streetfashionistas
I like cute grungy girls with Joan Jett hair and a bad attitude. Especially when they sweat out all the vodka they drink by dancing the night away.
Dapper British men in San Francisco always have such an edge. They know how to look casual even while wearing a satin blazer, skinny black jeans, wing tips, and curly bangs. Ladies, if you want to see this man in action, check out the monthly party he throws, aptly called Bodyheat.
Right on. Leather jacket, rocker bangs, vodka tonic, and a pack of Marlboros in your Chanel quilted bag = you are automatically 'with it'.
Pretty boys are so much fun. They blow-dry and straight-iron their hair, they wear jeans tighter than mine, and they always wear cool shoes. Plus they're in touch with their feminine side. They are perfectly put together, even when they're drunk - like plaid shirt.
Doesn't she look really put together? When I asked her where she got that girly blue dress, she said Forever 21. To which I reply, it doesn't take a lot of money to buy the perfect summer dress, and she proves it.
This skater boy sends some serious mid-90s waves, and it makes me pretty damn nostalgic. I mean - skateboard, newsboy cap, plugs, tortoise shell glasses, and single sleeve of tats, this dude looks like there's some Guided by Voices on his iTunes and Kevin Smith DVDs in his movie collection.
In San Francisco, what makes street fashion different than that of any other city in the world is that there are people who are willing to put themselves out there and go out in public wearing elaborate costumes for no apparent reason other than that they just fierce enough to do it. And between the hat, unitard, gloves, fishnets, and even the way she poses for her photos, this lady does not take any shortcuts. She goes the full mile. I love my city.
When everything you're wearing comes from a thrift store and your entire outfit cost less than $20 - and you still look this cool - you know you're doing something right. If you're not the type of person who wants to dig for hours through the bins at Mission Thrift, Ebay is a great alternative. There are a slew of vintage stores on the web, like Fancy Finds Vintage, next time you're on the hunt for the perfect blue velvet dress or black overall pencil skirt.
Her dress caught my eye from across the room. It's just so pink and girly and cute! I'm looking to add a long-sleeved pink dress in a cute print to my wardrobe, and this one is a nice combination of "Oregon Trail" meets "Pretty in Pink." This Melissa Masse dress has an adorable fan print, Kate and Kass have a gorgeous, ruffly little dress in a pretty floral, but my favorite of all is this Alvin Valley pink silk dress with a horse print on it. It takes the Oregon Trail look to a new extreme.
Some people just look like they'd be a lot of fun. Like this girl. She'd totally be down to hang out and listen to Magnetic Fields on vinyl and bitch with you about boys and work and drunken mistakes like falling down stairs or drunk-dialing the ex. I love eyeglasses on everyone - men, women, babies, animals - and I especially love it when people wear vintage frames with vintage clothing, like her super cute trench coat and blue gingham dress. Keep sending those Lois Lane vibes lady; they're working!
I love the simplicity and polish of this look. Her hair has the perfect I-just-ran-my-fingers-through-it wave, and she is looks so fresh-faced with her no make-up, no fuss attitude. I like how she paired the volume of her coat with her sleek black suede ankle boots. This is the way to look chic and still young and hip at the same time. Also - I'm totes obsessed with Ikat. This fashionista is wearing a fabulous Ikat coat, right in the middle of Ikat season, so it was no wonder she I-kaught my eye. Sorry, sorry! I just had to. PS: Check out her super duper talented band, Glasser.
Sailor Moon was at Civic Center and I managed to catch her on my trusty camera. What you see here - from top to bottom - is a great haircut, a headband, huge yellow sunglasses, a pink peace sign necklace, a vintage purse, some bangles, an iPhone, a mid-riff baring top, a cigarette, a petticoat, visible underwear, above the knee tube socks, and white jellie sandals. This girl is a walking Claires store, and I dig it. Viva la sisterhood.
Orthopedic shoes. Check. Tubesocks. Check. Bowler hat. Check. Yellow bandanna. Check. Marching band blazer. Check. Champagne, American flag, peace flag, gold sequined hotpants. Check check check check. Only in San Francisco. Check. It's a Saturday afternoon in our fair city, and he's inviting us all to the party.
This stylista shows us that you don't have to bare a shred of skin to be totally sexy. This look is easy, breezy boho style - a little bit edgy but also completely ladylike as well. I love her puff-sleeved black and white blouse, high-waisted pencil wool skirt, and slouchy brown boots. For a similar look, pair this Nanette Lepore blouse with a sexy secretary skirt, and some boots to stomp around in.
   

