Sara Iravani

Loewe Brings Its Luxury Leather-Making to San Francisco

fashionlesslife — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:46:00 -0400

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Photos by Maghan McDowell via SF Gate

Angel Fernandez began crafting leather for luxury brand <ahref=”http: www.loewe.com=”” “=”“>Loewe—the official leather-supplier to the Spanish Monarchy—when he was 14. Now 67, he’s worked for the brand most of his life. Last week, he visited the San Francisco Neiman Marcus to demonstrate his finely honed craft.

After 53 years of developing his skills, Fernandez was a marvel to watch as he transformed a leather scrap into a small, bear-shaped coin purse for transfixed on lookers. He was one of the first artisans to work on Loewe’s iconic Amazonabag, which was established in 1939 and holds its own among the Hermes Birkin and Chanel 2.55. Fernandez is one of a fading group of leather tradesmen in the fashion world, and he’s enjoying his “retirement” by traveling the country in preparation for Loewe’s first United States store, scheduled to open in Miami in late 2014.

“Loewe is very popular in Europe and Asia. This is a chance for people in the U.S. to see the skill and technique we use to create our beautiful leather bags,” Loewe spokeswoman Marta Plana told us.

Loewe is also spreading the word in the US by recruiting Penelope Cruz for its<ahref=”http: www.justjared.com=”” 2013=”” 01=”” 15=”” penelope-cruz-loewe-spring-summer-campaign-pics=”” “=”“>2013 Spring advertising campaign , and the brand was featured in the American April issues of Vogue, W and Bazaar .
—by Sara Iravani
· Loewe [Official Site]
· Behind the Scenes With Loewe Luxury Goods [SF Gate]
· All Luxury Posts [Racked SF]

Web Flyer for Mira Mira & Jewelry Designer Sheila B

fashionlesslife — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:44:49 -0400

Web Flyer for Mira Mira & Jewelry Designer Sheila B

Sneak Peek at Pretty Penny's New Lookbook, Plus a Party With Calivintage, Tonight!

fashionlesslife — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:43:00 -0400

A sneak peek of Pretty Penny’s new lookbook

Oakland’s Pretty Penny vintage boutique is turning seven, and shop ownerSarah Dunbar has enlisted vintage style blogger Erin Hagstrom ofCalivintage to create a not-to-be missed soiree.

Tonight at the shop from 5 to 10pm, Dunbar will unveil Pretty Penny’s 2013 lookbook, and both Dunbar and Hagstrom are releasing special vintage collections to shop. Plus, Dunbar is welcoming two new designers to the store. “Pretty Penny is excited to now carry Courtshop denim and local jewelry designer Isobell. We recently acquired two very large clothing estates with the most amazing vintage pieces that guests will be able to shop during the event,” Dunbar told us.

And if you admire Hagstrom’s style on her personal style blog Calivintage, you’ll be happy to know she has curated a pop-up shop for tonight only, featuring items from her own closet. “You can expect an assortment of some of the newer vintage-inspired pieces from my wardrobe and vintage dresses from my ever-growing personal collection. Plenty of peter pan collars and sweet sixties styles for the spring season,” Hagstrom says.

Other party favors include a live performance from East Bay indie-pop bandBam! Bam!, gift bags, a tarot card reader, a photo booth, and champagne and cupcakes (naturally). RSVP here.
—by Sara Iravani
· Pretty Penny [Official Site]
· Calivintage [Official Site]

Gap Exec Lures Finger Paint Artist to SF for US Debut

fashionlesslife — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:22:21 -0400

Photos by Drew Altizer—by Sara Iravani

Paolo Troilo’s work, created using only his fingers and paint, caught the interest of Gap visual creative director Steven Brady on a trip to Europe three years ago. Brady commissioned a painting to hang in the Gap flagship store in Rome, and hatched a plan to introduce Troilo to the United States.

The plan came to fruition this month—Troilo brought his amazingly detailed (for using his fingers!) work to SF interior design store Coup d’Etat, owned and run by Brady’s friend Darin Geise, who also became obsessed with the finger painter after Brady showed him the artist’s work. “We were worried he would choose L.A. or New York for his debut,” Geise says. “We’re very lucky.”

The self-taught painter began using his fingers one day when he had forgotten his painbrushes. “I started painting with my hands, and I realized I could create much more powerful art than if I had used painting tools,” he told Racked. Since then Troilo has become a well-known and award-winning artist in Europe.

