We’re ushering in more and more local style across the country, and this time we’re honing in on the Bay Area. Rue San Francisco has arrived, giving you insider access to all the best local spots in the city. To celebrate San Francisco’s debut, we sat down with Director of Brand Partnerships, Heather Hartle, to talk about the city’s stellar boutiques, navigating the hills, and what to do when the fog rolls out.
Rue La La: Every city has its own fashion personality. What defines San Francisco style?
Heather: People love to say that San Francisco doesn’t have a distinct fashion style. My take on that sentiment is that because San Francisco has always been home to and prides itself on its entrepreneurs, free thinkers, and independents, it fails to fall into a set style persona. And that is a good thing. We’ve got everything from the preppy Marina girls and Mission hipsters to the tech geeks and ladies who lunch. I think of San Francisco style much like I do the people who wear it: varied and independent, with a strong sense of self.
Continue reading “Local Style: Heather Hartle of Rue San Francisco” »
August 3, 2011
Wildly chic and completely on the pulse of women’s sartorial cravings, Rachel Roy is a force to be reckoned with. The New York-based designer has made quite a name for herself in the fashion world, turning out collection after collection of strong, incredibly wearable pieces. Here, we sat down with the fashion favorite for a few questions.
Rue La La: We imagine you were born stylish. Tell us how you got your start in fashion.
Rachel: I had wanted to be a designer since I was 8 years old. While back-to-school shopping, I realized that I wasn’t happy with the selection I had to choose from and decided to do something about it myself. My first job was in retail at the age of 14, and I’ve worked in the industry ever since. When I moved on to the more behind-the-scenes side in licensing, I got a firm understanding of the business side of fashion which helped me to build the foundation to eventually start my own company.
Rue La La: You always look so put-together. Do you have any guiding rules for your personal style?
Rachel: I love mixing things – hard and soft, masculine and feminine. I mix prints, colors, and textures and take risks by trying new things. My style tends to lean toward the classic side, but there is always a twist. If I have a simple, feminine dress on then I will wear a strong statement piece of jewelry to balance it out.
Continue reading “Five-Minute Pow-Wow: Rachel Roy” »
August 3, 2011
BY LAUREN DAVID PEDEN/THE FASHION INFORMER
At the House of Waris presentation, jewelry/scarf designer (and actor) Waris Ahluwalia debuted his Fall 2011 jewelry collection the Museum of Arts & Design to a crowd that included Chloë Sevigny, Tory Burch, Angelica Huston, Olivier Zahm, Suzy Menkes, Amanda Brooks, Inez and Vinoodh, Arden Wohl, Tara Subkoff, Bibhu Mohapatra, and Elise Overland, among others.
The jewels were displayed in cases throughout the room, and the scarves were worn by models (who were otherwise naked, save for bikini underwear). Ooh la la!
Lauren David Peden has been hired by Rue La La for her reporting at New York Fashion Week.
February 22, 2011
RUE LA LA LEAD STYLIST PARTICIPATES IN A BOLDFACERS POP-UP STORE AT THE W HOTEL, BOSTON
We’re not always psyched when things “pop up” on our to-do list out of nowhere, but this stylish surprise was one we weren’t opposed to clearing our schedules for. On Thursday, January 27, Boldfacers hosted a Stylemakers pop-up store at the W Hotel in Boston. Imagine a room full of racks, each bursting with clothes from sixteen of Boston’s most fashionable tastemakers (most with tags still on, we must add). The experience was like raiding the closets of some of our favorite local style icons, and we walked out with our hands (and bags) full of amazing finds (our style writer scored everything from a vintage cocktail ring to a flowy bohemian dress).
Continue reading “Stylist Spotlight: Lauren D’Avolio” »
February 7, 2011
SYDNEY WASSERMAN, ELLE.COM EDITOR, GIVES HER TAKES ON TOP-NOTCH STYLE
We put a lot of emphasis on the perfect pair of jeans, but it’s what goes on top that makes them an expression of personal style. The range of fashion-forward top options seems to be limitless – change your shirt and you’ve changed your entire look. We sat down with ELLE.com Fashion & Shopping Editor Sydney Wasserman for her expert advice on all things tops.
