4 Local Style Mavens to Follow in 2021

Meet Anthony Rogers, Yoseline Cabrera, Kara Fabella and Kairee Tann

By Gail Goldberg

They dress their way, inspire in more ways than one and rack up new followers on the daily. We can't get enough of this quartet of SF Bay Area fashion influencers—so we decided to find out more, like what inspires their style, how the pandemic has changed the way they dress and where they shop locally. Below, find Q+As with Anthony Rogers, Yoseline Cabrera, Kara Fabella and Kairee Tann.  

Note: interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Anthony Rogers

@anthonysrogers

Virtually anyone who's been in or around the San Francisco fashion scene during the past six years knows Anthony Rogers. This is true for a couple of reasons: (1) the Lower Haight resident is really, really tall with a half blond/half brunette pageboy haircut, i.e., he stands out in a crowd; (2) as the founder and editor-in-chief of Bob Cut Mag, a publication that covers the unique and ever-changing culture of the SF Bay Area, he's a patron saint of Millennial life. To dig into Rogers' Insta posts and stories is to love him…and get a feel for his everyday wardrobe and life as a non-binary person.

Fashion Incubator San Francisco: How do you describe your personal style?

Anthony Rogers: For a long time, I was very into classical and modern—black clothing, button-ups, trousers, and simple shapes. But as the days warm up, I’m now gravitating towards interesting patterns and shapes that come out of this new wave Santa Cruz aesthetic. My style really depends on how I’m feeling at the moment on the day.

FiSF: What inspires your style? 

AR: It's such a range. I think things beyond style inspire me, like interiors, patterns of buildings, cosmetics, and music. Then, I take all these elements and translate them into what I wear and where I shop.

FiSF: What's your go-to uniform and has it changed during the pandemic?

AR: My go-to uniform was always my Issey Miyake black men's cardigan, a pair of jeans from Self Edge and my Adidas originals. With Covid-19, however, it’s been a minute since I wore jeans. Now, my go-to uniform is testing and wearing lounge samples for my digital shop, Bob Cut Shop.  It may sound gross but I wear them pretty much every day. It’s hard not to just stay in them when I have nowhere to go.

FiSF: How do you view your role as a style influencer?

AR: I think that if people come to my feed, see that I’m wearing a strawberry-print dress [with matching mask] one day and an all-black girlfriend outfit the next, they will, hopefully, feel that they can have that range, too—and do what they please with their style. I post about my work, my life, my affinities, hoping they connect with people. I wouldn’t say that I’m a style influencer per se, but that I utilize style to tell a larger story of being a non-binary person.

FiSF: What are some of your favorite local fashion brands and stores? 

AR: Oh god. I’m really sorry to any brands I do not name who I love and respect—but these are the ones off the top of my head. Firstly, Kamperett in the Mission, Textilehaus, Renegade Running and McMullen in Oakland, Le Point in the Mission and Maison Oge.

FiSF: What's your day job?

AR: My day job is running Bob Cut Mag and Bob Cut Shop. It’s a magazine and shop inspired, produced and influenced by the SF Bay Area. It’s just now hitting six years of production. Aside from the magazine, I do a lot of art consultancy with brands to keep my industry knowledge sharp.

Yoseline Cabrera

@ysInc

California native Yoseline Cabrera is a freelance wardrobe and prop stylist, owner of an online vintage shop and a social media guru for myriad clients. But our favorite thing about this Jill-of-all-trades is her effortless personal style, which centers around thrift-store finds and vintage pieces with a sprinkling of new items. She's all about that mix. Another key part of Cabrera's appeal? Her city mouse/country mouse way of life—she splits her time between Fresno and San Francisco.

Fashion Incubator San Francisco: How do you describe your personal style?

Yoseline Cabrera: My style is a mixture of thrifted and vintage secondhand clothing with some occasional small designer brands. I love supporting small mission-driven brands whenever I can. My outfits often feel nostalgic with a modern perspective.

FiSF: What inspires your style?

YC: I like to dress for the season, so I typically start my outfit planning around that. Most days, I'm practical in what I choose to wear since I live in the country. I run between the indoors and outdoors all day so my outfits have to be pretty versatile and comfortable. When I do get to dress up, I love wearing earth tones and finding new ways to make the most out of my clothing. For example, I love sharing ideas on my Instagram on how to wear summer styles in the winter by using layering techniques. I still look to designers and fashion trends, however my main inspiration is focusing on the challenging practice of a slower fashion mentality.

FiSF: What's your go-to uniform and has it changed during the pandemic?

YC: My style is normally more on the traditional side, but since Covid it has changed: I try to be practical in my outfit choices by mixing sweatsuits with loafers or dressing up a sweatsuit with some fun accessories—my go-to uniform of late. One of my current favorite items: the Blundstone boots I wear daily. They are the best and most versatile boots I have ever invested in.

