At the Oscars ceremony last week, host Conan O’Brien made fun of Adam Sandler in a bit they’d planned in advance. The tuxedoed guy on stage ragged on his pal in the audience for not sporting appropriate attire. Sandler wore baggy basketball shorts, a hoodie, and killer sneakers from the Steph Curry collection. I watched and thought, oh my god, Adam is my soulmate! Despite my more Pigpen appearance, I deeply appreciate the fashions people adorn themselves with, from ribbon-lace pumps to shredded skirts to cowboy shirts to outlandish eyewear. Believe it or not, I follow The SartoriaLIST on Instagram. Given this, it is with joy that I invite you to sit on either side of this virtual runway and meet my Five Favorite Fashionistas, five locals who, through their daily clothing choices, make our streets brighter and buzzier.
Sophia De La Torre
I would describe my personal style as “girly” since I tend to be drawn to lace tops and skirts. I’m not entirely tied down to just that because I believe fashion can be a fun way to show all aspects of ourselves, not just one. I typically will find different items of clothing and attempt to figure out what works best with it. That usually leads to my outfits having a mix of Y2K and ‘70s vibes, since those eras have the best clothes, in my opinion.
Tom Levey-Galleguillos
I’d describe my style as oscillating between classic Victorian-meets-mid-century modern vs. 1970s Star Wars aesthetic. A cornucopia of wildly unconnected styles and eras that combine and meet somewhere in the unique nest of my personal worldview — depending on my daily state of mind.
Marie Ortega
My style is a mix of modern mysticism, vintage glamour, and edgy sophistication. I gravitate toward dark, timeless pieces layered with statement jewelry and symbolic adornments. Everything I wear is intentional — blending esoteric elements with a refined, effortless edge that feels uniquely mine.
Patty Pforte
My personal style is all about secondhand and vintage, bright colors and patterns, trying new shapes and styles, and exploring fashion in general. I love celebrating local Alameda style-based businesses as well as BIPOC and queer creators. My focus now is on taking care of what I have, mending and reworking, and adding vintage and secondhand pieces when they are really special and add something. My style is really connected to who I am, my values, honoring creators and business owners, and about the relationships I have made because of style and fashion!
Outfit details:
Rainbow jacket outfit
- Rainbow Jacket: The Katz Meow
- T-shirt: The Katz Meow
- Skirt: Rocket Reuse
- Earrings: Thrifty Kitty
- Wood Ring: Moodswing
Sweater and vest outfit:
- Sweater: Rocket Reuse
- Vest: Rocket Reuse
- Earrings: The Katz Meow
- Pants: Ilana Kohn
Editor’s note: Follow Patty for style inspiration on Instagram.
Me
For someone who wears baggy shorts and either dark blue or black T-shirts, mostly unadorned, the focus of my stylistic expression are my sneakers, and sometimes socks. I’ll come out and say it, I think I have the best collection of kicks for someone in my particular demographic — dude over 60. In a word (OK, a made-up word), I’d describe my personal style sense as NBA-licious. Love sports, all sports, but the shoes the hoopsters wear make me swoon, from classic swooshy Jordans to the comic-themed footwear of Donovan Mitchell.
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players, a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane.
