DVF Studio x San Francisco Pop Up

A stiff brimmed hat casts an illusive shadow, exposing just one impeccably lined cat eye with a  gaze is fixated somewhere just above your head. Large silver hoops, a kerchief neck scarf, thick leather belt and a simplistic jacket accessorize a loosely tucked button down and well worn Levi’s. All black, so chic, virtually timeless.

This could be the woman you watch effortlessly flick her cigarette before disappearing into an Uber, or the woman ahead of you in line for the bar ordering a Moscow Mule (her preference? Hanson's organic vodka) — the woman you can't take your eyes off as she maneuvers a crowded street because whatever "It" is is in her possession.

The woman is a young Diane von Furstenberg, the picture is one of many slightly larger-than-life size printouts that attendees of the DVF Studio's San Francisco Pop-up can view as they meander about, helping themselves to another glass of champagne or a first look at select items from DVF's Fall and Winter 17 collections. At the back of the building Levi's provides custom pop-art inspired screen printing and stitching to their iconic jeans and jackets. The DJ begins to sample Blondie's “Rapture” as Diane von Furstenberg herself enters the room. The whole experience is so evocative of Studio 54 you half expect Andy to be at her side. Instead, fellow designer Jonathan Saunders (who is overseeing the Levi's customization) and James Curleigh (Executive Vice President of Levi’s Strauss & Co) pose alongside her for pictures before making the rounds.

The two fashion empires celebrate what is sure to be an iconic collaboration the same month that trademark staples of both houses — a pair of 501's and the first silk-jersey wrap dress (from 1974) — appear together at at the Museum of Modern Art for an exhibit titled, "Items: Is Fashion Modern." "The brands have shared a legacy of freedom and craftsmanship since Diane von Furstenberg wore Levis on nights out to Warhol's Factory," the invitation boasts. Both brands have a cemented place in fashion history, and both are boldly striding into the future. The collaboration showcases DVF and Levi's commitment to, "creativity, innovation, technology and fashion."    

For four days the DVF Studio x San Francisco Pop-up, located at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, will showcase the timeless, innovative and inviting concept of luxury and design that is the foundation of all things DVF. Patrons will have the opportunity to see and shop items that have yet to hit retail stores on the West Coast, and with a portion of each night’s sales being donated to local charities — Iridescent, Vital Voice and the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts — making the experience is an indulgence in decadence with some purpose. And it's not like the clothes will ever go out of style. Both brands have built their empires on creating quality garments that are crafted to last and transcend trends. The kind of clothing that is both simplistic and complex, cool in a way you quite can't put your finger on, illusive. That just out of reach "It" factor. In the words of Diane herself, "Fashion is mysterious as a rule. Why are blue jeans a classic? You just hit on something that happens to be timeless and right."

If You Go:

When: Wednesday October 18 through Friday, October 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where:
DVF Studio x San Francisco
Fort Mason Center
Gallery 308
2 Marina Blvd, Building A
San Francisco, CA 94123
Cost: Free
dvf.com/events