FiSF: How do you view your role as a style influencer?

YC: Being part of a community on social media that is just as excited and passionate about slow fashion as I am has been super inspiring. The community is strong, and I believe everyone has a unique role and brings something unique to the table. I try and inspire people to mix modern and secondhand clothing, and make outfits that still feel approachable and casual.

I don’t want things to feel forced or make people feel they have to go buy a whole new wardrobe or feel ashamed of what they already have. I want to show others that it is possible to make the switch to a slower fashion lifestyle…and that it doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. This is part of the reason why I started my online vintage shop. I know that not everyone has the time or patience to go shopping for secondhand clothing.

FiSF: Where do you live? What do you like about getting dressed there?

YC: I am currently splitting my time between Fresno and San Francisco. My home in Fresno is in the country, which means outfits are outdoorsy and practical. When I’m in SF, I get to be more dressy (of course, this was before the pandemic). Nowadays, I’m in San Francisco mostly for work so my outfits are fashionable but casual. Living in SF for 10 years, I learned that layering is key to getting dressed. I love dressing for the fall weather the most, and I love layering.

Kara Fabella

@theflippside

One glance at Kara Fabella's Insta and you'll be transported to a world of technicolor. The striking, magazine-worthy selfies pop off the screen—no doubt, inspiring lots of copycat outfits. With her sharp eye and clear love of bright and bold hues, it wasn't surprising to learn that the SF influencer works with Pantone colors at her day job as a product developer for a local outdoor clothing brand. Fabella's other passions—slow and ethical fashion, and clean beauty—make regular appearances in her gorgeous posts and stories.

Fashion Incubator San Francisco: How do you describe your personal style?

Kara Fabella: Vibrant meets California chic.

FiSF: What inspires your style?

KF: My surroundings, my job (I deal with Pantone colors often), places I’ve traveled, interior design and, most definitely, my Instagram community. I’m heavily influenced by my friends in the ethical fashion space and like to emulate or reimagine color combos and/or textures I see each of them post.

FiSF: What's your go-to uniform and has it changed during the pandemic?

KF: My go-to uniform, pre-COVID, was definitely jeans/trousers and a crop top with a layering piece and boots/heels. While I still like that combination from time to time, I’ve been heavily gravitating towards softer, less rigid fabrics like linen, silk and hemp. In terms of an actual outfit, I tend to wear some variation of a loose-knit top or button-up (I truly feel most confident in a good, crisp button-up!), loose pants, and an oversized sweater. It all still tends to look put-together, and my color choices are still vibrant because I find that keeps my mood level up. I also like to add a pair of statement earrings and other baubles to fancy it up. Even while we stay home, I find the ritual of putting an outfit together really gratifying.

FiSF: How do you view your role as a style influencer?

KF: I get a kick out of the term "influencer" because I often feel like I am the one being influenced (ha-ha)! When I started on this path a couple years ago, it was more of a creative outlet while I was at an incredibly high-stress job. Then, I started getting collaboration opportunities and quickly found a community of people whom I could learn from and be inspired by, in terms of style, social justice, etc. I think the latter is the most fulfilling part. 

As far as my role goes, I’m just happy there are people who find the content I put out compelling enough to follow. My focus is very intersectional these days. I like to share my thoughts on environmental issues, ethical labor, secondhand shopping, design and how that all connects to sustainable fashion. So if there’s even ONE person out there who is influenced enough to rethink their consumer habits by the brands I share or the captions that I post, then I feel like I’m doing something right. I hope to continue to push myself to be more of a consumer activist as 2021 continues.

FiSF: Where do you live? What do you like/hate about SF style?

KF: I live close to the beach by Lands End/Sutro Baths. I feel claustrophobic if I’m not within driving distance of a coast. I am a Southern California girl at heart so I’m always lusting for a longer summer season. I feel most myself in summer-wear, which is often why I tend to gravitate towards colors that remind me of warm weather.

I also wish I saw more bold looks on the street. Even pre-COVID, there were very few times I would do a double take at someone’s outfit on the street. I often find a sea of puffers, fleeces and athleisure-wear. Because we live in a micro-climate city, practicality and comfort is key, so I get it.

FiSF: What are some of your favorite local fashion brands and stores? 

KF: For clothing, shoes, and home goods: Tonle, Allbirds, Cuyana, Lisa Says Gah, Freda Salvador, Lexington Standard, Le Point, The Voyager Shop, Self Edge, and Rare Device. For secondhand shopping and thrifting: SF Goodwill, Wasteland, ReLove Vintage, and Afterlife Boutique,

// Follow Kara Fabella at @theflippside on Instagram, Pinterest and Tiktok. Photographer @annaalexia

Kairee Tann

@tenkeypieces

Her style leans minimalist yet it always wows. No wonder Kairee Tann's fresh approach to getting dressed hits a chord with followers intrigued by her focus on wardrobe essentials and capsule closets. Along with putting her serious fash-un skills on display, Tann uses social media to promote conscious consumerism, sustainable style and causes like Black Lives Matter. Plus, the Berkeley and Sonoma County resident, known for her signature Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses, is a mom and a VP at a commercial real-estate-management firm where she oversees construction contracting.

