Ladies and gentlemen, creatures of all shapes and sizes, persuasions and intentions, allow me to introduce to you A Swankety Swank Fairy Tale!
Narrator STORM tells the tale
Once upon a time in a deep dark forest, there lived a princess who created original handmade faerie fashions. She and her friends loved to dress up in the clothes they made, dancing and storytelling until the early morning. Continue reading
San Francisco summer is in full effect…. just barely warm days, brisk, chilly nights and lots of fog. Every San Franciscan knows that layering is the way to get through this season gracefully. If you don’t know them already, we’d like to introduce you to our answer to the San Francisco summers: the arm warmer. The arm warmer is the perfect thing to slip into your bag in the morning to wear later when the fog rolls in. We have a diverse selection of materials: knitwear, lace, cotton, velvet, some stripped and so much more. It is a good way to add some style to your ensemble, and add some coverage to bare arms when it gets chilly. We also recommend the arm cuff. These pretty little things keep the wrist and upper hand warm, all while making the wearer look super cute. Swankety Swank carries arm warmers and cuffs for ladies and the fashion forward lad.
Modeling a selection of arm warmers and other items available at Swankety Swank are STORM and Anna, our summer love birds. At least for this story…….
I met a boy, cute as can be. Anna in Zunique black lace arm warmers ($46) and Darina Drapkin lace shirt ($160)
I met a girl, crazy for me. STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), Project Transaction belt and leather cuffs ($42-$56), Palas Key Necklace ($70) & Anna in Zunique ($46)
Summer lovin, happened so fast. STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), Project Transaction belt and leather cuffs ($42-$56), Palas Key Necklace ($70) & Anna in Zunique black lace arm warmers ($46) and Darina Drapkin lace shirt ($160)
Summer lovin, let's use our flasks. DAS leather corset flasks ($48). Anna is gibbous hat ($60), Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22) and STORM in Novy shirt ($24), Zero Necklace ($80), and DAS top hat ($400)
Summer lovin, he's making a pass. DAS leather corset flasks ($48). Anna is gibbous hat ($60), Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22) and STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), Zero Necklace ($80), and DAS top hat ($400)
Anna with DAS corset flask ($48) and Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22)
He got friendly, holding my hand. STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), gibbous button arm warmers ($40), Hannah Ruskin Key necklace ($22) and Anna in Wayward Shiftys striped arm warmers and Eileen hairpin ($30)
Summer fling, don't mean a thing. Anna in Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22), Eileen hair pin ($50) and STORM in DAS top hat ($400) and Zunique arm warmers ($50)
I told her, when the summer ends, we'd still be friends. STORM in DAS top hat ($400), Novy t-shirt ($24), and DAS cuffs ($56) and Anna in Eileen hair clip ($50), Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Then we made, our true love vow.. STORM in DAS top hat ($400), Novy t-shirt ($24), and DAS cuffs ($56) and Anna in Eileen hair clip ($50), Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Oh, those summer nights. STORM in DAS top hat ($400), Novy t-shirt ($24), and DAS cuffs ($56) and Anna in Eileen hair clip ($50), Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
And here’s a few solo shots with Anna solo showing more varieties of our selection of arm warmers.
Anna is Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Anna is Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Anna wears Zunique black lace gloves ($46) and Darina Drapkin lace top ($160)
Photographs and writing by Aurelie Sandrine
At Swankety Swank, we are bustlin’ with excitement about the vendors we have participating in this Saturday’s Indie Artist Trunk Sale! Here are a few items by their respective creators so you can get a sampling of some of the amazing one of a kind handcrafted work that will be available to you!
Kim of Krafty Kitten has been sewing since she was 8 years old and is inspired by rockabilly, cholabilly, psychobilly, pin up, punk and mexican culture. Above, Krafty Kitten showcases a blue and white polka dot halter dress.
Sayuri Designs creates handcrafted feather accessories for hat and hair!
Salvaged and Stitched produces unique hand made home decor!
Ryan Humphries creates etchings, woodcuts, screenprints, monoprints, drawings, ceramic sculpture and oil paintings. His work combines disciplined, delicate draughtsmanship with unihibited imagination.
