Spotlight on Style: Christine Suppes

Christine Suppes, Four Seasons, photographed by Frederic Aranda

Some people collect Ferraris, Christine Suppes collects haute couture. In fact, her couture collection is featured in a book scheduled for release in May 2015 entitled Electric Fashion co-written by Frederic Aranda of London, foreword by Ken Downing. On May 27, Downing will host an invitation-only event at Neiman Marcus, San Francisco, to celebrate the book launch.

Suppes was one of the first fashion reporters on the World Wide Web, among the first journalists from California accredited with the Federation Francais de la Couture, and she started the first Internet based editorial network, Fashionlines, online from 1999 – 2007. Suppes is a Friend of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, member of SFMOMA’s Modern Art Council and a supporter of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Before Fashionlines, Suppes wardrobe was filled with Geoffrey Beene and Yves Saint Laurent. Once she began covering Chanel fashion shows in Paris she was hooked on couture. In addition to Chanel, her current favorites include Rodarte and on aura tout vu, based on their historical importance and long-term value.

Suppes shares her fashion don’ts when it comes to wearing couture:

  • Don’t be too thin
  • Don’t wear hair extensions
  • Don’t wear fake nails
  • Don’t get too much plastic surgery

She explained, “The couture look is a natural one; I recommend looking sensational and fashionable by investing in and wearing four items well: a dress with a low-cut decolletage, a form-fitting dress, a mini-dress and a diaphanous dress.” Suppes also said she has a weakness for lace. When asked what she would wear if she were 20, Suppes said: sculpted, crazy high heels, everything else I wear. For makeup and hair in the Bay Area, Suppes recommends Alex Chases Salon in Menlo Park.

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More local women whose style we admire (in alphabetical order): Joy BianchiLindsay BoltonBarbara BrownKaren CaldwellPaula CaranoCarolyn ChandlerDr. Carolyn ChangJuliet de BaubignySamantha DuVallVanessa GettyAngelique GrieppHasti KashfiaStephanie MarverSonya MolodetskayaDeepa PakianathanYurie PascarellaKomal ShahSobia A. ShaikhOJ ShansbyCharlotte ShultzElizabeth TouwKatie Traina, Vicky TsaiDede WilseyVictoria Yeager