Some people look like they spend approximately zero minutes on dressing themselves -- and on top of that they wear ridiculous clothing like a 'busty bikini lady' shirt and khaki stirrup pants -- but manage to look amazing regardless. Of course it helps when you have a cool asymmetrical haircut and look like you're in a band. I noticed him in the Montgomery Street BART and ran after him to get his photo. I asked if he knew that stirrup pants were huge at the Neil Barrett menswear show in Milan, and he said he had never heard of Neil Barrett. He just wore them because he liked the grunge look of the early 90s. For a similar grunge look, pair your stirrup pants with green Chuck Taylor All-Stars, a flannel shirt, and a I-don't-care attitude.

   

I was at the Westfield Mall when I stalked this guy down to snap his pic. Ignore the unglamorous mall background, and focus on the fact that yes, someone fashionable was actually at the mall. I love it when people wear head-to-toe black in San Francisco, if for no reason other than that it rarely ever happens in a sea of prints. I also love how he looks like he stepped out of a Details ad - with his Deisel jeans, Deisel man purse (murse, if you will), Dolce & Gabbana t-shirt, and G-Star jacket - everything looks very casual, but deliberate. An international student from China, he shows how style is truly international and that nothing is more stylish than having an interesting story.

   

I love the 80s glam rock look. From the tight black mini, to the layered off-the-shoulder shirts, to the wristbands, fishnets, and red patent leather pumps, this girl is rocking some fierce 80s style. She was working behind the coat check at Vessel on Wednesday, and she was nice enough to step out from behind the velvet rope to pose for some pictures. For more 80s inspired looks, check out ELLEgirl's article on hearting the 80s.

   

I enjoy the look of a dress over jeans. However, most of the time the look is attempted, it fails dismally and sometimes brings the term 'bag-lady' to mind. When I saw this girl in Union Square, I took her picture because she has done the impossible by getting it exactly right. This only works with a certain type of A-line dress - one that's casual, not too fitted, and the length should always (cannot reiterate this enough) stay above the knee. And when it's done correctly, one never thinks, "Oh, that's a dress, over jeans," because the dress is barely noticed, so seamless is the result. Her adorable red eyelet smock would work just fine on its own, but with the weather in SF being what it is (and this was a particularly unpredictable day), pairing a sundress over jeans and mid-calf boots in a summery tan is a perfectly sensible, weather-appropriate alternative.

   

Black and white is a combination that never gets old. This fellow looks great because he knows how to be simple. His skinny jeans and black zip-up ankle boots pair well with his shirt (the design is actually a montage of black and white photographs) and his minimal accessories (army surplus bag, leather bracelet, man necklace). The one extravagance? That amazing tattoo of a giant squid attacking a sperm whale.

   

When I saw these adorably fashionable girls walking down 17th Street holding hands, I knew a picture of the happy couple was needed. One is all rock and roll, and the other is all folk rock. Each has their own personal style. Lady on the right is also rocking some big trends for summer, including the shrunken blazer, high waisted shorts, and hippie revival styling. As for lady on the left, how many people have the balls to wear wrestling shoes out of the house? And how many of those people wearing wrestling shoes also have the balls to get a pair of fighting chickens tattooed on their chest? I love it.