Brady and Geise celebrated the U.S. debut with a party at Coup d’Etat; check out some of the party photos in our gallery. Missed the party? Not to worry, you can check out Troilo’s work through Jun 21 at Coup d’Etat, 111 Rhode Island Street.
· Coup d’Etat [Official Site]
· You Won’t Believe These Sculptures Are Made Out of Paper [Racked SF]
· The 38 Best Home Goods Stores in San Francisco [Racked SF]

Naked Lunch

fashionlesslife — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:23:27 -0500

By Sara Iravani

“What can I do for you sweet cheeks?”

This is Rich. He is the 6’7’’ Bouncer in the puffy black jacket that guards the The Gold Club on weekdays. He welcomes hungry patrons as they enter the strip club, located in the Financial District of San Francisco –the city’s White Collar work district.

Today is a chilly day and it seems like a storm is blowing in. Unsuspecting people hurry by eagerly hiding their faces in their coats.

“What’s your stage name?” He asks a young woman in an overcoat and Lucite high heels.

“Candy, but I need a different one.” She answers.

This is just a small break in the line of hungry people who seem to be braving the cooler temperature for the girls.

After an in depth chat with Rich, I find out it’s really all for the $5 lunch buffet that happens every weekeday from Noon-2:00pm.

“They come for the fried chicken.” He says authoritatively.

Although the line consists of mostly men in work suits, there are a surprising number of women standing in line.

“I like the fruit platters. And the pork giblets aren’t half bad.” Says a 20-something girl in a red sweater and a pair of work slacks.

Maybe strip clubs are for everyone nowadays? Or maybe I am too uptight to realize I should be perusing strip club lunch deals on YELP?

My stomach starts to overtake my curiosity and I ask Rich one more question before turning away.

“Do you enjoy the lunch buffet Rich?”

“No. I’m a diabetic.”

Eternal Search for the Perfect Beach Hair Spray

fashionlesslife — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:05:00 -0500

By Sara Iravani

As a seasoned San Francisco resident, I have just about relinquished my Southern California beauty regime for one that favors a cooler, damp climate. During my first year, I fought tooth and nail against the inevitable loss of melanin and mousy brown hair color I hadn’t possessed since I was nine.

Currently, I am in a place that I can confidently say I am a recovering tanning bed addict. I no longer worry about relapsing because my addiction lasted three months before I realized this habit is: a) too expensive, b) didn’t produce the right ‘color’ skin pigment c) highly damaging to my skin (eek!). Admittedly, my priorities were out of order, I know, but I think many can attest that old beauty habits die-hard.

After submitting to the Bay Area and buying a lighter shade of foundation, I have one beauty contingent left -beach hair.

Perhaps our lackadaisical hippie brethren of the Bay Area originally popularized the ‘messy hair trend’ and have now bestowed the sought after look on current “It” girl Erin Wasson. The supermodel, hipster, and So-Cal style queen reigns over the fashion blogosphere with her fantastically sun kissed, ombre hair for all those to envy.

Sometimes I wonder how many Hairdressers have been presented with a photo of Erin Wasson and summoned to ‘Color my hair like hers’?

The latest messy-hair-girl-crush, in case you haven’t met her, is the newly anointed ‘Jane Birkin’- Marguax Lonnberg. The bleached blonde sports an enviable bed-head mane. Just another enviable photo to look at on the Internet.

With the help of my sister, another Northern California transplant, I decided to undergo the arduous search for a hair product that would produce the just-out-of-ocean look.

Experiment #1: DIY

The homemade sea salt hairspray.

My sister and I began a confident, thorough Internet search for sea salt mixtures. We decided the method prescribed by the ladies from bohemian, clothing line, Free People, was our recipe for success. They have to be experts to pull off all those longhaired, ‘free spirited’ lookbooks, right?

DIY Sea Salt Hair Spray Recipe:

1 Spray Bottle

1 teaspoon Sea Salt

½ teaspoon Coconut Oil

1 dap of Hair Gel

1 cup of Water

Result: Sticky, icky, hair on a Friday night. My friends got a good laugh in learning that I’d used my own hair concoction on my “nest” of hair, created by this oily version of sea salt spray. I can’t blame Free People for the bad hair night. I only have myself to blame -I think we may have used a tad too much hair gel or coco oil…Needless to say, it was on to Experiment #2.

Experiment #2: Braided Hair

Choosing a rainy, chilly night, my sister and I sat in front of a space heater with freshly washed and blow-dried hair. Trying a more obvious method, we French braided each other’s hair in four sections, so we looked like a weird, un-cool version of Bob Marley. We gently misted our braids with John Freida’s Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier Hair Spray -for those of you with straight hair, I swear by this hairspray as the only one able to destabilize straight hair. Then, we slept.

Result: The morning after produced a 1980’s crimped look. Could be worse, but not what we were looking for…WWED (What Would Erin Do?).

