Beyond the Front Row is hosting “The Shoe-In”; an event that is going to explore options on what to do with 100 unmatched shoes. Should we repurpose them? Donate them? And how should we recycle them? Footwear designer and instructor Kari Lantin as well as retailer Deenie Bernsten and MFA footwear merchandising student Christina Palomo will be on hand to throw their two cents into the discussion.

When? Thursday, February 18, 7 to 9 p.m.

Where? 79 New Montgomery Auditorium

Make sure you sport your best shoes to the event!

The School of Fashion would like to welcome Russell Clower, the new Assistant Director of Visual Merchandising.

One of Russell’s windows for Wilkes Bashford

At first, I misread the announcement and I thought it said Russell Crowe will be the new Assistant Director of Visual Merchandising. I thought, “Wow. That’s odd. What is he doing here?” Then I read it again and it made more sense.

With a background in illustration, Russell has an extensive experience of visual merchandising - or as he likes to call it “The Theatre of Presentation.” From art direction to event production to brand imaging to advertising, Mr. Clower is definitely going to bring a lot to the School of Fashion. He has worked for the San Francisco-based upscale retailer Wilkes Bashford as the creative director and the director of special events. He has also done consulting work with Ralph Lauren POLO and was the visual merchandising manager for Bebe.

Follow the jump to see more pictures of his work at Wilkes Bashford (in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Carmel) Read more…

Ingrid Chen, a 1999 MFA Merchandising Alumna and her business partner, Vivian Wang started their label appropriately called Viv & Ingrid in 1999. Since then, their whimsical and free-spirited baubles have been featured on the magazine pages of Real Simple, InStyle, Lucky, Self, Essence, Marie Claire, Elle, 7×7 and a whole landslide of others. In addition, celebs like Sandra Bullock, Jessica Alba, Uma Thurman and Jewel (no pun intended) have been adorned in their pieces - particularly their gold teardrop layered hoop earrings. And you may have remembered them from a Visa Small Business TV commercial in 2008.

I think it’s safe to say that they are doing pretty good.

That said, any of their chic trinkets are the perfect gift - perhaps the small gold Swarovski hoops in one of many colors? (pictured above)

In addition, the gals recently celebrated their 10th anniversary at Miette in Hayes Valley for a Parisian, candy-coated celebration. For pictures of the celebration follow the jump. Read more…

The windows at 79 New Montgomery are turning heads with unconventional Christmas trees created by students from Fashion Illustration, Knitwear Design, Textile Design, Accessory Design, and Fashion Design (remember when we gave you a preview?). From a clever book shelf tree to a punk rock tree to a beautifully draped tree, Visual Merchandising students made sure all the trees were presented appropriately to make our little area on New Montgomery a little more festive.

Follow jump to watch a slideshow of the windows- but come by and see for yourselves!. (All photos by Bob Toy)

Read more…

After the success of the organic tote bag launch earlier this year, Textile Design students created large works on organic cotton that have been folded and sewn into portfolio cases. Like the tote bags, these canvases will one day hang as works of art when their duties as bags wear thin. The bags will be sold alongside the knitwear items at the 79 Retail Store on 79 New Montgomery for the Holiday Pop Up shop (and don’t forget to take a look at the festive windows too!). All profits benefit the Academy’s Student Scholarship Fund. (All photos by Bob Toy)

A design by Camille Bucu

A design by Jessie Rhoades

Follow the break for a preview gallery of the bags.

Read more…

79 New Montgomery. The site of the Academy of Art University store windows. These will soon turn into a wonderland of Christmas trees - but these ain’t your normal trees made out of tacky tinsel and pine-scented plastic.

Visual Merchandising students have partnered with Fashion Illustration, Knitwear Design, Textile Design, Accessory Design, and Fashion Design students to make different themed trees. The Visual Merchandising students would like to thank the School of Architecture for constructing the wooden tree templates and making a tree of their own.

Each window (there are nearly a dozen of them) on 79 NM will contain a conceptually themed Christmas tree. From a knitted Star Wars to a tree entirely made of shoes, they will surely rival those other windows in Union Square. (Dare I say they may even better? But that’s just me).

Check out the slideshow after the break for a full preview.
Read more…

“Beyond the Front Row” initial meeting for the re-launch of the Fashion Club
Thursday, November 12th
3:00pm, 180 New Montgomery, Room 151

Bertrand Pellegrin and Branding the Man
Thursday, November 12th
7:00pm-8:00pm, 79 Auditorium
MFA Fashion Merchandising alumnus and author, Bertrand Pellegrin, will discuss his newly published book, Branding the Man, with columnist Aaron Britt from the San Francisco Chronicle. The discussion will also include a Q&A.

The School of Fashion is getting ready for the holiday windows at 79 New Montgomery and we need shoes. Lots of them. 100 pairs to be exact.

Women’s, men’s and even children - we need shoes of every shape size and color. Actually, they will all be painted white to create our holiday “shoe tree” with a Maison Martin Margiela-esque twist - but if you have white shoes it makes it even better!

Please bring all shoe donations to 180 New Montgomery, Room 802! We will be accepting donations until Friday, November 13.

We look forward to seeing your shoes!

Learn all about alumnus Bertrand Pellegrin and his new book Branding the Man: Why Men Are the Next Frontier in Fashion Retail from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Journalist Aaron Britt journalist from Dwell Magazine and San Francisco Chronicle will be the host of the discussion.

Bertrand Pellegrin and Branding the Man
Thursday, November 12th
7:00pm-8:00pm, 79 Auditorium
MFA Fashion Merchandising alumnus and author, Bertrand Pellegrin, will discuss his newly published book, Branding the Man, with columnist Aaron Britt from the San Francisco Chronicle. The discussion will also include a Q&A.

“Beyond the Front Row” initial meeting for the re-launch of the Fashion Club
Thursday, November 12th
3:00pm, 180 New Montgomery, Room 151

Open Workshop / Hand Knitting with Lori Goldman.
Saturday, November 14th
12:30-3:20pm, New Montgomery, Room 140B

Style Wars
Saturday, November 21st
10:00pm, Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street @ Mint
Simon Ungless is a guest judge for the U.S. Style Battle Championships 2009.
Visit the official site to watch past battles, enter to battle in ’09, or get your tickets ($15) www.houseofdiehl.com/stylewars/

Holiday windows at 79
Sunday, November 22nd – 25th
Boris James Davison and Visual Merchandising students install festive holiday windows.

VIP opening night for the 52nd Annual San Francisco International Auto Show
Wednesday, November 25th,
By invitation only
Exhibition of classic cars from the University’s Car Museum with an informal fashion show of 1930s-inspired gowns created by third semester MFA Fashion Design students in Rob Curry’s 3D Design class.

Thanksgiving Holidays
November 26th – 27th