   

First, you need lingerie and kitsch -- lots of it. Then, add a gold skirt, a fedora, a boa, and gobs of jewelry. Voila: you're a burlesque hottie. To carry off this look, you can't be afraid to go overboard, nor can you shy away from public exposure. But if you have the confidence to go that extra mile, you can really make a style statement. For a similar burlesque look, Foley + Corinna makes adorable lingerie inspired tops that can be paired with a metallic gold mini and thigh high stockings. Oh, and don't leave out the fedora, or the bling.

   

I was heading down Capp Street when I noticed those Reeboks poking ouside the side of a van. Sure enough, it was a "do you mind if I take some pictures of you" moment, and he was nice enough to oblige. Some people just have a look that makes everything they put on appear effortless. Love the Wayfarers over the hair. The upside-down cross necklace is a Judas Priest touch. Sure enough, he's in a trash metal band called Merciless Death (which the SF Bay Guardian described as "high-pitched fret board wrestling, and a snarling vocal mix of piercing screams"), and the Merciless Death t-shirt he wears is available at their shows. For a similar look, get a pair of hi-top Reeboks and scuff the hell out of them in a mosh pit.

   

Preppy with a twist is huge for summer. He was lounging with his preppy cardigan, preppy SPOTLESS white Converses (I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen clean white Converses), preppy blue Oxford shirt, and preppy bottle of crystal cold Pellegrino when I saw him at Dolores Park. Despite wearing things that would fit in on Nantucket Island, he doesn't look remotely like a prepster. An interesting detail? The "Julie True Love" tattoo he has on his wrist. True love is always in style.

   

That hair. Those lips. This fashionista really knows how to show it all off! I love the vintage 40s-inspired look, with its feminine tailoring, whimsical details, and unapologetic fussiness. Is anyone else getting a major Jean Harlow vibe? For a similar look, check out this girly black blazer, this little black dress, a pair of wood-heeled black pumps, a black satchel bag, and a bow necklace to garnish. And don't forget the red lipstick.

   

I was walking down Dolores Street when I ran into these two characters in a tree. I would have walked right past them, had it not been for the day glo Asics hanging down in my face. These two are by far the most stylish tree people I've ever met, with their graphic shirts, bright sunglasses, and oh-so-casual tribal facepaint. To get a similar look, check out some of these LOUD tees made by Perfectly Flawed London. American Apparel has a great collection of vintage shades you can throw on to match.

   

Sundeep Grewal's outfit is a perfect example of how to dress for a chilly San Francisco night. Showing off your gams in fifty degree weather takes a bit of dexterity, and layering tights is a stylish way to be body-conscious and weather-conscious at the same time. Sundeep's outfit is charmingly eclectic - think Little House on the Prairie (brown boots, floral skirt, vintage embroidered blouse) meets 80s schoolgirl (yellow pantyhose, knee socks, multiple swatch watches). This ensemble works because Sundeep has the confidence to pull it off. For a similar look, pair a floral skirt with leather boots and a summery blouse, add some colorful tights and some knee socks, a few Swatches - and you're ready to go!

   

Parker Day is a San Francisco based photographer, best known for her nightlife photography. She's the resident photog of the Stiletto, Lights Down Low, and Infatuation parties, so maybe you've seen her around town. StyleBayArea ran into her at 111 Minna and ended up snapping her picture instead of the other way around. Her attention to detail, in the form of accessories, makes this outfit really stand out. The accessorizing works because it's ecclectic rather than matchy-matchy. The Nike kicks, neon earrings (from H&M), and crazy acryllic nails send a major hip-hop vibe, while the leather jacket and belt are pure rock'n'roll. The Gucci purse throws in a haute element, but the kitschy rabbit's foot attached to it makes it irreverent and down-to-earth. For a similar look, check out these Floral Dunk Nikes, this Gucci Messenger bag, and these amazing Rich & Skinny sleek jeans in electric blue.

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