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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.

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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.

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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!

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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]