This week at Buy Curious: Yul Kwon and fashion collide… half-naked, shopping for art that lasts forever, Vivienne Westwood exhibit at the de Young displays the infamous Naomi Campbell ankle-breakers, local calls for fashion designers and photographers, new Spring arrivals at your favorite Bay Area boutiques, and more sales for your barren pocketbooks. STYLEFILE Crash a Sample Sale We’re tired of sample sales being promoted as “exclusive, invite-only” events. C’mon, PR people-we’re not going to fall for that crap! The whole point of sample sales is to please the nitpickity cheapskates out there-we’re not a bunch of snobs who thrill at the thought of being anointed with the stupendous power to browse rack after eye-straining rack of reduced-priced garb. (At least those of us in the Bay Area aren’t-I can’t speak for the folks back in NYC, where sample saling is practically a sport.) Still, the snootily advertised Warehouse Sale Sunday in SF features such a vast array of denim that it’ll be tough to boycott. Sift through stuff from 7 for all Mankind (founder of the Ridiculously Expensive Jean Movement, FYI), Citizens of Humanity, and dozens of other labels. Oh, and avoid paying the $3 admission by sending an R.S.V.P. via the Web site. When: Sun., March 3, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Where: Nob Hill Masonic Center, Exhibition Hall, 1111 California St., San Francisco Because Good Art Lasts Forever (Those Adorable Shoes? Two Years, At Best) Those rumors are true-February’s over, folks. And it’s Friday. Which means another Art Murmur to dash off to after work (or, even better, after your post-work happy hour). Tonight, make your first stop Boontling Gallery for a floor-to-ceiling exhibit of the least pretentious stuff on the planet. That’s because the gallery has invited all local artists to take part-not a single submitted work was rejected (or so we’re told). Fine-so there may still be plenty of hoity-toity stuff that begs loud interpretation using solely five-syllable SAT words. But there should be plenty of accessible stuff by humbler, under-the-radar talents, too-like this lovely drawing. (Disclosure: Creator of said lovely drawing happens to be the partner of one-half of Buy Curious.) Best of all-everything’s for sale! Where: 4224 Telegraph Ave., Oakland When: Tonight! Friday, March 2 While you’re there, head across the street and check out Afterglow’s 10-50 percent off winter sale. Now through March 15. “You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes.” So says legendary Brit designer Vivienne Westwood. Sure, the de Young exhibit of more than 150 of her jaw-dropping pieces will run through June, but there’s nothing like being among the first to glimpse a show that everyone will be talking about. (Okay, so your boyfriend probably won’t-unless you drag him along. Guaranteed he’ll love it!) And if you’re free Saturday night, it’s not too late to snap up $35 tickets to the museum’s Couture & Cocktails opening fete. Don’t forget to do your homework before showing up: listen to this podcast with one of Westwood’s former runway models. When: Opening party: Sat. March 3, 9 p.m. Click here for regular museum hours. Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. (415) 750-3636 It’ll set you back: $35 for party; Admission to museum and Westwood exhibit: $15 adults; $12 seniors; $11 youths 13-17 and students with college I.D.; children 12 and under free. Fierce Meets Fashion-On Wheels The Bay Area’s 2007 Roller Derby season takes off tomorrow night in Oakland, with the SF Shevil Dead pitted against newcomers the Richmond Wrecking Belles. What do a bunch of women on wheels have to do with fashion, you ask? Well, they’re tag line says it all: “Short Skirts, Shorter Fuses.” When: Sat. March 3, 9:30 p.m. Where: Dry Ice, 210 Hegenberger Loop, Oakland, (510) 562-9499 You’ll have to ante up: $12 Bring It Kwon Wanna see Yul Kwon shirtless? Wanna see Yul Kwon shirtless and support a good cause? Wanna see Yul Kwon shirtless and support a good cause and attend a fashion show, all at the same time? Duh! Korean-American hottie and Survivor: Cook Islands winner Kwon will be on hand at this San Francisco fashion show, party, and silent auction to support nonprofit Citizens of the World, a group raising awareness about