Accessory shopping in North America
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A
826 Valencia
Given a Mission diet of burritos, margaritas and coffee, creative types seem to thrive - hence the local design boutiques, 'zine bookstores and nonprofit arts venues clustered around Valencia and Mission Sts. When a Pirate Supply Store landed at 826 Valencia, selling eye patches and McSweeney's publications to fund youth writing workshops, the Mission found its dream mission.
reviewed
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B
Tiffany & Co
This famous jeweler, with the trademark clock-hoisting Atlas over the door, has won countless hearts with its fine diamond rings, watches, silver Elsa Peretti heart necklaces, and fine crystal vases and glassware. It’s the high-end bridal registry spot of choice, and the store’s little blue boxes have been known to provoke squealing from any teenage girl lucky enough to get a gift from here. The classy elevators are operated by old-school humans – and whatever you do, don’t harass them with tired ‘Where’s the breakfast?’ jokes.
reviewed
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C
Southern Fossil & Mineral Exchange
This store – something like a curiosity museum where most everything’s got a price tag on it – can induce bone-rattling nightmares. If you’re impressed by the selection of skulls from all creatures great and small, you can take some home with you. More subdued are the rocks on which ancient life forms have imprinted images of themselves. Pretty cool, even if it just ends up as a paperweight. A selection of animal puppets is just the thing to appease terrified children.
reviewed
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D
Cannabis Culture Headquarters
For arguments in support of legalization and the campaign to release cannabis advocate Marc Emery from prison for distributing marijuana, duck into the friendly shop and offices of the British Columbia Marijuana Party, in an area of town still known as ‘Vansterdam.’ With books, hemp clothing and associated paraphernalia, the store also houses a back room where (for $5) you can use the vaporizers to chill out with like-minded buddies.
reviewed
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E
Smoking Lilly
Only a couple of people can fit in this tiny boutique at any given time - try something on and you'll be behind a curtain in the middle of the shop - but it's worth the squeeze to check out eclectic garments and accessories displaying an art school chic. Tops with insect prints and skirts displaying the Periodic Table are hot items, but there are also lots of cute handbags, socks and brooches to tempt your credit card.
reviewed
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F
Clothes Contact
Everything here is priced to move by the pound, from Marilyn Munroe halter dresses to '70s European train curtains for your swingin' pad. Gauge your purchases by weight, and you'll spend nothing on a gauzy vintage Gunne Sax sundress, long Isadora Duncan scarf and polyester shirt featuring Italian monuments. Inspect your haul carefully before you hand over that US$20 - purchases are non-returnable.
reviewed
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G
Meyer the Hatter
New Orleans is a hat town, and hats are a good thing. A brim shades the forehead, covers up the sweaty mess the weather turns your hair into and makes you look bad ass. Meyer has a truly astounding inventory of world-class headwear, and it’s serious about its goods: clerks shoo away interlopers who come looking for the wrong type of hat at the wrong time of year.
reviewed
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H
Flight 001
Having a nice flight in the zero-legroom era is actually a possibility with the in-flight assistance of Flight 001. Clever carry-ons built to fit international size regulations come with just the right number of pockets for rubber alarm clocks, travel Scrabble sets and the first-class Jet Comfort Kit with earplugs, sleep mask, booties, neck rest, candy and cards.
reviewed
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I
Erin Templeton
There’s a funky array of vintage and consignment clothing and jewelry here, but the stars of the show are the leather bags, belts, hats and purses made on-site by Erin herself from new and recycled materials (she trained in shoemaking at a London college). They’re the kind of must-have items that are hard to resist, no matter how many you already have back home.
reviewed
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J
Honey Ryder
Looking hot isn't all about showing skin in perpetually chilly SF, but about the sultry shapes and easygoing glamour you'll find at Honey Ryder. Artfully draped jersey tops reveal dangerous curves, and a killer rack of dresses in fun, strategic prints will show off your sexy sass. They don't mess around with pointless 10% off sales, but slash right down 50-70%.
reviewed
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K
Umbrella Shop
Often the only outdoor gear you need in Vancouver is a good brolly to fend off the relentless rain. This family-run company started in 1935 and has just the thing, with hundreds of bright and breezy designs that should put a smile on the face of any torrentially drenched visitor. Duck inside, choose a great umbrella then launch yourself back into the tempest.
reviewed
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L
Birks
A Vancouver institution since 1879 – hence the landmark freestanding clock outside – Birks crafts exquisite heirloom jewelry and its signature line of timepieces. It’s an upscale place, similar to Tiffany & Co in the USA, and ideal for picking up that special something in a classy, blue embossed box for a deserving someone back home.
