Keanan Duffty, Katie Hintz-Zambrano, Yasunobu Kyogoku, Brit Morin, Prem Kumta
In anticipation of their major new store opening in October 2012 at 111 Powell Street in San Francisco, UNIQLO has been sponsoring some unique panel sessions at a temporary pop-up store with leading opinion makers and artists.
We recently attended their “haute tech meet-up” which consisted of designer Keanan Duffty, Refinery29.com editor Katie Hintz-Zambrano, UNIQLO COO Yasunobu Kyogoku, and Brit.co founder Brit Morin.
Yasunobu Kyogoku and Brit Morin
Hopelessly addicted to the daily tips and advice of Brit.co, we were particularly keen to hear Brit Morin’s insight on the creation of a successful media company and where she sees the future of the Internet.
Called the “Martha Stewart of technology,” Brit says that what she’s trying to do is encourage the younger generation that has grown up with digital media, gadgets and technology to use it all in a way that simplifies their daily life.
“I’m trying to help you take the short cuts through living, whether that’s a recipe that only takes you 10 minutes, and only costs you a couple ingredients, or a new way to style your outfits that’s easy to remember and lets you spend less time getting ready in the morning,” she said.
Brian Chan, Kei Vinuya, Katie Hintz-Zambrano – Angela Tafoya, Jessica Velez
But she was eager to point out that at Brit.co they are also building different types of apps.
“In today’s world you actually have to be both a media and a technology company to reach your audience. Every media company online these days, they’re building software, whether it’s a website or an app. And that’s what we’re trying to do as well. We’re building it all from scratch, in-house.”
An example of one of their products is weduary.com, a fabulous tool that lets users create social and beautiful wedding websites for themselves in minutes.
Mary Beth Vascellaro, Jessica Vascellaro, Brit Morin – Ching Nola, Nara Li
Brit considers herself and other well-known bloggers as curators of the Internet. “The web has gotten so vast and so overwhelming with information and data that you almost need your trusted curator just to boil it down for you,” she said. “You can trust a person so much better and more than you can trust a random brand. That’s why I called my company Brit. I’m the face of it. I’m a person. And I’m curating the web and really diving into whatever issues people are facing these days, and how can we solve them.”
While her style might not have the slick writing quality of a magazine, she says readers come to her for a unique point of view. “It’s about a curation style. And that’s where the future is headed with technology online.”
Justin White, Katelyn Kellogg, Phillip Zabat – Ingrid Roman, Weber Shih
So with the growing success of Brit.co, will Morin be packing up for New York, the media capital of the world, anytime soon?
“A lot of people ask me why we’re not located in New York,” she said. “And the reason is that this is the creative capital of the world. There’s so much happening right now in San Francisco, and there are all kinds of companies. Especially within lifestyle at large — you know, food, fashion, home — it’s just begun.”
Brit Morin – Laurel Tielis, Anh Tran
As an advisor to many startups, she sees many exciting companies that are coming out of the woodwork and are going to be launching some great products. “I think that in the next five to 10 years you’ll probably see more and more tech utilities come out that are available to you as a way to improve your life. And for me that’s where the music happens,” she said. “If you can provide people with a utility that makes their life better, then you’re doing something right.”
Tags: Angela Tafoya, Anh Tran, Brian Chan, Brit Morin, Brit Morln, brit.co, Ching Nola, Ingrid Roman, Jessica Vascellaro, Jessica Velez, Justin White, Katelyn Kellogg, Katie Hintz-Zambrano, Keanan Duffty, Kei Vinuya, Laurel Tielis, Mary Beth Vascellaro, Nara Li, Phillip Zabat, Prem Kumta, Uniqlo, Weber Shih, Weduary, Yasunobu Kyogoku
We’re delighted to see that the Alex Chases Salon, run by the renowned hairstylist Alex Chases, has recently moved into a larger space at Rosewood Sand Hill’s Sense spa.
Designer Cedric Charlier recently visited San Francisco from Paris, to present his Spring 2013 collection at Barneys.
With Sloan and Roger Barnett, Sabrina Buell and Yves Behar, Jean-Pierre Conte, and Alison and Mark Pincus, Gucci recently hosted a private cocktail party at the San Francisco store to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the loafer, and the new 1953 collection for men and women.
Catherine Kwong’s living room, inspired by Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger, is one of the highlights of the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, taking place at 2800 Pacific Avenue.
Saks Fifth Avenue and San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary are presenting Zac Posen as this year’s guest designer at the 32nd San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show, benefiting San Francisco Ballet.
