Bravo's latest reality show "Million Dollar Listing San Francisco" premieres tonight (10p/9c) with my friend Justin Fichelson in a starring role. He was perfectly cast to play himself. Justin is a born and bred San Franciscan, studied history at USF and literally knows every single house (style and era) in San Francisco.

He started his social network long before the word was coined. At 15 years of age he took the bus to City Hall to intern with then mayor, Gavin Newsom. While in high school, he worked part time as a maitre de at Balboa, the Pacific Heights neighborhood bar and restaurant where you can rub shoulders with the hoi polloi and he did.

Fast forward a few years, Justin is now poised to be a reality television star. His realestate career is going to take another major leap and I couldn't be happier for him.

Ready Set Roll tonight!

Last week I was in San Francisco and stayed at my first airbnb. My hosts made me feel welcome in their individual and cutely unique ways. I met Apoorva the night I arrived--he grew up in Hong Kong and finished a graduate degree at Michigan rather recently. He is a lovely guy who works for Electronic Arts on the peninsula. Apoorva told me how great Courtney's was across the street but I was not actually clamoring to go. After landing in SFO en route to their modern day pensione, I stocked up at Whole Foods for a couple of days. On the run I finally went to the tiny corner store and bought some carrot/ginger juice. I was addicted.

The last time I stayed in a pensione was with my sister in Italy. That summer we studied art in Florence. We learned an old print making technique called itaglio and the history of classical art during the Renaissance right there in the epicenter. A comparison of San Francisco the west coast art capital in America, to Florence the birthplace of Renaissance art is apt to me even though they are centuries apart. Europeans always say that SF is as close as you can get to a European city in America.

The second day I met Carl, the main airbnb host. He rents out his room in this charming flat in the Duboce Triangle which is close to Buena Vista Park and next to the Castro. He works for google traipsing the globe so it makes more than enough sense to airbnb his place when he is out of town. I found the room charming with a spectacular view facing south--cool and hip but not too. 

Anyway, I loved the European feel of the flat, the location and the sun. On one of my previous trips, I stayed at my friend Justin's in Duboce. He airbnb'd his place last summer and recommended it to me this time. Was ideal…I could explore a totally different part of the city and keep costs down because I had just started up my business again. The small triangle called Deboce is a part of town that is booming with young tech kids, other professionals of all shapes and sizes and locals who have been there for years. Honestly, as a fashion/style person I love the inspiration provided by the street and it's youth culture. You can get the pulse of what is happening now.

Urban back packing #marcystyle

Click on image to enlarge.

Behind the Scenes

Now that TheRealReal has gone up for membership, it has given me a chance to look back.

After Easter I did an editorial type photo shoot for the opening pages of the site using the consigned goods that we had at that point. Challenging since we did not have a whole lot in model size. See photo below with a Nina Ricci jacket and Giambatistta Valli skirt.

Julie and I decided to use vintage Rootstein mannequins to wear clothes on the site. Adel Rootstein & Co. started in the early 1960's when Britain was beginning to influence the world of fashion. Mary Quant and Jean Muir were symbols of the new movement.

Our mannequin, Susan Hampshire, doesn't wear everything well so I did some styling of certain items on Rati our Director of Merchandising. The Chanel sweater jacket on the right looked a bit boring until we paired it with a Margiela polka-dot tulle top. The Piazza Sempione jacket on the left was certainly zipped up with Margiela. Hooray for Martin Margiela.

A typical consignment pick-up. Yeah!!

Starting a new business

I have been out of touch because I've been crazy busy with an internet startup. It is so exciting!! First off, I met my fabulous new business partner about four months ago. She had this great idea to do a the "Gilt of Resale" meaning that we are doing flash sales for high-end designer consignment. Anyway we hit it off and have been running with it since. Next Friday our promotional page is going up for friends and family to sign up. That's you!

Just go to: www.therealreal.com on June 3.

If any of you fashionista's want to be an early consignor with us, we have an insider deal that is sweet! Let me know!

Cathy Horyn Off the Runway

The Academy of Art University in San Francisco gave Cathy Horyn an honorary degree yesterday. She is my favorite fashion writer because she is super smart and it is never just about the clothing. Check out Cathy's blog, On the Runway ... I am thinking there might be something about San Francisco soon.

Did I say anything about this amazing dessert AAU did for the lunch in her honor?

Fashion and art worlds come together

to celebrate artistic genius of

Cristobal Balenciaga

Triumverate of Balenciaga exhibition power -- Hamish Bowles,

Anna Wintour and John Buchanan.

Angelique Greipp and Jennifer Newsom step out of an

old master painting.

Mother-daughter style

Modern style

Classical beauty is always in style.

Alice out of Wonderland style

A little heart to heart between Samantha Traina and Denise Hale.

Connie Nielsen decided to mix it up the night of the gala.

Breathless in Balenciaga

Marissa Mayer holding her vintage Balenciaga train.

Deepa Pakianathan's dress makes us all think -- Balenciaga.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr -- star style.

Christine Suppes, wearing a vintage Balenciaga gown that she donated to the museum the day after the gala, with Laura and Kate Mulleavey.

Thank you Hamish for doing such a superb exhibition in the city of

San Francisco.

Balenciaga and Spain runs through July 4, 2011 at the de Young museum.

Photos courtesy of Drew Altizer.

Ode to El Morocco

The San Francisco Fine Arts Museums MidWinter Gala channeled the legendary 1930's-1950's New York nightclub, El Morocco, with zebra stripes and banquettes that were its trademark in photos. Red always looks great with black & white of which Vanessa Getty was readily aware. Katie Traina also used red with great impact on her lips.

San Francisco may not be known for street style but we have great party style. The following photos are just a glimpse.

Photos by Drew Altizer

New York Fashion Week Fall 2011

Five days and 20 shows later, the San Francisco Chronicle asked me for my personal fave. Derek Lam, Thom Browne, and Carolina Herrera were the best of those I saw. Mrs. Herrera knows how to give a good show, and has been doing so for many years. Her show was my favorite, not only because it was slightly paired down and fresh, but because it was the best of hers I have ever seen.

Coincidently, Mrs. Herrera will be presenting her collection in San Francisco at Davies Symphony Hall. An Evening with Carolina Herrera sponsored by Neiman Marcus will take place on April 20th to honor the 100th year Anniversary of the San Francisco Symphony.

All photos courtesy of style.com

p.s. Keep in mind, the neon colors as seen in the background of these shots were not visible while watching the show.

BALENCIAGA exhibition comes to San Francisco

Balenciaga and Spain opens March 26 at the de Young Museum and will surely be an important and sensational exhibit for San Francisco. Interesting to me is that Cristobal Balenciaga's hallmark was kindness and extreme courtesy. He was a Spaniard whose work was enormously influenced by his country even after he moved to France. Balenciaga arrived in Paris in 1937 and was soon revolutionizing fashion. His business soared in the war years. Even with Dior's entrance in 1947, neither Balenciaga's popularity nor fame dimmed. Christian Dior liked to call Balenciaga 'the master of us all'. His collections were praised for their overwhelming sense of luxury and beauty.

The exhibition, curated by Hamish Bowles, will be presented in six groups: Spanish Art, Dance, Bullfighting, Religious Life, The Spanish Court and Religious Dress.

On March 24, a fundraising gala will be held to celebrate the opening of the exhibition with the curator Hamish Bowles, European editor at large for Vogue. The gala will attract glitterati of the national and international fashion worlds paying tribute to the great master couturier.

Photos courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.