City Style: Last Week In San Francisco

“Are you a New Yorker?” “No… I’m a City Girl.”

Hey San Francisco – I think it’s time we all started getting dressed again. Every time I leave the house I see it: small glimpses of the style city that San Francisco formerly was, slowly returning to us now in a full circle cycle. With Covid restrictions steadily lifting citywide plus event invites rapidly popping up and pouring in, I hit the pavement to see what street style I could find around town. If you look close enough, uniquely adorned San Franciscans pepper the sidewalks, shops, restaurants, shows, exhibits, etc 24/7 and I am determined to find, spot, and photograph them all for BrokeAssStuart.com.

Ironically, actual city style is often described by the tone and style of the neighborhoods themselves as opposed to the aesthetic of the folks who reside in them. But if you read Broke-Ass Stuart on a regular basis, you are most likely in agreement that San Francisco “City Style” is less about expensive labels and flashy logos, and more about the individual creatives who craft their personifications of omnific and innovatory personalities in tangible ways; and in this case, tangible means wearable. From a vintage bag wielding birthday girl, to gauche Y2K at a yoga studio, to chic men’s wear late night in a taqueria, let’s take a look the stylish San Franciscans I found out and about last week:

The San Francisco International Film Festival made it’s glorious return at the Roxie Theater this month and I headed out on a Wednesday night to catch the animated short Love Letter Templates by local filmmaker Joselito Sering.


Selfie time at the Roxie Theater

Originally shot 15 years ago then transformed into animation using a computer graphics program, Love Letters was a project that your author originally helped to cast, produce, and played a bit part in while attending college downtown at FiDM. Named “Best Animated Short Film” at the LA International Film Festival just the week previous, the film played to a packed house that was sold out upon arrival to a very good looking crowd.


The filmmaker, Joselito Sering outside Delirium, & stylish friend of the filmmaker, who chose to remain, erm, anonymous – in Levi’s & Nike


Delirium, the infamous corner bar where the pre party was held houses a “world class” graffiti bathroom, packed with wall to wall tags from locals and traveling artists and a destination for both street art aficionados and epic punk rock bathroom lovers alike. Tuning into the 2000’s feel of the film, the bar staff crafted a special drink menu for the occasion, with the featured beverage being a very Cosmopolitan-like hot pink boozy confection served in a martini glass, rimmed with sparkly sugar a’la Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. Too pretty (and sweet) to drink? Possibly. But the perfect “accessory” to round out the event? Absolutely. Much like fashion, it’s the little touches that make things both unique and complete, they’re a delight to notice in passing.


The author, capturing Delirium’s infamous graffiti bathroom

The following sunny Saturday led me to my first event with the BrokeAssStuart.com staff as I cruised with the top down to South Park for the annual Broke-Ass Stuart Cornhole Tournament at 21st Amendment Brewery during San Francisco Beer Week. I encountered a full house upon arrival with the back courtyard area packed full of a surprisingly well-heeled and diverse crowd of competitive teams of 2 plus their supporters, all enjoying the sunshine and outdoor beer tent.


Broke-Ass Stuart SF Beer Week Cornhole Tournament cuties enjoying their day wearing very au currant shades of pastel

My look of the week goes to 20 something fashionista, Jasmine, whose sleek faux leather skinny jeans complemented her twist front crop top and chic houndstooth blazer. On her shoulder was what looked an awful lot like a quilted YSL Loulou bag; I didn’t peek to see if there was an actual logo or not but it doesn’t matter because it’s all about how you put it together – the swagger in how you wear it. Jasmine was city swag personified that day – the kind of girl everyone wants to meet when they come to visit town.


City girl Jasmine is the City Style Look Of The Week

Spotted near the beer tent was a group of stylish birthday revelers, an impressive gaggle of what I assumed to be women in tech celebrating the 28th birthday of the adorable Sam, whose vintage, late 90’s Kate Spade bag immediately caught my eye. The rare boxy bag with it’s iconic cloth label sewn onto the outside front facing of the top handle piece was a cult accessory must have from about 1999 – mid 00’s; something you rarely see if ever at all, and even less being carried on the street. Kicking myself for not asking if it had belonged to her mother, aunt, boss, etc, I tend to ask for the story behind such special pieces. Too enamored by her long sleeved ocean blue poplin birthday dress, daffodil yellow block heels and sparkling personality I completely forgot to ask. Sam gets my Honorable Mention this week – her chic sense of ease is the sort of aesthetic that takes years to master, and thankfully I was there to photograph it!

