Jessie - 8th Street, SF

"Well we started with vintage cars and we looked into the fashion of the era and we just decided (my husband and I) that's when humans looked their best. Even if they didn't act their best with segregation and whatnot. So 30-50s, we really like the fashion. So the main reason."

Three years ago, I took a picture of Jessie and her husband, Timothy, at the Flea Market. I like that they hold steadfast onto an aesthetic, it's admirable to stay true to a vision. And she's right, clothing items from the 30s-50s are gorgeous, look at her dress! And her sweater!


A look at her flats.

Jean and Yuka - 8th Street, SF

Jean: "I found this dress on the sidewalk. So, that inspired it. Serendipity."
Yuka: "The sunglasses are from Virginia, deadstock at a thrift store. And Bahama Kangaroo. My clothing line, my art collective."

Saw these colorfully attired girls roll up on their bikes and knew I wanted to take their picture. Turns out it's my friend (and local SF artist) Yuka and her friend Jean. Texture, layers, and colors - oh my!


A look at their shoes and colorful tights. Footwear worthy of bike riding in SF.

Lewis - 8th Street, SF

"I think mostly vintage clothing and styles from the 1920s and '30s, that's a particular favorite."

It's easy to see why Lewis has been on past 7x7 best dressed lists. His corduroys have the charming applique of penguins and his frames are to die for.


A close-up look at his loafers and a good view of those penguins.

Lily and Nancy - 8th Street, SF

Lily: "I just really like the 40s, 50s, 30s style, all of it vintage. It fits well and it's just more flattering to the figure and I'm into swing dancing and 30s and I have an old car. And I'm just into the whole thing."
Nancy: "Scottish boys. I love scotch, so I thought it looked like a kilt, so I bought it."

I love when people go all the way with style. Lily has done such a good job, putting her hair in 40s-style hair rolls and just getting all the elements so.very.right. Yet the individual clothing or accessory items are still so beautiful. Her dress is lovely, her fishnets, her platforms everything done to period, without sacrificing quality or beauty. That's something I admire. Nancy on the other hand is put together and thoroughly modern with sex kitten hair to boot.


Lovely 40s-inspired platforms and go everywhere high boots.

Carmen and Jen - 8th Street, SF

Carmen: "History, I guess, I don't know."
Jen: "Whatever's clean."

I really like Carmen's headband and her cropped boyfriend trousers. Because I'm small I usually shy away from cropped pants because I worry that they'll make my legs look shorter, I think these pants look great. Time for me to revisit what silhouettes I think work. I like Jen's leather jacket, her cute lace-up flats and how everything fits her so well.


They both have covet-worthy shoes. My biggest splurge is usually shoes, I definitely would consider plonking down cash for either of these.

Tim - 8th Street, SF

"60s mod with a little English thrown in for fun."

Tim does a great job of straddling the casual dressy line with his newsboy hat, his polo shirt, his jeans and his sport coat. Not an outfit that shouts, but just every day good form. I'm always happy to see guys whose clothes fit. (Funny how we can't count on that in SF.)


his low-key brown trainers that match his polo shirt.

Todd, Sara and Chris - 8th Street, SF

Todd: "This outfit? I'm into this Jamaican movie called Rockers and I'm into 70s prep school, so that's why I got the v-neck and everything is my color season. Spring, I'm a spring. I stay there, I stay spring all year and it's a warm spring. I make my own pants. I'm a tailor, so I made these corduroys. I sell my stuff online. Anyhow, that's the only part of this outfit that I made. You can buy my made-to-measure trousers at afinetooth.com and my partner sells vintage menswear and we sell made-to-measure trousers together. So people can find me at todd at afinetooth dotcom."
Sara: "I guess it's just a Southwestern Canyon lounging kind of day."
Chris: "I like to think of it as 70s Harlem meets 20s English tweed."

What a gorgeous and stylish trio. I love how they look like they could've stepped off an album photo shoot. I think a lot of affordable modern clothes don't fit well and vintage clothes fit certain body types better, these three illustrate my point beautifully.


A look at their shoes and their colorfully festooned legs.

Maggie, Mouse, Sigmund, and Brianna - 8th Street, SF

Maggie: "This outfit is supposed to be kind of militaristic and my style is kind of goth."
Mouse: "In general I am influenced by WWII-style Military and Steampunk-Victoriana."
Sigmund: "It's not really much, but I guess I generally go for the cyberpunk and a lot of Victoriana as well."
Brianna: "I'm not exactly sure what influences like my style. I pull my inspiration from a variety of sources. Like modern to, you know, older styles. I'm definitely into 50s clothing and pin-up, but I can't say, exactly, one specific thing."

