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Jun 19th
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Quantum Fashion

1coverwebIn the Eye of the Storm
... our bravest archetypes "dress it up"
The Daredevils
The Burners
The Animal Activist
The Goddess
The Lovers
The Cyclist
The Cool Chick
Surfer-Hipster-Sk8R
The Non-Conformist
The Techie
The Performer
The Hunk


Words and concept by Greg Archer. Photo shoot design by Stripe Design Group.
Photos by Keana Parker

 

cover tornado

The Daredevils

*Dedicated to Shannon Collins
Starring Marissa Sheerer, Emily Hall, Nick Llewellyn, Adrian Valentine and Jonathan Strasser


It’s 2012, Armageddon is overrated. Quantum Fashion is in. Why? Because we live in a day and age when true fashion can be found on all levels—inside and out; invisible and visible. It’s how you hold (and mold) yourself; how you go about your life. Your clothes simply mirror you. It’s in there—the fuel that makes you run that really counts. Here, our Fashion Daredevils lead the way. No longer willing to let their hair go unwashed or to wear jeans from the ’90s—yes, that’s a hint—our fearless fashion hounds illuminate the look and feel of a new (fashion) world order. Bold, fun and adventurous, these sexy beasts unleash their wild side and morph into savage provocateurs of Good Taste 2.0. No button is left unbuttoned. (Or is that no button is left buttoned?) Whatever the case, here, the lovely Marissa (above), Emily (right) and Adrian (below in leggings) and the testosterone-drenched Nick (above) use the finest—and, at times, most frivolous—attire from Camouflage, Wallflower, Stripe and Stripe Men to begin our rigorous path down fashion roads filled with archetypes that have become dear to our hearts. All revved up with places to go—let the journey begin ...

 

 

 

 

cover dare2


The Clothes:
Stripe

107 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-9252; Stripe Men, 117 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 431-6182, stripedesigngroup.com.

Camouflage, 1329 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-7613, shopcamouflage.com.

Wallflower Boutique, 103 Locust St., Santa Cruz, 426-3526, shopthewallflower.com.




Adrian
(left from Camouflage)
Bikini Top by Je T'aime ($28)
Fishnet Top by Zanana ($10)
Sparkle Dasey Dukes by Je T'aime ($29) Blue Diva Wig ($65)
Horns by Baby Love Cat ($20), Fishnet Stockings by Leg Avenue ($8), Princess Heels by Pleaser ($39)
Wrist Gloves by Leg Avenue ($8)

Marissa (on the cover; wearing Wallflower):
Bella Dahl denim button-down blouse ($128), Kill City black wax-coated skinny jean ($162)

Nick (wearing Stripe Men):
& Work Hat ($38)
Vintage Leather Jacket ($128), Taylor Stitch Jeans ($128), Stripe T-shirt ($30)

Emily (wearing Stripe):
Covet Silk Dress ($148), Ax+Apple Earrings ($156), Vintage Bangles ($24)
Shoes: Model's own

Jonathan Strasser (in slideshow wearing Stripe Men):
Tellason Jeans ($198)
Work Suspenders ($24)

Motorcycles: 1975 Ducati Mark 3 (dark blue), 1954 Triumph Tiger (light blue)

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The Burners
*Dedicated to Shannon Collins
Starring Adrian Valentine and Richard Colunga

Northern Californians—so adventuresome and wonderfully frisky—love to indulge in dress-up. After all, Burning Man is on the horizon (Aug. 27- Sept. 3). But don’t forget Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco (Sept. 23) or Santa Cruz’s ever-enthusiastic Halloween romp in October. But it’s not as if we need a special event to indulge. And any time we feel the urge, Santa Cruz’s iconic Camouflage is the perfect pitstop for attire that will, well, unleash the playful beast within.

The Clothes:
Camouflage, 329 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-7613, shopcamouflage.com.

Adrian:
Steampunk Corset by Eurotique ($269), Black "x" pasties by Nippies ($12), Rainbow Ruffle Butts by Sams ($18)
cover burner1Coyote Hood by Spirithood ($150)
Hair Flowers by VK Designs ($16)
Sex Stockings by Lip Service ($10)
Eyelashes by Glamour Eyes ($4)
Rainbow Wig by West Bay ($22)
Exotica Boots by Pleaser ($55)

Richard:
Satin Underbust Buckle Cincher
by Eurotique ($179)
White & Silver Petticoat
by Roma ($20)
Rhinestone Tie by Western Fashion ($36)
Silver "x" pasties by Nippies ($18)
Skunk Hood by Spirithood ($150)
Fence-net Stockings by Leg Avenue ($12)

