Marts, markets, craft fairs...legends of the unknown

OH on Castro Street: "Well, you know I don't have pockets in these pants Dave, so where would I have put it?" - elderly gentleman in assless leather chaps after Dore Alley Fair.

I've tried to give this entry a somewhat catchy title and am failing pretty badly. After a month long silence, I've decided to give blogging a try again. On another note, I've noticed that any sort of preconceptions about gender biases in nature has gone out the window. Most photo blogs - I've tried to get Scott to start using the term "phlogs", so far it has not gone as planned - belong to women these days. And they are mostly to market products, cute sparkly fairy-like children, pretty parties and themselves. Most male blogs focus on the funny, the mundane and the out there. I'm not talking about Tumblr - but a lot of the blogs that I like to read, rarely if ever have a picture attached to them. I just start to get distracted with blogs that have a lot of pictures. This goes against the notion that men are visually oriented/stimulated and women more so by words and the imagery created by them.

In the last two weeks alone, I've been to two separate outdoor fairs. And had a markedly different experience at both.

Last week was Indie Mart: hipster, crowded, thronged with wannabe emo-folk bands overidden with badass house music coming from a one-eyed monster speaker on a handcart. Lots of skulls, vintage clothes, necklaces with teeth. Screen printed shirts, succulents stuffed into finished nubbly sea wood bits. Everyone is wearing: plaid, scarves, skinny jeans (rolled up for bike riding), ironic t-shirts, oddly proportioned dresses, bangs and Toms. They are all mostly pretty nice. Victoriana and steampunk make their presence known. Bigtime. Food is taco truck chicken and waffles. Little dogs are everywhere underfoot. Average age, probably about 23.

I bought a super cool jasper necklace with chains. I kind of love it. S. got a bag made out of a vintage feed bag.

This weekend was Treasure Island Flea: mostly older folk looking for good deals, much more spread out and quiet. Families wearing sneakers, jeans, backpacks and visors. Lots of estate jewelry, old pottery, rust and dust. Vintage clothes - more of the sort that you find in a St. Vincent De Paul society store. They are all nice. Steampunk jewelry still finding its way to the front of the line along with old art prints, windchimes, rasta wear and old jelly jars. The hard sell is king here. Food is amazing: belgian waffles with raspberries, chairman bao, garlic noodles, vegan food, greek and kebabs. Kids can spend their afternoon hula hooping on the sunlit lawn in full view of the bay.

I bought a super cool black glass claw necklace with beads. I'm wearing it right now.

Is there something about fairs that we just love? Is it the novelty of being outside? Is it the thrill of the deal or finding something that isn't sold in stores tax free?

Thoughts? I happen to like em.

Cristobal...

Oof, 2 hr nap in the middle of the evening, NOT the best idea. But it means you guys get a blog post. Hoorah!
Weekend has been full of amazing things and some wholly INTERESTING things. First up: the Balenciaga exhibit at the deYoung.

Balenciaga (Spanish pronunciation: [βalenˈθjaɣa]) is a fashion house founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Spanish designer, born in the Basque Country, Spain. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by Christian Dior.^[1] His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern shapes were trademarks of the house.

The Wikipedia entry hardly describes the phenomenal collection (most personally owned by famed stylist Hamish Bowles) still showing at the deYoung through next weekend. The stunning collection of brightly candy colored party dresses, Spanish culture influenced toppers (and yes, the cardinal's coat is INSANE) and chic day suits reflect the best of Balenciaga. Unlike Dior or other designers of the time (he designed through the 40s all the way through the early 70s)
Balenciaga created designs that had both a looseness and elegance to them all the same time. If a jacket had a nipped waist, it probably also had a very loosely cut back or bloused sleeve. But because of the casual flow of the clothing, everything was also cut extremely precisely. Seams disappear into folds, curved bodices and peplums were everywhere and simple shirt would have 6 seams instead of two. The art of making things simple is always more complicated.

(the "Infanta" dress inspired by Valezquez's painting Las Meninas)

The deYoung doesn't disappoint, with more than 4 showrooms of fashion, that also includes several hats, a doll, and a costume from a historical play, Balenciaga designed. Historical influences are also shown throughout in pictures so that the viewer understands the inspiration for the clothes. However, for a designer to take a monk's habit and turn it into a chic hood or a cardinal's coat into a sexy evening jacket - is something of a talent that had to have been nurtured. The most playful thing about the Balenciaga collection is his attention to proportional detailing. Many times, skirts are higher in the front and lower in the back, creating a frame for the legs of the wearer. Hems are often given frills ala flamenco costumes, making them not only pieces of art but girly and fun to wear as well.

Balenciaga was also a study in convertible clothing, way before the tech revolution. He designed several outfits with large draped hoods, skirts that turn into capes and also items that could be worn from day to evening quite easily. He was at home as much with fancy appliqued toreador inspired boleros as he was with a simple silk tunic.
This pink dress was one of my favorites in the collection - a simple shantung frock with a lace underdress, it was sweet and yet cut impeccably. The exhibition closes next week, GO GO GO!