Sophisticated with a dash of swagger, these San Francisco trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
Betty Yu photographed at 181 Fremont, 181fremont.com
BETTY YU
The Bay Area native and CBS News reporter's fashion sensibilities turn heads on and off the air.
If it seems like Betty Yu is everywhere, that’s because she usually is. The reporter for CBS Bay Area (cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco) emcees galas and marquee events and is involved with numerous SF charities and organizations, including the Golden State Warriors, the James Beard Foundation and The Asian American Foundation. “I love that every day is fast-paced and unpredictable,” says the UC Berkeley grad. “I have the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life and sharing their stories to help educate, inspire or create a positive impact. I love San Francisco because it’s a big city but a small community. My family and friends are here. The food scene is incredible, and the cultural institutions are world-class.”
Fendi brown leather Peekaboo ISeeU medium handbag, fendi.com
WAKE-UP TIME: Noon
DOPPELGANGER: Too many people respond to “Hey Yu!"
ESCAPE: Fitness
FAVORITE BRANDS: Bronx & Banco (bronxandbanco.com), David Koma (davidkoma.com), Area (area.nyc), Cult Gaia (cultgaia.com)
WEAKNESS: French fries
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: Glam, fun, bold
Nike Air Jordan women’s pink soft leather shoe, nike.com
UNIFORM: Mini dresses, heels, crop tops, Jordans (not all at once)
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: Microscopic purses
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: Vacation
GO-TO BOUTIQUE: Mytheresa (mytheresa.com)
WORKOUT: Barry's Bootcamp (barrys.com), LagreeFit415 (lagreefit415.com)
MOVIE: Barbie
Bottega Veneta bustier leather midi dress, Mytheresa SF, bottegaveneta.com, mytheresa.com
MENTOR: Mom
STYLE ICON: Leonie Hanne, J. Lo, Zendaya
SHOES: Rene Caovilla (renecaovilla.com), Mach & Mach (@machandmach)
LIPSTICK: Charlotte Tilbury (charlottetilbury.com) Pillow Talk
BEST FASHION ADVICE: If it doesn't sparkle or flounce, leave it at home!
PHILANTHROPY: The Asian American Foundation (taaf.org)
MANTRA: Work, werk and work out
CURRENT STYLE OBSESSION: Feathers
Rene Caovilla Margot heels, renecaovilla.com
APP: Hoping to get into Threads
COCKTAIL: Sauv blanc or Sancerre
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: La Mer (cremedelamer.com) Renewal Oil
BEDTIME: 2 a.m. or later
BEDSIDE READING: Who has time?
THEME SONG: “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels" by Todrick Hall
BAG: Chanel (chanel.com) Minis, Fendi (fendi.com) Nano Baguette
SIGNATURE SCENT: Byredo (byredo.com) Suede
Navid Armstrong photographed at 181 Fremont
NAVID ARMSTRONG
The SF socialite works tirelessly for various philanthropies and community organizations—and always brings her fashion power game.
Meeting Navid Armstrong is like encountering a thunderclap of happiness. She’s a wonder; few cheerleaders are as crucial to the Bay Area as this stylish woman. She’s on the committee for San Francisco Symphony (sfsymphony.org), ODC (odc.dance) and supports organizations like the SF Ballet (sfballet.org), SF Opera (sfopera.com) and the Fine Arts Museums (famsf.org). “I consider it a privilege to support the arts,” she says. “Now more than ever, we need beauty in our lives. We need to hear it and see it—and we need it to touch our minds and awaken our souls. We need it to make our hearts sing.”
Armstrong favors bright hues.
WAKE-UP TIME: 8 a.m.
DOPPELGANGER: In my dreams, my mom
ESCAPE: Reading, writing and traveling
FAVORITE BRANDS: Dolce & Gabbana (dolcegabbana.com), Gucci (gucci.com) and Chanel (chanel.com)
WEAKNESS: Books, jewels and shoes!
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: Timeless, colorful and exciting
Gucci Bauletto leather-trimmed crystal shoes, gucci.com
STYLE UNIFORM: Dress and heels
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: My grandmother's brooch
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: Books
GO-TO BOUTIQUE: My closet. I have a collector's mindset. I love Harrods (horrods.com).
WORKOUT: Weight training and tae kwon do
MOVIES: Shawshank Redemption and Cinema Paradiso
MENTOR: My mother
Armstrong’s sytle icon is Audrey Hepburn.
STYLE ICON: Audrey Hepburn
SHOES: Stilettos
LIPSTICK: Charlotte Tilbury (charlottetilbury.com) Pillow Talk
BEST FASHION ADVICE: Be authentic
PHILANTHROPY: California Symphony (californiasymphony.org)
MANTRA: “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are an ocean in a drop." (Rumi)
CURRENT STYLE OBSESSION: Vibrant hues, future dusk
Gucci sunglasses, gucci.com
APP: Google
COCKTAIL: Negroni
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: Advanced Night Repair serum from Estee Lauder (esteelauder.com)
BEDTIME: After midnight
BEDSIDE READING: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
THEME SONG: “That's Life" by Frank Sinatra
FAVORITE BAG: Birkin by Hermes (hermes.com)
SIGNATURE SCENT: The original Romeo Gigli (romeogigli.it)
Rachel Skelly photographed at the Cast boutique
RACHEL SKELLY
The co-founder of Cast Jewelry continues to wow Bay Area locals and celebrities with the brand's colorful pieces.
