How A MAJOR New York Designer Does S.F.

A fixture in the New York City fashion scene, Ellen Van Dusen of Brooklyn-based label Dusen Dusen has amassed an army of cool-girl fans — Lena Dunham and Malia Obama included. Her modern silhouettes are playful and easy to wear, not to mention every print-lover’s dream.

So, when we found out the designer was headed west for a few weeks, we knew we had to pick the S.F. newbie's creative brain on which local spots she fell in love with during her brief stay. Dusen took us on an inspired journey around town — showing us her favorite stops — from outdoorsy places like Fort Funston (where she and Boston Terrier Snips roam around) to Press: Works On Paper (where she heads for literary inspiration).

Take a peek at her list of S.F. musts, and for more Dusen, head to Workshop Residence this Thursday, May 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. where she'll be giving a talk on everything from her design process to her time in the Bay.