Experiment #3: Salon Recommended

I decided it was time to hit the customer comments. My sister and I bought three products with the seemingly best reviews.

-KMS California Hair Play -Sea Salt Spray

-Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

- Biosilk Style Beach Texture

Result: Unfortunately, the most expensive won this round, but to me my eternal battle is over. I have found the magic ingredient for achieving beach hair. Just a few spritzes of Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray + coiled bun + 1 night’s sleep.

Viola!

My sister and I had the messy tresses we were searching for and now wake up looking like slightly less attractive versions of Erin Wasson.

Graphic Design: Web Flyer

fashionlesslife — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:20:00 -0500

Web flyer for San Francisco fashion boutique, Mira Mira.

For latest photography & graphic design visit NORTH//SOUTH.

fashionlesslife — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:14:00 -0500

For latest photography & graphic design visit NORTH//SOUTH.

PDF of My Portfolio: FUURTHER Magazine Issue No.1

fashionlesslife — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:46:00 -0500

PDF of My Portfolio: FUURTHER Magazine Issue No.1

Notes From An Intern

fashionlesslife — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:43:00 -0500

As Published in SHIFT Magazine

By Sara Iravani

“Can you fact check these articles, after the other two are done?”

“I know its rush hour, but we need you to load 125 gift bags into your car and unload them for the party tomorrow.”

“Can you get my lunch and mail this package? Thanks.”

“Sorry we don’t compensate for gas or paying to park at our office…. :( ”

Most people know these lines as the tell tale signs they are working as an Intern. It almost always begins with an email:

Dear 20-Something College Graduate:

While we think your skill set and experience are most worthy of a job, we can only offer you an unpaid internship at this time.

Sincerely,

Not Your Future Employer

In this day and age college graduates have one thing common on their resume: the internship(s). A necessary experience to have, and a practice that encapsulates what life is like working day-to-day in said occupation.

These internship experiences are meant to give graduates professional experience and contacts that may lead to a potential job….maybe in some fields.

In fashion, the stakes are high and the competition cut throat. A missed opportunity can leave you panicked and feeling like a failure. Quit? Never show weakness.

Forget med school and dealing with cadavers -this is the only industry that promotes crying in the corner of the studio. If you aren’t crying, you don’t care enough. Right?

In a giant leap of faith for potential new labor laws, former Harper’s Bazaar Intern, Xuedan Wang, filed suit against Heart Magazines for financial compensation. The 28 year-old, ex-Intern interned from August-December 2011, toiling away in the Accessories closet for 40 sometimes 55 hours a week.

“Unpaid interns are becoming the modern-day equivalent of entry-level employees, except that employers are not paying them for the many hours they work,” the lawsuit claims.

But enough about Xuedan; I had my very first internship with now defunct Magazine, who, for defamatory purposes we’ll call 733 Magazine.

Bright, eager, and feeling like a million bucks, I spent the first week answering phone calls and sitting in an office with a large window that looked outside in the sunny, beckoning San Diego Harbor. Aside from running out to my car every 2 hours to refill the expensive downtown parking meter, the only work I was assigned was updating this newfangled writing medium for the magazine –the 733 blog.

Needless to say, my Persian, Electrical Engineer, Father dubbed it “Sara’s summer working at a party magazine”. I stopped getting offended by his title after one of the employees was thrown in jail with a DUI after the August Issue Release party –yikes.

A couple years later I graduated with a B.S. in Textiles & Clothing (not bullshit, material science jerk) and I had two internships under my belt. But after applying for various entry-level positions, I was convinced I needed more internship experience plus a vacation.

Winter 2010, Summer 2010 for the Southern Hemisphere, I packed my bags and headed Down Under, to work for the fledgling fashion scene.

Through my old college roommate, I secured a six-month internship working at one of the big fashion labels. To supplement my lack of salary, and not go totally broke from paying $12 Australian Dollars for a beer (yes, 1 beer), I found paid work at an Aboriginal Art Gallery run by Persians -go figure.

What’s it like being an Intern in another country? Pretty similar, there is just as much clothing carrying and sorting, but a little more hands on. I’m still convinced it was better than working for an American label.

At least it sounds cool on my resume.

After my six-months of slanging didgeridoos, bushwhacking on sandy beaches and terrible exchange rates, I did what every god-fearing, college atheist is doing. Apply for Graduate School.

As a 22 year-old I never imagined I’d run back to the safety net of school. Or move to a city of hippies and nudists, to pursue an M.F.A. in Fashion Journalism.