Scan the room at a Bay Area (or Hollywood) party, and chances are Cast Jewelry (castjewelry.com) will make a cameo. The mind behind the brand’s colorful and creative designs, co-founder Rachel Skelly, says her favorite part of the gig is “creating something new every day in collaboration with the most amazing people.” Cast, which opened its first boutique in The Village at Corte Madera last year, will open two other locations in the Bay Area soon. “As a kid, I loved Cyndi Lauper. She was wild, colorful and bombastic—her genuine sense of self was inspiring to little 9-year-old me,” she says. “I was nowhere near as cool, but I loved to pile on the jelly bracelets, charm necklaces and sport a side pony while lip-syncing to my favorite songs. I still adore her and often listen on repeat.”
Bryr Maya fennel block clog, bryrstudio.com
WAKE-UP TIME: 6 a.m.
DOPPELGANGER: Joy from Inside Out
ESCAPE: Tahoe
FAVORITE BRAND: I don't play favorites, but I'm digging A.L.C. (alcltd.com) right now
WEAKNESS: Wine and cheese
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: Easy chic
UNIFORM: Lately, it's been jumpsuits.
Peloton yoga classes, onepeloton.com
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: My Flip ring
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: Jewelry or shoes
GO-TO BOUTIQUE: I miss shopping.
WORKOUT: Peloton yoga
MOVIE: Sing 2—and I cry every time.
Cast flip ring, castjewelery.com
MENTOR: My late grandma, Betty—a fiery Icelander whose spirit inspires me daily.
STYLE ICON: Diane Keaton
SHOES: Bryr (bryrstudio.com) clogs
LIPSTICK: Charlotte Tilbury (charlottetilbury.com) Pillow Talk
Skelly’s style icon is Diane Keaton.
BEST FASHION ADVICE: Wear what makes you feel the most you.
PHILANTHROPY: Homeless Prenatal Program (homelessprenatal.org) andGLIDE (glide.org)
MANTRA: Open heart, curious mind
CURRENT STYLE OBSESSION: Wide-leg jeans and a short tee
APP: Calm (calm.com)
COCKTAIL: Anything with tequila and lime
Cast Iced Icon wristlet, castjewelry.com
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: Tatcha (tatcha.com) rice polish
BEDTIME: 10:30 p.m.
BEDSIDE READING: Mystery thrillers
THEME SONG: “Lovely Day" by Bill Withers
BAG: Shilshol (shilshol.com) tote or anything cute that can hold snacks and diapers
SIGNATURE SCENT: Aesop (aesop.com) Hwyl
Danielle St. Germain
DANIELLE ST. GERMAIN
The new chief philanthropy officer of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is a power broker in the city's creative community.
Danielle St. Germain is the insider’s insider in the nonprofit arts community. The new chief philanthropy office at FAMSF (famsf.org) was most recently the executive director of the San Francisco Ballet. During her 25 years of management, St. Germain has led fundraising teams at DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, the American Association of Museums and Arena Stage, and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Another sure thing: St. Germain’s fashion ensemble always turns heads during the gala season.
St. Germain admits her weakness is a selection of flowers from a farmers’ market.
WAKE-UP TIME: 5:30 a.m.
DOPPELGANGER: Celine Dion
ESCAPE: Casa Kimberly (casakimberly.com), Puerto Vallarta
FAVORITE BRAND: Zimmermann (zimmermann.com)
WEAKNESS: Farmers' market flowers
FASHION AESTHETIC: Maximalism
Etro paisley midi dress, etro.com
UNIFORM: High heels or flip flops (nothing in between)
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: Engagement ring
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: Time and skincare products
GO-TO BOUTIQUE: Is this where I can say that I wish SF-based designer Jad Racha (jadracha.com) had a boutique?
WORKOUT: Concept 2 rowing machine at home
MENTOR: Michael Kahn, artistic director at Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC, where I started all those years ago.
Rene Caovilla Cleo heels, renecaovilla.com
STYLE ICON: My 21-year-old daughter, Sophia
SHOES: Stuart Weitzman (stuartweitzman.com). I have big feet, and the brand makes size 12!
LIPSTICK: Dior (dior.com) shade 434 Promenade Satin
BEST FASHION ADVICE: I'm from Boston, but I have learned you can wear white after Labor Day!
PHILANTHROPY: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (famsf.org)
MANTRA: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." -Mae West
Zimmermann High Tide halter dress, zimmermann.com
CURRENT OBSESSION: These days, anything orange APP: GoSkyWatch (gosoftworks.com)
COCKTAIL: Hendricks (hendricksgin.com) and tonic
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: Sunscreen
BEDTIME: 8:30 p.m., unless I have an event
BEDSIDE READING: Fairyland by Alysia Abbott
BAG: Stella McCartney (stellamccartney.com)
SIGNATURE SCENT: Tom Ford F *** ing Fabulous (tomford.com)
