Green Tip Of The Month: Shop Green
Reusable grocery bags are making their way into the mainstream, but for the style-conscious shopper, they’re not always the most glamourous option. Enter San Diego sisters Trudy Balesteri and Trina Koller, whose sustainable, eco-friendly, and reusable Green World Bags combine form, function, style, and affordability while offering an estimated annual reduction of approximately 700 bags for the average family. Says Balesteri, "We both became increasingly aware of the environmental degradation caused by single-use paper and plastic bags. A couple of months later, while on a vacation in Maui, I was traveling down a tree-lined country road. This beautiful and pristine environment quickly transformed into a surreal landscape of trees covered with hundreds of plastic bags blowing in the warm tropical air. That cinched it for me, Green World Bags had to happen!" Bags can be purchased as 4, 8, or 12-packs in designs called Sydney, Morocco, Milan, or St. Tropez, or a variety pack of all four. (www.greenworldbags.com)
— Mia Stefanko

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Carla Manuel

Global Fashionistas

Endless sun and beautiful sandy beaches make San Diego a favorite expatriate destination.
Included here are some fashionable foreigners who’ve infused the local style scene with global flavor.

Carla Manuel, Kites
Brazilian Carla Manuel, who has lived in San Diego for 16 years, has the design chops to warrant the rising success of her clothing line, Kites, which she launched in 2002. But it’s her radiant personality that gives her collections their vibrancy. Manuel’s spring line is an assortment of vivid, primary-colored silk dresses with scalloped hemlines and twisted necklines. She says it was influenced by the ’80s, but only in subtle, sexy ways. "The clothes I design go from the beach to the red carpet," Manuel says. "The women I design for can pull off anything. They are confident."

She has a showroom in Del Mar and just opened her first shop, Kites and Feathers, in Venice Beach. The Kites line is named for the kite bird. "Feathers" refers to the items by other designers — plumage like jewelry, T-shirts, etcetera that Manuel stocks at her cozy little appointment-only space. (858/755-5021, www.kitesdesign.com)

Lara Matthews, Thread Show
When Lara Matthews moved to San Diego from London she met a lot of creative clothing designers. She quickly noticed that, with the exception of some small boutiques, her friends had nowhere to sell their wares.

The first Thread show took place in 2003, in the backyard of a house Matthews rented in Hillcrest. A handful of local designers showcased their products on folding tables, a DJ dropped some beats, a budding caterer laid out a nice spread, and locals showed up to shop. It was a huge success.

Since then, Thread has expanded into a major quarterly event drawing upwards of 80 designers and thousands of paying shoppers. In San Diego, the shows have taken place at venues such as the old Wonder Bread bakery and the Aerospace Museum. With the help of her brother, Alex (pictured with her here), Thread has expanded to San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle, with more locations in the pipeline. The next Thread takes place on April 13, from 11am-6pm. (www.threadshow.com)

Malin Lovquist-Doyle, DeepFling boutique
In 2003, the design-savvy husband and wife team of Malin Lovquist-Doyle and Kevin Doyle moved to Encinitas from Sweden. Together, they opened DeepFling, which stocks jewelry from hip lines like Bj_rg, KumKum, and Pilgrim, and a few items by the clothing line Odd Molly. Though the brands are now catching on stateside — Liv Tyler recently signed on as the face of Pilgrim — DeepFling is still the one-stop shop in Southern California for finding chic Scandinavian styles.

