Clothing shopping in North America
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A
Blue Bee & Blue Beetle
Find eclectic, stylin' clothes at one of the best indie boutiques in town; there's a denim shop and a men's section tucked in back. In fact, wander downtown and you'll start seeing Blue Bee specialty shops everywhere you look. Their ever-expanding local empire includes shops for kids, luxury and shoes. Also has its own line of hip jeans.
reviewed
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B
Upper Playground
Blend into the SF scenery with locally designed Fillmore neighborhood hoodies, Barbary Coast pirate tees and knit Muni caps. Men’s gear dominates the main store, but there’s an even more impressive selection of locally designed tees in the women’s annex, and slick graffiti art in Fifty24SF Gallery next door.
reviewed
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C
Outdoor Gear Exchange
This place rivals major outdoor-gear chains for breadth of selection, and definitely trumps them on price for a vast array of used, closeout (clearance) and even new gear and clothing. You name the outdoor pursuit and staff can probably outfit you.
reviewed
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D
Uptown Exchange
A consignment store with some great bargains. Labels are less than glamorous, but it does have everything from affordable denim to stylish shoes to, gulp, fur. There's a decent assortment of dresses too.
reviewed
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E
Surf-n-Wear's Beach House
Surfboards dangle from the ceiling at the beach-minded emporium known as Surf-n-Wear's Beach House where bikinis, beachbags and flip-flops jostle for your attention.
reviewed
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F
Chabanel Warehouses
Bargain-sniffers from far and wide flock to the Chabanel, an eight-block expanse of old factory buildings in northern Montréal west of Blvd St-Laurent. Inside are hundreds of ‘suites’ or warehouse storage rooms stuffed with locally made and imported items. From Buffalo jeans to Monte Calvo coats to Indian skirts, the choice is so huge it’s almost paralyzing. Just start on a top floor (the buildings have up to nine floors) and work your way down. Bring cash and be prepared to bargain. The shops open their doors on Saturday morning only, when something of a funfair atmosphere prevails. A few buildings are open normal hours during the week.
reviewed
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G
Fleur de Paris
Some stores in New Orleans exist to indulge the most eccentric and particular interests a person can possibly have. This boutique in the Labranche Building is a case in point. The woman who wants to appear ready for the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair need look no further. The custom hats are bouquets of plumage, fur felt, lace and, here and there, a snatch of black netting. The evening gowns are devastating showstoppers guaranteed to make a dapper Dan in spats swoon. The store’s website suggests wearing one to the Academy Awards. Failing that, you’ll want to promenade around a city park or at least have your picture taken.
reviewed
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H
House of Lounge
Its name doesn’t exactly have a svelte ring to it, but House of Lounge has its big vampish heart in the right place. The shop sells just about everything you would need to turn your foreplay into a classy burlesque review. The lingerie is sexy and shameless, the ‘baby doll’ assemblages are cute as all get-out (and gettin’ out’s the idea) and the feather fans will keep everything coyly covered. For the femme fatale who really knows how, the shop also sells cigarette holders and flasks, and – if all of the above fail to induce intimacy – there’s a good stock of vibrators on offer, too.
reviewed
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I
Dressing Room
The Dressing Room is a creative hybrid that’s equal parts indie fashion boutique and low-key neighborhood bar. On the first floor, you’ll find a rotating mix of local and emerging designers with pieces ranging from clever graphic T-shirts to flouncy black dresses and wildly patterned knits; while downstairs is a small selection of vintage clothes. Adjoining the space is a casual bar with a regular lineup of DJs, film screenings and shopping parties. The drink-shop combo can be quite handy for some couples who can’t quite resolve their disparate interests in looking at clothes versus swilling martinis.
reviewed
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J
Mission Statement
Finally: locally designed, fashion-forward clothing and accessories that keep real people, real bodies and real budgets in mind. Sofie Ølgaard’s drop-waisted silk sheaths are drop-dead gorgeous, Vanessa Gade’s circle-chain necklaces bring a touch of infinity to your neckline, and Estrella Tadao’s reconstructed ’70s men’s jackets revive radical-chic Maoist placket pockets. The counter staff at this collective are designers, so if that yellow bamboo-fiber wrap cardigan doesn’t fit just so, they’ll get one made to order for you on the spot.
reviewed
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Yvonne la Fleur
They just don’t make them like this anymore – neither the clothes, millinery or lingerie for sale in Yvonne La Fleur nor Yvonne herself, the definition of steel in silk. She’s an amazing businesswoman who has outfitted generations of local ladies for their weddings, debuts and race days. She makes her own perfumes and gorgeous hats, overflowing with silk flowers, that seem to belong to another era. Wear some of Yvonne La Fleur’s classic couture as you explore the city that inspires Yvonne’s unique look.
reviewed
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L
Filene’s Basement (White House Area)
If you aren’t from the east coast, you probably haven’t ever had the privilege of shopping at Boston-based Filene’s Basement. This discount store is a bargain-hunter’s paradise, devoted to men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. You’ll have to dig, but you can score pieces by the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Ralph Lauren, BCBG, DKNY and Missoni. Filene’s has a second location inside the Shops at National Place.
reviewed
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M
Flying A
Sporting a logo that bears a passing resemblance to those flying wings of Aerosmith, this Danish-owned store offers a little something for both rock-and-rollers and SoHo fashion mavens. You’ll find vintage pieces (weathered cowboy boots, candy-colored ’70s dresses, whisper-thin button-downs) as well as new apparel – jeans, graphic T-shirts and slim-fitting dresses. Books, watches, stylish air-tote bags, sunglasses and other accessories provide for more fun browsing.
