Last Thursday night, the streets of the Haight Ashbury District were filled with anticipation and excitement as devoted fans and music lovers awaited the arrival of the newest cool-kid on the block, Lana Del Rey. The New York native was there to sing some of her popular songs from her new album, Born to Die, at Amoeba Records. Del Rey has gained a cult following – and it seemed like they all turned up for the show. Let’s just say crowded would be considered an understatement. Since we were all in a record store, fans and supporters were in between aisles of CDs and other products sold at Amoeba Records, all hoping to get a glimpse of the sultry songstress.

The show started at 6:00 PM, but savvy concert-goers arrived two hours early to reserve a decent spot in the store. It filled in quickly as the hour drew closer for Lana to take the stage. Wearing a white baby doll dress and hair in light curls, Lana Del Rey won the audience with her humble attitude and emotional singing. She made it clear to the adoring fans that she was grateful for their support and only sings for her fans. Accompanied by her pianist and guitarist, Lana sang her album hits like Born To Die, Without You, Million Dollar Man and Video Games. Fans mouthed the words, swaying in motion to the music and soaking up every minute of the experience.

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This Saturday, January 21st, Simon Doonan will be at Barneys in Union Square! He’ll be at the store from 2:00 to 4:00 PM promoting his new book, Gay Men Don’t Get Fat, and you can snag yourself a signed copy. Even if you’re not willing to give up your carbs or guacamole, you’re sure to lose a few pounds as you laugh your way through Doonan’s satirical statements and revelations!

You can RSVP to (415) 268 – 3500.

Makeup Gourmet, the brainchild of San Francisco makeup artist and School of Fashion instructor Chris Scott, wants to help you start the New Year in style! Makeup Gourmet is a website dedicating to sharing Mr. Scott’s insider knowledge about the world of cosmetics – they dish on the best products AND how to properly apply them. And this Saturday, they’re hosting a glamorous event benefiting one of San Francisco’s most renowned charity organizations, GLIDE.

GLIDE has been providing services to the city’s less fortunate communities and individuals for over 40 years – serving hot meals, providing shelters, and helping families get back on their feet.

He said of the decision to pair up with GLIDE: “We at Makeup Gourmet want to benefit and serve the local San Francisco community where we live and work as much as possible. No single non-profit organization in San Francisco has been assisting the city’s less fortunate more than GLIDE and we are proud to lend a hand.”

Makeup Gourmet will open their doors on New Year’s Eve from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM, offering make-up application, hair styling, and spray tans, to help everyone beautify for a cause. Attendance is free, you simply have to pay for the individual services that you would like – you can pre-order services here to ensure your spot. There will also be a “libation station” so  you can start celebrating early – what more could you want!

We hope to see you at the Makeup Gourmet New Year’s Eve Glam Charity Event!!

WHERE: Makeup Gourmet – 236 8th Street, San Francisco

WHEN: Saturday, December 31st from 12:00 to 6:00 PM

RSVP here!

Holiday Big Shot

WHEN: Wednesday, December 14th from 7:00 to 10:00 PM

WHERE: Photobooth – 1193 Valencia Street (at 23rd)

Photobooth is hosting a holiday party with Rue Magazine and one of our favorite boutiques – Mira Mira. Dress in your finest holiday attire to have your photo snapped via Polariod (of course – you ARE in the Mission) and sip on delicious cocktails by ORO Pisco. Mira Mira is setting up a special pop-up and Mira herself will be giving out styling tips!

Bazaar Bizarre at Nightlife

WHEN: Thursday, December 15th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

WHERE: California Academy of Sciences – 55 Music Concourse

The Bazaar Bizarre is bringing together 40 independent artists and craftspeople to turn NightLife into your one-stop shop for an amazing night of shopping and holiday fun! You can browse through the best artisanal goods and pay a visit to the live reindeer all in one place. They’ll also have a DIY craft station, indoor snow flurries, music, and cocktails. Must be 21 years old to attend – you can buy tickets here.

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Still have holiday shopping that you need to get done? Well have no fear, you can get something for everyone on your list at Thursday’s Clement Street Holiday Shop Crawl! You can pick up a cozy sweater for your mom at Seedstore, art for your significant other at Kumquat, something for any little ones in your life at Kookle Toys, and so much more! Many of the stores will be offering discounts for the evening, plus snacks and libations!

