Clothing by ellecante. Photo courtesy of Three Girls Media.
On my doorstep the other evening was a package of clothing samples from ellecante. The timing was interesting as I had just come from Berkeley where, observing a small group of Berkeley women, I had been contemplating Berkeley style.
Berkeley has its own style, perhaps slighty European but certainly simple, earthy, and comfortable. The look is reflected, for example, in mid-calf skirts paired with loose sweaters and boots or Dansko clogs. Fabric of choice is linen, cotton, hemp and all natural is preferred.
ellecante could be a Berkeley woman’s best friend, providing a line of simple clothing made from all natural fabrics.
The samples I received included:
- Cute halter dress with a bubble-hem skirt made of linen – $230. Germany, by Consequent.
- Simple figure-flattering sheath dress made from silk and hemp – $279. Germany, by Luzifer.
- Great little boatneck sweater top made of soft knitted linen with seam detailing in the front – $117. Germany, by Consequent.
- My favorite – smocked skirt made from cupro, cotton, and elastane – $279. Germany, by Consequent. (Flat tummy required for this one.)
ellecante works with designers from Europe, New Zealand, and South America creating timeless pieces and using all organic silk, linen, hemp, wool and cotton. They offer work, casual, and casual-evening wear as well as accessories.
Perceptive as usual, Moya. I’ve noted Berkeley’s style differences for many years. It was most pronounced to me when I lived in Berkeley but worked in San Francisco for a start-up web site/company in the mid-1990s. When I started working there, no one in the office wore color except me. They only wore black, white and gray. Sometimes khaki. I wore every color in the spectrum but with a different cut in my clothing, since I shopped at the thrift stores and at Berkeley outlets (like North Face, the REI sale room and Royal Robbins outlet) for comfortable and natural clothing. And I wore hiking boots and think socks under my long skirts when my back hurt, on the Very Long Commute to the city via train and bus. It was always colder there, so I had to wear layers on public transportation.
This is the start of a very interesting style discussion, my dear. Thank you!
Thank you, Suzette for your thoughtful response. I’ve been pondering the Berkeley style for quite some time. It is distinctive – certainly not high style, more European and casual. One might assume it to be letftover hippie, but that’s not quite it, although there is a slight pinch of hippie. Boho might be the best description. Thanks again and please keep those comments coming!