Props:
Silver Bug Sunglasses by Flashback and Freedom ($10)


The Animal Activist
Starring Kim Luke

Well, if you think being a lover of animals and committing your life to being an advocate for their preservation is easy … think again. For every Black Rhino, Green-cheeked parrot, Mako Shark, Giant Panda, Hawksbill Turtle, Hawaiian Monk Seal, cover animal1Alligator Snapping Turtle and Tiger that hits the endangered species list—yes, tigers are now endangered (click onto the World Wildlife Foundation for more information)—there seems to be another lovely group of animal souls fading away. Bottom line: This is serious business. So, what’s a girl (or guy) to do? Strike a pose. When all else fails, socialize among the political beasts who can further your cause. In between all that level-of-awareness raising and fighting for truth, justice and the animal way, slip into some levity, toss back a laugh and cleverly plot your way to the top of a new paradigm. (The animal kingdom will thank you.) Here, our gal about town shows us how it’s done.


The Clothes:

Cognito, 821 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-5414, cognitoclothing.com.

Leopard print dress ($130)
Vintage costume jewelry/earrings ($12)


The Goddess
Starring Emily Hall and Marissa Sheerer

god·dess/ˈgädis/ Noun.
1.A female deity
2. A woman who is adored …especially for her beauty.

In the span of a lifetime, we inevitably come across these lovely creatures. They are the unforgettable women whose inner glow radiates out into the world, somehow making all of those around them feel more at ease. They emit both a sense of peace and nurturing. They are loving. They are grounded. Heavenly yet earthy—the cover goddess1gal you know who can slip so comfortably into a silk dress (Emily) or the lady who might surprise at a more formal affair (Marissa). They are, quite simply, the Goddess.


The Clothes:

Stripe, 107 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-9252; Stripe Men, 117 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 431-6182, stripedesigngroup.com.

Wallflower, 103 Locust St., Santa Cruz, 426-3526,
shopthewallflower.com.

Emily (back; wearing Stripe):
Covet Silk Dress ($148)
Ax+Apple Earrings ($156)
Vintage Bangles ($24)

Marissa (front; wearing Wallflower):
Mustard yellow dress by Ladakh ($128)

 


The Lovers
Starring (pictured) Nick Llewellyn, Emily Hall and Marissa Sheerer (slideshow)

cover lovers1It’s 2012—spread the love. Here, an intriguing troika of heart-led souls truly embrace the art of variety—and play. Nick and Emily (right) flirt, but things get heated elsewhere (in the slideshow).

The Clothes:
Stripe and Stripe Men stripedesigngroup.com
107 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-9252; 117 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 431-6182

Nick:
Mr. California Pjs ($200)

Emily:
Vintage blouse ($48)
Level 99 Trouser Shorts ($92)
Maguba Clogs ($148)
Eberjey Chemise ($80) (slideshow)

Slideshow:
Emily: Taylor Stitch Chambray Shirt ($132)
Nick: Saint James Striped Long Sleeve ($72); Penny Stock Trousers ($88): Soludos Espadrilles ($34);
Straw Fedora ($24)
Marissa: M. Rena Tube Dress ($34); Vintage Maxi Skirt ($68)


cover cyclist1The Cyclist
Starring  James Livingston III

You might not realize it, but the local cycling scene has a fashion sense all its own. Here, James, a popular, local cycling instructor (from The Bike Dojo in Downtown Santa Cruz; bikedojo.com) sports several looks for on and off the road.

The Clothes, Bikes, Shoes and Gear:
Spokesman Bicycles, 231 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz, 429-6062, spokesmanbicycles.com.

(Pictured) Specialized Brand factory team bib shorts ($110)
Specialized Jersey ($90)
Specialized S-Works Carbon road shoe ($360)
Specialized Prevail helmet ($230)
Specialized team racing sock ($11)
Specialized Road Bike/“Specialized Roubaix Pro” ($5,000)

Slideshow:
Green “Go West” Jersey (from Club Ride; $89.99), Pants ($99.99)
“Specialized” brand Fixed Gear Bike/“Specialized Roll” ($860)
Specialized Road Bike/“Specialized Roubaix Pro” ($5,000)


cover cool1The Cool Chick
Starring Anna Wu

A looker, fashion forward and full of pep, Faust’s Anna Wu epitomizes the essence of cool. Spotted here wearing two dynamic pieces from the wonderfully inventive Synergy Organic Clothing—booming in popularity across the country but based right here in Santa Cruz—Wu’s prowess is both hypnotic and intoxicating. Phew.