WHAT: Clement Street Holiday Shop Crawl

WHEN: THursday, December 8 from 5 to 8 PM

WHERE: Clement Street stores, starting at the corner of Clement and Arguello – Inner Richmond

Miss City of San Francisco Amanda Massi

Academy of Art University M.F.A. Fashion Design student Amanda Massi has been hard at work over the past few months with something that stretches much farther and wider than our 7×7 oasis of San Francisco. Come January 6, 2012 Amanda Massi will be running in the Miss California USA pageant as Miss City of San Francisco, and quite frankly there couldn’t be a better person to rep our city.  This determined young fashion designer and SF newcomer has diligently been working to spread the word about an outstanding cause: The Polaris Project, a non-profit organization based out of Washington, D.C. that is striving to break the chains of human trafficking that bond our contemporary world to modern day slavery.

On Thursday December 8^th, 2011 Miss City of SF, Amanda Massi, and Above Ground Productions are hosting an all-black attire event at SF urban art haven 111 Minna.  Bay area locals and students alike are invited to join us for a showcase of original artwork created with the objective and mission of the Polaris Project in mind. One hundred percent of the $10 door donations will be donated to the Polaris Project and we’ll get together for live music, cocktails and an evening dedicated to raising awareness for a great cause.  Doors open at 10pm and all Academy of Art students and faculty are invited to come “Hangover for a Cure”.  Hope you’ll join us!

Written By: Allie Marque Ramirez

This Thursday, The Factory – an unrestricted retail space featuring capsule collections, collaborations, and one-of-a-kind pieces – is throwing a party to launch their latest capsule collection in collaboration with April Howard.

April graduated from the School of Fashion with an M.F.A. in Fashion Design in 2010 and debuted her senior collection, The Road, at the Spring 2011 Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Her Spring 2012 Collection for The Road will also be on display.

The party will be a mixed-media event, featuring a photographic documentation of the entire design process, live models, and the sewn pieces on display. The event is also in collaboration with CODE Salon, who is providing hair and make-up. There will be cocktails, snacks, and music – all the elements of a fabulous evening!

WHEN: Thursday, December 8th from 6-9 PM

WHERE: The Factory – 370 4th St., Suite 1, San Francisco

Last night, Fashion School Daily had the pleasure of attending a spectacular event – the celebration of Hal Rubenstein’s new book, 100 Unforgettable Dresses. The soirée was hosted by Vanessa Getty and the Giorgio Armani store, where guests convened to toast the author and discuss the 100 Most Unforgettable Dresses. Well, maybe not all of them, but the author touched on quite a few.

Mrs. Getty began the discussion by asking the author what had inspired him to write this book – to which he had a surprising answer. Mr. Rubenstein had been approached by Rizzoli to create a book about 100 dresses, to which he replied, “No, that’s too boring.” But as the editor thought more about the book, he formed an idea that would allow him to write a book that was truly interesting, not just something that sits on your bookshelf and looks pretty. He explained, “I started out as a journalist, and that’s what I am at heart. I love fashion, but I love telling stories more.” It is this journalistic approach that makes the book so appealing, and sets it apart from its peers. Each dress in the book has a captivating story behind it, beautifully narrated and full of anecdotes and clever quips that only a fashion insider would know.

When asked, “What makes an unforgettable dress?” Rubenstein’s reply was threefold: “The right dress, on the right woman, at the right time.” He gave the example of Jennifer Lopez’s pivotal moment from the 2000 Grammys, when she wore the green Versace dress. It had been worn before by Amber Valetta at the Spring 2000 show and again by Donatella Versace at the Met Ball, without causing a stir. Yet, on the evening of the Grammy’s, J. Lo hit the trifecta – it was the right dress, she was the right woman, and it was the right time. The dress catapulted J. Lo into the spotlight and she never looked back.

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Wonderland SF Owner Irene Hernandez-Feiks at a Chillin’ Productions Event. Photo Courtesy of Lance Iversen.