reviewed
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M
Deluxe Junk
A local landmark, Deluxe Junk is one of Seattle’s most kitschy secondhand shops. Located in a former funeral parlor, it carries a deeply weird assortment of, well, junk. But some of it is pretty nice junk, retro and glitzy and sometimes fabulous – from retro sundresses and fluffy feather boas to home wares and furniture from the 1950s.
reviewed
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N
Lazy Susan’s
An eclectic Aladdin’s cave lined with tempting trinkets like Scrabble-tile earrings, reproduction old-school greeting cards and obsolete ties transformed into coin purses, it’s hard to walk away from here without buying that kitsch-perfect gift for someone back home – possibly a cactus-shaped teapot or a broach resembling a palm tree.
reviewed
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O
Womyns’ Ware
The welcoming staff at this low-key, ultra-friendly shop – which specializes in an eye-popping menu of women’s sex toys – are happy to explain the workings of the ‘family jewels’ harness’ or ‘nun’s habit flogger.’ There’s also a good array of books and some games to put the fun back into your sexual shenanigans. Fair-trade committed.
reviewed
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P
Edie Hats
A cozy and convivial mood-lit jungle of classic and contemporary headgear, squeeze in and try on a few panama hats and a couple of rainbow-colored toques (if you have to ask what a toque is, they’ll know you’re not Canadian). Staffers are ever-friendly and have an irregular habit of handing out choccies if they like the look of you.
reviewed
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Q
Goorin Brothers Hats
Peacock feathers, high crowns and locally designed embellishments make it easy for SF hipsters to withstand the fog while standing out in a crowd. Straw fedoras with striped tie-silk bands bring the shade in style, and flat-brim baseball caps go high-culture with embroidery of Sumerian hero Gilgamesh destroying the demon Humbaba.
reviewed
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R
Wearable Art
Decked out with beautiful vintage tables and sporting a mellow vibe, this boutique is filled with designer-made clothing and memorabilia that celebrates the 'hood. Check out the tees and tote bags silkscreened with the profile of a woman with a 'fro, plus earth-tone messenger bags, caps, mugs and aprons that say 'Harlem'.
reviewed
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S
Foxy Lady Boutique
Pick up some naughty habits while you're in town - the mini-skirted nun's outfit comes in men's and women's sizes, or perhaps you'd prefer something in the librarian-dominatrix department? If you want your Halloween costume to pay off this year, try the 'Sexy ATM Machine' costume … and yeow, watch those deposits.
reviewed
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T
Urban Empire
This wacky, all-out, kitsch trinket shop is just the kind of place you can pick up that Crazy Cat Lady action figure you’ve always wanted. Other must-haves include bacon-strip sticking plasters and dog-butt flavored chewing gum, which means you’ll have plenty of ideas for souvenirs for your friends back home.
reviewed
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U
Rubber Rainbow Condom Company
Formerly in the West End, this fun, funky condom and lube store serves all manner of experiment-inviting accessories, including studded, vibrating and ‘full-fitting strawberry flavored’ varieties. Ask for a selection pack if you’re going to be in town for a while – you never know how lucky you might get.
reviewed
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V
Chocolate Moose
In an otherwise staid stretch of L Street, Chocolate Moose lures in shoppers with its campy window displays and smiling brown moose. Among the array of temptations are leopard-printed wine glasses, candy-colored jewelry and wallets, dog-faced cake servers, wind-up toys and the famous punching nun puppet.
reviewed
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W
Ferrari Store
Even if you can’t afford to drive one of the high-end luxury Italian sportscars right off the casino’s dealership floor, you can still aspire to lifestyles of the rich and famous at the logo brand shop next door, selling everything from signature keychains and men’s cologne to high-end leather jackets.
reviewed
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X
Luna Boston
If you have a thing for handbags, then Luna has a thing for you. With a mile-long list of designers, Luna will have no problem finding you the perfect tote, clutch or satchel. Luna caters to the working girl with its great selection of stylish laptop carriers. Also beach bags, backpacks and baby bags.
reviewed
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Y
Hardwick’s Hardware Store
Locals in the know come to Hardwick’s to explore the rows and rows of buckets filled with bizarre little gadgets and gizmos. Some people probably know what these objects are for, but most shoppers are looking for things to use in their art projects. It’s a hive of a place that’s fun just to explore.
reviewed
