Fashionably San Diego

SD Designer Reggie Aguiluz Shows Vanteria Di Eleganza

 

With the multitudes of stylish people sweating under the sweltering sun at Grand Hope Park in downtown Los Angeles on June 5th, an air of anticipation was readily apparent for the debut runway show of Vanteria Di Eleganza, designed by Reggie Aguiluz. 

Born and raised in San Diego, the designer followed his passion to FIDM in Los Angeles where he graduated in 2010. Inspired and influenced by urban art, lifestyle photography, and designers such as Marc Jacobs and the late Alexander McQueen, Aguiluz created his premier apparel collection with a confident, sexy, and edgy woman in mind. A rock n roll edge combined with a grungy chic style echoes throughout the entire collection. Emulating the 80's and the 90's with a dash of the futuristic, the runway was replete with leggings of every conceivable material, ripped jersey tees, boldly embellished pieces, gray stonewashed denim, short inseams and zipper embellishments. 

The most successful pieces in the collection were among the more simple pieces: tees emblazoned with minimal logos, some of the less embellished and altered garments and many of the leggings. While the street wear collection was not uniformly unique it did emphasize what is great about the young and confident city girl: she is tough, sexy, and you’re not totally sure if she is going to kiss you or punch you.

Written by Scott Wicken

    

   

  

FSD Hunts For Stylish San Diegans at Bloomingdale's

Yesterday Bloomingdale's at Fashion Valley threw an incredible event for make-overs, music and, special guest, Fashionably San Diego. Fashionably San Diego was invited to find the most stylish San Diegans present. Eighty stylish people were photographed and although everyone received a gift bag of goodies only fifteen were chosen to be featured on Fashionably San Diego. Check them out!

       

   
 

Model's POV - May Day Festivities At The Marston House

 

It was an early Saturday this past weekend (anything that grabs me out of bed before noon is deemed early and sometimes heretical). But today, if early meant getting lovely hair by Joseph Anthony, gulping down triple shot Starbucks, and donning beautiful gowns by Abdul Hamidi to be a part of the May Day festivities at Marston House - I can do early. After some mild chaos and confusion as to where our dressing area would be: a toss up between the scary basement next to food supplies, or outdoors in the courtyard (changing al fresco), we got to put on our Saturday best couture and try to compete with the beautiful flowers surrounding us while not staggering too badly on the lovely flagstones in our stilettos. 

My favorite dress? Don’t make me do it! Ridiculously difficult and unfair. They all were gorgeous. Perhaps, the most hilarious dress...well, that’s one we can’t show. That was Kelli trying to cover up a changing Kellie with the veil from her own gown in the middle of the courtyard. Those are two different Kell(i)(e)s, fyi. You had to be there.

Written by Model Linnea Zeiner

 
 

Model's POV - La Jolla Fashion Film Festival After Party

 

A Little Crisco and Some Fishing Wire and We’ll Be in Business ... I had to invoke the sacred line from The Devil Wears Prada on Saturday night as it took two ladies, one being Pam the producer, to get me into that size 2 Karen Millen frock. Perhaps I missed the negative sign in front of that little number...or maybe she now makes children sizes? Ugh. Failure wasn't an option here so without breathing, without sitting, and barely talking, I was able to hobble up and down the stairs in five inch heels to accompany the other three models dressed in Custo Barcelona and Max Mara for the official After Party of the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival. 

It was such a wonderful evening of informal modeling I felt like as soon as began it was over. And thank goodness too, because I had to ungracefully baby-step up the back stairs to the dressing room where I was relieved to return the dress in tact with all its seams. Though once the dress was off I realized I couldn’t find my black tank top (where on earth could that old thing crawled off to!). 

Thankfully the fashion designer Abdul Hamidi's was kind enough to lend me some fabulous couture from his line Q so I wasn't forced to walk out of the Bear and Bull wearing only a leather jacket and jeggings. This is best part about having a friend as a fashion designer (a fabulous one at that!) You get to raid their closets. So, my night ended on a perfect note with a glass of white wine in my hand and a dress of burlap, adorned with a necklace of white coral, pearls, and wine corks on my body. Excellent! No crisco needed.

 

 Written by Linnea Zeiner

Model's POV of Bloomingdale's Event

Last night Vanessa styled a fabulous spring show at Bloomingdale's that featured some really fresh and forward looks for Spring. My favorite was my first look, short tailored shorts, silk racer back tank, and a white fitted linen jacket (paired with grey patent platforms of course). I want that jacket! Like two weeks ago. I didn’t think those words would ever come out of my mouth in fear of transporting myself back into a Miami Vice moment, but they have, and now the jacket is my “must have” for the season. What else will Vanessa and Bloomingdale's inspire us to want? Stay tuned...

Written by Model Linnea Zeiner

Fashionably San Diego Rocked Bloomingdale's

The first Fashionably San Diego event was a success! Located on the second floor of Bloomingdale's Fashion Valley, the non-stop rotating runway encouraged mingling and shopping while working the models like they never have before. I honestly don't believe models have ever "walked" that hard before. Did you catch my pun?

The fruity martinis were strongly delicious and the mushroom sandwiches were divine! The vegetarians were raving. But of course it was the fashions that were the focus - if ya don't mind my saying. The outfits I chose were to embody spring styles fit for San Diegans; whether you are dining with friends, walking around Balboa Park or heading to a cocktail party. I had legging pants on the "catwalk", breezy blazers, short shorts, billowy silk tanks and sexified style for the ladies. For the men, I had a tan suit, light-weight everything, sweaters, casual blazers and street wear with flare.

I loved overhearing everyone loving the choices and knowing that they could work them into their own lives. 

"Where can I find that yellow sweater, I want to get that for Tony."