Bright, eager, and feeling like a million bucks (we’re heard this before) I landed an apartment in the old Beat district of North Beach in San Francisco and embarked on a two-year program to buy some time and equip me with a skillset.

I write this seemingly angry Dear Abbey note, in the midst of my final year as an MFA candidate. I know what you’re thinking: after all this bitching and moaning, where is she now?

Currently, I am an Intern.

But things are looking up.

Logo Designs for NORTH//SOUTH.

fashionlesslife — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:16:00 -0500

Logo Designs for NORTH//SOUTH.

The Small Present Under The Tree

fashionlesslife — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:32:56 -0500

November 1, 2012 By Sara Iravani

As a Britney Spears enthusiast & American Girl Doll collector, being a normal American girl was high up on my priority list.Where your friends were going and what they were doing for the holidays was relevant in the scope of my short-lived life. At least that’s what every 14-year-old girl convinces herself.

“What are you doing for Christmas, Sara?” a friend would casually ask during 4^th period.

“Ugh, I have to go visit my Father who lives in San Jose.”

“Ah cool. Well that sounds fun, I guess.” My friend’s usual response, “Me and So-and-so’s family are all going to Big Bear to go snowboarding, and we were going to ask you to come!”

GREAT. I’d think to myself. The fear-of-missing-out would haunt me the rest of the day and dissipate into anger as soon as my Mom asked how my day went.

As a well-liked, average teenager, getting onto an airplane to visit your Iranian Father -who didn’t even really know about Christmas -I might add, wasn’t really something to make you excited for a two-week, school vacation. I know this sounds selfish, but think about being a hormonal teen; other people’s feelings don’t register in your brainwaves aside from your own.

AND on top of it all, I have to sit thru another Christmas pretending to like my presents.

“GREAT”, I’d say to myself.

When I say, presents -I really do mean “presents”. Ever since I can remember, my Father has presented me with the miniature version of actual present he’s given me.

He’d open a SEARS catalogue and ask me over the phone, “Sara do we need a wheel barrow?”

“NO.” I’d tell him while I was surfing the internet, pretending to listen to his phone call -only to be in San Jose the following week and horrendously surprised with a ribbon-clad mini-wheelbarrow & shovel on Christmas day.

“Now you have tools that fit you, when you help me in the yard!” My father dispelled brightly as I stared in disbelief –that was my 6^th grade Christmas present.

This was just one mini present of MANY.

Why would anyone think to buy miniature versus the real thing?

“You’re my little girl.” My dad would say, at my bratty distaste.

Another Christmas, aggravated that I was displaced from my usual American Holiday breakfast of pancakes, I sat trying to patch a sad, mini Christmas tree with a despairing amount of pine needles.

“Sara, do you want to open a present early?” My Father asked brightly.

“…Sure.” I said, less than thrilled.

Carefully I unwrapped the medium sized brown box, and unstuck the cardboard pieces. Pulling the newspaper filling apart, I uncovered the smallest, mini wine glass, and little spoons for mixing tea.

“It’s great, now you can have the perfect amount of juice!” exclaimed my Father.

“Jesus, I gave my masterpiece of a decorated Douglas Fir, up for this?” I remember thinking to myself. To his credit, my Father improved over the years as he eventually figured out the Christmas decorations at Macy’s were reduced immediately after Christmas day. One thing you can count on Iran to teach it’s people –where to find the best deals.

Now, it’s not that my father didn’t understand the whole gift-giving concept, or didn’t try to make Christmas fun. He was just foreign; so it’s easy to infer that communicating has never been one of our greatest past times.

What does being foreign have to do with this? Lets just say Iran’s not the best culture for preparing single Father’s to host Christmas for an American raised kid. And as far as my Father was concerned Christmas didn’t exist until he won a University scholarship to America. In his small village, the last Catholic who cared about Jesus’s Birthday was told to vacate a long time ago –if they didn’t want to start wearing a headscarf.

When my Father landed in the land of milk & honey only to recount seeing Big Macs & KFC, he also got a whole new calendar of annual equations: Halloween=Costume, Thanksgiving=Turkey, not chicken, which I made sure he’d never forget, Christmas Eve= Cookies & Milk…and so on.

And of course, these small facts are ones that I didn’t understand until I was post-adolescent, and my hormonal brain had final cleared the self-absorbed fog engulfing it for so long.

As a normal, American 20-something, my apartment holds small memories of those past Christmas’s that I spent with just my Father and me. I’ve come to realize that sometimes, it’s the smallest present under the smallest tree that means the most. And for my single Father, it was his way of communicating how much he missed me when I wasn’t there.

Now, when I have friends over, they usually zero in on the tiny frying pan hanging above my stove.

