Janelle Monáe, the Grammy nominated singer has been on our style radar for awhile now. The Bad Boy/Wondaland Arts Society artist comes to us via Kansas, New York City, Atlanta, and now she is in the land of Metropolis (year 2719) championing the neo-rockabilly look with an unforgettable mega pompadour. Although she regards her style as “Just Monae,” “minimalist and classic,” her tailored signature style compliments her avant garde R&B sound beautifully. There has definitely been a revival of the rockabilly (1950’s Americana) look on the runways. Sonia Rykiel and Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony both showed Fall 09 collections paired with creepers shoes, a rockabilly staple. I’m into the androgyny of this look. Monae makes it her own with the grandiose pompadour and feminine details, like bow ties and mod-style earrings.
Star on the rise - Androgyny meets Preppy Classic
Check out this interview where she talks about her “big brothers in the industry” Big Boi and Andre 3000, challenging creativity, inspirations, and her life long commitment to art.
Style Hunter
Shop the Retro look!
- Marc Jacobs Knitted Wool Cape available at mytheresa.com
- Stella McCartney Knitted Paillette Pants also available at mytheresa.com
- Lahaie black and white flats over at Aldo Shoes
- Super matte black basic wayfarers available over at OAK NYC - Tuxedo pants by MCQ can be found at theoutnet.com - Jeffrey Campbell’s Winkle Studded Creepers in Blue Suede at one of my favorite sites Nastygal.com
- Splice Neck Tie by Cheap Monday at Karmaloop.com
- Ribbon-trim textured-stripe shirt from The Gap
If I could grow my hair, this is what it would look like
Women Making History: Lien & Lindsay of C.C. Rider
The “C.C.” in Lien Gray & Lindsay Pfeiffer’s C.C. Rider doesn’t stand for ‘carefully curated’ but we’re wondering if it should because that’s the first thought that comes to mind when stepping in to the San Francisco store.
The second thought (or maybe it’s the other way around)? A drawn-out “Duuuude. Aweeeesome!” even if you’ve never said a ‘dude’ in your life.
So what is a “C.C. Rider,” you ask, besides an independent San Francisco skate/thrash/rock oriented collective and store that carries products made by small time artists and designers and the main hustle of this week’s Women Making History features?
Well, a “SEE SEE RIDER”, also known as “C.C. RIDER” or “SEE SEE RIDER BLUES” or “EASY RIDER” is a popular American 12-bar blues song. It was first recorded, and copyrighted, by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey in 1924, and since then has been recorded by hundreds of amazing artists throughout the last few decades.
Check out a rockin’ version from 1966 below!
So, besides the name of the store, what does this have to do with C.C. Rider owner Lien & partner, Lindsay?
It’s the vibe, baby! There’s a certain feel to the song and the rider the lyrics talk about and these ladies have done a eerily-awesome job at translating it into the essence of the store.
C.C. Rider: Threds, Art, Gifts, Jams
Lien & Lindsay break it all down below:
First off, I’d like to note that CC RIDER SF has just moved. The new location is on the same street a few blocks away from where we originally existed. This decision was made because the new location surrounds other independent shops that cater to similar clientele. We’ve sandwiched ourselves in between Bar 821, Mini Bar, and Everlasting Tattoo and have taken over our good friends from Still Life’s old location. The new CC Rider SF is on Divisadero Street between Fulton & McAllister in San Francisco.
HOW WE GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS:
An everlasting obsession with art, design, rock and roll, attitude, individuality, and community…
THE C.C. RIDER BACKSTORY:
I wasn’t able to find things out there that appealed to my tastes for classic craftsmanship and rock and roll. Many stores that have a similar aesthetic were either way out of my price range, kind of cheesy, or manufactured cheaply. I wanted to provide well made products with a sense of refinement yet affordable, laid back, and edgy. CC RIDER SF was born after tracking down individuals and artists who share a passion for these same sort of values and wanted to participate in the creation of an affordable lifestyle collection. Now CC Rider SF has become a collective team encompassing the values of humor, timeless youth, with a laid back attitude towards fashion and style.
OUR PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS:
I went to school for fashion design and worked for several years buying, managing, and traveling for various independent clothing companies before deciding to make the break and start something from scratch. I wanted something that danced to the beat of my own drum and something I could really pour my heart and soul into.
My father is a retired hippie and graphic designer and his father was an American painter. I learned to understand the importance of uniqueness and quality in product design and was influenced by their attention to detail.