poverty in Asia with their BARE campaign. Organizers promise Kwon will be topless and only sporting designer jeans. And to appease your significant other: the female models will wear their bras. When: Sat., March 3, 10 p.m. Where: Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell St., San Francisco You’ll have to ante up: Presale tickets are just $10, or $20 if you’re on the guestlist. Sign up on the guest list by clicking here. New Arrivals Marc Jacobs and twenty two at Twenty Two shoes. And coming soon: Chie Mihara, Gentle Souls, Belle by Sigerson Morrison, and Loeffler Randall. Where: Twenty Two, 5856 College Ave., Oakland Preppy-inspired looks from Travota‘s Spring line, now at Hush. Plus, get 15 percent off all their new merchandise, now until March 31. Where: Hush, 1354 N. Main St., Walnut Creek Wanted: Local Fashion Designers Are you a budding fashion designer? Wanna get your looks out to the masses? Here are two upcoming East Bay events you’ll want to check out: 1) The Diva Dream Team and the Baddest Chic/Bay Area Emerging Designers are seeking fashion designers for an upcoming fashion show, Ready to Wed, on May 26. For more information, contact [email protected] 2) “Hollywood Shop Til’ You Drop” is a mega-shopping event designed to promote local designers and boutiques. With events on both coasts, the organizers are currently looking for clothing, jewelry, handbags, art, accessories, and beauty products for their upcoming Emeryville event on Sunday, March 11 at the Hilton Garden Hotel & Convention Center. Shoppers will enjoy fashion shows every 30 minutes, free manicures, massages, and makeovers, plus product giveaways throughout. If you’d like to get involved, head over to www.hollywoodshoptilyoudrop.com and complete their online Vendor Application under “Designer Submissions.” Booth prices range from $150 to $225. Check out photos from past events here. Wanted: Local Fashion Photographers Think you’ve got style? Have photography skills, too? Enter Crossroads Trading Co.’s 14th Annual Fashion Photo Content. The company invites both amateurs and professional photographers to submit pics of fashionable clothing with originality, creativity, and compositional flair. Winners get a cash prize and have their work featured in all Crossroads promotional ads and products throughout the year. Check out www.crossroadstrading.com for more info. Bargain-Shopping Heaven Yeah, we know we’ve been pushing this sale for months now, but we really can’t convey enough our giddy excitement about the Oakland Museum’s annual White Elephant Sale. Bric-a-brac, fabric, shoes, clothes, houseware, appliances, books, art, furniture, and more! Get there early! Prepare for the miles-long lines! Bring cash! When: Saturday, March 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, March 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Where: 333 Lancaster St., Oakland Not Just for Cowgirls Anymore Frye, the company known for its tough motorcycle and cowboy boots, continues to explore new territory with their fabulous new line of Spring sandals, flats, and platform wedges. More, please! FASHIONALYSIS: STYLE NEWS & VIEWS Taking Celebrity Obsession to a New Level As Buy Curious previously reported, hawking everything from clothes to eye shadow that your favorite TV characters wear has become a big – albeit, creepy – business. This New York Times article reports on the phenomenon of sites like SeenON!, which gives everyday folks the inside scoop (but not the dinero) to buy what celebrities wear, from the Oscars to the latest Jackass movie. Does that mean they sell diapers and cattle prods? Every Friday, Buy Curious dishes on the hottest fashion trends, news, and sales in the East Bay – and we want to hear from you! Tips? Suggestions for things you’d like to see? Questions for Buy Clueless, our advice column? Send it all to us. Email BuyCurious[at]EastBayExpress[dot]com Back to 92510, the East Bay Express news blog.
Naomi Campbell fell off the runway when she wore these Westwood gems in 1993. (And then, we suspect, she hurled one of ’em at her assistant) See him … in the flesh! And designer jeans! Striped knit top by Travota We know you can do better than this! Happy shoppers at the White Elephant Sale Gwen Woven T Strap, $160 Who can afford this?
