy shrinks). Well here’s the good news, boys and girls: H&M is proud to present a new line by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons (which is French for “like boys”). One of the most significant figures in modern fashion, Kawakubo has created a full men and women’s collection for H&M, complete with accessories and a unisex fragrance. Her pieces all have the uncompromising Comme des Garçons spirit, yet will all be available at H&M’s brilliantly accessible (now a practical necessity) prices.

Macy's Passport Fashion Show
September 17, 2008
Notes by Otto Chan, Photos by Diana Nitescu

As stocks plummeted to the bottom, and the financial judges settled claims as to who gets what, in the heart of San Francisco the Macy's Passport Fashion Show went on. And what an eye-popping show it was! What with pieces by Tommy Hilfiger, Ben Sherman and Calvin Klein -just to name a few of the top labels- gracing the runway.

Over the past 26 years Macy's Passport has presented the best designer fall collections for men, women and children with dazzling shows, star guests and internationally acclaimed designers. It has been one of the premier fund raisers for HIV/AIDS programs in America, raising over $27 million for research, care and prevention agencies.

From a spectrum of muted fall colors to "blings" that glittered the stage, we were given top entertainment from models of various ages. Kids as young as 8 years old -bodies shaking, hip-hoppin', and back flippin' with the JabbaWockeeZ- proved that this Princess needs to get back in shape on the pronto.

It's 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and there's a line outside the doors of swank Vietnamese restaurant Ana Mandara. Tonight's show, the fall collection of Marciano, GUESS Clothing's runway-inspired high end fashion brand, was put together by upscale event producer Donovan. Oh, and who is here? Well, let's just say if Gossip Girl's Blair lived in San Francisco, these people would be her clique. Whoever says San Francisco isn't fashionable hasn't been hanging out with the right crowd.

On the runway, there was a little splash of grape and raspberry, with a whole lot of black. Dresses hiked above the knees still give a little mystery to the imagination, but the fits were not particularly alluring. The collection was composed of nothing terribly striking; mostly your everyday wear with a hint of lingerie over the top of patterned designs for a night on the prowl. Meow.

Click the photo for a full fashion slideshow.--Otto Chan

Notes By Masha Rumer; Photos by Bob Toy

The summer has almost fizzled out, but one is yet to experience more than a day of downgraded clothing, urban sunbathing, and that sense of well-being when the sun dangerously caresses the epidermis and renews the happy brain cells. Wait till September, they say. Fine, I’ll just sit here in my parka, alone in the dark.

Many a-newcomer to San Francisco is letting go of notions of the seasons. We drive somewhere far far away that one winter weekend in search of snow and exclaim, “Look, snow! Remember snow?” awkwardly; we burn “Pumpkin Pie/Red Dye # 7” scented candles to fake the autumn ambiance of colorful foliage. But it’s the lack of a traditional summer that makes it easiest to feel cheated. When the weather is stuck at a constant throughout the year, memories of odorous armpits in a 105 degree subway during rush hour as well as of slipping on ice and falling on your derrière while people point grow fonder.

But not to Koos van den Akker, a legendary designer who’s been dressing the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Isabella Rossellini, Stevie Wonder and Madonna from the 70s on and was the creative force behind Bill Cosby’s sweaters. This Netherlands-born designer, who has lived in New York City for 40 years, has recently pitched a workroom in San Francisco, at the Academy of Art University. And this summer artist-in-residence is in awe of the local fashion and climate.

“You can wonderfully combine two seasons in one,” Koos, 70, says with unfeigned enthusiasm. “You can see a guy in a big sweater and knit cap and big boots on, with a girl on his arm with hot pants and a t-shirt.”

