SF Fashion Week Parties: Live Concert by Fischerspooner

Friday, August 25, 2006:

Live Concert by Fischerspooner!

10pm–2am
Mezzanine
440 Jessie Street
San Francisco, CA

Exclusive Live Concert by the New York art-pop duo Fischerspooner!
Fischerspooner’s pop shows are always bursting with dancers, stage effects and elaborate wardrobe, and its songs are infused with raw punk energy, modern sounds and conceptual lyrics. Sponsored by SF Weekly & The East Bay Express. Tickets on sale soon.

Mezzanine is nestled in SF’s SOMA district. The multi-use space boasts a new elevated stage, state-of-the-art lighting technologies, and custom-built sound systems for both live and electronic music.

Upstairs VIP lounges offer bottle service, specialty cocktails, and a prime view of the dance floor.

From indie-rock, to alt-punk, to electronica and conscious hip-hop, Mezzanine pushes the boundaries of music in the Bay Area. No other venue attracts such a diverse audience of music-lovers and taste-makers.

Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring 2007

Los Angeles Fashion Week for the Spring 2007 Collection will be held from Friday, October 13, 2006 to Friday, October 20, 2006.

Los Angeles Fashion Week will start off this season with Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion, and will then jump into collections from Los Angeles’ top fashion designers. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios revs up on Sunday the 15th, with nearly 40 designers commanding a turn on the catwalk to show Spring ‘07 collections hundreds of editors, stylists, retailers, and top clients in attendance. The ultimate Fashion Week wrap party takes place on Friday, October 20 with the LA Fashion Awards — held at the Orpheum Theatre — where everyone comes together to honor Los Angeles’ top fashion designers, retailers, and innovators — all of whom put California fashion and style on the global map. The general schedule of events is as follows:

GEN ART Fresh Faces in Fashion, location TBD
Friday, Oct. 13, 8pm-11pm
Several emerging talents will be highlighted in a runway show and fashion week party
www.genart.com

MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK at Smashbox Studios
Sunday, Oct.15 - Thursday, Oct. 19
Nearly 40 designers will showcase Spring collections at this key venue over several days.
www.mercedesbenzfashionweek.com

LA FASHION AWARDS at the Orpheum Theatre
Friday, Oct. 20, 7pm-9pm
The largest single event of LA Fashion Week in downtown LA and the ultimate fashion week wrap party. Sixteen Southern California fashion leaders will be recognized, with seven taking home the “Caleb;” the coveted handcrafted artisan glass award.
www.lafashionawards.com

MARKET WEEK in the downtown LA showrooms & trade shows
Friday, Oct. 20 - Tuesday, Oct. 24
Hundreds of showrooms and temporary trade show booths will be open for business.
www.fashiondistrict.org

Workshops at San Francisco Fashion Week

A new addition to the events at this year’s San Francisco Fashion Week (August 23-27, 2006) is that of workshops and seminars, geared towards both the general public and industry insiders.

The workshops and seminars will be held at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, located at 10 Union Square Plaza, 5th Floor (just of Market Street, between 7th and 8th Streets).

The following workshops are open to the general public:

Model Boot Camp: Introduction to the Business of Fashion Modeling
Agents from the leading San Francisco Model/Talent Agencies will advise aspiring models on what it takes to break into and succeed in the modeling business. Discussion will outline how to stand out in a casting, interview tactics, and optional runway choreography. Aspiring Models will also have a chance to sit down one-on-one with each participating agent in a speed interview exercise. Panel members include: Al Lacayo (Look Model Agency); Elena Ng (Stars Model Management); and Phillip Gums (JE Models).
Saturday, August 26
10am–12:30pm
2 hours and 30 minutes, Tickets $35

Catwalk Choreography
Learn how to own the catwalk like a super model! Internationally recognized choreographer, Kavita Sharma (Muse Model Management) will teach models advanced, high-fashion techniques for walking, posture, poses, poise, turns, partner choreography and more. Industry terminology will also be covered so that participants can walk the walk and talk the talk!
Saturday, August 26
12:30–1:30pm
1 hour, Tickets $30

Art of the Fashion Photo Shoot
A one-on-one fashion photo shoot with a rising fashion photographer. Learn to pose like a pro while in front of the camera. The photographer will guide you step-by-step on what it takes to capture the perfect shot. Each participant will receive a twenty-minute, private fashion photo shoot and a copy of the best photograph taken during the shoot. Photographers include Warren Difranco Hsu, designer and photographer for AfterFive Magazine; Freda Banks, local fashion and fine art photographer and filmmaker, and the savvy up and coming Photo Artist James Reid.
Saturday, August 26
2–5:30pm
20 minute session, Tickets $50

