Style + Design
Mabel Chong Opens on Sacramento Street
Presidio Heights has a new go-to shop for bespoke baubles, thanks to the opening of the second San Francisco store and working atelier of Mabel Chong. Larger than the diminutive original location in Noe Valley, the local designer’s new Sacramento Street home showcases her handmade necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets amid furnishings collected by Chong's husband, Mark Welte.
Pop in to see Chong’s latest work: black diamond-and-18K-gold stardust bead earrings and long, asymmetrical necklaces that can be worn plain or layered for added drama. And if a piece of furniture catches your eye, don’t be shy. Chong has plans to put price tags on the store’s art and furnishings, too.
Tim Gunn Hosts Fashion Show at Macy's Union Square
As the sage mentor who counsels young designers on Bravo TV’s Project Runway, Tim Gunn is anything but the typical reality TV star that has made a small screen career out of behaving badly. In fact, the personable style expert, who breezed through town on Tuesday for a fashion show promoting the Monet jewelry line at Macy’s Union Square, showed up exactly on time for our interview and—just like his TV persona—spoke thoughtfully and candidly about his take on all things fashion. Here’s what we learned about the former Parsons The New School of Design fashion chair, Chief Creative Officer for Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Acrimony Decks its Halls with Makr Pop-Up Shop
Hayes Valley boutique Acrimony is getting in on the pop-up shop action just in time for the holidays. In the spotlight? Makr leather accessories and canvas bags by designer Jason Gregory. Set up within a temporary eight-by-eight-feet space inside the Gough Street store, Makr offers its latest hand-sewn wallets, totes and small leather goods.
An Upside of the Reccesion: Ralph Lauren's Winter Sale
What could possibly be the upside to the recession? Even newly opened stores, including Ralph Lauren’s latest addition to Fillmore Street, are clearing out merchandise way before Black Friday. While you might be lured in by the 3,500-square-feet shop’s cozy, rustic ambiance (oak floors, leather club chairs and plenty of wicker), you’ll end up staying for the selection of men’s and women’s winter clothing and accessories, which were just marked down to 40 and 50 percent off of retail. We suggest heading straight to the back rack for sleek RLX puffer jackets, ski pants and bright wool knits you’ll need for that Thanksgiving trip to Tahoe.
Downtown Store Openings: Bacca da Silva, Joe's Jeans and Herve Leger
If you’re anything like us, you’re looking at the limp economy as a glass half full instead of one that’s half empty. It just means fewer shoppers to compete with over a greater number of post-Thanksgiving day sales, no? If your inner shopping optimist draws you to downtown to sniff out the Black Friday deals, we also recommend checking out a few new shops that have recently opened in this ever-changing shopping district.
"Save the Drama 4 Obama" T-Shirts at Loyal Army
The elections may (finally) be over, but the inaugural celebrations have yet to come. We're predicting everything from lunchtime toasts to swanky shindigs around town on January 20. Loyal Army, an SF-based clothing line for teens that opened its first retail shop, in the Haight, in recent months, is whipping up a batch of limited-edition T-shirts just for the occasion. Founder Brian Dold says he designed the shirts with the goal of getting teens involved in politics.
Best Soap: Glowology Believe Honey Bar
For the beauty novice, it’s hard to believe that a bar of soap could do more than wash the dirt off. Those in the know realize the potential joys of the ideal cleansing bar—one so perfectly balanced that its rich lather leaves your skin moisturized and smooth, freshly scented and, of course, gently cleaned. We’ve found said bar in the form of the new, ultragentle Glowology Believe Honey Bar by San Jose–based Noodle & Boo. As a bonus, the company donates 100 percent of the product’s profits to the Raise Your Hand Campaign, which funds water-purification systems for disadvantaged children worldwide. Available at Nordstrom, 865 Market St., 415-243-8500
Best Beauty Bargain: Cinta Salon Brings the Aveda Institute to Town
Cinta Gibbons of Cinta Salon fame has opened California’s first Aveda Institute, providing West Coast cosmetology and esthetics students with 10,000 square feet of eco-friendly space in which to train, and bargain hunters with a gold mine for discounted grooming services. Professionally supervised students perform an array of services, from brow tints and waxes to haircuts, updos and highlights. Our budget service of choice is the 50-minute custom-cleansing facial, which includes a neck massage and extractions, as well as post-treatment mineral makeup application, for $40—twice the beauty at more than half off the usual spa price. 305 Kearny St., 415-989-4400
Beauty Buffs Rejoice: Space.NK Opens inside Bloomingdale's
Being the beauty buffs that we are here at 7x7, we couldn’t help but feel giddy about the news that Space.NK was opening in San Francisco. Founded by Londoner Nicky Kinnaird in 1993, the expertly edited British beauty apothecary has begun rolling out its store-within-store concepts inside of Bloomingdale’s department stores throughout the country.
McEvoy Ranch Launches 80 Acres, Olive-Oil-Based Beauty Products
With the reopening of SF’s McEvoy Ranch at the Ferry Building Marketplace comes its new 80 Acres line of olive-oil-based body-care products, ranging from soap ($8) to body balm ($20). Mmmm. Ferry Building Marketplace, 415-291-7224
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