Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
models or sent around to department stores for a look see (don't worry, they usu-
ally haven't been worn; and they come in all sizes).
Like the sign says, lady,
Warm Things
(3063 Fillmore St., at Filbert;
%
415/
931-1660; www.warmthingsonline.com)
sells, well, warm things. Down comforters,
overstuffed pillows, and jackets that could preserve a bowl of ice cream are among the
many markdowns, which are regularly 40% to 50% off normal retail rates.
If you like something high-quality resting on your noggin, toupees are passé.
You want something from
Goorin Hats
5
(1612 Stockton St., at Union;
%
415/
402-0454; www.goorin.com),
which makes some of the coolest head-toppers in
town. Fedoras, porkpies, all in a classy, old-school setting with shelves up and
down the walls, right across the street from North Beach's Washington Square. It
also does a few casual hats, but its real claim to fame since 1895 has been the man-
ufacture of dapper brimmed hats that you can brag about.
SoMa & the Mission
Rolo
55
(1235 Howard St., btw. 8th and 9th;
%
415/355-1122; www.rolo.com)
does clothes, particularly denim, that's a season or two old, not that you'd know
the difference from fresh-off-the-mannequins. Brands you'll find at up to 75% off
include Earnest Sewn, G-Star, and Rag & Bone.
Although the trendy sneaker brand recently opened a flagship store on Powell
near O'Farrell, the real place to score some
Skechers
(2600 Mission St., near
22nd;
%
415/401-6211; www.skechers.com)
is in the Mission, where an outlet
store is tucked among the district's junkier clothing shops. If you don't already
know the Skechers (
Sketch
-ers) brand, you'll still recognize the style: skater-
boarder-y sneakers and retro shoes, plus the odd boot and classic leather shoes.
Everything's fairly casual, and prices start around $25 per pair—sometimes half
what they cost at the mainline Skechers shops or at department stores.
In the pricey world of camping and adventure outfitting,
REI
5
(840 Brannan
St., btw. 7th and 8th;
%
415/934-1938; www.rei.com)
is a cut above because cus-
tomers have the option of becoming members, and members receive about 10%
of their annual purchases back each year in the form of a dividend redeemable for
merchandise. And some of its gear is stylish enough to wear off the hiking trail,
as long as you're aware that sizes here run large.
Noe Valley's
Isso San Francisco
55
(3789 24th St., at Church;
%
415/
920-9149; www.issosf.com)
specializes in stuff that was “made, found, or designed
in the San Francisco Bay Area” and is known for carrying local lines Nopal
(women's apparel adorned with intricate hand-drawn designs), Anne Cook
Vintage Jewelry, and Nicacelly (an Oakland label combining hip-hop and quilt-
ing). In early 2008, it opened a second store in the
Mission (3608 19th St., at
Guerrero;
%
415/865-0969; closed Tues)
that's slightly more accessible to BART.
Hayes Valley
One of the most interesting boutiques around, where looks are unlikely to be dupli-
cated anywhere else, is the admirable
Residents Apparel Gallery (RAG)
555
(541 Octavia St., at Grove;
%
415/621-7718; www.ragsf.com),
a one-room store-
front dedicated to fostering local fashion talent. Some 65 rising designers—folks
who can't yet command backbreaking prices—sell their experimental designs here,
and some of them have gotten so popular they've graduated to opening their own
