profiles
Catching up with Manolo Blahnik
After more than 30 years in the biz, Manolo Blahnik has accumulated a pop culture status and fan base unmatched by most designers. His devoted clients have been rumored to go to extremes to pay homage to their Manolo collections—from designating entire rooms in their homes for Blahnik shoe storage to ordering his spendy heels by the dozens. So it was no surprise that the shoe guru’s recent visit to San Francisco attracted a swarm of Blahnik groupies for a mid-day appearance and signing of their coffee table tomes Blahnik by Boman [$55, Chronicle Books] at Neiman Marcus.
Gab Fest with Proenza Schouler
Fresh off of New York Fashion Week, the genius boys behind Proenza Schouler (a.k.a. Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez) breezed through San Francisco recently for a private trunk show and cocktail party at Neiman Marcus and, of course, a gab fest with 7x7. With leather gloves, sleek jumpsuits and zippered pencil skirts from their Spring 2009 collection in tow, the playful Manhattan-based duo shared their thoughts on diving into accessory design, getting inspired, and dressing their mothers.
Koos van den Akker Sets Up Shop at the Academy of Art University
San Francisco may not be the city that most designers call home, but it’s definitely a go-to getaway for fashion-y types of all kinds during their summer globetrotting. Some breeze through town long enough to make the obligatory department store personal appearance and a round or two of high society party hopping. Others, such as New York sportswear designer Koos van den Akker, hole up for three months for 12 hours a day in a classroom at the Academy of Art University sewing clothes for his Madison Avenue boutique while imparting decades of industry wisdom to collegiate designers in the making.
7 Minutes with: Anyi Lu
As a former competitive ballroom dancer and a mom, shoe designer Anyi Lu knows firsthand a woman’s need for “sensible shoes.” But the Tiburon-based footwear designer has made it her mission to create a namesake line that doesn’t sacrifice style for comfort. The 34-year-old Tiburon resident, who also happens to hold a degree in chemical engineering, is best known for her gorgeous yet practical flats and heels. For Lu’s upcoming fall collection, look out for her array of menswear-inspired styles in quilted suede, lace-up booties and silver buckles, oh my!
Beckham-Mania
As if it weren’t hot enough in San Francisco, David Beckham turned up the temperatures in Union Square on Wednesday when he rolled through town to unveil his latest—and may we say greatest—fall ad campaign for Emporio Armani Underwear. The Los Angeles Galaxy soccer star kept the anxious crowd waiting for nearly an hour before he showed up to say a few very brief words of thanks, and then sign autographs for his adoring, squealing fans—many of them sporting a version of Beckham’s number 23 jersey.
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