I’m heading out early this morning with Sean from Levis to check out some factories in Shenzen. We caught up first, however, in Hong Kong at Balalaika, a Russian Restaurant, that no doubt provided some amusement for the crew. Well I’ve never had Russian food before, which was pretty good, but the dancing, singing and ice box were priceless. We later head to the club next door where a Filipino cover band sang everything from Shakira to Tainted Love. Brilliant! Check it out. 

Dina, one of the designers from Levis and I share a guffaw at the club next door.

The whole crew: me, Heidi, Dina, Karen, and Dechen

Dechen Does Russia.

Of course it was Sean’s birthday. Time for a little Russian celebration!

Dechen and Dina hold up their phallic “musical instruments” they gave us to shake-shake-shake

Just call us the the Russian Troubadours

From the Ice Box: I guess this is where people come to drink Vodka. They gave us these obscenely grotesque faux fur jackets, reminiscent to Woolly Mammoths and cave men loin cloths. Can’t imagine how many folks wore these polyester monstrosities before us! All in good fun, of course!

I met up with my swimwear designer friend, Fannie Lau Makhsian, who encouraged me to head up to Page One Books just to see if Style, Naturally was there and what do you know!?!?!? There it was, right in the front of the shop, the top one all dog-eared and lined with finger prints. So cool. Fannie and I caused a bit of a stir; we asked the manager to take some shots and if we stayed there any longer we would have had a little bit of a crowd. By the way, I’m wearing a beautiful handmade necklace by a woman’s cooperative that I was presented with at Vancouver’s EPIC festival. Check out their work here. Oh yeah, and my love ‘em-or-hate-’em harem pants by Copenhagen-based designer Henrik Vibskov that I scored over at No 6. in NYC on Centre Market. 

A little video capture with Fannie at Page One books in Hong Kong.

As you all have read recently, I threw (what I think is my last full-blown book party) in San Francisco this past May 14, 2009. But right after I landed in the beautiful foggy city, I got a text from my friend Max to head over to the Weird Street Faire on 2nd Streets and Hudson for a little crazy, pre-Black Rock City (i.e. Burning Man) affair. “Look for me under the Pepsi Sign,” he said. “I’ll be the tall one with the six inch platform-heeled boots and mesh detailing.” 

Crazy costumes compliments of the Weird Street Faire

a little video compilation of SF in all its weirdness.

I walked one day for a little outdoor- and retail-therapy to the Mission. You may recall the Loomstate for Target wall painting I shot in Brooklyn here. Well, I came across this one somewhere in the Mission…I think it was on Valencia. The painting in Brooklyn was far superior, but it was cool to see these in different cities. Gives the advertising a bit more of a fly vibe. No? 

Flydealists Unite. A painted advert lines the side of a wall in the Mission District of San Francisco.

The Style, Naturally: SF book launch gave me a good opportunity to catch up with some old friends – like sister-designers Angie and Maggie Kim from Oda, a label unlike any other that I’ve seen.

Signing a book for Angie and Maggie from the design label, Oda. 

Their clothes are are a little Shibuya, a little Bedouin, a little fairy princess – and it all just works. I did an amazing photo shoot in their pieces up on the mountain leading to Marin compliments of Braden Summers. Check ‘em out. 

Photos in Oda compliments of Braden Summers.

I was SO happy to see they were still designing and selling their stuff over at The Mission Statement on Valencia and 18th Street. Yah, well truth be told. The day after the party I dropped in them the next day later and did a little splurging. I got an amazing puffy chartreuse silk vest and matching skirt; tea-stained lace dress; and feathered hair piece made from off-cuts of their fabric and feathers that they use. If you’re in SF, definitely check it out. And while you are in the area, be sure to drop in on Selfedge started by Kiya Babzani. 

You can catch a lot of cool fashion finds by independent Bay Area designers in The Mission Statement

I shot this editorial back in November in Tennessee and man it was cold (look it my goosebumps though my smile belies how fricking freezing I was!) You may remember from my video clips from The Model Diaries here. 

