Kate Franco has lived in the Bay area for seven years, loving every minute of it. She loves serendipitous moments, is desperate for a dog, and can't live without reality TV or ice cream. (Who can??)
She also works as an Assistant Editor, spends her spare time writing and quilting, and is currently trying to get her freelance career off the ground. Any publishers out there?SH: What do you enjoy about the Stylehive?
KF: The best thing about Stylehive is that it has helped me understand and define my own sense of style. It€™s inspiring to be part of a community where people are as equally interested in design as I am. It€™s rewarding, and fun to see what other people are finding!
SH: Living in San Francisco, what are some of your favorite stores around here?
KF: I am really working on curbing my spending, but I do a lot of window shopping! Of course, I love Black Cat Quilts; it reminds me of quilt stores back home. I adore Paperwhirl, because they have a good selection of letterpress cards (which I am mildly obsessed with.) What else€¦.Designer Shoe Warehouse, and the Jeanine Payer Retail Store. It€™s a tiny jewel box of a store with custom lighting and cabinetry. It€™s beautiful, and even though the store is on Market Street, the store itself is incredibly tranquil.
SH: Do you have a beauty regimen? What do you do?
KF: In all honesty, I am awful at taking the time to wash my face at night. I suppose that€™s a sort of regimen, for better or for worse. I can be kind of anal about flossing my teeth and plucking my eyebrows. I have to moisturize all over every day because I have intensely dry skin. I am addicted to Benefit€™s Playstick in €œSpin the Bottle,€� which is great for hiding dark circles under my eyes (a genetic blessing). Other than that, a little lip gloss and mascara and I am good to go. My cousin got me hooked on CO Bigelow lip gloss. Oh! I also have curly hair and have to use Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious after my hair towel dries for a few minutes. Jeez, that sounds like a lot €“ I can get ready in less than 45 minutes, I promise!
SH: As a twentysomething who loves quilting, what do you think about quilting as a culture, especially for the younger generation?
KF: Wow. Well I think that quilting probably isn€™t as prevalent with my age group as some others. Quilting requires a lot of time/space/money and these are resources that people in their twenties are more likely to want dedicate to something else. However, I have read several articles in the last few months about kids who are getting really into sewing and quilting, and I think that€™s great! It€™s awesome to see a tradition carried on.
SH: Do you have a fashion idol? If so, who?
KF: I am sure I have more than one, but now that this question is staring me in the face, I can€™t think of anyone! I love Sarah Jessica Parker€™s sense of style, but I think my mom has also been a big source of inspiration. Not only can she sew anything, but she also has great classic style, keeps up with trends, and is a true bargain hunter.
SH: Who are your favorite designers in the Hive?
KF: I am a handbag and accessory kind of girl. I love Lauren Merkin handbags, Scandinavian Designs furniture, and anything Marimekko. I also love Todd Reed Jewelry, and Bellum Classics (a new obsession thanks to thetipjar.com).
SH: Which TV show character are you?
KF: I couldn€™t think of an answer to this question, so I polled some friends of mine. The top answers were:
i. Lauren Conrad, The Hills (reasoning: sense of style, good arguer/good at thinking on her feet)
ii. Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (reasoning: sense of style, profession, curly hair, sense of humor)
SH: As a child, what did you plan to be when you grew up?
KF: An award-winning novelist/interior designer/journalist/teacher. Ambitious, I know.
SH: What's hanging on your walls right now (art or otherwise)?
KF: I am actually getting ready to move, so not a whole lot. We have a fabulous antique mirror/mantle hanging in the living room. I have a series of black and white photos in my bedroom of my cousin and me when we were little. I also have a framed Smithsonian cover from the 1940€™s that was a gift from my parents; it€™s like a prized possession.SH: What's the last thing you bought and where was it from?
KF: I bought red patent leather flats, with the cutest silver buckle. Nine West, purchased at Shoe Pavilion. I am all about discounts. I also needed to put a little pep in my step for a big trip I was taking to the East coast.
SH: If you were a celebrity stylist, which celebrity would you chose to makeover?
KF:Good question! Probably Mary Kate Olsen because while she has a definite sense of style, she could use some clothes that fit!
SH: If you won a shopping spree from Stylehive, which 3 Hivers would you pick to go shopping with you?
KF: Myriah, LAbuyer, and BaltimoreGal.
Kate's Stylehive picks: KateFranco
Kate's Blog: katefranco.com
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