The two enjoy their new life in Encinitas, where they are active members of the community. "It’s been great for us," says Lovquist-Doyle. "One of the best things about the store is the customers we get. It’s just wonderful people, you get to know them, get to know their life stories." (760/942-4254, www.deepfling.com)
— AnnaMaria Stephens

Edward Wilkerson

Posh Personal Appearance
Immediately following his show at Neiman Marcus, Edward Wilkerson looks a touch flustered. "I’ve never seen my clothes go down the runway," says the man behind the line Lafayette 148. "Somebody’s going to have to videotape it for me one of these days." Dressed in a natty suit complete with polka-dot pocket hanky, the debonair designer is gracious to the women who gather around him, praising his latest collection. Wilkerson, who recently appeared on the Today show and Oprah, is a rising star in fashion. The styles of Lafayette 148 are perfect for the mature and elegant ladies who sat along the runway, sipping Champagne and showering the willowy models with applause. The smart suits and glamorous eveningwear are timeless investment pieces, but the colors — particularly canary yellow and kelly green — are very right now.
— AnnaMaria Stephens,
photo by Kristy Ann Mann

Caption: Chris Fowler

Fowler’s Fashions
Originally from Agoura Hills, Chris Fowler has lived in Cardiff for the last ten years. His aptly named Fowler’s is a new urban-street-surf boutique just north of Via de la Valle on Coast Highway 101 that offers exclusive brands in a loft-like setting. The walls are adorned with art, along with a 50-inch plasma TV and a premium sound system. "I think S.D. is a little behind in the fashion realm," says Fowler, "and it is my hope to provide North County with the newest stuff straight from the shows. I attend the L.A. and Vegas shows and I work closely with multiple people in the industry." Noted lines include Rebel Yell, Whitehorse, Blue Life, LA Made, William Rast, Supra, Zoo York, DC, Vestal, Penguin, and English Laundry, to name a few. (858/436-7016, www.fowlersurf.com)
— Mia Stefanko, photo by Kristy Ann Mann

Jolie Femme Moves
Del Mar Plaza’s Jolie Femme has moved across the way to a larger space, and clients will agree that, "because of it’s normal layout instead of a piece of cheese, it’s more open and airy," says owner Sheree Clock. Now located next to Shoetique 101, Clock notes, "We increased our selection of bras — both pretty and functional." Designer lingerie lines include Hanky Panky, Cosabella, Jonquil, OnGossamer, Vera Wang, Le Caprice de Marie, La Perla, and more. Other offerings include candles, jewelry, purses, games, lotions, and the Garden Botanika line of skin care. (858/792-1222, www.joliefemmeboutique.com)
— Mia Stefanko

Caption: Amy Cubbison and Carey Green

Nordstrom Designer Preview 2008
Several hundred fashion fans filled the reception area of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Building of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in anticipation of Nordstrom’s fashion show. The action, even before the 2008 Designer Preview began, was pretty amazing, as edgy music filled the air, mini appetizers were passed, and clothes from the designers were displayed on racks throughout two large rooms. Guests examined garments from such fashion houses as Yves Saint Laurent, Giambattista Valli, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Lanvin, and Missoni. The reception was so popular, the runway preview was delayed by half an hour. The show, which was brisk, was youthful in concept, and visually delightful. Yes, the models were skinny and many skirts extremely short, but these clothes were wearable by all ages, with an adjustment here, a modification there. High-style shoes by the likes of Marni, Prada, and Jimmy Choo made major fashion statements. Dessert and, of course, shopping followed the show. Kudos to event chairs Jake Figi, Eileen Haligowski, Stacy Jacobs, Patsy Marino, Haeyoung Tang, Sheryl White and Lise Wilson. — Darlene G. Davies, photos by Paul Andrews

La Martina
Polo is a way of life at La Martina in La Jolla, the official supplier of the Federation of International Polo, the teams from the World Cup, and numerous collegiate teams around the globe. The specialty boutique caters to players by supplying the highest quality shirts, helmets, boots, and equipment, all of which are designed and manufactured in Argentina. "Internationally, these pieces hold value like we hold other high-fashion brands dear to us in the USA," says brand manager Joseph Santapaola. "Our American clients are looking for something different than the mass-produced pieces." Stuck on the sidelines? Show your loyalty with a hand-stitched leather bomber jacket complete with team insignia and patches. La Martina also carries women’s and children’s sizes, and unique polo-inspired accessories. (858/454-7211, www.lamartina.com)
— Rebecca Chappell

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Kevin Doyle and Malin Lovquist-Doyle

Alex and Lara Matthews