"My love waits there in San Francisco, above the blue and windy sea"

Normally Pam and I go to Las Vegas in July to attend the WSA (World Shoe Association) trade show. Yes, it is that time to buy for spring/summer 2010. We decided to mix it up this year and headed down to the City by the Bay to attend the Tru Show. I was super excited because personally, I loathe Vegas and absolutely love, love, love San Francisco. The style, the flavor, the weather, it has it all.

The Tru Show is a smaller trade show, but still packed full of fashion. It is held at the Embassy Suites in South San Francisco. The fog and wind reminded us of the old adage, "The coldest winter I spent was a summer in San Francisco." And despite the mythology of this quote belonging to Mark Twain, I discovered through snopes.com that it is not. Hats off to the witty person who thought of this line as it is widely used and often quoted... because it is TRUE! Brrrrrr! We left sweltering weather behind in Portland and bundled up in the South Bay. So I guess this isn't the neighborhood for sunny California weather. Oh well, it was nice to escape the heat wave for a moment.

We spent two full days walking in circles and going up and down elevators. Floor to floor, we were able to meet with many of our tried and true brands, as well as find some new lovely lines to debut in spring/summer 2010. Highlights include amazing shoes from Corso Como, timeless pretties from The Frye Company, affordable fashion items from Chocolat Blu, groovy pieces of footwear art from Antelope, and adorable and funky styles from Gee WaWa. Trends are based on reinterpretations of looks you have seen before: flat gladiator sandals, high vamps on the upper, ankle treatments, vintage inspired heels, platform wedges, and tons of white! Bone, ivory, sand, ecru... whatever you call it, nudes and tones of white are huge for spring 2010. But never fear my loyal lasses, Imelda's will never abandon color! We bought lots of yellow, orange, blue, and purples.

We hung around for one extra day to do some shopping (a girl has to take care of herself sometimes). We love San Francisco's style, so we did a little shopping on upper Haight Street as well as in Union Square. Haight Street has stayed true to its hippie roots, but it is also a great destination for boutique shopping (love my new tunic from Ambiance) and an even better destination for people watching! You get it all up there: tourists in their awful white "walking" sneakers (ditch these people, I am begging), hipsters in their neon 80's off the shoulder sweaters and tight skinny leg jeans, to aging hippies in their old Grateful Dead tie-dye shirts and cycling pants. After sipping on a tasty soy latte at Coffee To The People, I spied this hanging from someone's apartment... this defines the funky spirit of modern Haight Street to me!

Ooo-la-la! Nice gams!

Before heading back to lovely Portland, we had lunch in Union Square. From low-end fashion purveyors (H & M) to high-end luxury (BCBG Max Azria), the 80's are back in a big way. Being someone who came of age in the 80's, I find it to be just a little too much. No on the tiered mini-skirts with elastic waistbands. No on the loose top tunics that just make you look bloated (or worse, pregnant when you are not). No on the Robert Palmer girl dresses (*shiver*). And no, no, NO on shoulder pads. We decided that we are true Haighties (not the street....think hate and eighties) and are going to sit this season out. Thank god for wonderful accessories that will turn any old outfit into a new, brilliant look. Time to stock up on some new boots!