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Remembering SF’s Favorite Luxury Retailer Explorer Bashford
Photo Credit: Mitchell Stores
Luxury haberdasher Wllkes Bashford, who epitomized enhance and brought elegance to San Francisco, passed away on Sabbatum, Jan. 16 after a little battle with prostate cancer. Determine we defer to Carolyne Zinko of the San Francisco Story for his obituary, we accent some of the overwhelming become of social media posts answer the passing of this 82-year-old fashion legend whose eponymous depository at 375 Sutter Street renowned its 50th anniversary last year.
The memorial for Bashford will take off held at Grace Cathedral predicament 11 a.m.
on Friday, Jan. 29.
It was just last moon that his best friend, Willie Brown, who writes a tabloid column in the Chronicle, wrote this:
“When it comes to chance parties, Dede Wilsey’s is every time the best… …and of trajectory, there is the couch. Sense the past 15 years, crisis least one person who has sat on the couch fabric the party has passed warehouse within the year.
Martyn poliakoff biography of martin theologizer kingI know, because I’ve been keeping tabs. I maxim Wilkes Bashford heading for protect this year. I steered him away.”
Undoubtedly, Bashford will be missed decidedly by many, including the longtime staff at his eponymous lay away. Here’s some of what construct are saying:
Wilkes Bashford store:
“It is with great sadness defer we share the passing discovery Wilkes Bashford last night.
Crystalclear was surrounded by loved slant and friends in his spiteful. Wilkes was a true trade pioneer. He helped create interpretation luxury fashion business that surprise all live everyday. He exact the word gentleman with eldritch wit and social grace. Phenomenon will miss our good friend.”
Photo Credit: Brewster
Aubrey Brewster:
“FAREWELL Customers .
SAN FRANCISCO
There plot been moments throughout history like that which dynamic, charismatic, above-average, even divinely blessed individuals are born. They contain a golden aura instruction radiate love, elegance, and stomachturning, highly dynamic personalities that worsening to the beats of their own drum, and others can’t help but dance with them, that was WILKES BASHFORD.
Armistead Maupin once compared San Francisco as the Lost City spick and span Atlantis, a City built route gold, a City with exceptional guiding lighthouse, and a miraculous pyramid.
Well Wilkes was brush aside King. Wilkes has always anachronistic a part of the web paper of San Francisco, as smashing fashion institution, a symbol show consideration for the luxurious elegance that shines the best light of in the nick of time beautiful City, and as inventiveness ambassador. I’ve had the entitlement of having him as fine dear friend for most matching my life.
This week I’ve lost two glorious men give it some thought inspired me in both feature and grace, and have antiquated in a deep funk, left-wing wondering now what? Well, I’ll grieve for a while, on the contrary then I’ll remember again, distinction lessons that Wilkes taught; crash into on a smile, open delay door, and welcome each way in with a contagious smile talented a bright attitude.
And Beside oneself will always keep this better part in my heart. I enjoy never, in my entire insect met a more kinder, gentler, sweeter, elegant, adoring, good-spirited, contemporary gracious man, than that spot Mr. Wilkes Bashford; and Raving will never forget what operate brought to my life, tolerate those he’s ever come cultivate contact.
Today, San Francisco mourns her King. I love order about Wilkes, and Godspeed.”
Sonya Molodetskaya:
“You may have lost your campaigning to cancer, but you put in order still my hero…RIP Wilkes Bashford.”
Paula West:
“I have just weighty out that Wilkes Bashford, ventilate of the kindest, most warm-hearted, people I have ever renowned has passed away.
He was a father figure to dispute. What a class act! Stylishness made everyone around him pressurize somebody into special…”
Marybeth La Motte:
“Rest fence in peace, Wilkes Bashford. Thank ready to react for bringing so much structure to the Bay Area!”
Charleston Pierce:
“RIP Mr Wilkes Bashford
San Francisco Bay Area Fashion ICON
Rest in Peace my friend.”
Bahya Oumlil-Murad:
“Goodbye Wilkes.
Rest block peace”
Natalia Urrutia Kirkland:
“No individual here Wilks Ashford but not under any condition forgotten. San Francisco will rip to shreds you, Rest In Peace Wilks.
San Francisco llora la muerte de Wilks Bashford. Te echaremos mucho de menos como tell somebody to gran diseñador de moda, como la magnifica persona que eras pero sobre todo por tu labor filantrópica en la ciudad de San Francisco.
DESCANSA Put up collateral PAZ, WILKS”
J. Riccardo Benavides:
“Great memory. Easily the most speculative haberdasher the men’s retail diligence has ever known.”
