Being a small business owner in a big city isn’t easy. Just ask Monisha Murray, owner of the San Jose-based Black & Brown clothing boutique; she knows. “It takes a lot out of you,” Murray says, recalling Black & Brown’s early days—when the store was located on West San Carlos Street. Back then, Murray says, she used to “eat ramen every day and have a coffee and try to survive on that.”

But after sticking it out for five and a half years, Murray was able to move Black & Brown to its current location—a much larger storefront on the Alameda, just down the street from the new Whole Foods.

“That’s always been the motto—taking risks and leaps,” the San Jose native says. And now, 10 years since opening shop, Murray is pleased to say that “it’s all worked out.”

To celebrate, Black & Brown will be throwing a fashion show curated by Murray and her team inside the recently opened SoFA venue, The Ritz, this Saturday. DJ Cutso of the Bangerz and Basura, resident DJ for the popular Thursday-night dance party, Atomic, will provide the evening’s soundtrack.

Though Black & Brown used to host fashion shows every fall and spring, they haven’t hosted an event like this for three years. Taking inspiration from the late ’70s and early ’80s arts scene in New York City, the evening’s theme is “Downtown 500”—a term used to describe the influential group of artists and makers living in NYC during that era.

“At that time, there was no clique-ish scene. It was just a scene,” Murray says, mentioning party footage from the era that captures art icons, like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, rubbing shoulders with rapper Fab 5 Freddy and Madonna. “Our point with this show is depicting that time and how street style has become so relevant in the world.”

All items featured in the show will be available online the night of the show, for those who spot a particular piece they can’t live without.

Back in 2005, when she founded Black & Brown, Murray hoped to create a San Jose staple. Now, with 10 years behind her, she feels she’s accomplished that. And while she doesn’t see the styles she and her team curate in-store flooding the streets of San Jose just yet, she knows she’s created a place for fans of fashion to feel inspired.

“Wherever they’re hiding out or hanging out, I know they exist and they’re here and supporting us,” she says. “That gives me hope.”

Downtown 500: Black & Brown’s 10th Anniversary Fashion Show will be held at The Ritz, May 2 at 8pm. More info.

Industry logic dictates that up-and-coming clothing brands make a name in Los Angeles. Especially the type of nouveau-grunge labels peddled on trendy online shops and a legion of popular indie-chic style blogs. But Petals and Peacocks, founded 26-year-old Victoria Velasquez and her fiance, Ryan Mante, was launched to national renown from the South Bay, so the idea of opening a local flagship store grew on Velasquez.

Once it’s up and running, it will be one of the only independent women’s clothing brands headquartered in the region. To hell with industry logic.

“Going on two years of being in business, we believed it was time to make a big move,” Velasquez says. “Our flagship store is a quaint spot but embodies everything Petals and Peacocks. Once you step in, you’ll get a feel of the brand and the lifestyle.”

That spot is 2261 The Alameda, technically in Santa Clara but on the edge of San Jose. It is a storefront flanked by tall display windows, topped by white lattice work and framed by tan brick. Get there between 2pm and 7pm this Saturday to celebrate the store’s grand opening and the launch of the brand’s summer collection, sardonically dubbed “Oh, My Goth.” The first 50 people to show up get a free gift bag, so plan accordingly.

Velasquez expects the store’s proximity to Santa Clara University to be a boon for business, a draw for the 18- to 25-year-olds who typically favor the line’s sarcastic, boundary-pushing, irreverent style, one replete with cheeky wordplay a la “Shut des F*ck Up” beanies, “Bender” snapbacks and Gucci-inspired “Hucci Mama” cut-off-style tanks. The message twists pop culture, bastardizes high-fashion logo pretense and insists on taking nothing too seriously.

Attention to detail sets the line apart from other casual T-shirt-centric brands: the tees and tanks are custom cut and sewn, dyed and destroyed. It’s not just a design emblazoned on a stock tee, Velasquez notes—it’s a carefully crafted product, from the subtly frayed seams to the soft, worn-limp fabric.

Of course, embracing the company’s San Jose roots by setting up shop in the vicinity doesn’t make it a patently local brand. Velasquez maintains her geographically expansive ambitions. National sites sell her stuff, and the brand enjoys a widespread cult following. But a storefront gives a better semblance of identity, marketability and legitimacy, notes Velasquez. It’s a place to soak up the vibe and to see and feel the brand’s manifest image through the styling and setting envisioned by its creator—a cohesion missing from the piecemeal photos of online retailers.

“We hope to bring more brand awareness and create a bigger local following by opening up this flagship,” Velasquez says.

Petals and Peacocks Opening
Saturday, June 22; 2-7pm
2261 The Alameda, Santa Clara

There was a little extra star power this week at Santana Row’s fourth annual summer fashion show as 49ers tight end Vernon Davis hit the catwalk along with dozens of model showing off the latest summer trends.

Metro photographer Tyler Ngo went poolside to catch the action.

Stylish friends and allies of Bigsby House joined forces at a grand opening party for the salon on Saturday.

Located on Park Avenue in San Jose, the salon offers a variety of hair treatments from its team of stylists. Metro photographer Jessica Shirley-Donnelly was on hand to catch the celebration.

Lady Gaga has already achieved icon status with her music, but her biggest contribution to the culture has been her hoard of heinous threads.

Fashion has always played a big roll in the character of Lady Gaga, who performs tonight in San Jose at HP Pavilion, and the line between fashion faux pas and business as usual blurs when it comes to assessing her best and worst looks—most of which are assembled by her own team, Haus of Gaga. Instead, we’ve chosen the rather middle of the road list of Gaga’s most outrageous looks—a word that lacks the sort of punch some of these pieces pack.

Joe Calderone
Lady Gaga’s male alter ego, Joe Caldreone, was first spotted without an accredited name in a Japanese fashion magazine. Fans everywhere went crazy when rumors began spreading that this mysterious new male model was in fact just Lady Gaga in drag. By the time the 2011 MTV VMAs came around, and Joe showed up to open the show with a nearly five minute monologue, leading into a live performance of “Yoü & I” still in character, it was clear that Joe wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

On Saturday March 10th, Black & Brown, San Jose’s finest purveyor of thrift store couture will celebrate its seventh anniversary with a spring fashion show titled “Seven’s Bloom.” In anticipation of the evening’s fête de fashion, they’ve released a sleek promo featuring model/musician Biljana Markovski doing her best Guy Bourdin impressions.

The video was directed by Gordon De Los Santos, shot by Jeremy Castillo, and features the futuristic hip-hop of local producer Joob.

More info.

Featuring hand-drawn designs by artist Joey Mirandilla,  SDR Clothing Company (Seize x Defend x Rule) held a launch party Friday at Pagoda Lounge in downtown San Jose. The event featured a red carpet, several DJs and a surprise appearance by 49ers tight end Delaney Walker.

Metro photographer Annalisa Hackleman was there to catch the action.

See the complete gallery.