The Clothes:
Synergy Organic Clothing, 1229 Pacific Ave.,Santa Cruz, (888) 466-0411 ext 201; 1126, Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, (888) 466-0411 ext 121; synergyclothing.com.

Green scoop-neck long sleeve dress ($33)

Slideshow:
Grey dress with cowl neck  ($39)


Surfer-Hipster-Sk8R
Starring MIles Clanton, Rodrigo Laffite, Asia Carpenter and Anju lewis

Good Lord—were these youngsters born after 1990? Are they old enough—make that young enough—to be your own child? (Put down the Valium and stay with me here). Any way you spin it, these young folks are Santa Cruz: Next Gen. Here, our posse struts the very best that local clothing titan Thieves has to offer. And some of the clan show off the coolest trends from Pacific Wave, too. Take note of Thieves, though, founded by Davy Reynolds and Bubb Rader. Beginning as “As Thick as Thieves,” an old simile that means the best of friends, the dynamic and relatively new company boasts a “spirit of good times in good company.” As a result, the clothing “speaks our mind—each and every individual involved in Thieves has a unique and interesting story but a few things unite us all; art, boards and music.” In the meantime, here’s a nod to Pacific Wave, too, for its continuing effort in offering the kind of sporty clothing locals always appreciate.

The Clothes:
Thieves, thievesco.com.
Pacific Wave, 1502 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 458-9283, pacwave.com.

cover hipster2Miles (center):
Thieves TSCCA Hat ($29)
Thieves 5 Feather Tee ($29)
Levi's 511 Jeans
 (from Pac Wave; $58)
Vans Authentic Shoes
 (from Pac Wave; $43)  

Rodrigo (right):
Thieves Classic
  Snapback Hat ($29)
Thieves Heritage
  3/4 Sleeve Shirt ($32)
Levi's 511 Jeans
  (from Pac Wave; $58)
Vans Old Skool Shoes
  (from Pac Wave; $64)
Santa Cruz Screaming Foot Skateboard (from Pac Wave; $118)

Asia (left): Volcom Candy Shop Straw Fedora (from Pac Wave, $25), Thieves Flora Tee ($29), Volcom Pistol Legging Denim (from Pac Wave, $59), Toms Strappy Wedge ($69), Lance Ebert Fin Surfboard ($725)

Anju: Volcom Kahli Fedora ($22), Thieves Pact Tee ($29), Hurley Lowriser Shorts (from Pac Wave; $42),
Toms Classic Canvas Shoes (from Pac Wave; $42), Strawfoot Bag (from Pac Wave; $198); Slasher World Cruzer Skateboard ($132.95)

Slideshow:
Anju: Volcrom Natalie Trench Dress ($89.50), Volcrom Social Animal Hat $39), Reef Uptown Sandals ($44),
Billabong Remember Bag (inquire at store)

MIles: Brixton Castor Fedora ($42), Pacific Wave Sunset Lane T ($29), Volcrom Strots Boardshorts ($55), Lance Ebert Fin Surfboard ($725) Santa Cruz Red Banana Board Skateboard from Pac Wave ($99)


The Nonconformist

cover non1Starring Kim Luke

Economic meltdowns are never fun, but the good news is that they are more easily weathered than, say, emotional ones. That said, when the going gets cash-strapped, the cash-strapped get creative. Here, our smart shopper proves that you can take a break from convention and look sassy as ever in vintage clothes from the likes of the beloved Moon Zoom.

The Clothes:
Moon Zoom, 813 Pacific Ave.,
Santa Cruz, 423-8500

I Heart Bacteria T-shirt ($12), Floral handbag ($22), Red/orange plastic sunglasses ($8),
Scarf ($3), Houndstooth blazer/coat ($50)


The Techie
cover techie1Starring Nick Llewellyn

Modern-tech’s advances rage on. So, whether you’re that somebody creating the fancy gadgets we’ve come to adore, or that person who just can’t get enough of them, it’s best to look the part.

The Clothes:
Stripe Men 117 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, stripedesigngroup.com.

Umble & Co. Gingham shirt ($80)
Mr. California Jacket ($148)
Ravel Tie ($36)
Vintage Hat ($34)
Tellason Canvas Jeans ($198)
Peter Mountain Works Messenger Bag ($76)

 


The Performer
cover performer1Starring Kim Luke

Ravenous for the stage and uninhibited in front of the camera, she’s always there—for you! In touch with her muses, she can plunge deeply into creative waters and swim toward entertainment nirvana—for you! She’ll endure rejection, reaction, reinvention—all for you! Whether she’s the lead singer in a local band, character actress on stage and screen (big or small), or host of a local awards—and then some—she is the quintessential (local) performer and you will be engaged. Better still, you’ll applaud.

