Bay Area Fashionista

90’s Minimalism is Back!

 in General Fashion / Trends  tagged 1990s / fall 2010 / historical fashion / minimalism / vintage styles by

The minimalist 1990’s were all over the Fall 2010 runways! After the decadent 1980’s where hair, earrings and shoulders were larger than life, there was a need for a break. In the 1990’s designers focused on subtle colors, softer patterns, clean lines and barely there jewelry. The Fall 2010 runways in Milan, Paris and New York looked strangely familiar. Models strutted down the runway in garments free of fuss. Hair was either neatly pulled back or smooth with waves dangling below the shoulder. Shoes showed cleaner lines with both flat soles and platforms. Handbags were boxy with less hardware than designers have shown in recent years. The one shock on the runway was the noticeable lack of jewelry!

In the 1990’s fashionistas in the bay area wore small hoops, tiny dangles and small post earrings. Necklaces were simple with a small pendant. The only jewelry that took on any life during the decade was the bracelet. There were beaded bracelets in the mid-1990’s and stacked gold bangles as we neared Y2K. The cuff made a few appearances throughout the decade as well as beaded mineral bracelets with healing powers.

There were a few glimpses of jewelry on the runway for Fall 2010. Marni showed a sixteen inch silver and gemstone chocker worn over a camel coat. Marni also previewed an intricate layered necklace look with mixture of gemstones in varying shapes and sizes worn with a simple deep-V frock. Oscar de la Renta put a large, red and bronze medieval necklace over white fur paired with a red leather and crocodile belt. Dolce & Gabbana had a model donning a simple gold heart on a thin eighteen inch chain worn with a simple black blazer and lace camisole.

Since the minimalism of the 90’s has returned for Fall 2010, fashionistas in the bay area have the perfect opportunity to stock up on classic items such as camel coats, black blazers and classic handbags with clean lines. This is also the perfect season to shop your closet! We know there is a little bit of the 90’s in there somewhere  So pull out your little black dress, black pumps and camel coat; because that is all you really need to get started for Fall. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

The New Shoe Look for Fall 2010

 in General Fashion / Shoes / Trends  tagged christian loubouin / fall 2010 / manolo blahnik by

Fall 2010 is bringing a new, fresh look to high heel shoes. Over the past decade we have been watching as shoes have gone to inconceivable heights. At times, it appeared as if models on the runway were walking on boxes rather than actual shoes. The soles of shoes became large canvasses for artwork. Platforms boasted multiple colors and patches of fabric or leather. Embellishments have been a mainstay on both the platform portion of the shoe as well as the upper portion adorning our feet. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area fashionistas have embraced the more conservative versions of the platforms seen on the Paris, Milan and New York runways over the past few years. Christian Louboutin has had the most popular platform shoes in the bay area with his soles that raise the toes roughly one inch above the ground and the heel about four inches from the floor. Louboutin’s open toe and closed toe pump styles have been spotted on fashionable feet throughout the bay area in fabrications such as leather, satin and glitter.

The Fall 2001 runways showed much flatter soles than in previous seasons. Chanel showed fur boots with flat soles and clear heels. Prada gave us dazzling patent mary janes with flat soles and four inch heels. Although flat soles may be making a comeback, it does not mean fashionistas will have to move all of their platforms to the back of the closet. Designers such as Balenciaga showed platforms with sky high heels for Fall 2010. This means fashionistas in the bay area will have a choice between platforms or flat soled high heels. How perfect is that! It is always a great fashion season when we do not have to worry about what we wear on our feet. Transitionary periods in fashion allow us to wear the type of shoe we feel like wearing without the worry of seeming outdated.

In this recession, it is always nice to know that fashionistas in the bay area can bring back their beloved Manolo Blahniks from the back of the closet and relive those fabulous high heel days when the pump was a delicate work of art, rather than a five pound weight on our feet. Of course, there will still be days when fashionistas will feel like being taller and funky. Those will be the days we pull out our platforms and make our outfit all about our shoes! Enjoy the Fall 2010 shoe season and stay fabulous!

Is your Hair Ready for Earth Day?

 in Beauty / Eco Chic / General Fashion / Hair Care  tagged earth day / green / tigi by

Earth Day is fast approaching and it seems to get more exciting every year. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have been aware of the environment and its’ fragility for several decades. Children in the late 1970’s began taking field trips through school to the local recycling plant. Students were so proud to be handed a recycling bucket to take home to their parents. There was pure excitement at the thought of teaching one’s parents how to recycle cans, bottles and newspapers. Bay Area parents were very proud of their children who made an effort to recycle at home as well as spread the word to extended friends and family. The recycling mentality has expanded throughout the country and world over the past two decades. Bay Area natives cannot help but feel slightly responsible for getting the word out about the importance of recycling and saving our planet. Although recycling dates back to Plato in 400 BC and it was first required in the United States by Woodbury, NJ, the San Francisco Bay Area took the idea by storm and is responsible for much of the marketing that made it hip.

Earth Day was instated by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin on April 22, 1970. It is celebrated in roughly 175 countries each year. As Earth Day has become more popular over the years, many cities and towns celebrate the entire week and have dubbed it “Earth Week.”

Every year consumer companies launch so-called “Green” products in the weeks preceding Earth Day in the hope that consumers will purchase these products in an effort to be more Earth friendly. Unfortunately, many so-called “Green” products are not really green. True Green products are made with environmentally friendly ingredients, in environmentally friendly factories and packaged in recycled materials.

Tigi Hair Care is well known for their “Bed Head” line of hair care products. These products are recommended by stylists around the world and found in fine salons as well beauty supply shops. Target, which normally carries more moderately priced products, has also begun to carry Tigi Products in their “Salon Hair Care” isle which boasts the same products found at your local salon with slightly softer price points.

In an effort to go “Green,” Tigi has launched a wonderful line of earth friendly products named “Love, Peace and the Planet.” These fabulous hair care products are not tested on animals and they do not use artificial colors or fragrances. They treat your hair using only organic ingredients that are free from parabens, laurel and laureth sulfates. To top it all off, Tigi packaged the line in 50% post consumer waste containers and all printed materials are printed on recycled paper or FSC paper using soy or water based ink. This makes the packaging 100% recyclable! Love, Peace, Planet also offers two choices for shampoo and conditioner. They offer a moisturizing shampoo named “Eco Awesome” as well as a daily shine shampoo named “Walking on Sunshine.” The line also offers texture, hairspray and a leave-in conditioner.

It is so refreshing to find a hair care line that lives up to the modern label “Green.” What a fabulous way to celebrate Earth Day and care for your hair! Happy Earth Day! Go green and stay fabulous.