Local designers shine at Pret-a-Porter

models pose backstage before getting into first looks/Image:S. Whittle/Style Wylde

party goers enjoy Pret-a-porter/Image: S.Whittle/Style WyldeIt was a full house at Press Club on Saturday night as throngs of buyers, fashion fans, photographers and hipsters filed in to the cozy underground space to view the collections from the six local design houses chosen to participate in Pret-a-Porter, the latest in a series of local fashion focused  events thrown by The San Francisco Fashion and Merchant Alliance. For this round, SF Fama Partnered with several high-profile businesses including 7x7 Magazine, Elizabeth Arden Red Door, and local style blog SF Indie Fashion.

Stylist Kao V. Saephanh from Elizabeth Arden sets a model's hair/Image: S. Whittle/Style Wylde

Before the show began, Style Wylde was invited backstage to meet the designers and  take-in first hand all the organization involved in staging a runway show and all the people involved in it's smooth execution.

Stepping backstage, the scene was frenetic as stylists put finishing touches on model's hair, designers ordering their collections by  looks and model changes, and interns raced around fueled by nervous energy and sugary snacks provided by the event organizers. 

First up, we chatted briefly with an enviably tanned Tosca Soraya, whom explained that since debuting her collection several weeks ago at a small presentation she had made styling changes to better emphasize her pieces.  

With Tosca's help we next  spotted designer Magdalena Trevor placing name tags on her looks for each model.

designer Magdalena Trever/Image: S. Whittle/Style Wylde"I wanted to make suits that flatter curves, that don't show every bump like lycra" Magdalena Trevor explained as she pointed out her hand-knitted swimwear looks. "My suits are for the pool, but they are also complete outfits."

Moving through the melee, we made our way to a quieter corner where a rack of light-as air cotton and linen pieces covered in delicate embroidery caught our attention.

Husband and Wife designers Malin Namita Couture/Image: S.Whittle/Style Wylde

"These pieces recall the long tradition of true hand-embroidered couture, as was crafted for the royal family in India." The husband and Wife design team behind Malin Namita Couture beamed as they showed us their work. " The embroidery is done in India, by craftsmen who have been doing this work for generations, they are the descendents from the artists that embroidered for the royal family."

Sitting in the front row as the show began,  the craftsmanship  of the lines, especially that exquiste embriodery on the  pieces in the Malin Namita Coutre collection, was more than apparent as models walked floor level runway just inches from the audience leaving no room for sloppy sewing.

Also apparent was the audience's enthusiastic reaction to the show which was vocalized with "ohhs" and "ahhs" throughout the presentation of well curated collections which varied from leather looks to flirty dresses, casual urban tees that showcased the vast diversity within the San Francisco fashion industry.

designer Tosca Soraya/Image:S.whittle/Style Wylde

As the show wound down of Tosca Soraya's wisely restyled collection Hardscape, the after-party began where guests mingled with models, designers and a local celebrity or two while sipping wines from the Press Club's 6 featured northern California wineries. 

Project Runway's Jay Sario/Image: S.Whittle/Style Wylde

For more images from the Pret-a-Porter Runway show visit the Style Wylde Galleries.

Comments

[ihatewhaturwearing]

can't stop giggling over "enviably tanned"... the designer does look gorgeous in the photo below!