The Clothes:
Cognito, 821 Pacific Avenue  Santa Cruz, 426-5414, cognitoclothing.com.

White with black floral print dress ($134)

Slideshow:
Ukulele from Ukulele of Felton, 6235 Highway 9. Felton, 704-7027, ukulelesoffelton.com.
Award provided by the Digital Media Factory, where these photos were taken.


The Hunk
cover hunk1Starring Jonathan Strasser

Because you spot him in line at—oh, take your pick—the grocery store (?) and he takes your breath away. Because you spot him yet again, somewhere across town, and ponder what a coffee conversation might be like with him. Because you really don’t care about the coffee conversation and you are just plain smitten with his masculine beauty. Because … you always wondered what somebody who looks like this might look like in just, well, jeans and suspenders. Because we care enough about your inner needs, behold: The Hunk.

The Clothes:
Stripe Men, 117 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, 421 9252 stripedesigngroup.com.

Tellason Jeans ($198)
Work Suspenders ($24)


 

On the Map
FashionART Santa Cruz
Artist Angelo Grova’s first wearable art show was held in the parking lot of his gallery, Michaelangelo Gallery, to support a designer friend. Now, FashionART is in its seventh year and attracts a diverse array of (mostly local) designers and artists. And cover map fashionits popularity among Santa Cruzans is growing. Last year, the show sold out to 2,000 attendees at the Civic. Rose Sellery (pictured), the artist coordinator of the event, says that, “every year it’s different and new—it’s becoming one of those not-to-miss events.”

The show, which hits the Civic once again on Saturday, Sept. 22, features a fashion show spotlighting new and returning artists and designers. Some participants create day-to-day, finely crafted clothes, while others construct unique pieces that are better known as “wearable art.” Last year, Sellery created a couture gown called “Pearly Gates.” It has a corset decorated in thousands of vintage pearls and a cage-like skirt that can open. Every garment requires some artistry, but wearable art is intended as serious art pieces. “They’re very off-the-wall, I-hope-they-make-it-down-the-runway kind of outfits,” she says.

New to the event this year is Shop the Show, which will take place after the actual event—from noon to 4 p.m at Michaelangelo Gallery on Sept. 29. Attendees can see select pieces from the runway up close and will have the chance to buy them. And for the second year in a row, FashionART will be donating a portion of its ticket sales to the Santa Cruz Education Foundation, a nonprofit that helps Santa Cruz City schools develop and enhance underfunded programs.

 “Each year brings new excitement with FashionArt,” says Designer Coordinator Tina Brown. “We have more designers this year, and a fantastic range of styles. Grova also notes that attendees, “know they will be entertained visually and in a wholesome way.” | Tanisha Wallis

Pictured: Jill Alexander of Jill Alexander Designs. To glimpse the looks from FashionART, check out the Rittenhouse Building on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz about a month prior to the show. The front windows of the building will be filled with pieces from last year’s show. FashionART 2012 takes place at 7 p.m. (trunk show 7-10 p.m.), at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on Saturday, Sept. 22. For more information, visit fashionartsantacruz.com.

Synergy Organic Clothing

Synergy may be the name of the up-and-coming Santa Cruz-based organic clothing company, but the word also gives an accurate description of Kate Fisher and Henry Schwab, the dynamic couple behind the label. Meaning “a cooperative action or functioning system,” this synergistic duo—she’s the founder, president and designer, he’s the CEO and CFO—has created an organic fashion empire dedicated to maintaining a sense of balance. That would be the balance of business and sustainability, fashion and functionality, value and quality.

The business for Fisher began in 1993 when she imported items from Nepal to sell at Grateful Dead shows, but Synergy evolved into the brand it is today once she merged her business with Schwab in 2006 after the birth of the couple’s first child. From there, the company has grown and the Synergy label is now sold in more than 500 retailers across the United States—including two Synergy locations in Santa Cruz—and is also sold at more than 100 events and festivals throughout the country each year.

Offering all-organic, women’s clothing, Synergy serves up a plethora of well-priced dresses, skirts, tops and yoga apparel for the environmentally conscientious yet fashion-minded individual.

As a mother of two young children I tend to lean towards designing clothing that is flattering to women and not too body conscious,” Fisher says of her simple, yet elegant pieces. The fall collection is flush with jewel-toned jumpers, silky soft bamboo jersey tunics and cozy fleece jackets. But what makes Synergy clothing truly stand out from other organic labels are the whimsical applique and screen print designs found on a number of pieces.
“We specialize in hand-work applique details on our clothing,” says Fisher. “Our winterberry, poppy and peacock applique have been popular.”  