We kicked off the last (I think) book party in what better city than my ultimate fave: San Francisco, CA. We had about 150 guests pile in at the Jurlique store on Fillmore Street. It was a great venue – reclaimed hardwood floors and walls – and a definitive scent of rich, woody biodynamic body lotions and oils. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to have friends from all walks of life there – Cornell folks; Udall alums; old BFs (yikes!); Greenies; Fashionistas + Designers; tech folks (even though the latter group was mostly tied up at another event). We didn’t get to do the after-pool party at Max’s house until the night after…so sorry folks that the photos from the pool party didn’t make the cut ;o)  (well, that is assuming that there were photos taken to begin with). Gustavo Fernandez was nice enough to find me via Twitter and offer his services to capture the evening’s affairs. Thanks Gustavo! 

And thanks to all the sponsors. Shout out if I forgot anyone! Jurlique, Payless zoe&zac, Chronicle Books, 7×7 Magazine, Veev, Teira Wines, Honest Tea, Sellers, Pangea Organics, Duchess Marden, Rishi Teas, EcoTools, and probably some more that I happen to be missing.

Tom Van Dyck (RBC Dain) dropped by to celebrate.

Nadine Weil was a total rockstar and invited a bunch of folks to the book signing.

Jewelry designer Kirsten Muenster looking like an Earthen Goddess

Thanks to Jurlique for letting us use their space (and stay until 9:45!)

Veev: Acai guaranteed to get you shit-faced if you drink too much of it.

The infamous organic Payless zoe&zac swag bags.

Yes I do.

Love the recycled binding!

A great jewelry shot! Ring by Kirsten Muenster; wooden bracelet by a.d. schwarz; and glass bracelets by Smart Glass Jewelry (all in the book).

Christine, Gabe and Nina checking out the book.

Drink up my pretty.

Soften up my pretty.

So I went back home to PA recently and my mother told me I could be “one of those body builder chicks” if I wanted to be. Nice. I mean look at those bulging biceps and back muscles. Push ups people. That’s all from pushups. Sheesh. Gotta hold off on those a little. Don’t want to start looking like the Incredible Hulk. God knows I’m “Green” enough.

Sapna and Charlotte (Udall Scholars)

I love Charlotte’s smile!

“Did you know that you can absorb up to 60% of what you apply on your body?”

Why does it always look like I’m shushing people?

Chen on one side; Tom on the other. 

Bret, Andrew (fellow Udallers) and David (fellow climate activist)! 

Elisa Reed, Becca Guthrie, Teresa Gonzalez, and Janice Heley

Wendi Goad (Spring Home) and Margo Haney

Sapna Thottathil and Charlotte Ely – fellow Udall Scholars.

Lynda Grose and her daughter Daniella Silva

Amy Darland, Kirsten Muenster and I.

Susan Jones, Jessica Jackson, Jonathan Schrambroom, and Billy Sind

Teri Shaw, Shirley Shook, and Nadine Weil

Gotta love Honest Tea!

Kenlynn Wilson and her daughter

Parmeeta and Raj Ghorman (Examiner)

Shirley Hornstein and Adriana Ameri

Robert Stricker and Daniella Silva strike a pose

Whitney Patterson and Tisas Pickering

“Oh girls, it was THIS big.”

I think my dress that I got at No. 6 is a bit blinding, no?

Nelly Barrios, Cindy Vo and Joana Mendoza

Kirsten Muenster, Andrea Shelly, Sara Goulder and Deidra Aldman

Joseph Ternes, Kirsten Muenster, Nadine Weil and Joel Makower

Laughing at Stan from Pacific Shave Company. He was chatting how thick my book is. I told him I made sure it could be used as a weapon…you know, just in case. You never know these days!

Avital Binshstock and Alana Fields. She looks surprised, doesn’t she?

Joel Makower totally surprised me and jetted from his plane right over to the party. SO nice to see him.

Lovely back-of-dress detailing

SJR Curmudgeons

Kristina Robinson and Allison Zhang

Angie Kim, Garrison Cohen, and Maggie Kim. Aren’t they so precious?

My guns are striking fear in Nick Chen’s eyes

A family of Strickers. Sweet sneaks Gabe!

The lovely Nadine.

Heidi Pettit and Rowena Ritchie

My two little fairy princesses + Jon Harriman in the background

There I am “shushing” Linda again

Ted Serbinski, Jon Harriman, Andrew Lee, and Raymond Rouf

Casey Larkin, Matt Birdseye, Peter Shanley and Pauline Montupet

Emily Eberhardt (who invited a bunch of peeps) including Erin Turner and Victor Torres

Ahh, me and Gustavo!

 

A little behind the scenes at View from the Bay and the party, compliments of Chronicle

Thank you Germany! A little holler from Brigitte Magazine.