Satin Corset creates jewelry that evokes vintage, antique and Victorian nostalgia. They describe their work as “Sweet, vintage chic. Victorian opulence. Charmingly antique, rustic redux. Flowers, pearls, glass, antique brass, little details, sparks of color & whimsy.”
Last Friday, I had the pleasure of accompanying Yabette and her Swankettes (aka: models) Katherine, Eartha, Dex, and Andrew to the Lyres and Lace: Music and Fashion Show at the Swedish American Hall. For this show, Yabette combined her sustainable and up-cycled fashion pieces with hand-painted canvas corsets and patches, creating wearable art. When the crew arrived, we were immediately sent to a photo session set-up by the organizers. It was a bit chaotic, as all the participating designers’ models came in and out to have their photos taken before going on the catwalk. It was here that I got a really good look at Yabette’s work. Her goals for “Honoring Beauty, Earth, and Age” were well represented. Yabette’s artwork translates well to fashion because the expression of movement only enhances the beauty of her designs. She was unique in having the only male model and the only plus-sized model in the show. The setting of the Swedish American Hall was the perfect backdrop for this music and fashion show and we were really inspired by the environment, the musicians, and the other designers. Overall, the night was a smashing success.
See something you love? Can’t live without? All pieces are available for purchase at Swankety Swank.
Photographs and writing by Aurelie Sandrine
The 28 page second issue of SwankSpeak! is a meaty magazine created with sincerity, intelligence and love. This delicious issue #3 (limited print run) features:
Interview with artist, designer & Fleuvog Award Winner Phoenix Zoellick!
Photographic fashion story “Serendipitous Society” by Eartha L. Goodwin featuring a dozen Swankety Swank artists/designers and Jim Siegel. master of the Westerfield Mansion!
Creative Genius, a column about inspiration & art with essays by Tom Napack (Dangerous Muse), Konstantin Pogorelov (Couscous Collective) & Zan Christensen (The Mark of Aeacus)!
Muse of the Month Miranda Caroligne of the Haight St. boutique Trunk!
Galaxy Runway, a two page comic strip by STORM, creator of Princess Witch Boy!
If you love this issue of SwankSpeak! (And we think you will!) consider purchasing a year’s subscription!
Hey fabulous folks! Do you enjoy art, good food and shopping? Would you like to be a part of the exciting evolving renaissance of Divisadero Corridor? Make sure you mark Thursday, June 3rd on your calendar because it’s time once again for the Divisadero Corridor Artwalk and Swankety Swank is the first stop!
DJ Rio will be spinning funkadelic tunes all evening and STORM (SF Weekly’s Best X-Men Tarot Reader) will be reading 3 card spreads for ten dollars from 7pm to 10pm. This a good opportunity to get a taste of the X-Men Tarot X-perience which is an hour long reading for only forty dollars!
Come check out the amazing artwork we have on display! The painting above is titled “Nesting Among Lemons” and was created by the fantastic Kurtis Rykovich! We have two more pieces by Kurtis and you simply have to see them in person to experience their exquisite sweetness! We also have gorgeous oil paintings by Simone Coulars, men and women’s clothing by amazing designers like DAS, gibbous, Wayward Shifties, Zunique, Wysterium, and many more, feather hairpieces by Eileen, leather cuffs and belts by Project TransAction, and SF Weekly’s Best Local Skincare Line By Nieves! There’s much more to see and experience at Swankety Swank, so come on down to the Divisadero Artwalk and see for yourself! Thank you for supporting local handmade goods!
Beltaine: When sky and earth collide, the fires of creativity are ignited…
Lords and Ladies, don your finery and join us on May 1st from 7pm until 11pm as we celebrate the Beltaine Spirit of Spring’s Awakening with Art, Fashion, Music and Revelry!
Music by Foxtails Brigade
Also featuring Heroic Tarot by STORM! Receive a 3-card reading and discover reflection through STORM’s signature divination skills!
Join us as we reflect on the growth we have achieved this year and tie on a ribbon of intention on our Maypole!
$10 Sliding Scale Admission.