It may be taking a summer vacation from 12 Galaxies, but it's not abandoning you entirely: the SF Indie Mart will be gathering up its wares and heading over to Thee Parkside on July 27 for a free all-day BBQ and shop-a-thon. As always, the Mart tycoons invite you to apply for your own sales booth, so visit either www.indie-mart.com or www.myspace.com/missionindiemart for application info. D.I.Y. or die, people. — J. Graham

You've seen her before, the Cory Kennedy wannabe Cobra Snake obsessed doofus that insists on wearing tights with everything (and often instead of pants). She neglects the fact that the two cannot be substituted for one another. You can almost always see her unmentionables and she seems to think it's sexy. Well, finally someone is taking a stand and giving a voice to people who understand fashion. Look out American Apparel models in training, Tights Are Not Pants is here with fliers advocating for pants wearing. Trade in your tights for some jeans before your friends have to stage an intervention.

Say it loud: "Tights are not pants!" Say it proud. --Melissa Baron

Mission Indie Mart, once a backyard shopping party, has blossomed into a major event. The last Sunday of every month vendors and shoppers pack into 12 Galaxies to drink, dance and shop for the best of local crafts and designs. Yesterday Indie Mart celebrated their one year anniversary. Congrats, guys! These are some of the designers bringing street style to SF:

Kelly McVitcker of deadBEATsister does green and adorable screen printing on a myriad of different wearables. Using the DIY printmaking process she and Angie Needles use non toxic water based inks and other environmentally friendly products like soy based cleaners. Their products are stylish, fun and fresh. If you didn't grab one of their shirts at Indie Mart you can also find them at Lower Haters, Still Life Clothing and Needles & Pens.

The Outfit:
Jacket - Urban Outfitters
Shirt - Goodwill
Pants - Urban Outfitters
Necklace - Family
Shoes - Wasteland
Jacket (holding) - Goodwill

I spotted Gabby Ahuna on Haight Street hanging out with some friends. When I asked to take her photo her snarky friends on the sidewalk made lots of comments about how everyone can now replicate her look. They also mentioned that she looks exactly the same as everyone else. Maybe so, but Ahuna wears it well.

The first thing I noticed were her awesome shoes. They have a great shape. They follow the style of a traditional oxford, but with a more girly fit. Next I noticed the leather jacket. I've seen a lot of people try and pull off this coat. Sometimes it looks good, but more often than not it looks a little too ridiculous. The buttons on Ahuna's give it a more worn in look and she works it. It's a great combination of higher price pieces with thrift gems. --Melissa Baron

The outfit:
Sunglasses - Her dad's
Cardigan - American Apparel
Jeans - Target
T-Shirt - Urban Outfitters
Bag - Her sister's
Shoes - A consignment store

I spotted Kiele Collette on Lower Haight while she was waiting for the bus with a friend after some some shopping at Upper Playground.

Her outfit looks effortless and the orange bag provides fun color variety. The bag has a patchwork-like quality. Also, her sunglasses have that quirky big style, but they're a shape I haven't seen very many places. It's all in the details. I like that her ensemble comes from a variety of places (family members are the best place to get clothes!).

An excellent casual ensemble for a sunny but blustery day. - Melissa Baron

Last Night's Savant Garde fashion show provided some eye candy for the SF Fashionistas. Click the photo above for an extensive slideshow of photos we brought back. -- Photos by Hayley McMillen

Style doesn't always come from a fashion magazine or a high end designer. However, the inspiration has to come from somewhere. There are style icons (Gwen Stefani), music scenes (gothic industrial), eras ("hippie-chic"), even films (SLC Punk) that serve as the foundation for fashions. However, sometimes tendencies towards particular trends form more as a result of feeling than aesthetic qualities. Let me explain.

Angela Chase ("My So Called Life") serves one of my style icons. I firmly believe no one else can pull off baby doll dresses (both plaid and velvet), over sized flannels or big boots quite like she can. In my mind she coined the feminine with a bad ass edge statement. From the moment she colored her hair that abrasive shade of red (much to her mother's dismay) she became a new person. Everything she said or did seemed so enormously powerful and tough, yet tenderly vulnerable. When I was younger I simplified my fascination with Angela to assuming it was just her style I like. Now I understand it wasn't the way she tied her flannels around her waist or the bizarre shades of lip gloss she wore. Angela represented so much more than mixing patterns, she served as a symbol for my adolescence.