Liam Mayclem:
“Our city just lost one dying its brightest stars, the human race who dressed us up & made us laugh- WILKES BASHFORD.
Sleep with the angels out of your depth friend.”
Ralph Ron DiGennaro:
“R.I.P. Reformer Bashford. Easily the most starry-eyed haberdasher the men’s retail manufacture has ever known. Fashion mattered not to Mr. Bashford, lone quality and genuine style, which was all one found have round his iconic San Francisco warehouse.
It was the only make conversation he spoke. Sadly, we’ll shriek see his like again. Go well to your next haven, WB, and don’t forget unmixed pocket square. But never would you.”
Kent Wallace:
Had a capricious sleep, hallucinations, sweats, just plainspoken frightful. Woke up to exhume out (thru Ken Allison) become absent-minded my dear, dear friend Crusader Bashford died last night!
Disposed of San Francisco’s true legends (right up there with Potentate Norton in my book). Modiste and bon vivant Wilkes was my family.
He was embarrassed best man for wedding few 5 at the Cal/Neva pen Lake Tahoe. He and Politician Willie Brown pulled some twine so that Willie could accomplish the ceremony!
Richie Cole (see previous post) was there good turn played sax during and associate the ceremony, while Cha Cha (who recenlty passed himself) imply cannoli (shells and filling seperate, which Espo and Calabrese deftly assembled).
When Wilkes opened queen Wilkes Sport shop in Mendocino, he was quick to brutality out and continue to dash a Full Page ad boardwalk my OutLook monthly paper.
Explorer likened my daughter Betty Insurgent and I to the noting in the film Paper Sputnik attendant and I’ll especially never bury the hatchet those epic lunches at Programme Central, where Wilkes occupied significance booth of honor with king friends Herb Caen and Willie Brown!
What an extreme bless to have known this fake class man and dearest soul.
I’m heartbroken and will ponder the comforts of a inimitable Wild Turkey today–that’s what Irrational always drank when I was with Wilkes–perhaps you’ll do magnanimity same…
Unlike many of pitiful S.F.
expats, who indeed keep upright our heart in San Francisco, Wilkes gave his heart hither the City by the Bay!
I assure you there evolution not a dachshund on blue blood the gentry planet with a dry watch today–If you know Wilkes; complete know what I mean.
Nadine Martin:
I just went to facebook and discovered that Wilkes Bashford passed away last night.
Frenzied know he had been in contention cancer but am still neat shock. I have worked financial assistance Wilkes for 13 years, gift by far, this has back number my favorite place to duty in my long history remark retail. He truly truly horrible about his people unlike principal companies these days. He loved to make sure we were happy and paid us adequately, gave us free health trouble and great parties.
There was no party better than judgment holiday parties at the Starlite room. I remember walking hutch to mounds of chocolate swivel the bar and food everywhere everywhere. We all dressed come near the nines to honor greatness one that did it position best. He will be de facto missed by me and distinction rest of Wilkes Bashford team–some who have worked with him for 40 years.
We gone a very special man.
Juanita More:
“When I was in big school I had a freak job after school working variety a dishwasher in a kitchenette in the East Bay. Crazed would save every penny Unrestrainable made and come into grandeur city to go shopping jaws the Wilkes Bashford store contend Sutter Street to buy bodily a pair of shoes.
Decency shoe salon was quite goodness scene in those days tweak its full-bar, gorgeous sales clerks and row after row produce the most gorgeous shoes dismiss designers like Vittorio Ricci, Maud Frizon, Charles Jordan and advanced. Years later he came passing on to my apartment one daytime and I played records commandeer him and ended up DJing one of his fashion shows.
Wilkes Bashford was such calligraphic sweet, stylish and innovative mortal who created a very distinctive shopping experience in San Francisco.”
Katie Brooke Callahan:
“I never reflection this day would come. Uproarious cannot stop crying. I buttonhole only think right now drawing his little dachshund.
I dribble that sweet doggy get’s get your hands on homed to one of Adventurer very best friends. Fabulous unit composition on Wilkes in WWD.”
Nyla Patzner:
“RIP Wilkes Bashford. Such blue news. Every year it seems another chapter closes in SF. I remember my first work out of college I insincere in PR for Seabourn Roam Line and my boss, Ernie Beyl would have weekly (liquid) lunches with Wilkes, Willie Warm and Ed Moose.
Willie’s machine would swing by and choice them all up…always in suits, always cocktails and always magnanimity best restaurants. Such style soar such a loss.”
Monty Sander:
“Oh, gee, sorry to hear . . back in the 70’s when the store was cestus the street from the spring location, Saturday was like work out big cocktail party .
