Bay Area Fashionista


Fabulous Sunglasses for Summer 2010!

The sun is finally shining here in the San Francisco Bay Area and the temperature has finally hit the level we expect in the Spring. This means the sun is getting brighter and it is time to pull out our fabulous new sunglasses for Summer 2010! Fashionistas in the Bay Area have been spotted wearing two distinct styles of sunglasses, everywhere from the coastline, into the city and east of the bay. The aviator frame has been mildly popular over the past decade and still holds cult status among the stylish set here in the Bay Area. These sporty frames have been spotted in style-savvy pockets of San Francisco such as the Marina, Union Square, SOMA and even along the piers. Designers such as Tom Ford, Gucci, Tory Burch and Chrome Hearts have Aviator Frames front and center for Summer 2010. Unfortunately, Bay Area Fashionistasinterested in getting prescription lenses in an aviator frame might find themselves out of luck. In general, most aviator frame sunglasses are not flat enough for prescription lenses.

Suburban Bay Area Fashionistas have been spotted wearing the other fabulous frame that is hot off the runways for Summer 2010; the oversize resin frame. This playful shape has also been taking center stage over the past few years, but with 2010 the oversize resin frame has steered clear of black and gone into softer neutral shades as well as chambray blue. Miu Miu, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel and Fendi have all shown tortoiseshell and soft browns on their oversized shades. Prada, Barton Perreira and Pucci have shown colors such as blue, chambray blue and pink resin. The gradient lense has also made a comeback,harkening us back to the early 2000’s when gradient lenses were all the rage. Fashionistas in need of prescription sunglasses are in luck with this style. The oversize frame can easily have prescription lenses put in and they can also be done in gradient color.

Although dark black resin frames were not at the forefront this season, black enthusiasts need not worry. Designers such as Chanel and Oliver Peoples have softer black frames that are transparent or not as harsh as traditional dark black. These frames look especially pretty with dark grey gradient lenses or, for the more daring fashionista, purple gradient lenses!

Never let the original lenses on a pair of sunglasses hold back your inner fashion-savvy vision. Even if you are not putting prescription lenses in the frames of your sunglasses, you can still have them changed to suit your mood. This is also a great way to update an older pair of oversized frames. If you have a pair of oversized resin shades from a few years ago, update your look by changing the lenses to a gradient lens. This can be done at many upscale full-service eyewear shops such as Optical Illusions in San Jose onSantana Row. What a great way to save money in this economy! Lenses are less expensive than designer frames in general, so this is one purchase you can feel good about.

Enjoy the sunshine, protect your eyes and Stay Fabulous!

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The Nude Wedge: Perfect for every Occasion!

Fashionistas in the San Francisco Bay Area are no stranger to the fabulous effect nude high heels have on their legs and overall appearance. The nude, neutral or beige shoe gives the leg a long and slender appearance making it’s wearer appear taller, thinner and fabulous! Nude high heels have been a mainstay in the bay area fashionistas wardrobe over the years for many reasons. When a shoe is neutral, it can be worn with multiple outfits and works with most seasonal styles from Spring through Fall. The nude colored shoe can also be worn selectively during the winter months. This is why Spring and Summer 2010 is so exciting for the style-savvy in the bay area!

The Nude colored wedge is one of the hottest shoe styles off the Paris, Milan and New York runways.  Not only does this fabulous style give its’ wearer height, it is also a great neutral shoe that will match almost every outfit in a fashionistas closet! Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Fendi and many more have introduced their own version of the nude wedge for Spring and Summer 2010. The wonderful part of this trend is that designers have given fashionistas a large choice of fabrications and styles in order to ensure there is a shoe for everyone out there. Chanel showed fabrics such as twill and tweed while Gucci and Valentino used soft leather. In addition to wedges, fashionistas have the option of wearing the nude shoe trend in the form of platform shoes or traditional high heels.

Silicon Valley is the birthplace of business casual, giving fashionistas in the bay area the option to create a fabulous outfit for work with the foundation of the nude wedge. Style-savvy women in other parts of the country are not as fortunate as we are here by the bay. Although “California Casual” has caught on for “Casual Fridays” in the workplace across the country, we here in the bay area wear casual friday attire all week long. This gives us even more reason to invest in the nude wedge this season. The nude wedge gives fashionistas the option of wearing a fabulous pair of shoes to work and then continue wearing them for dinner and a night out on the town. This is the perfect time to invest in a pair of nude wedges. They come and go every few years in fashion which makes them a great pair of shoes to have in the closet plus the nude wedge will update any look in a fashionistas closet this Spring and Summer whether for work or play. Budget-conscious style lovers may want to wait until May when some of the Spring Sales starts. This will be a great time to pick up a fabulous pair of nude wedges at an amazing price. Happy shopping and stay fabulous!

 


HOT Jacket Trend for Spring and Summer 2010!

Fashionistas in the San Francisco Bay Area are constantly challenged by micro-climates. We can be enjoying 70 degree sunshine in Marin County for brunch, freezing under the fog in the early afternoon while passing through San Francisco and then seeking out air conditioning while having dinner in the South Bay. The challenge we face when getting dressed in the morning is how to dress in layers yet still be comfortable and fashionable! The last thing any bay area fashionista wants to do is tie a sweatshirt around her waist when the fogs burns off. Thankfully, the runways in Paris, New York and Milan had us in mind when they dressed the models in the Safari Jacket for Spring and Summer 2010.

Yes, it is a bit provincial to think designers from all over the world brought back the safari jacket just for fashionistas in the San Francisco Bay Area, but, we can pretend it was just for us and benefit from this fabulous trend. The safari jacket is a great investment for the bay area fashionista since it is normally made from a comfortable cotton twill fabric. This cotton twill fabric can actually be worn all year long in the bay area. The safari jacket has a great look in the Spring and Summer months when paired with a dress or khaki shorts. It also looks fabulous with denim shorts and skirts! For Fall 2010, the safari jacket will take on a more tailored look when paired with casual, slim trousers, jeans and leather skirts. Since khaki and army green are the most popular colors in 2010 for the safari jacket, this amazing jacket will carry any fashionista from season to season.

There are several variations of the safari jacket, some of which are not of the “safari style” at all! In addition to the traditional, belted version, this popular jacket can also be found in blazer styles and shorter, unbelted variations. Designers also expanded the style this year by experimenting with fabrics. The Safari Jacket can also be found in soft leather, thicker silks and of course the fabric of the season-denim!

Classic Designers such as Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors offered the style savvy shopper a more traditional version of the safari jacket. The runways of more daring designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Chloe, Prada and Gucci showed more revealing versions of the jacket as well as less traditional variations that were cropped, beltless, leather and even knee-length. Since the Safari Jacket is nothing new to fashion, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana have shown versions of the Safari Jacket on their runways frequently in previous years. Go-to shops such as the Gap and Banana Republic also carry this popular and practical style year after year. The Gap even has one on sale as we speak!

Since the Safari style comes in and out of fashion periodically every two to three years, it is a great investment for any fashionista in the Bay Area. Not only will you have a fabulous jacket that takes the chill out of the fog and is lightweight enough to carry when the fog burns off, you will have a great investment piece to enjoy for years to come.

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