reviewed
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N
Loyal Army Clothing
Food with high self-esteem is a recurring theme on this San Francisco designer’s cartoon-cute tees, totes and baby clothes: California rolls brag to nigiri sushi, ‘That’s how we roll!, ’ smiling custard declares ‘Girls just wanna have flan!’ and a grumpy bran muffin surrounded by uber-adorable pink cupcakes protests, ‘Muffins are cute on the inside.’ But the most popular character is the San Francisco fogbank: most of the clouds are silver and smiling, but there’s always one that has fangs.
reviewed
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Filene's Basement (Penn Quarter)
If you aren’t from the east coast, you probably haven’t ever had the privilege of shopping at Boston-based Filene’s Basement. This discount store is a bargain-hunter’s paradise, devoted to men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. You’ll have to dig, but you can score pieces by the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Ralph Lauren, BCBG, DKNY and Missoni. There's another location near the White House.
reviewed
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O
Super7
After tiresome T-shirt trends of self-promotion (‘Porn Star’) and retro-irony (‘Virginia is for Lovers’), it’s a shock to find piles of limited-edition T-shirts this original. ‘Superterrific Animal Friendlies’ announces one Super7 T-shirt with an unlikely superhero team of cuddly owls, bats and monkeys; ‘Martial Art Garfunkel’ proclaims another, with the ‘Mrs Robinson’ crooner striking a karate pose. Godzilla fans cannot miss the selection of rare action figures here.
reviewed
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Crossroads
Pssst, fashionistas: you know those designers you see lining Fillmore St? Many of their creations can be found used at Crossroads for a fraction of retail, thanks to Pacific Heights clotheshorses who tire of clothes fast and can’t be bothered to hang onto receipts. That’s why this Crossroads store is better than the other ones in the city (including Market and Haight Sts). For even better deals, trade in your own old stuff and browse the half-price rack.
reviewed
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Q
Town Shop
Your bra doesn’t fit! No, really – statistics say that 80% of women are wearing an ill-fitting bra, and here at the more-than-a-century-old Town Shop, the attentive saleswomen want to help you. They’ll hustle you into a private fitting room and bring you a selection of pretty, quality bras, and not let you leave until they find you one that fits properly. You’ll also find great lingerie and sleepwear, and alterations are free.
reviewed
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R
Deluxe Junk
A treasure trove of antique glories, from flapper dresses to sparkly evening shoes and even the occasional old-school wedding outfit, this is one of the city’s best vintage clothing stores. Mostly serving discerning females, there are also essential outfits for passing blokes, including cummerbunds and Hawaiian shirts (not usually worn together). Check out the vintage cigarette holders – perfect for that 1940s dinner party you’re time traveling back to.
reviewed
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S
Remix
One of the few vintage shops in the area, the Remix has a good selection of men’s and women’s attire from decades past. You’ll find soft leather gloves, fuzzy pink boas, slender strapless dresses, mirrored sunglasses, and satin smoking jackets and western shirts for the gents. There’s a private room with couture pieces – Oscar de la Renta and Pucci as well as delicate dresses and gowns dating back to the 1910s.
reviewed
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Life Is Good
Life is good for this locally designed brand of T-shirts, backpacks and other gear. Styles depict the fun-loving stick figure Jake engaged in guitar-playing, dog-walking, coffee-drinking, mountain climbing and just about every other good-vibe diversion you might enjoy. Jake's activity and message vary, but his 'life-is-good' theme is constant. Check out the sister store, Everything's Jake, in the Garage, 36 JFK St in Harvard Square.
reviewed
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U
Dekka
Overlooking a lively stretch of U St, Dekka is a youthful and creative space where you pick up locally made fashion, jewelry and artwork. Stylish T-shirts, whimsical dresses and framed black-and-white photographs are just a small part of the eclectic merchandise, which includes the work of over 30 local artists and designers. Stop in on the first Saturday of the month (from 6:30pm to 10:30pm) for cocktails, video, music and designer specials.
reviewed
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Needles & Pens
Do it yourself or DIY trying: this scrappy zine/craft/how-to/art gallery delivers the inspiration to create your own magazines, rehabbed T-shirts or album covers. Nab Sara Thustra’s silkscreened zines with drawings of every household purchase for a year, Maria Forde’s ‘advice portraits’ of neighbors and their wisdom (eg ‘don’t wax on what you can’t wax off’) and recycled T-shirts screen-printed with portraits of famous suffragists.
reviewed
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Nite Owl T-Shirts
A T-shirt is a T-shirt is a T-shirt? Minds might differ, but on Kaua'i it's caveat emptor regarding the iconic Kimo's Hawaiian Rules T-shirts and paraphernalia. The authentic producer of those words is Nite Owl T-Shirts, a screenprinting company established in 1985. Don't be fooled by copycats who have swiped their famous words. You can find femme tanks and extra-extra-extra-large sizes, at the Port Allen headquarters.
reviewed
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X
Good Vibrations
‘Wait, I’m supposed to put that where?’ The understanding salespeople in this worker-owned cooperative are used to giving rather, um, explicit instructions, so don’t hesitate to ask – Margaret Cho is on the board, so you know they’re not shy here. Check out the antique vibrators on the back wall, and imagine getting up close and personal with the one that looks like a floor waxer – then thank your stars for modern technology.
reviewed