"I want that blazer and shorts look."

I didn't want the response to be, "Oh, how beautiful- when would I ever wear that?" Instead I wanted to show outfits that were uniquely stylish, but still appropriate for your lifestyle in America's finest city. I am so happy with the result. Mixing high-end and more affordable brands have never looked so good. From Aqua to Prada, the show was a smash.

Although I am not sure if the repetition was beloved by all. If you were an attendee please let me know your thoughts by commenting below. Cheers!

San Diego Style at the San Diego History Center

 

I have been a naughty fashionista. It took me until today to finally see the San Diego Style exhibit at the (newly named) San Diego History Center. Having opened in early October of 2009, I can only claim insanity for having waited to view these gorgeous gowns.

Brought to you in honor of the 20th anniversary of its Costume Council, every garment in this room has been worn by a San Diegan and sometimes designed by San Diegans. With the oldest item in the exhibit being a maroon wedding gown made in 1876 and the newest a red Catherine Regehr gown worn to Barack Obama's inauguration ball in 2009, I was so pleased with the long time line of the collection.

To give you a sneak peak I will let you in on my favorites of the room, starting with SD resident Ann Jones. Ann is my vote for the lender with the best taste. Living in La Jolla since 1967, Ann has lent to this exhibit a stunning 1970 Pauline Trigere dress, a 1982 Geoffrey Beene day look and a 1986 Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel suit. I find it interesting that each item shares the same color story and yet have vastly different construction and shape.

 

My next favorite is from 1988. Shocking since I am no fan of that decade, but I suppose I can make an exception for Valentino. Worn by Jeanne Lawrence, the Vice Chairman of the Hotel Del Coronado from the 1970's-1990's, this Valentino dress is made of silk velvet, satin, glass beads and sequins.

Other favorites of mine is the 1957 party dress by Traina Norell worn by Carolyn Kaess and the Helen Barbieri gown worn by Lynn Spicer who wore the dress for a San Diego Magazine Shoot in the 60's. But I must end with my 1920's favorite that was found in a San Diego thrift store in the 1950's and worn by Patricia Wyatt who lived in Point Loma her entire life and was inducted into the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.

Model's POV At LA Fashion Week With SD Designers

Photo Taken by Stefhan Gordon

Lights, Music, Cameras, Art, and FASHION!

Why can’t we be serenaded by Bruno Mars doing his warm up every time we’re getting our make-up done?!! Cause we’d be really spoiled models then....

Doing a runway show for LA fashion week is enough to make one feel very lucky (and spoiled). Add in fabulous designers like Gordana Gehlhausen and Jesus Estrada, and a venue like the Music Box and its enough to spoil the rest of the shows for the year. Sorry New York. You may have the largest, most prestigious, and outright fabulous fashion week on earth, but LA serves up their own brand of rocking glam, hosted with drinks, a dance floor, and a VIP loft. That’s Hollywood (fashion week), baby!

We got there at 2 last Friday and finally got on the catwalk around 11 (I think). I had shed my watch when there was still daylight and the moon was out when we lined up...so by my calculated estimations our anticipation to strut lasted nine hours. The best part? Well, wearing my beautiful purple gown by Gordana. The creepiest? The upstairs girls bathroom that had Gorillas painted on the walls in the stalls. Seriously. I swear those eyes were moving. I was able to put my heebie jeebies aside though and appreciate the venue and feel the buzz of excitement that everybody was apart of. Or was that just the base quaking the floor boards...

It was all over too quick though. I was the closer for the show and once I got up the stairs (carefully clutching the dress and trying not to trip in front of a thousand people) and was on the catwalk I just wanted the night to keep going. I felt one of my pins loosen at the end of the runway though and was praying, with a determined nonchalant stare into the bank of photogs, that the dress was staying where it was supposed to and this wasn’t turning to an event you might find on the strip. I haven’t seen the pics yet, so the jury is still out on that one. Fingers crossed.

As you can tell in the photo, Linnea Zeiner's dress stayed on.

Written by Model Linnea Zeiner

Model's POV At Neiman Marcus Fashion Rules Event

Model Linnea Zeiner rocking her Gucci Dress at the Neiman Marcus Fashion Rules Event

Fashion certainly ruled on the three levels of Neiman Marcus’ Fashion Rules event Thursday night. Spring trends like Denim, Feminine, Blue, and Tribal commanded the attention of every high-end San Diegan present. We models got to strut on the marble to pay tribute to fashion and its glorious reign amidst a bevy of blue martinis, pounding classic 80's favorites spliced with new pop vibrations, and white couches.

Four hours before show-time I traipsed up the escalators to Neiman’s training room which had turned into a staging area, dressing room, texting annex, hair salon, and make-up studio. David and his team of tress maidens and face painters were already hard at work, sculpting and teasing hair and smoking out eyes. I loved all of our hair, beehived up top and sleek on the bottom. The fire marshal, however, had he known the amount of flammable product used, would probably have dictated we each carry a fire-extinguisher on the runway...but come on, red is a tricky color to work.

All in all, another really fun and fantastic fashion event at Neiman Marcus. I personally didn’t want it to end (and neither did the crowd). We were having fun backstage grooving to the DJ and enjoying the fact that we had an eternity of time (10 minutes) between our looks (not the usual 30 seconds). We actually got to critique ensembles, swap shoes and accessories and take tons of silly pictures...a few aka Zoolander style.

My favorite fashion selection of my repertoire would have to be those darling mauve (can I really say mauve and mean it in a good way?) patent Manolos. The Louboutins always steal the show though, and the silver strappy (so delicious) ones that I wrapped around my ankle for my last look made the blue Gucci dress even sexier. It really is always about the shoes! 

Written by Model Linnea Zeiner