Irene Hernandez-Feiks has worked with over 10,000 artists throughout the Bay Area, from designers and artisans to photographers and filmmakers. What began as small, weekly happy hour events for local designers has turned into a major happening where all forms of art converge three to four times a year. Irene recently opened Wonderland SF, a boutique + gallery located in the Mission. She stocks clothing, shoes, and accessories from independent designers throughout the bay area, including School of Fashion Alums like gr.dano. In the back of the space there is a rotating gallery, with new exhibitions each month. Fashion School Daily took a day trip to the Mission to visit Irene (and her adorable golden retriever Tenoche) at Wonderland SF, and learn about the inspiration behind this creative powerhouse!

Wonderland SF was like a second act to Chillin’ Productions – can you tell me a bit more about that?

I started out as a designer and when I was first starting I felt that in San Francisco, if you didn’t have the personality or the connections, it was really hard to break into the industry. So my best friend and I, she owns 111 Minna Gallery, started doing a happy hour every Tuesday with five local designers. It was like a mini-sale where people could show their designs. I feel like people always try to do fashion shows in San Francisco, but nothing really comes of it, so this was a way to really get people familiar with these designers and their work. Every week it was different and we would have DJs, so it was a fun thing that people could do after work.

And that was thirteen years ago, when we first started, before people were doing sample sales or anything like that here in San Francisco. So it started to become really popular, and a lot of the magazines started to come which was really great. But after a year I just got burned out because it was every week and I was having to do all of the research and planning. So then we started doing it every two months and did 40 designers. And instead of doing it 5 to 9 PM in the evening we did it 8 PM to 2 AM. It was more of a night event with lot of DJs and local bands playing too. We started having a line around the block to get into these events, and soon enough we outgrew 111 Minna. So then we moved it to Studio Z and it included designers, artists, filmmakers, and DJs. And then we got too big for that space too so we moved it to Mezzanine.

Do you still do large-scale events for Chillin’?

Yes we still do them at Mezzanine – we are having an event on December 3rd with 200 artists, 80 fashion designers, 40 filmmakers, and 4 people painting on stage. The whole idea behind Chillin’ is that maybe you love art and that’s why you’re there, but then you see a designer’s clothing that you fall in love with.

It has always been free and we have never taken money from the designers or artists, there is not cost to them. I really want the designers to see how people respond to their line and get them exposure. And sometimes buyers will come and they’ll get picked up by a boutique, which is really great. And they learn – one thing that school doesn’t teach you is the business side of it. For me, Chillin’ Productions has really been about helping the designers to learn about what they really want to do and what works.

Why did you decide to open Wonderland SF?

With Chillin’ we do events three or four times per year, but we wanted to have a platform for designers that was year round. So we opened Wonderland, and we sell everything on consignment for the designers. I think it really helps to show them how people respond and teaches them how to be successful – even little things like they realize they need to do size runs and things like that.

And we do have a huge following from Chillin’ which has helped. I have my regular customers who come in looking for things that are unique and different. And it helps the designers to decide – do they want their line to be more accessible or more high end? Wonderland has such a wide range of designers and customers, so there is something for all different people.

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Thread Show, your one stop shop for the best indie designers, artisans, jewelery makers, and so much more, is coming to San Francisco this weekend! This Sunday, November 20th, Thread Show will take place at the Metreon Shopping Center at 101 4th Street. They’re filling 2011 with the things you know and love, and introducing new stuff to make you want more. Just when you thought THREAD couldn’t get any better, check out what they’ve got planned for this year…

• Shop from loads of trendsetting designers bringing you men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry and more!
• Do it yourself (because nobody does it better)at the DIY gift wrapping station
• Sip away on amazing signature cocktails
• Join us for a mini-mani from an hot local nail salon
• Snatch up the designer and sponsor giveaways coming from the DJ booth all day long
• Make it a memory in the THREAD Photo Booth
• Chill out with quick rub down in the THREAD Well Lounge
• Check out the top designer looks at the Fashion Art Installation
• Get styled with a new do and a make-up touch up in the Style Lounge
• Art gallery featuring top local artists
• Snacks, drinks, magazines and loads of free stuff

You can check out the entire list of exhibitors here -  so many amazing, unique things to choose from! Tickets are $5 in advance, and $10 at the door – you can RSVP for advance tickets here.

This is something you definitely don’t want to miss, as it only comes once a year. It’s the perfect time to pick up gifts for friends and family, and of course a little something for yourself too!