In a fashion landscape rife with menswear, "heritage" and prep-school reference points, it's no big shock that, in 2013, so many girls would be boys and boys would be David Beckham or Pharrell Williams. Yet those benumbed by an onslaught of black-and-white wardrobes and moto jackets witnessed more than a few tantalizing signs of life and sensational moments to remind us that, yes, while many designers and retailers played it safe in a sluggish economy, the eye must continue to travel and will surely find yet another port of visual delight or delicious adornment. Even if it's just on Instagram.
That's where many fashionphiles could be found scanning social media mood boards big and small to better curate their next collection of Hermès satchels or leather leggings. We tumbled down Tumblr holes and gave it up for those GIFs. We caved to geo prints and florals, camo and neon, nautical stripes and metallics, flapper frocks and color blocks, '70s slink and teddy bear coats, grunge beanies and tweedy fedoras, puffer coats and mullet skirts and leather, leather, leather.
Yes, there was news. Amid an onslaught of mournful black, Marc Jacobs stepped away from Louis Vuitton to hone his IPO. The more than 1,100 deaths following the collapse of a Bangladesh garment factory led to much soul-searching among Western companies about the high cost of low-price fashion. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer struck a pose for Vogue, and Asian models ruled fall ad campaigns in a clear nod toward label-loving tiger markets. Lululemon CEO Chip Wilson stepped down after blaming clothing quality issues on women's bodies, festival style turned into a category, and Michelle Obama knocked shorts. "Glasshole" became a word, SF Fashion Lab was born, and Missoni lost two patriarchs as founder Ottavio Missoni died and his heir, Vittorio, died in a plane crash. But there was good news, too, with the arrival of Missoni granddaughter Margherita's infant son, Otto. So bless those ever-lovin' style cycles and pass the pleather.
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Significant moments in fashion not pictured:
Jan. 1:Oscar de la Renta surprises the fashion world when he invites John Galliano into his design studio. The former Dior designer, who was dismissed in 2011 for making anti-Semitic comments, was encouraged to contribute to de la Renta's fall collection. It marks the first step on Galliano's rocky comebacktour.
Jan. 24:In what is purportedly simply a coincidence, Vine debuts just a couple weeks before New York Fashion Week. Editors and bloggers scramble to master the instant video-sharing app while taking notes and sharing likable 'grams of fashion shows in real time.Simultaneously.
Feb. 28:Alexander Wang debuts his first collection at Balenciaga since replacing the popular Nicolas Ghesquière in December. Wang, 29, and a San Francisco native, was a controversial choice to helm the fabled European house, but reaction to the restrained collection is positive. Vogue's Anna Wintour states she is "very proud" of the youngdesigner.
May 3:After Bay Fashion Magazine's exceptional spring runway show at the Palace Hotel in S.F., Editor in Chief Gautam Goswami evolves the publication. Rebranded as FSHN Magazine (Fashionable Sexy Haute Naughty), the fall issue features a fashion shoot in Iran. FSHN remains headquartered in San Francisco as Goswami aims to create "one fashion magazine for theworld."
July 13:If there were a prize for the craziest fashion event of the year, it would go to thefreeAlexander Wang sample sale that took place on a hot July afternoon in New York's meatpacking district. Some say the area still hasn't recovered from themadness.
Aug. 9:Designers known for much-copied runway looks take makeup into their own hands. Marc Jacobs is inspired by a night on the town; Michael Kors creates a line with three personalities ("sporty," "sexy," "glam"); Tory Burch includes her trademark nude-pink lipstick; and Alber Elbaz partners with Lancome on a whimsical nine-piececollection.
September: Marc Jacobs' Spring 2014 collection featured brooding gowns, heavy floral damask and imperial jackets and left audiences at New York Fashion Week befuddled. After a similarly dark and haunted collection at Louis Vuitton, Jacobs announced that after 16 years, he was leaving the company to focus on the IPO of his own label. It was a move long speculated by fashion insiders, given the billion-dollar annual sales of Jacobs' own line. In this context it was possible to see the strange collections as Jacobs setting the stage for a next act as creatively risk-taking as the last. In his time at Louis Vuitton, Jacobs revitalized the French luxury label, launched blockbuster accessory collections and proved the house could reimagine its signature logo through collaborations with artists Takashi Murakami and Stephen Sprouse without committing fashion heresy. Nicolas Ghesquière was announced as Jacobs' Louis Vuitton successor shortly after.
Sept. 7:New York Fashion Week looks forward and backward. First, 3-D printing continues to make a big impression on runways from J.Crew to experimental house threeAsFour. Trend forecaster Sheila Aimette says the use of 3-D will "only grow as technology develops." Alexander Wang gives a nod to 1990s-style logomania - with a 3-D twist, emblazoning his name into laser-cut tops, leather gloves and skirts for a near-laceeffect.
Sept. 23:The elusive, prolific and ambitious founder of the San Francisco Fashion and Merchants Alliance, Owen Geronimo, puts on another year of San Francisco Fashion Week. The mysterious Geronimo is known for organizing countless events and websites with the noble goal of elevating local fashion, often to odd or off-putting effect and sparseattendance.
Sept. 30:After 60 years of dormancy (and one stunning archive tribute by Christian Lacroix), the House of Schiaparelli announces its relaunch with former Rochas designer Marco Zanini as head designer. The Italian bad boy is a fitting heir to Italian bad girl Elsa Schiaparelli's daring fashionmantle.
Oct. 21:Self-described genius Kanye West proposes to Kim Kardashian at AT&T Park with a 50-piece orchestra, fireworks and a 15-carat diamond. In attendance are family, friends and local billionaires, including YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. The couple later file a lawsuit against Hurley for posting footage of the proposal on his video-sharing siteMixBit.
Nov. 1:Proving that print is very much alive, Surface Magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary with a new aesthetic and focus on "Design for Designers." The November issue hits the stands with a special American Fashion Section. With thicker paper and a star mix of contributors and photographers, Surface holds on to the ideal of magazine asart.
Nov. 15:Tom Ford's hotly anticipated men's luxe grooming line debuts, including the much-discussed "makeup for men" concealer and bronzing products. With Marc Jacobs and Benefit already in the makeup for men business, is it only a matter of time before we're seeing men's makeup counters at thedrugstore?
Dec. 1:Feel the hideosity. You know ugly Christmas sweaters have lost their ironic edge when major retailers like Urban Outfitters are scouring thrifts and selling them back at more than three times the price to hipsters tasked with attending ugly-holiday-sweater parties. But aren't they really just a level or two away from the plethora of kitschy animal knits offered up by lines Burberry Brit, Milly and Moschino Cheap & Chic?
Dec. 10:Karl Lagerfeld takes Chanel's annual Métiers d'Art show to Dallas this year, and he goes Texas all the way. Celebs, including new face of Chanel, Kristen Stewart, sit in retro convertibles for the drive-in screening of the Chanel film "The Return," followed by the debut of Lagerfeld's Old West-inspired Dallascollection.
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