“Sara, why on earth would you buy this? Can you even cook anything with this?” my friend questions.

“It’s big enough to fry one egg.” I always reply, repeating what my Father had said, that Christmas.

Out of this World

fashionlesslife — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:55:16 -0500

Sample of copywriting featured on the Inspirare Blog:

Spring/Summer 2013

Always offbeat, Karen Walker’s line reminds us of a time when peter pan collars and space exploration were cutting edge and exciting. Minted and coral oxford flats along with pointed pumps are perfect for watching the Kennedy’s on the new television. The Jetson prints, blunt bangs and odd cropped pants make us nostalgic.

1960’s references aside, Walker updated fabric with altered spins on polka dot-stars and jacquard prints that have us drooling over her quirky Spring 2013 collection. Maaaaybe these galactic looks landed just in time for us to be revived by the touchdown of the Mars Rover?

Photos Courtesy of WWD.com

Trend Report: The Harness

fashionlesslife — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:50:32 -0500

Sample of copywriting, featured on the Inspirare Blog:

BCBG MAXAZRIA

Jason Wu

Marios Schwab

Jason Wu

Mandy Coon

Herve Leger by Max Azria

For Spring? Shocking!

We know a harness directly recalls Fashion Photographer, Helmut Newton’s sexy photos of playboy bunnies. But after viewing the Spring 2013 runways, Inspirare is actively searching for a harness to wear with our favorite spring dress. Michelle Obama-favorite, Jason Wu, showcased his own version of the leather harness, pairing it with ethereal chiffon fabric and a more classy peplum dress. The leather harness may be one of the most surprising breakout trends this runway season, perhaps due to 50 Shades of Grey which has been plaguing bedside tables. With the ability to transform a lose silhouette by adding a seductive layer of structure, the design team is eager to pair our new harness with a loose button down shirt and skirt. For a subtle, wearable version, check out Ioana Ciolacu’s fitted “Arrow Dress” on sale now in the INSPIRARE shop.

Ioana Ciolacu for INSPIRARE

Class of 1969

fashionlesslife — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:46:49 -0500

Sample of copywriting, featured on the Inspirare Blog:

It always take a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy to bring everyone back to reality. And in the office we’ve been getting a bit nostalgic noticing the John Lennon sunglasses, denim overalls and day-glo colors resurfacing amongst the style crowd. At first glance, we were dazed and confused by this photo spread shot by Arthur Shatz for LIFE Magazine. We know these look like Coachella fairies prancing around. But in actuality, they are average high school teens caught in their natural habitat -circa 1969.

Check out the vibes from Alexander McQueen’s Fall 2012 campaign film or watch Wild Belle’s new music videofor a heady dose of psychedelic fashion. Our very own “Miss Marble Dress” by Designer Alejandra de Coss, suits a modernized 1960s babe:

FUURTHER on Simple Bliss Print Advertisement

fashionlesslife — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:30:26 -0400

My cover for FUURTHER Magazine featured on SF based, Imagink’s, advertisement:

Simple Bliss Print by Imagink

Full color magazines part of a recent project completed for editor & creative director, Sara Iravani (www.sarairavani.tumblr.com).

With the cover printed on 100# gloss cover and inside pages on 80# gloss text, the artful images are displayed in an eye-capturing and Pop! Fashion that fully grab the readers’ attention. The perfect binding (soft cover) finish adds the perfect touch of sophistication and professionalism, truly bringing a piece of art to life. Inquire today and let Simple Bliss help bring your ideas and projects to life!

A Tale of 2 Bandits

fashionlesslife — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:42:22 -0400

Published on Fashion School Daily on October 16, 2012

Tamar Wider – the designer of The 2 Bandits.

I follow Tamar Wider’s voice down the hallway into her work studio. It brings me to a second hallway lined by brightly knit rugs, and leads to a humble room full of curiosities. I had to keep my eyes from wandering all over before I fixated on the tiny designer and an equally tiny dog, Rigby.

“Don’t worry, Rigby’s nice. She’s just shy when she first meets people.” Tamar explains.

Rigby’s nervous shakes weren’t enough to distract from the numerous trinkets perfectly disseminated around the room. Band posters, and personal black and white photographs coat the walls. Tribal antiquities and odd jars of flowers are sitting on table surfaces and wall nooks. There are bits and pieces of 2 Bandits remnants carefully organized into tiny shelves throughout. It’s a bohemian dream realized through interior decorating.

It matches Tamar’s seamlessly unkempt hair and ripped jeans. “Messy-neat” she illuminates. Tamar’s one employee and right hand woman is situated in the middle of the room, typing up an order form.