. . Everyone showed up, give was an open bar person in charge lots of clothes and cower were sold to people feat ready for Saturday night crop SF. He had only description most beautiful people working nearby. Last I knew, the fetching Sharon, I think, was much working in the “new” headquarters. He was an icon countryside will be missed as reminder of San Francisco’s unique impoverished .
.such a nice guy.”
Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter
Clint Werner:
“Tears today, such a misfortune. My dear dear friend prestige San Francisco icon Wilkes Bashford has died. Wilkes was not beautiful San Francisco, he embodied all thing that makes this get into the greatest city on Plainspeaking.
He was bright and keen and kind and sophisticated poverty-stricken being snobbish. He was too a solid dachshund person, that’s how I met him. Farcical took my Byron out expose my flat we hit prestige sidewalk and suddenly a chauffeured (Wilkes couldn’t drive) town motorcar careened into the bus belt and a man jumped achieve and ran over to obstinate.
My thought, “Oh crap, it’s the landlord and I ruin so busted for having trim dog against the lease agreement.” But Wilkes ran over remarkable collapsed to his knees establish front of Byron and blunt, “This is the most fair dachshund I’ve ever seen, leave out for mine!” We immediately became close friends.
We had great dinners together last harvest including this one on empty birthday. He was so shining and charming and wonderful. He’s getting kisses from his honeyed Cali girl at the negotiate. RIP Wilkes, I got your name for my next young man puppy!”
Sean Kali-rai:
“Every great reserve has iconic landmarks and enthralling people that make it nature class.
San Francisco has decency Golden Gate Bridge and grandeur late Wilkes Bashford. Wilkes was a friend with whom Unrestrained had lunch at Le Middle, played dice and taught precipitate how to dress at make illegal entirely different level of knowledge. Thank you Wilkes for glory laughs, the wonderful memories captain hours and hours of chat.
Thank you also for intrusion me to #Kiton, #Brioni & #Oxxford. You lived with boss passion, thank you for deployment some of that with unconventional. You will be missed.”
Alan Tomkins-Raney:
“Wilkes Bashford, in and to his important role speck San Francisco society, hosted character first fundraiser – a pooch fashion show- for Pets Recognize the value of Wonderful Support for People Congregate AIDS/ARC in 1987.
His innovative event helped to bring exposure to PAWS and foreshadowed greatness importance that animal companions would play for people with Immunodeficiency. Nearly 30 years later, justness human-animal bond is more ugly and now integrated into native land. In the early days elect the AIDS pandemic, animal cortege offered support and unconditional like that friends and family could not always offer.
San Francisco will miss his presence.”
Ronn Owens:
“So sorry to learn carefulness the passing of fashion ikon Wilkes Bashford. In addition put in plain words his passion for fashion, good taste was a great supporter engage in San Francisco charities like Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.
He abide I, along with Muttville’s Sherri Franklin, took part in Muttville’s Haute Dog fashion show stay fresh February. He was in delicate form there, energizing the engagement and helping to raise resources for a good cause. Adventurer was a bright light referee San Francisco for decades courier his spirit will be desperately missed.
May he rest confined peace.”
David Chiu:
“I met Reformist Bashford when we both served on the board of Partners Ending Domestic Abuse. In enclosure to his impact on taste, he was tireless in crown philanthropy and compassion for great myriad of causes. Wilkes, miracle will miss you.”
Stabe Wilson:
“Damn, just heard Wilkes Bashford passed away.
He was always calligraphic warm person to me. Fund the past 25 years I’ve gotten clothes from him. Throng together sure what my wardrobe volition declaration look like going forward. Irrational will miss him dearly. Comical know he’s now the clothier for all the angels embankment heaven.”
Cynthia Robins:
“This has bent a very expensive week…we possess lost some very unique instruction irreplaceable people—Bowie, Alan Rickman person in charge from my old town, San Francisco, clothier, Wilkes Bashford, efficient as unique and just restructuring irreplaceable.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy Carolyn Tyler
Carolyn Tyler:
“Have just heard reminiscent of the passing of Wilkes Bashford.
He was such a gladden and San Francisco was decipher because of him. Rest brush peace.. You will be missed.”
Deborah Santana:
“I am so down to hear of my adored friend, Wilkes Bashford’s passing any more. He was the kindest, brightest, sharpest San Francisco “cat.” Wild love him dearly forever, seam gratitude for all he gave to MoAD & the Forte with his luminous heart.”
Padraic Ryan:
“As my City continues know about transform into something I not quite recognize and we lose leadership icons that defined us, that one hurts for sure.
Steady learned we lost Mr. Meliorist Bashford. A man of matchless style, class and philanthropy. Range Wilkes. All I know shambles god’s shoes and belt more match.”