Taking group photos for fashionist are always a little more challenging than taking photos for individuals, but I'm fascinated by the visual juxtaposition of individuals against each other within a group dynamic. When more than two people are in a grouping, our pattern-loving brains discern commonalities and a uniform emerges.


A look at their shoes.

Yiling and Yosei - 8th Street, SF

Yiling: "My mood. How I feel that day."
Yosei: "These are all gifts from her, my girlfriend."

I love their layers and the blue, gray and black in so many different textures: leather, cotton, nylon. So modern and fashionable.


Hi, covet!


Those lace-up boots are to die for and coincidentally look like they match the trainers he is wearing

Erica - 8th Street, SF

"Oh, I just got this. I'm going for a whole mini look. My era is usually the 50s, but right now I'm trying the 60s. It's awesome, I don't know what more is to say about that. I am just way into clothes. And just having a 1960s fashion moment, so mini-skirt? Yes."

Her frock was a cotton-esque fabric, so if it was actually 1960s, it was a much more comfortable 1960s than many have experienced. With it's cute cut, frilly, yet comfortable fabric; this dress was a great find. She looks great.


Very lovely black suede boots that look like the positive space of the current Ann Demeulemeester boots du jour.

Lyniel - 8th Street, SF

"Well this is a 1940s dress, but I normally wear 1950s day dress with the full skirt and the trench was like another estate sale buy. so i would say mostly 1950s, 1940s. The trench is from the 1960s. So I buy most of my stuff at estate sales, but the vintage fair is like awesome."

When I spotted Lyniel, I planned to stop her for her lovely lavender trench. When I actually stopped her, I saw how cleverly she wore a green beaded necklace to match her green patent handbag. And she gives a glimpse of the fabulousness that is her dropped-waist 1940s dress. Lovely!


A look at her bow-festooned perforated leather peep toes.

Surge - 8th Street, SF

"Basically I just wear whatever is comfortable. I try not to look too high maintenance, cause a lot of my friends tell me that, but I'm not high maintenance. That's pretty much it."

I like her cute empire waist dress worn with the white coat and her fantastic hosiery tucked into her black boots. There was a time when black and blue were a no-no in fashion, I'm glad that time is over.


Cute elf like ankle boots/ booties.

Kyle - 8th Street, SF

The 19th Century."

I like the idea that Kyle looks ready to battle (or at least lead the charge against)...traffic. Love the layering of gray and blue and the fun of wearing a costume-ish outfit while biking around on a sunny day in San Francisco.


These black riding boots are gorgeous.


This post is for Meligrosa, who proves that looking fabulous and biking is possible.

Rosalee - 8th Street, SF

"My style is inspired street wearing graffitti culture. I'm sponsored by DimePiece designs."

Magazines and trend watchers keep wanting to see skinny jeans go the way of the music CD, but everytime I see denim like the ones that Rosalee is wearing. (Ruched on the side seam!) I have a feeling that skinny jeans will remain popular for at least a few more seasons. Personally, I think skinny jeans make people like me (short, athletic) look taller than we are and I'm not gonna say, "No", to that. Also, on the topic of Rosalee's outfit, besides wearing a cute hat, how lovely is Rosalee's short black trench coat?


A look at Rosalee's pretty ankle boots.


Commentator, Emily, guessed correctly that today's theme is tan/brown shoes with black tights/socks/leggings. Yay Emily!

Brittany - 8th Street, SF

"Um, I'd say probably art and the streets of San Francisco."

Brittany has these simple elements to her outfit, but together they form a cohesive whole that makes me want to look through her closets. Let me elaborate: 1. Threadbare v-neck shirt with a perfectly faded image of different feathers; 2. Pale, pale denim, something I predicted will be very popular soon; 3. Great flats with diamond shapes on them with contrasting black socks; and 4. Hot pink tote, simple in design, bright of color. And everything worn with big round sunnies (I'm partial to big sunnies). Judging by these individual pieces, I have the feeling that anything Brittany pulls out of her closet will look great.


How great are these functional and comfy looking, but still chic shoes? Answer: Really great!

This theme might be subtle, but can you spot the theme that Brittany shares with Miranda?

Miranda - 8th Street, SF

"Just pretty much: I think it's my Mom's fashion back in the day. Looking at her pictures from the 70s and 60s. Things like that."

I love her black lace dress, it's brevity less obvious because of the black tights. I also like how she brightens up an all black outfit by throwing in elements of brown at her feet (shoes) and shoulder (handbag).


Cute brown booties, that might've possibly been loaned to her by a Keebler elf.

Christine, Linda and Reid- 8th Street, SF (Quick Shots)

Looking vintage at the Vintage Expo.