How to Break Into the Fashion Industry
A panel of industry professionals from all different areas of the fashion industry including a fashion retailer, stylist, designer and producer, will speak and advise on what it takes to get your foot in the door to the exciting world of fashion. Panelists include: Blakely Bass (Retail Entrepreneur, R.A.G.); Lynne Gallagher (Fashion Designer and Business Owner, Wee Scotty); Jenn Mizel (Fashion Recruiter, 24seven); Irene Hernandez-Feiks (Founder/Event Producer, Chillin’ Productions); and Kate Rice (Fashion Stylist)
Sunday, August 27
10am–12:30pm
2 hours and 30 minutes, Tickets $45

Defining San Francisco Style
This one-of-a-kind presentation will feature fashion photography highlighting local street styles and filmed interviews with San Francisco trend influencers learn how they define the unique style that can only be found in the eclectic city of San Francisco. Presented by Brandin Baron-Nusbaum, Assistant Professor of Design, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Saturday, August 26
2:30–4:30pm
2 hours, Tickets $15

Recycling Your Wardrobe
Do you often stare at the unworn clothing in your closet and pine for something different? Grab those clothes and release your inner designer in a refashioning workshop, conducted by the owners of San Francisco’s Stitch Lounge and authors of Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista. They will show you how to take those bland items and turn them into fresh, funky new fashion! Bring in a sweater and some pants you never wear anymore and walk out with a hipster hip-belt, a halter top and pair of funky leg warmers. (The pants should fit well in the waist and hips — no pleats Allowed!) They’ll also demonstrate some easy embellishing techniques so you can put your own unique touch on your refashioned items.
Sunday, August 27
12:30–2:30pm
2 hours, Tickets $37

Bead-Azzled
Whether you have been beading for years or are excited to start, The Bead Shop welcomes you to join us at BEAD-AZZLED. Janice Parsons will reveal some of the latest techniques as well as the hottest jewelry trends for Fall. Create your own beaded jewelry design to take home.
Sunday, August 27
3–5pm
2 hours, Tickets $45

Tricks of the Trade By Kryolan
Learn the Basics of Professional Make-Up. Kryolan is the largest independently owned professional make-up company in the world with retail and manufacturing presence in San Francisco. This workshop will show you how to apply make-up from day to evening. Many people don’t aspire to be pros, they just want to know the best methods and products to use on themselves. Kryolan’s make-up artist Dominic Cruz answers this demand with an intimate two-hour make-up workshop for individuals who want to learn to apply their own make-up for a variety of situations (i.e. Make-up for daytime, evening, photo shoots, etc.).
Sunday, August 27
10am–12pm
2 hours, Tickets $35

The seminars for fashion industry professionals (there are only four of them) range in topic from ecological fashion (like using organic cotton, et cetera) to an interactive seminar with a legal expert to discuss things such as intellectual property, licencing, incorporating/forming a business, et cetera. Frankly, the workshops open to the general public sound much more interesting and fun!

Tickets are being sold through www.brownpapertickets.com. You can either search for the event you want to attend and buy tickets for directly on their site, or navigate from the workshops listed the SF Fashion Week site.

SF Fashion Week: Venue Information

SF Fashion Week is coming up (August 23-27) and will be held at The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center, located at 101 Henry Adams Street (94103).

For anyone planning to attend any of the events at San Francisco Fashion Week, here are directions to The Galleria:

Coming From the Bay Bridge (East of San Francisco) and Interstate 80:
Take the Ninth Street/Civic Center exit. Turn left on Eighth Street. Continue three blocks to Townsend. Go around traffic circle to Henry Adams Street.

Coming From Downtown San Francisco:
Take Hyde Street across Market Street, where Eighth Street begins. Continue down Eighth to Townsend. Go around traffic circle to Henry Adams Street.

Coming From Marin County (North of San Francisco) and Highway 101 South:
From the Golden Gate Bridge, take Lombard Street exit to Van Ness Avenue. Turn right on Van Ness. Proceed to O’Farrell and turn left. Proceed to Hyde Street and turn right. Take Hyde across Market Street, where Eighth Street begins. Continue down Eighth Street to Townsend. Go around traffic circle to Henry Adams Street.

Coming From the Peninsula (South of San Francisco) and Highway 101:
Take the Vermont Street exit, turn left on Vermont. Continue down three blocks, turn right on 15th, left on Kansas.

And because most of the SoMA area of San Francisco is full of one-way streets, here are directions out of San Francisco (since you can’t simply backtrack):

Eastbound Freeways:
The nearest eastbound freeway on-ramp is located at Eighth and Bryant Streets (Interstate 80 Eastbound). Go West on Division, turn right on Ninth Street and turn right onto Bryant. Enter I-80 from left lanes.