Although she grew up in fashion capitals New York, São Paolo and Rome, the dominant factor in her fashion aesthetic is the adherence to an organic lifestyle. “It is important to me as a business that we maintain a sense of integrity, mindfulness and sustainability in everything we do,” she says.

Synergy’s stringent sustainability model can be witnessed in each item of clothing that bears the company’s label. Beginning with organic cotton from India, the clothing is then handmade in Nepal using verifiable fair trade practices. The growing roster of designs fuse East and West, modern and ethnic, allowing Synergy clothing to truly live up to its name.

With pieces as comfortable as the bamboo cotton tunic and as cute as the ruched mini skirt, the synergism created by Fisher and Schwab has developed into a harmony of design and sustainability that blends perfectly into the Santa Cruz sensibility. | Leslie Patrick

Fisher’s Top Five Fall Syngery Fashion Picks:
Applique designs
Katmandu jumpers
Padme Dress
Soho Tunic
Organic fleece jackets

Learn more at synergyclothing.com. Or visit the store at 1229 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz;
1126 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Call 469-0411.

Jade
Before Shannon Murphy opened Jade, she was a fashion designer whose clothes were sold around the country. “I had been inspired with clothing and textiles from lots of world travel early on and decided to make a business out of it,” she says. Her clothes were made in India, where she also met her close friend and business partner, Barbara Koch, about 20 years ago.

 “Once my daughter was a certain age, I realized I needed to be at home more than traveling for work,” Murphy explains.  So she opened Jade in November 2001 with a desire to support small and independent designers. “I believe there is a lot of talent coming from people who work independently.”

Murphy and Koch opened another boutique called Onyx, which is located in San Francisco’s Mission District, about three months ago. Onyx has been so successful that the duo are signing another lease for a shop on Divisadero Street in the city.

For fall, Murphy cites printed dresses and sweaters as items she is looking forward to selling in her store. “There is a long dress with long sleeves by Sam&Lavi that is to die for!” she notes. “In a deep red color which is also a great color for fall.”  | TW

Discover something unique at Jade, 1128 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 425-2244.


And Check Out:

• Forever 21 (1200 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz)
• Moda Bellisima (107 Locust St., Santa Cruz, 427-9787
• and the impressive fashion blog thepennyrose.com.



Accessorize
Clothes matter. But so do fashion accessories. Take note of several items we found alluring for the upcoming season. PLUS: What is the “Fall Look?”

accessory bunnyBunnys Shoes / Bunnys Too
1350 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-3824;
1349 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz,  426-1654.

What It Is: Shoe den where shoes stand out—from fancy flip flops and  flats, to four-inch platforms and fabulous spikes. And Bunny’s Too? (Across the street): a festive fashion camp filled with durable and creative clothing and other home furnishings.


Accessories:
Bracelets (La Vee): White cuff with gold Fleur de Lys ($80)
Skinny gold bangles ($18); skinny white bangles ($30)

Fall Looks:
Bunnys Lizette Barajas recommends
1) Boots – Motorcycle, combat/miliarty (lace up) in different neutral colors.
2) Oxfords still popular
3) Black chunky wedges


Pacific Trading Co.
1224 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-3349.

What It Is: Über hip womens clothing portal perched on Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz. Great finds. Terrific styles.

Accessories:
Sergio Gutierrez Liquid Metal silver cuff ($105)
Purse (Orla Kiely—$338)

accessory patrickPatrick James
7538 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 688-2105, patrickjames.com

What It Is: Men’s clothing camp that offers a plethora of styles and just as many looks—from casual to formal. Operating out of Aptos for many years.

Accessories:
Robert Graham Barney Straw Fedora ($98)
Robert Talbot Silk Pocket Square ($55)
Pantherella Argyle Anklet Socks ($41.65)

Fall Looks:

1) Traditional suits popular, but with a modern twist
2)more tailored, slimmer clothes
3) Loosened ties, cuffed or shorter pants

accessory fetishShoe Fetish
1360 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 454-0287

What It Is: The go-to place for high-quality shoes and bags for the discerning shoe fiend who demands wearability with their “wow.”

Accessory:
Lodis Wallet ($94)

Fall Looks:
1) Loafers
2) Frye boots
3) Bigger leather purses in grey, burgundy

Stripe
107 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-9252, stripedesigngroup.com

accessory stripeWhat It Is: A winner in GT’s Readers' Poll for Best Gifts, and Home Furnishings—also Best Womens clothing. Unique styles abound.