Yesterday I walked past Marc by Marc Jacobs on Fillmore hoping to sneak a peak at the fantastic new Spring styles. Instead I almost vomited at the sight of the new totes. Marc, why must you fall into the terrible disaster also known as gradient? In recent times we've seen gradient on everything from sweaters to tights, but one fact remains: it sucks. Gradient looks like a tie-dye mishap at a Girl Scout party. The sort that at age seven would make you sob until you got a new t-shirt and could try and dye it again properly. Now people choose to wear it?

It makes sense that people in San Francisco would love it. I mean, what an excellent way to embrace the hippie roots but class it up a bit. But people across the world seem to love it too! Even Christian Lacroix seems to think gradient tights are the best thing to rock with one of his couture gowns. Can you explain that to me? Tie-dye and couture going hand in hand? People obviously have gone blind. Gradient looks like you started to dip your clothes in a big vat of dye, then chickened out and pulled the garment out but you were just a little too late. Sexy? I think not. American Apparel probably has a whole collection of gradient body suits in the works. I'm holding out for one of those. - Melissa Baron

Moms had it right all along. They're always about ten years ahead of contemporary fashion. First they had the high wasted pants we mocked until last season when we all bought a pair. Now it's florals. Not dainty or small florals, but the outlandish bright florals you were mortified to be seen with in years past. Well mom I'll say it again, you were right. What I would do to get my hands on all the dresses I begged you never to wear again. Now I'm willing to ransack Goodwill to get them back. They always say fashion repeats itself. I'm not sure how or why, but the outrageous floral phenomenon could be the best thing that has ever happened to springtime. Sure, it's a little matronly. Who cares? You don't have a garden, so might as well wear it.
Florals look fantastic in tons of different styles. They're intensely versatile. All the best of the best at Fashion Week had florals on the runway. This included Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore and more. Even Teen Vogue and Nylon Magazine have seen the light and started to sport florals. Designers predominantly had dresses, but there are lots of other great ways to wear florals. If you don't feel ballsy enough to rock your mom's old dinner party dress, try a scarf (Marc Jacobs on the Fillmore has a paisley-ish one I'd die for) or tights (Celeste Stein will rock your world). Take a note from mom's wardrobe and get some florals for spring. - Melissa Baron

Time to dispose of the neons, three colors were in almost every collection at New York Fashion Week 2008. The shades for spring? Nudes, yellows and gray. Never fear, these tones look far better than they sound. Zac Posen and many other designers embraced neutrals. However, these styles are far from chinos and dockers. Beige, tan and khaki were shown on shoes, jumpers and even formal gowns. It's part safari, part substitute teacher and totally awesome.
Yellows eased their way back into the hearts of the shopping public. At fashion week Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs presented new takes on the color. All different hues were presented, but the best? Mustard. Colonel Mustard had it right all along (in the kitchen with the knife). Other yellows tend to wash people out, but mustard almost always looks great. American Apparel, H&M and Forever 21 are doing their part to bring mustard to the people.
Gray exists as a staple color in most wardrobes. It's classy and sophisticated, but a pleasant break from black and white. Recently, gray transitioned from a staple to an essential color. Last year we saw a surge in gray jeans, now gray dresses overwhelm the runways. Designers like Erin Fetherston dressed up the basic shade into hip evening clothes. This presents an excellent opportunity: finally, an excuse not to wear black. Take a look at the many shades of gray! There's heather and asphalt and ash, oh my!
Get excited! You can finally throw out your hideous gold leggings and neon pink thermals. Instead of taking us back to the 80's and 90's, designers brought us to the 70's when the colors were hot and the waist bands were high. Hallelujah! The fashion gods have answered my prayers. -Melissa Baron