I was drawn by the San Francisco punk scene at a young age. My youth was riddled with rebellion and question. I spent countless nights at shows & gatherings, bouncing ideas about living a lifestyle which didn’t advocate large corporate business and generic product. There was a lot of emphasis on DIY business and self contained micro communities. Customization of style and handmade clothing were abundant and found this to be incredibly inspirational. The music scene, which was also closely connected with the SF skate scene, was a melting pot of characters who shared my enthusiasm for rock and roll and rebelliousness. I met a lot of interesting people during that period in my life.
THE PATH WE TOOK THAT LED US HERE:
The Highway to Hell and the Stairway to Heaven.
A look inside C.C. Rider, San Francisco, CA, USA.
THE VIBE & INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE STORE:
CC Rider SF is a cozy little hole-in-the wall packed full of wonderful things new and old. The inside of the store is a friendly environment where music, art, and counter culture enthusiasts convene to clothe, swaddle, and immerse themselves in treasures. The shop pays homage to the 60’s by showcasing locally hand crafted and hard to find items. Everything is attainable at realistic prices, making it easy to incorporate style into a skim budget. The store has a laid back and entertaining feel, it shows positivity and encouragement for the SF art and music scenes, and is top to bottom rockin! PMA all day!
WHAT WE HAVE IN THE STORE/WHAT WE CARRY:
Vintage rocker shirts, denim, sneakers, skate mags, a select collection of collectible skateboards, beer coozies, locally handcrafted belts and leather goods, T-shirts, outerwear, rare vintage eyewear, flannels, posters, photographs, skate and art videos, photobooks, trash novels, zines, badges, buttons, converse, vintage clothing, deadstock items, handcrafted jewelry, charms.
Cheap monday, Kill city, Look fromLondon, Keep shoes, Altru apparel, Thrasher T’s, Vans, Blood Wizard, Rebel 8, Lowcard, Vintage Casio, Rare Eyewear, Vintage Pendleton, Maximum rockn’roll, Worn Free, Featherwitch, Bandit Brand, The Driven by Jason Jessee, Rock n roll workshop, Rayban, Maui Jim, Vuarnet and tons more..
OUR CUSTOMERS – beautiful losers, rockers, skateboarders, fashion and music enthusiasts, artists, and everyone with a liking towards unusual but super sweet finds.
ONLINE SHOPPERS- we’re about to unveil the new online shop and website we’ve been working on for what feels like decades. Stay tuned!
FABULOUS THINGS FROM OUR STORE THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT:
Rare Vintage designer sunglasses ($45-175), a stone washed bandit brand t-shirt ($35-40) , and a 24k gold dipped chicken foot charm ($25) – (its voodoo luck babe).
Now, the ladies each break it down to what’s really important (turn ons & turn offs, yeeeeaaaah!) via the M.I.S.S. survey!
Lien of C.C. Rider
Lindsay of C.C. Rider
THE FOLLOWING IS A COLLABORATION OF ANSWERS FROM BOTH LIEN GRAY and LINDSAY PFFEIFER OF C.C. RIDER SF:
M.I.S.S.: What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?
LIEN GRAY: JOAN JETT, LOT LIZARDS, OPRAH,
LINDSAY PFFEIFER: Malia Spanyol of Pop’s, Thee Parkside, and Red Rat Industries. She seriously kicks ass.
Inspiration for the C.C. Rider...
M.I.S.S.:How did you get your start?
LINDSAY PFEIFER: Asked Lien, she birthed CC.
LIEN GRAY: I haven’t “birthed” anything….more like REGURGITATED…THE CREATIVE SIDE OF MY BRAIN!… into this little treasure trove where you can kind of creep inside my mind and purchase little pieces of all the things that swirl around in it…. with a dazzle of Lindsay and Brette’s (another co conspirator) minds sprinkled on top. We’re basically treasure hunting for cool beautiful wearable things and thought provoking goods.
All these projects started with obsessions over nostalgia and love for unique and thought provoking design. San Francisco bay is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the states and the years ive lived here have cultivated my appreciation for style and lay a groundwork for my enthusiasm for travel and craftsmanship. I tend to lean towards local products or items that evoke understanding or conversation of historical and cultural movements of the area. The culmination of all those things paved the way for the way for the inspiration used to create something that I could immerse myself and friends into and support ourselves to live while doing so…
The walls of a young C.C. Rider's bedroom would be covered with this stuff!
A young C.C. Rider's high school locker would have this inside!
M.I.S.S.: What’s your favorite thing about what you do?
LIEN GRAY: Digging through massive hot sweaty time warp towns for buried treasures and driving my car fast to get there. Then being able to bring smile after smile on people faces when they are so stoked to see and purchase these hand picked items.
