We’ve always maintained that there’s a fine art to wearing a hat, so you can imagine we were intrigued by the idea of hats wearing fine art. Officially dropping this weekend, the spring 2010 1333 Minna collection from San Francisco-based Goorin Brothers pairs fine artists’ work with the hat company’s dapper head-toppers for a result that’s sure to attract style and art fans alike.

“It combines the classic authenticity of Goorin Brothers mixed with very edgy contemporary fine art,” Ben Goorin says of the latest collection, originally launched in 2005 and is known for combining urban-minded art with original fabrics, embroidery and custom printing methods.

In the works for nearly a year, the current collection bears the name of the company’s collaborative art studio in the Mission and features original work from artists such as Reyes, Steel, Yutaro Sakai, Kami, Sasu, Retna, Bert Krak, Lango, Michael Ryan and Orli Laqcuaio.

For Goorin, the project reflects the longtime San Francisco roots of his family’s company, founded in 1895.

“Our identity was born and raised in San Francisco,” he says, adding, “This is about doing something that’s authentic and extremely original.”

Want to get in on Goorin’s latest hat tricks? Head to the Haight Street shop on Saturday from 4-9 p.m. for the launch celebration. Along with music and free bevs, limited edition hand-printed posters by 1333 Minna artists and giveaways will be on offer with the purchase of a hat. Starting at 9 p.m., the party continues at 1333 Minna with a gallery installation of participating artists’ work.

Photography courtesy of Goorin Brothers

More fashion events…

It’s officially mid-March, and we’re finally daring to dream of spring. That means easy-going dresses, simple accessories, bright bags and go-everywhere shoes with lighter sensibilities than our winter-staple boots.

Here are local sources for each.

From top: Maggie dress, She-Bible; one-off Mason yellow clutch, ReMade USA; David Clarkson Point Reyes Hoops, available at Gravel and Gold; buckle strap heels by f-troupe, available at Candystore Collective.

Find San Francisco Bay Area independent boutiques…

Back in the day, it was impolite to go anywhere without properly sending an RSVP in advance. Times have changed, but there are still enticing reasons to mind your manners. Take, for example, the Nudie Jeans Pop-Up Shop taking place tonight at Azalea Boutique in Hayes Valley. An RSVP not only guarantees you smooth entry at the door for the after-hours event, but it also puts your oh-sospecial name in a drawing for one of two pairs of Nudie Jeans that will be given away during the launch party.

Other reasons to go? It’s the first pop-up shop on the West Coast from the denim brand. And there’s free booze (vodka and PBRs). We’d recommend chasing the former with the latter. You’ll have a real good night. Promise.

More upcoming fashion and shopping events…

For va-va-voom style from a local source, look no further than the small collection of sexy black wearables that is Dyno Solo, an emerging label from 24-year-old San Francisco designer Danielle Garrabrants.

Definitely daring, often curve-hugging pieces that Garrabrants describes as a cross between goth and rock star styles include a little black leather and satin dress with figure flattering lace panels, a high-waist skirt accented with studs, a sheer lace top and a pair of leggings made of fabric strips and sporting a surprise in back.

Garrabrants, an FIDM graduate and professional pattern-maker by day, sews each piece herself and sells them at bargain prices ($20-$65) in her etsy shop.

While selling her work is, of course, always nice, the young designer says she much prefers to excitement of seeing her work worn on the body:

“What I enjoy most about designing, I just like displaying, even if it’s not going to help me sell.”

Photography shown here courtesy of Jay Adams, fashion photographer and creative director of Richmond-based identity design firm Aerosolpoetic.

Photo credits: model, Karina Amigo; hair, Ivy Woodruff; makeup, Katherine Magallanes; accessories, Courtney Maika’i Cheung.

More local designers…

A vintage dress thrifted in the Haight, a boldly patterned red scarf, knee socks and heels, textured tights and a collision of contrasting prints brighten up moody days that hover somewhere between winter and spring in two recent photo shoots from stylish San Francisco photographers Alex Keenum and Amy Soderlind of Refuses to Label. For the shoots, the duo ventured near the water under overcast skies with lovely results, despite the weather being far from it.

Refuses to Label: the creative outlet of two lifelong friends with similar aesthetic addictions: vintage, design, art, photography, music. Artists themselves; this is the documentation of they’re combined inspirations and daily vintage fits.

Photography: top two by Alex Keenum, bottom two by Amy Soderlind.

Styling: Refuses to Label

For more looks by stylish San Franciscans, visit our burgeoning style series…