DO Wear t-shirts. T-shirts being the essential word. No, not tank tops or tube tops. I appreciate the warmth too but keep the month in mind: February. Save the skimpy for August.
DON'T Wear tights under your shorts. If the weather feels too chilly for shorts alone that serves as an indicator you probably shouldn't wear them. Tights belong under skirts and dresses. End of story.
DO Wear bright colors. Sun inspires all sorts of giddy and delighted feelings. Channel them into some fun shades.
DON'T Wear a shirt and tights. I understand the trend of tunics, but you need to understand that they belong over jeans. So what's the difference between a shirt and a dress? A few inches. If you can't bend over, wear leggings or jeans, not tights. You'll look better and you won't be pulling down your top all day.
DO Throw a sweater in your bag. San Francisco fluctuates in temperature. Account for it.
DON'T Assume your day time clothes will function for the evening. Astoundingly, when the sun goes down it gets cold! Believe it or not you may have to change your clothes. That's just how it works sometimes.
DO Wear your favorite summer shoes. Hey, how often can you wear gladiator sandals or jellies in February?

DO Wear sunglasses. Sun hurts your eyes, so finally wearing sunglasses will look practical instead of absurd.
DON'T Let the weather be an excuse for impractical clothes. You dress yourself so when you freeze, you must blame yourself. Do not complain to everyone about how cold you are wearing a mini skirt and flip flops. We don't care. I promise.
DO Wear shoes. Seriously, San Francisco is a city and walking around barefoot is unacceptable. That includes you, hippies. Grass may feel great under your feet, needles do not.-Melissa Baron

Our prayers have been answered! Finally clothes on the runway look like they could flatter the bodies of real women! This concept seemed forgotten in recent seasons, but it looks like the designers at 2008 New York Fashion Week have seen the light.

Instead of runways filled with shapeless dresses too short to wear outside the house we see the a-line, the pencil skirt and the trouser with unparalleled class; bringing back the 1920's-40's in a big, bright and beautiful way! Now we can embrace our feminine form (butts, hips and all) and the colors, bows and frills that go along with it!

Women love shoes. I'm a woman, so I can confirm this as more than just a myth. However, a footwear phenomenon exists that gives all shoes a bad name. This style, eloquently dubbed "Shooties" remain easily the worst thing to happen to ladies feet since binding. They're a combination of shoes and booties reminiscent of the Victorian era and your grandmother, but designers threw on a heel for a skanky edge. Europeans and Americans alike rock them at every possible location. They've appeared on every street style blog from Facehunter to Styleclicker to the Satorialist.
I thought perhaps this disastrous fashion phenomenon would disappear like flare jeans or corset tops. I stand corrected. It appears "shooties" are here to stay. In fact, they've even shown from designers like Chanel at 2008 New York Fashion Week. This promises another season of the world's most unflattering shoes that will surely make your (c)ankles look fat and the rest of your fabulous outfit look ridiculous.
San Francisco, put your best foot forward and drop the "shooties." Please. Still want a pair? (I hope not). You can snag 'em everywhere from the likes of Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom and even Payless.
-Melissa Baron

From Fashion Police to personal fashionista to Eva Longoria, we've seen Robert Verdi on TV, but last week he was in our lovely San Francisco at Saks Fifth Avenue surprising shoppers with fabulous gifts, and I don't mean just grab bags… I mean shoes, or rockin' dresses! I'm here with Robert Verdi at Saks, and here's my scoop!
By Otto Chan SFashionista

Q: What brings you to San Francisco’s Saks Fifth Avenue?
A: I’m here to promote Saks Fifth’s “Want It” & Saks Fifth’s world elite Master Card… The fashion lover's dream card because the points accrue on all your purchases, you can use the card on all your everyday purchases and all those points accrue and benefit your future purchases.

