EDITOR’S LETTER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S Letter

STEPPING INTO THE CRISP SAN FRANCISCO AIR SANS MASK, I am excited. There is a sense of enthusiasm for this new season for the first time in months. With COVID restrictions lifting, fashion is back at the forefront. We want to dress up, meet friends, and shop. So, it’s perfect that this is our fashion issue. While Olivia and I were grounded and unable to attend Fashion Week in New York or Paris, we decided to focus on the local talent.

Steph Keay interviews three local designers who have taken their love of fashion to the next level, creating epic gowns, finely tailored suits, and beautiful wedding dresses made for comfort (page 60).

Laurie Jo Miller Farr takes us on a stroll through the many stylish boutiques on Fillmore Street. The vibrant fashion mecca of Pacific Heights has some fantastic shops that have been dressing wellheeled locals like Heidi Says and Mio for decades. In addition, some newcomers on the block bring a welcomed sense of verve, like Gorjana Jewelry and Veronica Beard (page 16).

We catch up with Lisa Aiken, the fashion and lifestyle director at Neiman Marcus. She shares with us the latest fashion must-haves and this season’s trends. Lisa says that fashion is closely aligned with our shift in perspectives. This season, we embrace excitement for new possibilities and a general sense of optimism for the future (page 72).

One of fashions’ icons, Ungaro, returns with a new designer and a fresh look. We get a sneak peek of Kobi Halperin’s first collection with Ungaro. Carolyne Zinko speaks to Kobi about his life, ethos, and challenges reshaping a brand with a rich history (page 68).

From designer pours to sustainable shoes, Becca Hensley introduces us to Vera Wang’s latest obsession with wine as well as showcasing shoes made from recycled plastic bottles.

Sharon Seto chats with Mica Talmor, chef-owner of Pomella, who shares her recipes for almond baklava, butternut squash, quinoa and Manchego salad, and majadera with lamb kefta— just in time for Easter and Passover.

Spring is a time of rejuvenation and rebirth, and we wanted to capture that energy in this issue. So, we share some top sleep solutions created by luxury hotels worldwide and a few products to make you runaway-ready this season.

As always, we love hearing from you. Feel free to email me at Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com with any comments and suggestions. We have more content online, so visit us at HauteLivingSF.com and sign up to receive our weekly newsletters of upcoming events and featured stories.

Cheers,

TERESA RODRIGUEZ

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Haute Living San Francisco Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com www.HauteLivingSF.com

SAN FRANCISCO’S Contributors

CAROLYNE ZINKO

Carolyne Zinko has long kept her antennae on the high life. She is the former editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Silicon Valley magazine and, before that, was a San Francisco Chronicle reporter for 22 years, writing about everything from crime and court hearings to largerthan-life personalities and philanthropic leaders. She lives in Menlo Park with her husband, Dan Dieguez.

SHARON SETO

A graduate of Golden Gate University and serial entrepreneur, Sharon loves the excitement and creativity of the business world and its people. Her addiction to business ventures began with the acquisition of the El Cid Building, site of the famous SF Jazz Mural. She has served as a board member, fundraiser, and event chair for nonprofit organizations, including the SF Symphony Board of Governors, City College of San Francisco Foundation Board, Red Cross Board, National Colorectal Cancer Alliance Board, SF Ballet, and Dress for Success.

STEPH KEAY

Steph Keay is a Canadian freelance and technical writer currently based in Silicon Valley. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, she spent a summer in Croatia assisting The Yacht Week with events management on the islands of Hvar and Vis. Formerly in PR/marketing, she has also placed stories for a variety of clients—including tech leaders, international artists, and acclaimed actors and musicians—with ABC, FOX, NBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, American Way, and others. In her spare time, she enjoys adventuring, photography, and travel— all of which she documents on on her website, StephKeay.com.

LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

Laurie is a US/UK dual citizen and dedicated urbanite who loves walkable cities. As a San Francisco-based travel writer, she enjoys views from its crazy, signature hills following half-a-lifetime promoting her two hometowns—a couple of oh-so-flat places: New York City and London. Laurie’s byline is found in USA Today, CBS, Where Traveler, Haute Living, Epicure, Fast Company, Napa Valley Life Magazine, Food & Travel Magazine, Eater, Google Touring Bird, and other major media titles. She was awarded Yahoo Contributor of the Year and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

ERIN HUNT MOORE

A connector, storyteller, mission-driven communicator, and mom, Erin

Hunt Moore lives with her family in beautiful Sonoma wine country.

A seasoned public relations and marketing consultant for over two decades, Erin has worked her PR magic for brands and companies on both U.S. coasts and in Germany, where she studied international relations and languages. A veteran of the food and beverage world, she now focuses her energies on supporting women entrepreneurs and thought leaders, companies, and brands leading with a strong social impact ethos and non-profit organizations pioneering change in the world.

BECCA HENSLEY

A bon vivant journalist who believes travel is the ultimate celebration of life awash with lessons waiting to be learned, widely-published, Texas-based Becca Hensley is travel editor for New Orleans Bride and editor-at-large for Insider’s Guide to Spas. In a career spanning three decades, she has contributed to scores of magazines and newspapers, including Architectural Digest, Elite Traveler, Global Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @beccahensley.

FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

Fran Endicott Miller is a luxury-focused freelance feature writer for a variety of lifestyle publications and websites, editor-at-large for JustLuxe.com, and California editor for luxury travel concierge service Essentialist. Prior, she held positions in the fields of politics, television, and professional sports. She is proud to have established the Golden State Warriors’ first community relations department and programs. When not traveling, she can be found walking her Northern California neighborhood with her beloved golden retrievers, Reggie and Nate.

JENNIFER BODEN

Jennifer is a freelance wine, food, and travel writer based in beautiful Sonoma County and has an extensive career in journalism. She contributes to KRON 4 News San Francisco, ABC 10News San Diego, and others. Prior to her writing career, she worked for several network affiliates as a news anchor and executive producer. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University’s prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.