CFDA, W San Francisco and Celebrity Stylist Mary Gonsalves Kinney welcome Haus Alkire

Bay Area fashion luminaires and notables gathered at W San Francisco as W Hotels Worldwide, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and celebrity stylist and owner of MGK Style Mary Gonsalves Kinney welcomed guests to an intimate designer showcase featuring the designs of Haus Alkire – named “Ones to Watch” by Bazaar magazine and “Top Picks from New York Fashion Week Designers on the Rise” by Vogue magazine.

Guests had the opportunity to preview and shop the collection of the celebrated womenswear designers, Jason and Julie Alkire, in the Extreme Wow Suite (eWOW) at W San Francisco. Conceptualized by The Gathery, the eWOW suite was transformed to showcase colors, textures, and pieces that work in concert to define and represent memorable focal points connected to the Haus Alkire collection.

The hotel is the electric urban retreat and gathering place for art exhibitions, film screenings, and fashion and music events. The afternoon provided the designers the opportunity to mingle with influencers and prospect clients, building strong relationships and bonds with a key audience. A percentage of the proceeds from yesterday’s purchases were donated to the education nonprofit, Teach for America.

In 2013, W Hotels Worldwide and the CFDA {FASHION INCUBATOR} launched their global partnership, taking Incubator designers outside of New York and into markets that are important to growing their businesses. Through various levels of support – be it events such as this that provide exposure to new retailers, consumers and media; inspiration trips to any of W’s 50 hotels around the world; and much more – the partnership is a reinforcement of the W brand’s ongoing love of fashion and commitment to fostering emerging new/next talent.

Photo credit: Phil Stockbridge/SprintStep

Neiman Marcus Fashion Chat with Jonathan Saunders of DVF, Joe Zee and celebrity stylist Penny Lovell

Joliegazette was invited to a fashion chat at Neiman Marcus of San Francisco, where the editor-in-chief of Yahoo Style and FABLife host Mr. Joe Zee chatted with creative director of DVF, Jonathan Saunders and celebrity stylist Penny Lovell. We also got to preview Jonathan's red carpet looks for DVF. Scottland born Saunders loved to play with colors and materials. He's graduated Central Saint Martins in London and started his career as a furniture designer. Within 48 hours of showing his final MA collection, Saunders was commissioned to design prints for Alexander McQueen. In 2003 he created the iconic bird-of-paradise print that featured in McQueen's spring/summer 2003 collection and became one of the most photographed prints of the season. Designer is known for his unique prints, one of his trademarks is his use of traditional silk screening techniques. Saunder's goal as a designer is to make women feel beautiful, modern, elegant.

Joe Zee: Straight out of college you caught the eye of Alexander McQueen?

Jonathan: It was a big learning curve for me working with Alexander McQueen. He would alwasy analyze things.

Joe Zee: In 2003, you launched your fashion label and showed his debut collection at London Fashion Week for autumn/winter 2003-4. Then you left to design furniture again, then Diane called.

Jonathan: Yes. Diane called and I assumed we'll meet briefly to catch up. Three hours later we were dangling off of sofa. Both of us. We taked about focusing on the brand, respecting and supporting the brand.

Joe Zee: Was it hard to take over the collection?

Jonathan: Diane is very respectful and supportive of me. She loves prints and design and she loves women and understands them. It felt like a natural transition.

Joe Zee: Penny, you are a celebrity stylist stars like Anne Hathaway. When you dress someone for red carpet, what do you look for?

Penny: I look for something that represents them. Something that shows personality. Stars are doing their job in that outfit, so I it has to be of good quality, design. I prefer bold and interesting looks. It's horrifying what I do. Especially when my celebrity clients get on the red carpet and hundreds of photographers yelling, taking photos, it makes me anxious. Dress has to fit perfectly.

Jonathan: Penny and I are friends for 10 years now. She knows how to stand out as an individual, create unique outfits for celebrities that can also translate to every day.

Joe Zee: Where do you find inspiration?

The process is different every time. I am inspired by Japanese kimonos or Afrigac textile designs. I tend to start with an idea about which colours are relevant and then research art. I have a few favourite bookstores that I love to go to. But then it may be someone that I meet while travelling that sparks off an idea for a character.

Check out some of the looks from the collection and some shots from the fashion show below.

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