Accessories, Clothing shopping in San Francisco
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H&M
What IKEA is to home furnishing, H&M is to fashion: suspiciously affordable, perpetually crowded, not really made for the long haul and perfect for parties. With limited-edition runs and special collections by designers like splashy British colorist Matthew Williamson (and lesser ones like, oof, Madonna) you won’t have to worry that your closet looks exactly like everyone else’s – unless you bought it at IKEA. There are several outlets in town, but the one on Powell St is the biggest, with a vast men’s section.
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Ambiance
The splashy prints reel you in, and the sales pitch works every time: ‘Oh. My. God. That looks so key-oot on you!’ Expect to emerge clutching some little number requiring you to hit the town: swingy skirts for Lindy-hopping in Golden Gate Park, or DNA-pattern jackets for biotech lectures. The shoe-and-sale store next door encourages you to keep the retail rush going, while the sister store at 1458 Haight St features teen-appropriate prom dresses, and 1858 Union St in the Marina offers cocktail attire.
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Loehmann’s
The most revealing Downtown fashion choice isn’t what shoes you wear, but which floor you choose in this discount designer superstore. North Beach artists drift to the middle floor for almost-free Free People smocks; Pacific Heights charity fundraisers hit the top floor for discounted Prada shirtdresses; and gift shoppers converge around 40%-off red-tagged Kate Spade clutches in main-floor accessories. Pace yourself: women’s shoes and an impressive men’s section are across the street.
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MAC
MAC ‘Modern Appealing Clothing’ is what they promise, and what they deliver with structured looks from Belgian minimalist Dries Van Noten, pop-art patterns from Van Beirendonck and silk dresses with midnight-blue forest silhouettes by Tsumori Chisato. The staff are on your side, rooting for you to rock these designs, steering you away from looks that don’t quite click and enjoying the contact retail high when you find something from the 40%-to-75%-off sales rack.
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E
Jeremy’s
No South Park excursion would be complete without swapping stories about your all-time-best bargains from Jeremy’s. Runway modelling, window displays and department store customer returns translate to jaw-dropping bargains on major designers for men and women. Men’s stuff gets picked over faster, but you could score a skinny Jil Sander suit at half off if you work fast. Try before you buy – returns are possible for store credit, but only within seven days.
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Eco Citizen
Idealism meets street chic in this boutique of ecofriendly, fair-traded fabulousness, from ultraglam gold hemp jeans to Vivienne Westwood T-strap heels made of nontoxic PVC (recyclable onsite). Prices are reasonable and sales a steal – $50 could get you a fair-trade cashmere dress or SF-made Turk+Taylor organic cotton jacket. The faucet charm necklace made from reclaimed silver is truly lucky – its purchase helps support clean water initiatives.
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Original Levi’s Store
The flagship store in Levi Strauss’ hometown sells classic jeans that fit without fail, plus limited-edition pairs made of tough Japanese selvage and eco-organic cotton denim. Start with the impressive discount racks (30% to 60% off), but don’t hold out for sales – denim fanatics Tweet their finds here, so rare lines like 1950s prison-model denim sell out fast. Shout out to fellow shorties: they’ll hem your jeans here for $10.
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Sui Generis
Even guys who thought they’d never go back in the closet crowd into this walk-in wardrobe of a boutique, with its streamlined Costume National jackets and crisp, slim-fit Filippa K shirts in front and deadstock rock tees in back. The selection is best for men who fit runway-model sizes, yet have relatively fat wallets – don’t think of them as clothes but collectibles, and auction them off on eBay next year.
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Room 4
Spare yourself years of arduous thrifting, and head to this tiny treasure-box boutique for the good stuff: trippy green and orange enamel dishes; a pair of pearlescent dewdrop-shaped lamps; creepy portraits of big-eyed toddlers in the rain; and locally designed underwear made of vintage T-shirt fabric that is styled for boys, but cute enough for girly-girls.
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Candystore Collective
Jars of Pixie Stix and tasty little numbers for men and women by indie designers. Slippery silk dresses in graphic prints by Corey Lynn Calter stand out in Mission bar crowds, while cozy motorcycle jackets made of grey sweatshirt fabric keep vegan bikers warm. Don’t miss intoxicating Yosh perfumes, chunky aquamarine collars, and 70%-off sales bins.
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Rolo Garage
You’d go out tonight, but you haven’t got a stitch to wear? Rolo Garage fixes that old excuse at 30% to 60% off retail price for club-ready menswear, including artfully distressed G-Star jeans, a French military jacket by SF’s own Nice Collective, a stag shirt so everyone is clear on your single status, and sunglasses for tomorrow morning.
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Uko
Laser-cut, draped and micro-pleated are the fashion-forward signatures of Uko’s inventive garments for men and women. Get bonus fashion IQ points for clever jackets with hidden pockets-within-pockets, Cop-Copine wrap skirts with oddly flattering flaps, and silver drop earrings that add an exclamation point to your look.
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Lavish
Baby shower gifts are a done deal here with teensy superhero capes, eensy unisex pink dumptruck onesies, and weensy moon boots. Splurge on your favorite mom while you’re at it, with pin-tucked Plume organic peasant tops and screen-printed hipster hoodies that look nothing like standard-issue momswear.
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Marc by Marc Jacobs
The USA’s hippest designer usually charges prices to match, but here alongside the $800 satchels and $300 flip-flops are bins of accessories under $25: $6 chunky resin bangles, $14 yellow belts and limited-edition $24 clutches with funky designs by SF’s own Creativity Explored.
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Her
Count on Her for universally flattering Ella Moss dresses and pencil skirts that skim your curves. You could get the star treatment with a personal shopper from Her dispatched to your home, but then you’d miss the smoking-hot sales rack for deals of up to 70% off.
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My Roommate’s Closet
All the half-off bargains and none of the clawing dangers of a sample sale. You’ll find cloudlike Catherine Malandrino chiffon party dresses, executive-office Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dresses, and designer denim at prices approaching reality.
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Shotwell Boutique
SF fashion vanguardians could shop for decades for a look achieved in an afternoon at Shotwell: purple-rimmed ‘80s sunglasses, Surface to Air low-tops, a ’70s fedora, draped tank from Society for Rational Dress over Cheap Monday jeans, and locally designed bling. Unlike other Downtown boutiques, there are good selections of menswear and vintage under $25, plus a $5 jewelry bin.
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