Fashion Incubator San Francisco: How do you describe your personal style?

Kairee Tann: My style is minimalist with a focus on wardrobe essentials and capsule closets. For someone not familiar, a capsule closet is a mini wardrobe of versatile pieces that can be worn interchangeably. To keep things interesting, I like to pair my basic pieces with bohemian or curated vintage items that have personal meaning.

FiSF: What inspires your style?

KT: I’m very sentimental so my style is inspired by moments in my life—where I’ve lived as well as a desire to stay connected to the past while being in the present, if that makes sense. When I need style inspiration, I "channel" the style of a person who embodies a quality that I admire or want to celebrate. Johnny Cash (Man in Black), Gianni Agnelli and Audrey Hepburn (quiet elegance) are a few of my favorite influences.

I’m especially inspired by Eartha Kitt’s off-duty style. Although she's widely known for animal print, her off-screen style is understated and classic. The few Pinterest images I found capturing moments with her daughter, in a crisp button-down and cigarette pants remind me of how my style began to evolve following the birth of my daughter. My style icons are very human and struggled with personal flaws; this reminds me to stay grounded. There’s a perception that fashion is frivolous but there's so much more beneath the surface.

FiSF: What's your go-to uniform and has it changed during the pandemic?

KT: Absolutely! I’m an engineer and love structure and organization. Every season I set aside a rack with 30 or so pieces curated from my closet. The common denominator, or uniform, is a button-down (sleeves cuffed, collar popped) and a menswear-inspired trouser punctuated with a statement shoe or coat. From there, it’s all about rotating in pieces that suit the weather or season. For accessories, a Mansur Gavriel handbag is my go-to. And I’m never without my signature Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses! I was so surprised when Mr. Goldsmith (who designed iconic eyewear for Audrey Hepburn and Michael Caine) became one of my first Instagram followers. So of course I’m customer for life!

I work as a construction manager and as construction is categorized as essential during Covid, my workload ramped up. For practical reasons, I’ve been reaching for soft sweaters or vintage blouses that don’t require ironing. I switched to jeans, as well, since I mostly work from home. Actually, I’ve been having a bit of a love affair with denim, accented with a statement blouse. I’m hesitant to buy something I won’t wear after the pandemic ends, thus I’ve been selective about indulging in the loungewear trend. But last month, I finally purchased my first "sweatsuit" only because it came in cashmere and can be worn as separates for years to come.

FiSF: How do you view your role as a style influencer?

KT: I was already using my social-media influence to promote conscious consumerism and sustainable style. In a pandemic landscape where, understandably, fashion is not a priority, it’s more about appreciating what we already have and being selective about which new pieces we take in. Now and going forward, when people can invest in fashion it will be about using their voices and spending power to support brands that behave ethically. Like the pandemic, BLM also changed fashion in 2020 by shining a light on racism in the fashion industry. I took this opportunity to use my platform to ask more from the brands I’ve partnered with, particularly those brands that weren't treating Black employees and influencers equitably. I’m much more purposeful about what I post and which brands I promote.

My style journey began as a personal goal to rediscover my style…achieving influencer status was not at the forefront of my mind. That said, I was definitely more strategic in building my following as I sought to be compensated for content creation. Later, I discovered that likes and follows are less important than connecting with the people in your niche and engaging on a personal level. Plus, I was torn! I love technology but I also am well aware of its harmful effects. I had been following Center for Humane Technology years before The Social Dilemma came out. I really keep my kids in check about social media and didn’t want to create a double standard where it was not OK for them to use Instagram yet it was perfectly fine for me.

I post a few times a month and just let the algorithm work the way it’s supposed to, which is connecting people with content they actually want to engage with. It’s more important for me to reach the right people and engage with them directly. If I’m able to help someone make a decision on a new purchase, great. If I inspire them to put a different spin on something they already own that’s also a win!

FiSF: What are some of your favorite local fashion brands and stores? 

KT: SF Bay Area Stores: McMullen in Oakland—go-to for global designer brands; Le Point in San Francisco—where every pieces is a hero piece; and Alyce on Grand in Oakland—stocking local independent women designers. My vintage haunts: Caviar and Cigarettes Vintage in Berkeley and Neutral Ground (online). SF Bay Area Brands:  Kamperett, Textilehaus, Lacson Ravello and Diarrablu.

// Follow Kairee Tann on Instagram @tenkeypieces and on her blog.