Accessories:
Geode ring, called Drewzy ring (from Bahgsu; $98)

Brand: Ax + Apple necklace ($178)

Fall Looks:
Stripe’s Dana Norell recommends:

1) Draped necklines and exaggerated collars
2) Red and burgundy are popular colors; color blocking still in
3) Granny chic—shop vintage!—bohemian prints and plaid

Stripe Men
117 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 431-6182, stripedesigngroup.com

What It Is: Bold, adventurous, relatively new undertaking by Stripe’s Suna Lock and Dana Norrell that features stellar mens clothing, accessories and more.

acccessory stripemenAccessories:
Vintage belt ($42)
Vintage cuff links ($20)
Bow tie (Necks Tuesday: $62)

Fall Looks:
Stripe’s Dana Norell recommends
1) Polished, darker look—blues and blacks—and more fitted, tailored clothing
2) Cozy sweaters, flannels, crewneck sweatshirts
3) Military-inspired jackets with modern detailing

Sway
110 Cooper St., Suite 100 B, Santa Cruz, 427-9817, swaychic.com.

accessory swayWhat It Is: Current fashion forward portal filled with fun clothes, shoes and accessories for the expressive gal with a mindful budget. 

Accessories
Backpack ($48)
Headband (xx)

Fall Looks:
Sway’s Raquel Rosem recommends:
1) Tailored Jackets and blazers
2) Crochet and lace – femininity
3) High waist jeans in different washes—acid wash and different colors
to liven things up

accessory wallflower
Wallflower

103 Locust St., Santa Cruz, 426-3526, shopthewallflower.com.

What It is: Wonderfully unique fortress filled with smartly made effortless clothing and accessories with a crafty, casual and carefree style.

Accessory:
Feather earrings from Beautiful Jean ($46)

Fall Looks:
Wallflower’s Terra Lynn:
1) Gothic, military, and Eastern inspiration
2) Violet, burgundy, burnt orange, and browns
3) Soft fabrics, such as velvet, corduroy, silk, and cotton
4) Little details in leather, lace, and velvet






Twist

1364 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 420-1300, twistdowntownsantacruz.com.

What It Is: Ground Zero for hand-picked designers and hi-quality resales, with a keen eye toward pieces that pop.

accessory twist
Accessories:
Earrings (Moxie San Francisco—$41)
Handbag (Alexander Wang—$130.45)

Fall Looks:
Twist’s Lara Caldas recommends:
1) Lots of lace
2) Colors: gray and nude
3) Masculine looks, particularly something oversize on top, smaller for bottoms, or vice versa.

** Special thanks for Kim Luke and Tanisha Wallis for assisting and discovering these gems. 


Credits

First of all, a big thank you to you—yes you, the readers. You folks are pretty, handsome, gorgeous and all-around sexy beasts. Tell yourselves that every morning and see how life changes for you. (Go ahead, look in the mirror—validate yourself; we’ll wait.) That said, GT’s fashion issue would not have been possible without the creativity of Stripe Design Group, which assisted in the visual design of our fashion shoot. Big thanks to Stripe’s Suna Lock and Dana Norrell.

Immense gratitude to William Ow for use of the Wrigley Building (owproperties.com) on the Westside of Santa Cruz. Its vast warehouse space and corridors became the ideal setting for us in our ongoing mission to keep reinventing ourselves for our special publications. Even bigger thanks to Ow for use of superior props—a fascinating old truck (operated by a motorcycle inside) and two motorcycles—a vintage 1954 Triumph Tiger (cover shot) and a 1975 Ducati Mark 3. Ride on ...

Warm thanks to our summer intern Tanisha Wallis. Without her loyalty, assistance and commitment—not to mention all that dashing about—this issue would not have been possible.

A heartfelt thank you to Anna Wu, owner/makeup artist at Faust Salon & Spa in Scotts Valley; and Emily Johnston of Faust Scotts Valley (219 Mt Hermon Road, Ste A1, Scotts Valley, 706-8960). Wu handled makeup for us; Johnston was our hair specialist.

Thank you to all of the retail stores and outlets for their participation: Stripe, Stripe Men, Wallflower, Shoe Fetish, Synergy Organic Clothing, Cognito, Moon Zoom, Pacific Wave and Thieves. Your cooperation eased our way through one wild and adventurous shoot.

Speaking of … Thank you Keana Parker for your great photographic eye.

To Joshua Becker: Words escape me/us. You are a brilliant art director. Godspeed.