Q: Do you see San Francisco as a fashionable city?
A: I do. I see all cities as fashionable cities; there’s kind of a global fashion community, and a fashion global consumer that every city has. Things get worn differently in every city. You see people in San Francisco in jeans with a casual, cool pair of sneakers; in New York you see it with a great pair of boots.

Q: Where do you usually shop?
A: I shop a lot at Saks Fifth, I am a bit of a fashion monogamist because I like the idea of a relationship, knowing who I can call to know that I'm actually going to get that service that I'm looking for, and at Saks they provide that service for me. H&M, “Dior Boutiquer” -- I love Dior -- some Bottega, Armani Exchange; all things that are way too young for me, obviously, I just realized that. [Laughs].

Q: Do you ever just want to get into some sweat pants and a T?
A: I don’t look good in them. I think guys, particularly, don’t look good in sweat pants. I don’t wear short sleeves ever. I don’t have good arms. I have really skinny, hairy arms, and my hands are really big so they look like fly swatters.

Q: Are you a brand whore? What do you think about brand whores?
A: I think people think I’m a brand whore. I don’t know if I think of myself as one. I’m a brand whore about certain things like Louis Vuitton luggage. I think of myself as a collector.; buying great quality items, and having fewer good things.

Q: What are you tired of seeing?
A: I think everybody is tired of the sexy velour sweatsuit, sort of like the celebrity sweatsuit. It doesn’t have that sex appeal anymore, it’s become diluted and there’s nothing fresh and now about it. Things that looks overly comfortable. There’s too much fashion information for people to cop out and wear that, and ultimately people would want to say “Oh, well, fashion is not important and superficial.” Well, if that were true we would all be naked. And we’re not. We’re all dressed! I think you feel better when you’re dressed up.

Q: Do you think there is a correlation between fashion & politics?
A: Yes, Fashion often tells the motive of a nation. Even the jacket that I’m wearing today benignly has military detailing, so it’s indicative… sort of the climate, and you can see that the clothing on the New York runways have been monotone and grey. You can see the nation's moods. In the past, fashion told people who you were, but now as people have evolved in the world of fashion, and have greater resources, there’s more interest in it. What you find is that fashion no longer tells people who they are but who they want to be.

Q: What’s your number one fashion rule?
A: It’s about taking risks… YOU HAVE TO TAKE MORE FASHION RISKS!

Q: Do you think a man wearing a kilt is sexy?
A: I’ve worn a kilt, and I know it wasn’t sexy on me… basically it looked like I was wearing my aunt Connie’s skirt. I think some guys look kind of sexy in kilts. I think the guys that look the sexiest are the guys that are more rugged, real Scottish; when it’s most authentic is when it’s the sexiest.

Q: Do you think gay men are slowly losing their ability to be styling?
A: …I think we’re the most stylish! Let that be said.

Q: Do you see fashion as an art? Is it a talent?
A: If you were to compare it to music, or fine art no, it’s not. It’s definitely talent.

Q: How is it you’re so down to Earth yet you’ve been given this “power” to say yay or nay to fashion?
A: I come from humble beginnings. I’m really lucky. As far as saying yay or nay to fashion I’ve always worked in retail, I’ve always had friends who've asked me about how they can look their best for whatever it is they’re doing.

Q: What are the first three things you look at when reviewing fashion?
A: Artistry, looking for ingenuity, for references, because I think that makes a collection really likeable or sellable, because it has references from history. Wearability, and sell-ability. I think that’s why I like the American collections. I think Americans have the most powerful voices for fashion. We invented sportswear.

Q: What’s your favorite color?
A: Pink, fuchsia, and… pink. Strips… together. [laughs]

Q: What is your favorite season?
A: I love Fall… Fall is about more.

Q: What’s your favorite drink?
A: I’m a big Earl Grey and green tea drinker. I also have a cabinet supply of Vitamin Water.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I don’t have any pets. I have nine employees, and that’s good enough for me. [laughs]