Southbound Freeways:
To 101 South: The nearest southbound freeway on-ramp is at Seventh and Harrison Streets (Interstate 80 going to Highway 101 Southbound). Go East on Townsend. Turn left on Seventh Street. Turn left on Harrison Street, onto the freeway on-ramp or follow the previous directions to 101 South.

To 280 South:
Go North on Eighth Street and turn right on Brannan. Go two blocks and turn right at Sixth Street to get onto the freeway on-ramp, or follow previous directions to 101 South and continue on 280 South.

And, of course, Parking:
Parking is available across from the Galleria Building at 101 Henry Adams Street, on streets, and in several lots throughout the design district.

I’ve lived in San Francisco, and I’m not even sure where Henry Adams Street is, so here’s a map (look for the less-than-obvious red star):

Fashion Institute of Technology

In following with the biography of Calvin Klein, I thought I’d include some information about the fashion school that he attended: FIT in New York.

Located in New York City, the Fashion Institute of Technology prepares students for professional excellence in design, fashion, and business by providing the premier educational experience that fosters creativity, career focus, and a global perspective.

Fashion Institute of Technology offers the following fashion design degrees:

For more information on the fashion design program: Fashion Institute of Technology, or the official site: FIT.

Fashion Designer Biography: Calvin Klein

Dress from Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2000 CollectionCalvin Klein is one of the most well-known American Fashion Designers. Born in 1942 in The Bronx, he in an alumnus of New York’s High School of Art and Design as well as the Fashion Institute of Technology (also in New York). Before attending these schools, however, he taught himself how to sew and draw/sketch as a young boy.

In 1968, Klein launched his own label with the help and partnership of Barry Schwartz, a childhood friend; the idea for a label was inspired by the fresh and unpretentious style of New York’s urban youth. Within weeks, his designs were being shown at a department store, after a merchandise manager saw Calvin Klein’s first collection.

Dubbed ‘Calvin the Conqueror’ by WWD and listed as one of America’s 25 most influential people by Time, Klein has helped shape the casualwear industry and played a key role in modern advertising.

Throughout the fashion industry, word spread quickly about Klein and his sleek designs, which were now featured regularly in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. In the early 1970s, he introduced his trademark jeans, which he elevated to designer status by cutting them tight and branding his name on the back pocket.

Calvin Klein Underwear Modeled by Kate MossHe caused a storm of controversy when he had Richard Avedon photograph a pubescent Brooke Shields for his 1979 jeans campaign under the slogan, “You know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.”

In 1982, by adding style and his logo to boxers and briefs, Klein conquered the underwear market. He blurred the boundaries between the sexes, designing masculine bikinis for women. In the late 1980s, Klein entered the fragrance market with the launch of Obsession and Eternity.

Throughout his career, Klein has come under criticism for his ubiquitous and controversial ad campaigns, most notably those that featured Kate Moss, Mark Wahlberg, and Antonio Sabato Jr. In 1995, he roused antipornography advocates with a series of commercials that featured adolescents in sexually evocative poses. Klein pulled the ads after being denounced by President Bill Clinton and the Catholic League.

Widely considered the most prominent American fashion designer, Klein was first awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America Award for outstanding design in both womenswear and menswear in 1982, becoming the first designer ever to receive both honors in the same year.

Calvin Klein will be presenting his new collection at Olympus Fashion Week on Thursday, September 14, 2006.

Fashion Designer Biographies, Site Comments

I’ve decided to add more fashion designer biographies to help put more of a human face on this industry. (In gearing-up for Olympus Fashion Week, they’ll be designers presenting collections at the show.)

Not to mention that everyone aspiring fashion designer has to start somewhere, so hopefully these biographies will be somewhat of an inspiration to those looking to become fashion designers themselves.

If there are any designers you would like more information on, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment! Or if there’s anything else you’d like to see (more of) on this site, let me know!

New York Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2007

Olympus Fashion Week for Spring 2007 Collections will be held from September 8 to 15, 2006 in New York City.

One thing to note is that designer Kenneth Cole has given up his usual opening-day slot and given it to designer John Bartlett, who will thus kick-off Olympus Fashion Week on Friday, September 8, 2006. According to FashionDaily.com, Cole will present his collection in a more “intimate” setting in October.