We send big thank yous to our GT models, whose patience—and beauty—helped bring this issue to life:

Anju Lewis, Asia Carpenter, Rodrigo Laffite and Miles Clanton (The Hipsters)
Emily Hall (The Daredevils, The Troika)
Nick Llewellyn (The Daredevils, The Troika)
Adrian Valentine (The Daredevils, The Burners)
Richard Colunga (The Burners)
Anna Wu (The Cool Chick)
The ever-humorous Kim Luke (The Animal Rights Activist, The Nonconformist)
Jonathan Strasser (The Hunk, The Daredevils)

That’s it for this year. Wear it all well, people—and don’t wear yourselves out. See you next time. | Greg Archer

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CYNDI

On the eve of Cyndi Lauper’s Mountain Winery gig, we dissect the woman, the icon, the creative beast. Plus: Her thoughts on the music industry, equal rights and those sparkling ‘Kinky Boots’ Few performers possess the kind of fierce, she-bopping tenacity Cyndi Lauper has become famous for. Equal parts free spirit, civil rights activist and Grammy-winner, Lauper is one of the few creative artists able to successfully marry her cutting-edge verve with a heart-of-gold panache. It certainly has helped fuel the remarkable career resurgence she has been experiencing lately.

 

Field to Vase

Open house provides opportunity for residents to meet their local flower growers Valentine’s Day is a high point of the year for those in the cut flower business. So when, one year in the late ’90s, the bouquet-riddled holiday failed to deliver for Kitayama Brothers Farms, the family behind the decades-old rose-growing business knew something was wrong.  “It was the writing on the wall,” recalls Stuart Kitayama, operations manager for the Watsonville-based company. “Those of us who had been hoping things would just get better finally said ‘it’s time to change.’”

 

The Price of Safety

The city's proposed budget addresses public safety needs The City of Santa Cruz’s pocketbook has come a long way since 2009, when an $8 million shortfall loomed. According to City Manager Martin Bernal, the proposed general fund budget for 2013-2014 is healthier than it has been since the beginning of The Great Recession in 2008. Armed with this returning stability, the proposal puts one of the community's top concerns—public safety—front and center.

 

Community Studies 2.0

After a controversial suspension, a new incarnation of the unique UC Santa Cruz major is reinstated The UC Santa Cruz community studies lounge is a great place to have a conversation.  Housed on the second floor of a faculty building in Oakes College, just down the hall from a whiteboard that reads “COMMUNITY STUDIES LIVES,” the room has a big round table, couches and chairs, and shelves stacked with past senior “capstone projects.”

 

North Pacific String Band

Jeff Wilson, who plays banjo for North Pacific String Band, loves being part of original music experiences. “What I like about the music we play is that it’s fairly unique and kind of hard to put your finger on,” Wilson says. “We’re not just trying to do bluegrass or country or folk. It’s a mixture of those things and we try to add in a lot of musicality to all of that.” Originality and musicality aren’t ideas which are limited to the band’s exploits either.

 

Peace in the Middle East

New dance-concert explores Palestinian-Israeli conflict Inspired by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, local choreographer Karl Schaffer’s “Mosaic” is a dance-concert featuring Jewish Diaspora and Arab music from the women’s choral group Zambra, singer Fattah Abbou and a troupe of local dancers. In between rehearsals for the show, which runs June 21-22 at Motion Pacific, Schaffer shared the story behind its creation.

 

Muscle-Bound

Valiant cast battles loud, ugly action for the soul of 'Man of Steel' Early in Man of Steel, fourth-grader Clark, the boy who will be Superman, is cowering in a broom closet at school, eyes screwed shut, hands clapped over his ears. He can't control his super powers: his X-ray vision shows him the skulls and skeletons under everyone's flesh; unfiltered noise—dogs, traffic, heartbeats—assault him from all sides. Rushing to school, his mom kneels outside the door and asks what's wrong.

 

The Plug Bug & Corbin Dunn

Mechanic, programmer, acrobat, builder, tinkerer. Corbin Dunn's 1969 Volkswagen Beetle is a fully electric vehicle. It has an electric motor powered by 48 stacked squares of Lithium-ion battery cells under the hood in place of the 50 horsepower gas engine that it was built with. He calls it, affectionately, “the Plug Bug.” Dunn, who was born in Hawaii, raised in Corralitos, and now lives in a large, old A-frame house near the summit in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a 35-year-old programmer for Apple in Cupertino, where he helped develop the iPhone and works on the framework for the Macintosh operating system. But his aptitude for intricate technical work is not limited to computers. Dunn is a tinkerer.