Rue La La: Okay, we need the inside scoop on flattering tricks! Are there different styles that work best on different body types?
Sydney: I believe women with curves should choose more form-fitting tops instead of trying to hide their shape in baggy styles. A shapeless shirt can make you look larger than you may be. A few more rules of thumb: a button-down top should never be too tight so that the buttons look like they’re about to pop off, and a T-shirt should hit right below the waistband.
Rue La La: We tend to lean towards dresses when going somewhere formal – but what types of tops work best for dressy occasions?
Sydney: The key is wearing fabrics that appear rich – if it’s a print, try well-draped chiffon. And a silk blouse is always right for a dressy occasion.
Continue reading “ELLE: 34 Perfect Tops” »
January 24, 2011
AN INTERVIEW WITH WES DEL VAL, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER AT POWERHOUSE BOOKS
Originally published in 1965 in Japanese, Take Ivy is very much about outsiders looking in, imbuing Ivy League campuses – and the style found there – with exuberant romanticism. While the wide-open spaces of the campuses were likely liberating to wide-eyed photographers accustomed to the Tokyo grind, it was really the confidence of the men on campuses that captured Japan’s eye. Once the photographs were published, Ivy League style took off in Japan, in part due to the book, which saw a re-issue this year with a long-awaited English translation. Coinciding with the current prep revival, it’s on the shelves of stylish stores, ready for a new generation to pick up and become enthralled. We were privileged to sit down with Wes Del Val, associate publisher at powerHouse Books, to probe deeper into the wonder surrounding this period in style history.
Rue La La: There seems to be a fascination both with the fashion of these American students - madras pants, collegiate sweaters, yellow rain slickers, etc. - and also with their activities. How are the two intertwined?
Wes: I think it depends on the activities and whether or not girls were nearby. As with many young men for many years on college campuses, if it’s just guys partaking in something physical, style is amongst the last things on their mind. If girls might see them or there is a chance to impress them, style, in all its varied forms, has suddenly gained in importance.
Continue reading “A Good Read: Take Ivy’s Take on Ivy League Prep” »
January 4, 2011
OUR STYLE WRITER RECAPS NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
We’ve regrouped after the scene that was New York Fashion Week in Lincoln Center, and we’re marinating in the trends for spring (which we’ll start playing with right now). Here, a recap of some of our favorite moments from fashion’s big week.
Continue reading “The Rue La La Runway Report: New York Fashion Week” »
September 24, 2010
BY SAN FRANCISCO-BASED STYLIST AND BLOGGER MARCY CARMACK
Fall is such an exciting time of year. Stores are filling up fast with new merchandise, and designers begin to showcase their newest collections on the runways. As fashion lovers, we all want new things at the beginning of the season because style is fresh and exciting, and luckily for San Franciscans, we are able to wear fall clothing almost year round because of the perpetually cool weather. As American writer Mark Twain said, “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!”
As a stylist, I love discovering fashion ideas before they happen, and I always aim to be a little bit different. Here, a few of my favorite looks for fall:
Continue reading “Stylist Spotlight: Fashion Forward Into Fall” »
August 9, 2010
AN INTERVIEW WITH KATYA MOORMAN OF STYLE DEFINED NYC
Katya Moorman has two great loves: Fashion and NYC. Her blog, Style Defined NYC, combines these two passions – and gives us a glimpse into the world of style in the city that never sleeps. We sat down with the uber-cool blogger to learn a thing or two about the fashion fresh on the streets of Manhattan.
Rue La La: Explain street style.
Katya: It’s a sense of individuality. It’s fearlessness, a sense of “now” and knowing fashion well enough to deconstruct or comment on a trend. It also involves the ability to break away from fashion uniforms – the little black dress tends to be safe and boring no matter how you accessorize it.
Continue reading “Blogger Bliss: Style Defined Talks Street Chic” »
July 30, 2010