The schedule is as follows (the location is in parantheses):

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2006
9.00 AM JOHN BARTLETT (The Atelier)
10.00 AM FILA (The Promenade)
11.00 AM BCBG MAX AZRIA (The Tent)
NOON TONI MATICEVSKI (UPS)
1.00 PM MARC BOUWER (The Atelier)
2.00 PM CIA.MARITIMA (The Promenade)
3.00 PM GOTTEX (The Tent)
4.00 PM VERRIER (UPS)
5.00 PM
6.00 PM DUCKIE BROWN (The Atelier)
7.00 PM NICOLE MILLER (The Promenade)
8.00 PM BABY PHAT (The Tent)
9.00 PM
10.00 PM CHRIS AIRE (The Promenade)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9th, 2006
9.00 AM
10.00 AM ACADEMY ART UNIVERSITY (The Promenade)
11.00 AM
NOON SABYASACHI (UPS)
1.00 PM ALICE ROI (The Atelier)
2.00 PM ATIL KUTOGLU (The Promenade)
3.00 PM ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH (The Tent)
4.00 PM TEREXOV (UPS)
5.00 PM JEANSIS BY ANAND JON
6.00 PM JENNI KAYNE (The Atelier)
7.00 PM SASS & BIDE (The Promenade)
8.00 PM LACOSTE (The Tent)
9.00 PM DRAGANA OGNIENOVIC (The Atelier)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10th, 2006
9.00 AM
10.00 AM LELA ROSE (The Atelier)
11.00 AM BRIAN REYES (UPS)
NOON DKNY
1.00 PM
2.00 PM TRACY REESE (The Promenade)
3.00 PM SARI GUERON (UPS)
4.00 PM DIANE VON FURSTENBERG (The Tent)
5.00 PM
6.00 PM NAEEM KHAN (The Atelier)
7.00 PM TULEH (The Promenade)
8.00 PM ROSA CHA (The Tent)
9.00 PM AKIKO OGAWA (The Atelier)

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11th, 2006
9.00 AM WILLOW (The Atelier)
10.00 AM CAROLINA HERRERA (The Tent)
11.00 AM CYNTHIA STEFFE (The Promenade)
NOON JILL STUART (New York Public Library)
1.00 PM OSCAR DE LA RENTA (The Tent)
2.00 PM REEM ACRA (The Atelier)
3.00 PM LUCA LUCA (The Promenade)
4.00 PM
5.00 PM PAMELLA ROLAND (The Atelier)
6.00 PM MAX AZRIA COLLECTION (The Tent)
7.00 PM JOHN VARVATOS (The Promenade)
8.00 PM
9.00 PM

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12th, 2006
9.00 AM TIBI (The Atelier)
10.00 AM MONIQUE LHUILLIER (The Promenade)
11.00 AM BILL BLASS (The Tent)
NOON CHAIKEN (The Atelier)
1.00 PM
2.00 PM MALO (The Promenade)
3.00 PM BETSEY JOHNSON (The Tent)
4.00 PM
5.00 PM
6.00 PM IISLI (The Atelier)
7.00 PM NANETTE LEPORE (The Promenade)
8.00 PM
9.00 PM HEATHERETTE (The Tent)

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13th, 2006
9.00 AM PORTS 1961 (The Atelier)
10.00 AM PETER SOM (The Promenade)
11.00 AM MICHAEL KORS (The Tent)
NOON RICHARD CHAI (The Atelier)
1.00 PM DOUGLAS HANNANT
2.00 PM CARLOS MIELE (The Promenade)
3.00 PM CARMEN MARC VALVO (The Tent)
4.00 PM YEOHLEE
5.00 PM MILLY (The Atelier)
6.00 PM Y & KEI (The Promenade)
7.00 PM ANNA SUI (The Tent)
8.00 PM MICHON SCHUR (UPS)
9.00 PM LINDA LOUDERMILK (The Atelier)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14th, 2006
9.00 AM ALICE RITTER (The Atelier)
10.00 AM J. MENDEL (The Promenade)
11.00 AM BADGLEY MISCHKA (The Tent)
NOON ABAETE (The Atelier)
1.00 PM MALANDRINO
1.30 PM VENA CAVA PRESENTATION (UPS)
2.00 PM VERA WANG (The Tent)
3.00 PM TEMPERLEY LONDON (The Promenade)
4.00 PM CALVIN KLEIN
5.00 PM CALVIN KLEIN
6.00 PM JOANNA MASTRIOANNI (The Atelier)
7.00 PM CUSTO BARCELONA (The Promenade)
8.00 PM ZAC POSEN (The Tent)
9.00 PM JASON WU (The Atelier)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15th, 2006
9.00 AM PROJECT RUNWAY (The Promenade)
10.00 AM
11.00 AM
NOON ASHISH N SONI (The Atelier)
1.00 PM MANUEL (The Tent)
2.00 PM VIVIENNE TAM (The Promenade)
3.00 PM DONNA KARAN
4.00 PM ERIN FETHERSTON (UPS)
5.00 PM JAY MCCARROLL (The Atelier)
6.00 PM DOO.RI (The Promenade)
7.00 PM CHADO RALPH RUCCI (The Tent)
8.00 - 10.00 PM EDUN

Locations: The Tent, Promenade, Atelier - Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue (between 40 & 42nd Streets).

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