 

Making the Grade

The quest to identify sources of high levels of bacteria at Cowell Beach continues With straight As on Heal the Bay’s annual “beach report card” for 10 out of 13 Santa Cruz County beaches—Main Beach, Seabright, and even Cowell Beach at the Stairs, to name a few—it would seem that Santa Cruz boasts a high coastal GPA. But in recent years, one Santa Cruz beach just can’t seem to pass: Cowell Beach west of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.

 

Flag Day, Father’s Day and Chiron

Another week of complex planetary energies falling to Earth. Mars interacts with Pluto (inconjunct), Uranus (sextile) and Chiron (square, challenge, ouch!). We won’t know how to comprise, we’ll want to be friends but our hurts will challenge that desire.
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Good Morning Maui

Goodness, righteousness, virtuousness and fairness are some of the four-score English words that attempt to describe the Hawaiian essence of pono, whose use in the state motto translates to “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”

 

The Power of Conversation

Local author Cecile Andrews emphasizes importance of community engagement in newest book Cecile Andrews, author of the new book “Living Room Revolution: A Handbook for Conversation, Community and the Common Good,” probably wouldn’t get along too well with Larry David’s character from HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, known for hiding his face and avoiding communication with anyone he runs into on the street. Andrews is a longstanding part-time Santa Cruz (part-time Seattle) resident who says something that’s struck her about this town over the years is people's willingness to participate in a practice she’s dubbed the “Stop and Chat”—which is exactly what it sounds like.

 

Is Edward Snowden a patriot or a traitor?

He's a patriot. Anyone who stands up for the rights that we stand for as a country, that is real democracy. That would be in my book—somebody who is a patriot. Leah WeissSanta Cruz | Therapist

 

Best of Santa Cruz County

The 2013 Santa Cruz County Readers' Poll and Critics’ Picks It’s our biggest issue of the year, and in it, your votes—more than 6,500 of them—determined the winners of The Best of Santa Cruz County Readers’ Poll. New to the long list of local restaurants, shops and other notables that captured your interest: Best Beer Selection, Best Locally Owned Business, Best Customer Service and Best Marijuana Dispensary. In the meantime, many readers were ever so chatty online about potential new categories. Some of the suggestions that stood out: Best Teen Program and Best Web Design/Designer. But what about: Dog Park, Church, Hotel, Local Farm, Therapist (I second that!) or Sports Bar—not to be confused with Bra. Our favorite suggestion: Best Act of Kindness—one reader noted Café Gratitude and the free meals it offered to the Santa Cruz Police Department in the aftermath of recent crimes. Perhaps some of these can be woven into next year’s ballot, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy the following pages and take note of our Critics’ Picks, too, beginning on page 91. A big thanks for voting—and for reading—and an even bigger congratulations to all of the winners. Enjoy.  -Greg Archer, EditorBest of Santa Cruz County Readers’ Poll INDEX | Shops | Food & Drink | Arts & Entertainment | Health & Fitness | Professionals | The Rest |

 

Dancing Creek Winery

At the Pinot Paradise event back in March, I tasted some very good Pinots from the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Dancing Creek Winery’s 2009 Pinot ($27) was one of them. This plummy dark brew, made from grapes grown in Corralitos, has delicious flavors of pomegranate, prosciutto, dried cherries, and mint julep.

 

Paying it Forward

Pianist Benny Green wants jazz’s past to continue to inform its future I can honestly say I’m still learning.” Hearing such an admirable, humble statement from someone like Benny Green—a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and band leader whose 30-plus year career includes performances and recordings with jazz luminaries like Oscar Peterson, Art Blakey and Betty Carter—might be surprising at first. But Green’s insatiable desire to keep learning has served him well. That desire—and his deep love of jazz—is something he wants today’s younger musicians to feel, too.

 

A Very Fine House

Adjacent to the front door, the long, clean wooden bar is surrounded by pumpkin-colored stools. At the entrance to the dining rooms, there is a new low-slung cafe door hung in the wood-covered arch. Where there once was a stage, stocky wooden tables are neatly arranged perpendicularly on a new tile floor, each set with square white plates and burnt orange cloth napkins.

 

Exposed

David Cay Johnston’s new book explains how big companies rob us blind In his late teens David Cay Johnston started to ask questions. “Why do we have these guys in uniforms with guns driving around in cars all day?” “Why is the Santa Cruz County Courthouse being built in such an unusual shape?” He wrote an article, while still living in his hometown of Santa Cruz, proving that the off-kilter courthouse building, which officials had promised would save money, actually cost more than a conventional building.

 

What’s your secret to avoiding the summer swarms?