An Afternoon of Fashion at the SF Ballet

Fashion, friends and a few standout trends from the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show.

There are few things more fun than getting dressed up for an afternoon of fashion—especially when it supports one of San Francisco's great cultural institutions.

I recently attended the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show at the Fairmont San Francisco, presented with Neiman Marcus, and brought along a dear friend for an afternoon of fashion, people-watching and, of course, a little inspiration.

The runway featured the Spring 2015 collections, and there was plenty to take in. Here are a few things that caught my eye.

Fringe Is Having a Moment

Fringe was everywhere—and I loved seeing it come down the runway.

There's something about fringe that really comes alive when you see it in motion. Whether on a dress, skirt or accessory, it adds a little drama without feeling too serious.

My takeaway: I may not be ready for head-to-toe fringe, but one great fringed piece could be a fun addition to a spring wardrobe.

Layer, Layer, Layer

Another look I loved was layered necklaces.

Rather than one statement necklace, the models wore different lengths and styles together. It's an easy idea to borrow from the runway and one that can completely change something you already own.

My takeaway: More isn't always more—but when it comes to necklaces this spring, apparently it can be!

Don't Be Afraid to Mix It Up

There was plenty of print mixing on the runway as well.

I tend to love things that aren't too perfectly matched, so this was right up my alley. The trick seems to be finding some common thread—a color, scale or feeling—that makes everything work together.

My takeaway: Sometimes the unexpected combination is the most interesting one.

Mixed Prints

Summer Suede?

This was the one that surprised me.

Suede for spring and summer was definitely having a moment on the runway. I loved the look of it, particularly in lighter colors, although I'm still deciding how practical suede will feel when the weather warms up!

My takeaway: This may be one trend I admire before I adopt.

Pale Colors

Bohemian

A Little Fashion Insider Moment

One of the highlights of the afternoon was getting to meet Ken Downing, Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus.

It's always fun to hear the perspective of someone who spends his life looking at fashion and deciding what's next—and even more fun to see those ideas brought to life on the runway.

Between the beautiful setting at the Fairmont, the clothes, the people-watching and an afternoon with a good friend, it was a pretty fabulous way to spend the day.

And while I'm certainly not going to wear every trend that came down the runway, I came home with plenty of ideas.

Fringe? Yes. Layered necklaces? Definitely. Summer suede? I'll keep you posted.

xo,
Malvika