Birthday girl Sam added a pink cowboy “Happy Birthday” hat to keep her outfit festive

Onto the next event, an outdoor fete in the Mission at Asta Yoga, celebrating the owner and their birthday. A true Who’s Who of the young Queer SF social scene, the party was held at the gorgeous studio’s outdoor wooden deck, completely encased by 12-13’ bamboo plants, transforming the inner city space into an outdoor paradise. With funky music, an opulent spread of food, and a shotgun Boylesque performance (which included fake blood – where did that even come from?!) that surprised us all – the party’s theme was “Sleaze” and my fly on the wall POV of the occasion left me wondering if the other party goers assumed my street clothes were a costume because in San Francisco, you honestly never know.


The soon to be Mrs. Broke-Ass Stuart, Kayla, and a Y2K bae serving looks at the Asta Yoga bash. West Coast Managing Editor “Tom Selleck”  aka Alex Mak and a faux fur adorned Editor In Chief Broke Ass Stuart keepin’ it sleazy at the event.

And finally, mid-week in San Francisco often means live music which took me to both SoMa and back to the Mission, this time in Bernal Heights. First, I headed to Complex on Stevenson alley to check out a show by local singer songwriters Melody Renae and Grace Saadeh of Grace Picks Up Pennies. The show was live-streamed inside the unique venue, which sort of has that ultimate adult treehouse vibe, perched high atop a commercial space south of Market and studded with cool antique furniture and retro collectible items, not to mention covered wall to wall with the proprietor’s cloth pendant collection – thousands of them.

Walking inside is a visual feast – a sort of Homme Wonderland that any 15 year old guitar loving kid would consider their dream space. It reminded me very much of my days at KOFY TV and the bizarro sets we’d construct for Kreepy KOFY Movie Time and Circus of Chaos where anything would go, as long as it was cool or weird. I enjoyed the gratis fruit snacks as I watched the two songstresses perform their original tunes, and Grace brought the 2000’s back with perfectly fit vintage plaid flares, shiny Doc Martens, and a long grandpa cardigan straight from the closet of Kurt Cobain.
Grace Saadeh of Grace Picks Up Pennies at Complex SF

Never one to pass up a solid outfit opportunity, on one of the following evenings I threw on a gender bending combo of Ben Sherman zippered bondage pants, a camouflage bomber jacket with white faux fur trim, swapped out the wide nylon for a long chain shoulder strap on my Prada ReEdition bag and ended up at The Knockout to check out Neckscars, a melodic punk rock band from New York on Berkeley based label Sell The Heart Records.

The setlist from last week’s Neckscars show at The Knockout

A typical combination of band shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, and button-up flannels ruled the roost inside the bar – but – when I stopped by El Farralito to pick up my obligatory chile relleno burrito I spotted Christopher looking fabulous in a pair of cropped trousers with wide pinstripes, slouchy velour lapelled cardigan in the most lovely shade of olive, cream Jack Purcell high tops, and a plain white tee. Not wanting to exclude his friends, we opted for a photo of him “in the wild” and method acting while enjoying his food. A sparse night for fashion up until then, Christopher’s outfit was the only thing better than the epic cheese pull I got from my Chile Relleno – and from me, that’s saying something folks.


Christopher chowing down in style at El Farolito in the Mission

Want to be featured in the BrokeAssStuart.com City Style section for your chance at being Look Of The Week? Then check the BAS events page because you’ll never know where I’ll turn up next. And if you look great, I will find you.

A visit to El Faralito in the city after hours will always be in style

Rose Eden is a punk rock grown-up fashion vlogger, style writer, content creator, and PR firm Creative Director residing in San Francisco. You can send her style and fashion questions and also follow her at @LionheartedPR and her style vlog at @RoseEdenintheCity.