LINDSAY PFFEIFER: Supporting my friends and hanging out on Divisadero Street.
M.I.S.S.: What is your goal for the store?
LIEN GRAY: To create a community center where you know you’re always gonna find something rad.. to buy, to wear, to read, to listen to, to go out and do… we’re inspired by inspiring others to get into their own rhythms and live rad and creative lives.
LINDSAY PFFEIFER: To make the shop into a one stop destination for anything you’d ever need in life… that’s awesome.
C.C. Rider girls.
Gear for the C.C. Rider...always stocked!
A C.C. Rider can be a guy or a girl!
M.I.S.S.:What part of your work process is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?
LIEN GRAY: Not having enough time to accomplish everything I want to do…. You really have to love this sort of thing.. cause its long hours for mediocre pay.. but the happiness of being surrounded by people and stuff you love everyday is PRICELESS, man, PRICELESS! Shop Local! Support the little guys.. they’re totally working hard for it these days.
LINDSAY PFEIFFER: Not having enough money to hire some help around here! We’re looking for interns San Francisco!
C.C. Rider rocks the jewelry!
C.C. Rider does art. Most of their ads are hand drawn and they sell some awesome posters and magazines.
M.I.S.S.: Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career path similar to yours?
LINDSAY PFEIFFER: BEWARE OF LURKERS!
LIEN GRAY: haha.. yeah.. being able to read situations well and not get ripped off or taken advantage of is key! Be confident in yourself but be real…treat people with respect and concentrate on making this world a more enjoyable to hang out in… Concentrate on the quality and value of your product and what it means to your customers…Support other local businesses around you and never give up. TRUST THAT KILLER INSTINCT!
So if you ever find yourself in San Francisco—first, make sure you wear a flower in your hair—stop by and say hello to the ladies of C.C. Rider and buy yourself a thing or two from the store!
FLAGSHIP RETAIL STORE LOCATION:
C.C. RIDER SF
835 DIVISADERO ST
SAN FRANCISO, CA 94117
415-418-4265 (shop manager)
415-596-2182 (buyer)
415-441-4484 (shop)
Eyes To The Sky: Trend Spotting. Trade Show Round-Up.
Our time in Las Vegas was brief but busy!! In two days we covered Pool, S.L.A.T.E. at Magic, Capsule and Project. We saw many brands and took note of tons of trends both current and future.
The Crop is HOT: The crop top and jacket has been showing off the past few seasons but was in FULL FORCE this time around. Many brands offered there basic “t-shirts” or tanks on cropped versions and with t-shirt hems rising so are jackets. With the hi-waist trend we’ve been working with in recent years it only makes sense that our tops would get shorter. *please note I was properly displaying this trend with my Cheap Monday t-shirt worn with hi-waist vintage Z.Cavaricci’s on day one of trade show madness
Eyes To The Sky: The Crop is HOT, cropped sleeves hoody and hi-waisted harem pants from Rojas for SS10.
Floral Fantasy: Floral prints are still going strong from tops to bottoms to kicks to sh!t kickers. Don’t think that flowers are just for girly girls and don’t get it twisted, these prints are powerful but not all “flower power”. Get into it and make Blossom proud.
Eyes To The Sky: Floral Fantasy, UNIF marries the crop and the floral print, two trends for the price of one.
Heritage Brands: Brands with a long history, the brands our mom and dad used to wear, the brands you wore as a kid, show they have staying power in the world of fashion.
Eyes To The Sky: Heritage Brands, Keds is still killing it and this time with Opening Ceremony.
We also noticed some of the usual suspects: more pyramid studs, more motorcycle jackets, more exposed zippers, chiffon fabrics and sheer fabrications are showing up and as to be expected black is still holding reign supreme.
A most refreshing trends was back to basics in the footwear world. Thanks to the likes of companies like Nike, who have helped to kill the sneaker game by over saturating the market, we can rest easy in simple canvas sneakers. Brands like 80%20, Keds, Bensimon, Tretorn and Keep offer up budget friendly and style savvy offerings that are a breath of fresh air in the frooty loopy sneaker market these days. Keeping it real simple is a key trend that we’re happy to see!
There’s a new shop in town, the town of San Francisco that is. C.C. Rider has set up shop and has all sorts of West Side fashion staples for the ladies and the gents…vintage, Van’s, Cheap Monday, skinny jeans, all the accessories to polish off your look…there is a ton of stuff packed in this tiny shop. Only proving that old say “big things come in small packages” to be TRUE! Located at 260 Divisadero near Haight St. you should pop on in and say hey! See more shop picts and some of my come ups after the jump!