“I just want to be like all the people in The Last Waltz. I want to be like Neil Young, and I want to be Bob Dylan’s girlfriend. The Bandit girl is the girl that got caught smoking in the bathroom in high school.”

Follow the jump to read more!

Laughing, she continues.

“I was obsessed with the documentary, The Last Waltz. It’s about The Band… called The Band – Dylan’s back up band. It was their last waltz, the last concert, and everyone joined them. Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, the whole crew, Van Morrison. They all sang together. The whole documentary is so cool, I’d watch it over and over again and try and create these bandits by looking at their guitar straps and their whole vibe of the documentary.”

Coming from a family of diamond dealers in the great state of Texas, the petite designer contradicts her background. Producing three The 2 Bandits collections a year, Tamar chose to create costume jewelry rather than work in precious stones.

“My background, well I went to school in Israel to study gemology, stone study, because my dad’s a diamond dealer. He specializes in fine watches with my grandfather and they do really well. So I’ve just always had a jewelry background. I know I wouldn’t be able to design diamond jewelry because it’s really scary, it’s never been a passion of mine. I have more room for creativity with what I’m doing…”

With a pit stop in Israel, not the typical move for someone heading towards fashion, Tamar sits across from me as she brightens – “I mean why the hell not go to Israel?”

“Also, when I was younger, I grew up just really creative. Like I would go on tours with bands, like Phish and the Dead and sell patchwork out the back of my car. So I was like, what do I do when I’m 18? I’m going to move to Israel and see what’s going on. So I moved and just became this huge hippie, and gemology just wasn’t matching my lifestyle. Israel was amazing – I was lost in a spiritual world.” (She laughs)

“I grew up with The Phish and The Dead and Cat Stevens. I went to a hippie camp – it was in Missouri. After lunch we’d sing for two hours, and we had a songbook of The Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, all of them. So that’s why all my favorite music is camp music.”

Regardless of summers in Missouri, one can’t miss the Texan influence in Tamar’s collection – conchos, teepees, moonstones, and bootstraps. Other various items around her apartment disclose their guidance in her designs; a small tomahawk, tribal figurines and even Rigby, who sits patiently, dons a red bandana. The 2 Bandits, she explains, is a bit of a coincidence.

“Bandits had a rebirth last year. It started my last year out of F.I.T., I was wearing trim at the top of my boots. And I was at school and everyone was like ‘It looks so cool.’ It was kind of like a Navajo, jacquard Native American trim.”

Is this how 2 Bandits was born? I ask. She walks over to a mannequin in the room and pulls the boot trim off.

“I have it hanging up as a reminder, but I had it just like on top of my boots (displays the style by wrapping it at the top of her boot). And I kept getting compliments, and I was like you know what? This is a really good idea.”

So what inspired you to name your jewelry The 2 Bandits?

“It came from The Band, like The Band musical group. Because I love THE Band.”

So 2 Bandits is inspired by THE Band…

“Yea, but also when you think of the word Bandits you think – guacamole, hot tamales, banjos…everything that is my upbringing.”

What does a Bandit girl look like? I enquire, even though I have a clear image in my head. I just want to hear Tamar describe it because everything she’s said leading up to this point is what every free-spirited girl wants to embody.

“You can have a super refined outfit on but something has got to be torn up rustic, rustic meets refined. The perfect pair of distressed Levi’s is the best thing ever, but if you put a leather jacket with it, it’s the perfect outfit. Then add a Bandit’s collar or bandana. So, it’s mature, but something’s got to be rustic. You know what I’m saying?”

I know what she’s saying. It’s a look, an attitude, easily worn but not conveyed. At this point I think, it’s obvious why she is in San Francisco, but a designer on her level, typically doesn’t exist in our fashion climate.

I feel like most designers like you are in LA or stay in NYC?

“Yea…from New York [City] I moved to L.A. for 3 months, because I was dating a guy, a musician. I ended up…well we were long distance forever so I moved out to L.A. When I got there I was like I don’t like you, and I don’t like this city. [laughs] SO I left. And now I live in SF, with my boyfriend.”

Fair enough, this city is full of recovering L.A. natives.

What can we look forward to in your upcoming collection?

“I came up with this whole neck statement thing, bibs, collars. You’ll see in my next collection, I made a tie. I’m just trying to be different. I’m trying to take that old vintage tee that you wear everyday (motions to my white T-shirt) because I’m a T-shirt and jeans girl. When you put on a piece of jewelry – it’s a wow factor, it completes the whole outfit. (Points to me) You’re wearing a bolo right now, that’s all I look at when I look at you – besides your soul. (At which point I burst out laughing) But I’m serious its all I’m looking at.”