Michael S. Smith was recently honored at Hedge Gallery in San Francisco at a party hosted by Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty and Allison Speer. His design work for a Palladian Villa in Malibu is being put up for auction at Christie’s in New York. Nicolas Berggruen, Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Dede Wilsey, and Sabrina Buell were among the guests.
Deepa Pakianathan and Phil Pemberton recently hosted a reception for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in anticipation of its upcoming Gala on April 20, 2013, which pays tribute to legendary opera baritone and Conservatory Advisory Board member Thomas Hampson.
Conservatory mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook directs and stars in a program featuring special performances by Hampson with Conservatory students, faculty and guest artists. Teresa Medearis and Barbara Walkowski co-chair the event, with catering by McCall’s Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios.
Tickets for this very special occasion can be purchased at www.sfcm.edu
UCSF Partners in Care recently held its 2013 kick-off membership event at Reed & Greenough. Membership co-Chairs Schuyler Hudak and Libby Leffler hosted the launch party and kicked off the well-attended evening with brief remarks, followed by UCSF Partners in Care President Katie Budge, who spoke about the services that the auxiliary organization provides to the hospital.
UCSF Partners in Care works with UCSF hospital staff to fund programs that provide comfort and well-being to patients and their families while visiting the UCSF medical center.
Guests enjoyed spirited greyhounds nicknamed “Doctor’s Orders,” and a “Members Only” wine special while noshing on sweet treats from Kara’s Cupakes, and savory sliders and arancini from Cedar Hill Kitchen and Smokehouse.
Please visit www.ucsfpartnersincare.org for more information about this important organization.
Renowned European designer Ms. Madeline Pauw recently made an appearance at a delightful luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco, where her Spring 2013 collection was presented.
The Pauw collection is designed by Madeleine Pauw, daughter of the original founders. Pauw is known for its luxurious fabrics and soft touches of femininity while integrating just a splash of masculine undertones, but always keeping the fit and style in mind for the female physique. The company has been in business for over 50 years, and originally was created in the Netherlands where it currently has 29 stores.
You can purchase pieces from Pauw at Saks Fifth Avenue at 384 Post Street, San Francisco, or online at Saks Fifth Avenue
ModeWalk recently unveiled its newest service for their clients, a first-of-its-kind, by-appointment showroom in San Francisco called Boudoir, located on the 7th Floor of 391 Sutter Street in Union Square.
Betty Lin, the chic Presidio Heights boutique, recently celebrated the launch of the new Maiyet collection with a party hosted by Alexis Traina, Alison Pincus, Nina Stanford, and Seth Miller.
The Mid Winter Gala for 2013 honored the exhibit, “Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” with a chic winter wonderland that raised over $400k. Marissa Mayer, Jonathan Ive, Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty, Dick Costolo, Stephan Jenkins, Connie Nielsen, Lori Levine, Evgenia Peretz, Jeremy Stoppelman, Trevor Traina, Allison Speer and Kathryn Lasater were among the 380 who attended.
Stephanie Phair, the managing director of Outnet.com, recently visited from London to host a luncheon previewing Oscar de la Renta’s new limited edition collection designed exclusively for The Outnet.
The Italian artist, Paolo Troilo, recently debuted his first U.S. exhibit at Coup d’Etat, the most exceptional designer space in San Francisco.
Sponsored by Testa Vineyards, the event brought together San Francisco tastemakers such as Jack Calhoun, Stephen Brady, Gary Friedman, Joy Bianchi, Anna Weinberg, Ken Fulk, and Jamie Finegold, among others.
The exhibit will run at Coup d’Etat until May 2013.
Visit Coup d’Etat at 111 Rhode Island, or online at coupdetatsf.com
The International Museum of Women (IMOW) hosted its annual Celebrating Change Benefit on March 6th, 2013, and the associated Vanguard Group hosted its Art Live Lounge benefit.
This year’s benefit featured IMOW’s second annual Innovator Award for Women in Technology, presented to Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer of Cisco Systems.
The International Museum of Women is an innovative online museum that showcases art, stories and ideas to celebrate, inspire and advance the lives of women around the world. With the support of over 500 guests, IMOW raised over $200,000 to benefit its mission and exhibitions. Guests enjoyed a night of art and inspiration from the museum’s virtual collection, music, networking and dancing, while watching notable female artists create original artwork.
Learn more about the International Museum of Women at www.imow.org
Jay Jeffers recently designed three of the 23 penthouses of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Lake Tahoe. The homes range from $1,250,000 to $4,500,000 in price.
Vaunte has selected five chic San Francisco women to feature on their site: Allison Speer, Sabrina Buell, Lauren Goodman, Jane Gruber, and Tienlyn Jacobson.
