san francisco


View from Twin Peaks

wearing: green and white tripe top / earrings / spring nail polish / caramel top handle bag / jeans / black belt / black loafers /

It was a beautiful day in the city last weekend, so we started our morning at the deYoung Museum. After enjoying “Fashioning San Francisco,” exhibit, we went to Mel’s by USF for a 1950’s inspired lunch complete with milkshakes and a vanilla coke. I highly recommend the chicken soup and the hamburgers. They have been a favorite of mine from Mel’s since I was a teenager!

After lunch, we headed up to Twin Peaks to check out the views. Can you believe I have never been to the top of Twin Peaks before? I even lived up thee after graduating from college but never made the trek up to the top. It was definitely something I needed to do! The views were beautiful. You can see all the way around the bay depending on where you are standing. The photo below shows the view towards Marin, and the one above shows the view towards downtown San Francisco. It was really pretty!

If you are local, and like me, haven’t been to the top of Twin Peaks, I highly recommend playing tourist and going up there! The view is amazing, and it really is something we should all do; especially when we are local! haha

Finers crossed this beautiful spring weather becomes the norm, and the storms dissipate. Happy almost-spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Fashioning San Francisco at the deYoung Museum review

Christian Dior fall/winter 1948

Louise Boulanger winter 1927

Callot Soeurs 1908

I finally got a chance to visit the “Fashioning San Francisco” exhibit located at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco. I have to admit, I did not really read the description of this exhibit when I purchased my tickets. From the name, I thought the exhibit would be a history of fashion in the city including Levi’s and The Gap, but instead, it was a collection of couture and demi-couture from the earthquake era to modern times worn to events in San Francisco by collectors of couture.

When we first arrived, we went into the virtual try-on room first. It was fun to try-on couture dresses, even though my Gap shirt was peeking out from underneath the gowns. haha, you can see the result below.

pictured: virtual try-on of a Valentino gown / on me: shirt / nail polish / earrings /

There were a total of three gowns to try-on virtually, which to be frank, seemed thin. I would have loved to try on more couture gowns, but I assume it is a lot to put this virtual try-on exhibit together and three was not a small task. Although it went by way too fast, it was fun and I ended up with some hilarious photos from the experience.

My favorite portion of the exhibit was the first section when you enter; the earthquake era fashion. I loved seeing gowns from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The fabric, texture, and attention to detail was amazing.

Another section of the “Fashioning San Francisco” exhibit I enjoyed were the shoes! I actually spotted a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s a co-worker of mine used to wear in the office a little over twenty years ago. I have to admit, I felt a little old seeing a pair of shoes I knew from the wild inside a museum on display. Yikes! But I digress. . .

Sommer and Kaufman 1940

My favorite pair of shoes from the exhibit was this pair pictured above. The structural silhouette seems modern, yet they are from 1940. Love that!

Of course, if you scroll to the bottom of this post, you will see one of my favorite designers of all time; Chanel! I love how the deYoung was clever and featured both a Gabrielle Chanel gown, and Karl Lagerfeld gown together. It really shows how Karl Lagerfeld was so good at channeling Chanel’s original intent in modern designs. He really was genius.

The “Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style” exhibit will be on display at the deYoung Museum through August 11, 2024. If you are local, or plan to visit the city, I highly recommend seeing it. Your ticket to the special exhibit will also grant you access to the regular collections, which I recommend as well.

You can learn more at famsf.org.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Chanel: front by Gabrielle Chanel 1939, back by Karl Lagerfeld 2012 /


Yayoi Kusama at SFMOMA

yayoi kusama sfmoma exhibit experience
yayoi kusama pumpkin sfmoma
yayoi kusama polka dots
outfit yayoi kusama louis vuitton vintage

wearing: earrings / pink sweater (old, also love this one) / parka / black belt / beige jeans (old, also love this pair) / nail polish / Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton handbag (old, similar bag) / black lug sole boots /

Throughout the years I have incorporated polka dots into my wardrobe. About ten years ago, Yayoi Kusama did her first collaboration with Louis Vuitton, and this is when I discovered her work. Kusama is a pop artist from the 1960s whose work is in the same genre as Andy Warhol and the like. She works in bright hues and polka dots.

Kusama’s work is inspired by her hallucinations and life experiences. She brings them to life through sculptures and mirrored experiences, as well as through performance art and other forms. I am taken by her pumpkins, although her flowers are fabulous too. All of her work has some form of dots, or polka dots.

The SFMOMA in San Francisco currently has an exhibit which features two of her experience rooms and a large pumpkin sculpture. If you love modern art, and you enjoy Kusama’s work, I highly recommend stopping into the SFMOMA and checking out the exhibit. It is amazing, and I am so happy I went with my family!

You can learn more at SFMOMA’s website at SFMOMA.org. Tickets are required for the Yayoi Kusama exhibit, and they go quickly! So act fast.

Of course, I wore my Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton handbag which I purchased ten years ago during the first collab Kusama had with LV. I mean, I had to blend in!

While the handbags can be found on the secondary market now, you can still find other polka dot handbags for a fraction of the price. I linked up a couple cute ones below.

Do you love Yayoi Kusama’s work too? I hope you attend the exhibit and enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO
Cathy

yayoi kusama 2013 experience