It’s surprising that such a small jewelry initiative garners such a cult online following. Featured in most of the big publications,Nylon, InStyle, Teen Vogue, Lucky Magazine to name a few… It wasn’t until fashion blogger, Amanda Shadforth of Oracle Fox, posted a few shots of herself donning a 2 Bandits cuff that a major collaboration knocked on Tamar’s door.

“Well the first look book that is [currently] on the site…I was actually really emotional during the shoot because it was like my first real collection and I was working with Ashley [Glorioso] and Zoey [Grossman] who are an amazing stylist and photographer. And I couldn’t stop thinking ‘Thank you. Thank you.’”

“Zoey saw my stuff on Oracle Fox because Mandy from Oracle Fox posted a picture wearing something of mine. So Zoey went on my website and got in contact with me. She said, “Your stuff is really great, but you could use some brand revamping.” And I was like I KNOW…”

Where did you guys shoot the look book?

“Because we were shooting in L.A., I couldn’t find anything I liked. So I used Air BnB and I found a hippie commune in Topanga Canyon, near Malibu. I contacted the guy and his name was The Light. I was like… what is going on here? There are aerialists floating thru the trees, there are moccasin makers -it was really cool. I was like this is the place!”

“And then I was so scared…because I was like Ashley, Zoey, this is a legit hippie commune. I’m bringing a real model, photographer and stylist to a hippie commune.

“When we got there they were so down, so it was cool. And Planet Blue [a Los Angeles based boutique] ended up shooting their latest look book there. I always try to portray that campy cabin-y look. We just shot my upcoming look book at Russian river in Guerneville. We shot in the Redwoods at a river, in a ranch…”

I check my phone. I realize I’ve posted up in The 2 Bandit’s studio an hour longer than I intended. I could lounge in this hippie haven talking music and weird life experiences for the rest of the day with Tamar. But real life calls, and I need to catch MUNI.

What advice can you give to fledgling designers and business owners?

“You have to be a specific brand. You have to be really specific when you’re designing. There are so many designers out there that just throw shit out there…I pride Bandits on creating stone settings and creating new jewelry from scratch. I think it’s all about keeping your customers happy, interacting with them on social media. And I don’t know, how do I say this – trying not to be so corporate, trying to be personal.”

Thank you Tamar! Check out The 2 Bandits here.

Written and Photographed by Sara Iravani.

Be There With Bell Bottoms On: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2012

fashionlesslife — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:49:00 -0400

Published October 8, 2012 on Fashion School Daily

During a weekend where San Francisco swelled to host 1 million extra people due to an over-extended fall social calendar, a major event played host to the one of the best annual fashion parades in the city – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

The 3-day festival took place in Golden Gate Park and is Hardly Strictly just a Bluegrass Festival. The music attracts the most unique crowd of any festival of its kind, and the free admittance creates a mélange of families, hipsters, day-glo wearing baby boomers and Haight Street vagabonds.

Follow the jump to read more!

Indie acts such as Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis on the Rooster Stage attracted a crowd in John-Lennon framed sunglasses, maxi skirts and lace-up granny boots. You couldn’t take one step without running into a pair of overalls, and not just on the men this year! Ladies were inventive and paired short-overalls with crop tops while watching Boz Scaggs, Steve Earle, and The Dukes perform good ol’ fashioned rockabilly music.

Ladies took notes from the old grateful dead fans and appropriated Buffalo-bill fringe jackets with printed vintage concert T’s. The more fashion-prone males chose to take a page from “The Dude”, wearing Big Lebowski knit sweaters.

After viewing six different stages of music, and fending off numerous brownie offerings, it was clear that felt fedoras, Jane Birkin straw bags, and concho belts are the accessories of choice this fall. Most festival-goers were just sitting on any old blanket, while hippies and hipsters lounged on printed tapestries and Mexican blankets and took in the sounds over artisanal cheeses and whiskey drinks.

Young and old came together, dressed in their Sunday best to close out the festival with classic rockers Patti Smith and Steve Kimock who both performed mind-blowing sets.

It seems bluegrass fans were more decked out than previous years. Maybe as tribute to the late and great HSB founder, Warren Hellman, who passed away last December. Hellman, who was a San Francisco billionaire and bluegrass Fanatic, put away enough funding to keep the festival alive for 15 years after his passing.

Hooray for festival fashion and free music in the park!

Photography & Words by Sara Iravani.

[[NORTH SOUTH]]

fashionlesslife — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:55:00 -0400

Check out my new blog collaboration with my Los Angeles associate, Ashley Mahmoudian: NORTH // SOUTH

Fashion’s Night Out – SF Edition

fashionlesslife — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:45:00 -0400

Published on Fashion School Daily, September 10th, 2012

Renata Lindroos collection stuns in the Neiman Marcus windows. Photo by Bob Toy.

Amidst clans of clicking heels, DSLR cameras, and fur-clad women, Union Square was transformed Thursday night for the 4^thannual shopping extravaganza, Fashion’s Night Out. This year the event hit a new high, occurring in 13 markets worldwide. The celebratory event is meant to excite, encourage spending and bring fashion to the people. Ladies and gents unabashedly crammed sidewalks outside Neiman Marcus and Macy’s to circulate through mini events and fashion fetes hosted inside the department stores.

“Fashion’s Night Out is a great opportunity to get your feet wet. I’m a new face to the world. So this is a great evening to get comfortable, meet new people and see what’s out here [in San Francisco] in fashion,” said model, Daniel Padilla, on what brought him out to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out.

“Everything about tonight makes fashion so exciting. It’s the one night all the stores are open and everyone can get together and shop for a cause. Although I do wish I was in NYC, BUT San Francisco is really picking up their game compared to last year!” said Academy of Art University M.F.A. student, Stephanie Skangos.

Follow the jump to read more!

Once ushered through the doors of Neiman Marcus, patrons hit make-up counters for Fall Face makeovers from Chanel,Armani, Laura Mercier and other pro make-up artists. The next stop, post beauty bar, was a red carpet photo op. Other notable discoveries included a trunk show from jewelry designer, Jamie Wolfe, a display of the upcoming fall Marc Jacobs collection of handbags with an MJ rep, and humorous digital profiles drawn by Bay Area Caricatures. Guests tweeted, snapped photos, and chit-chatted away as Amazonian models meandered amongst the crowd fitted in designer looks for Fall 2012.

“I came out to Fashion’s Night Out just to experience it and see all the trends for Fall” exclaimed first year Academy of Art University student, Aaron Newsome.

Merchandising graduates show their portfolios to FNO party-goers. Photo by Bob Toy.

Neiman Marcus saluted our very own School of Fashion by hosting students and displaying their work in the windows and on the Neiman Marcus floor. B.F.A. Fashion Design graduate Renata Lindroos’ three dresses were a sight to see on Geary Street. And fellow B.F.A. Fashion Design graduate, Maria Romero’s Dulce de Reliquias video (featured on NOWNESS) from the 2012 Graduation Fashion Show show was looped continuously in-store for guests to enjoy.

We chatted with B.F.A. Fashion Merchandising graduate Olivia Muniak, who displayed her portfolio along with two other selected Fashion Merchandising grads. “Because I just started a new job [as creative director for Inspirare}, I’m really hoping to expose what I’m doing with our company. We’re a small platform, which sources emerging designers and helps them launch their brand. Being asked to do an event like this is great. I’m hoping to meet some great new designers to watch, network and get our name out there.”

A block away on Geary, Macy’s partnered with SF culture-mining online magazine The Bold Italic, for the evening’s festivities.

Inside the store, the air was a bit different as asymmetrical, bleached and ruffled hairstyles munched on mini burgers and sipped on white wine. DJ’s blared positive beats. The 3^rd floor was packed with guests treated to a denim remix workshop with the creative visionaries behind Holy Stitch! Done-up nail designs were hard to miss once inside as creators from Bay Area’spams&kin nail polish had people swarming around a D.I.Y. nail bar. However, the longest line of the evening was to meet Academy of Art graduate and NBC Fashion Star finalist, Ronnie Escalante.

Academy of Art knitwear design alumnae, Sabah Mansoor Husain and Bethany Meuleners, form San Francisco based design team, Mansoor Scott, and were also included in the festivities at Macy’s. The pair was armed with gorgeous models clad in dresses from their Spring ’13 collection which they produced as part of Macy’s San Francisco Fashion Incubator program.

The duo was excited to chat and catch up with their alma mater. “We went to a blog, from this school called the Academy of Art University [very funny ladies]… And saw applications were being accepted for Macy’s Fashion Incubator program and decided to apply and got selected,’’ Sabah explained. “They [Macy’s] provide a space and basic machinery in a mentorship program to help us get our business off the ground. We call it the B.A. of starting a fashion business!”

After a fashion-induced coma set in, fashion cookies filed onto the streets of Union Square to follow the evening up with drinks, catch one of the many other FNO events around the city or just drop dead from creative overload.

Until next year!

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 6

Fashion lovers admire Erica Laba, Liza Quiñones, and Emma Mengchen Yang’s collection.

All Photos by Bob Toy.

Written By Sara Iravani, MFA Fashion Journalism.