San Francisco Shopping
San Francisco may be best known for its colorful architecture, windy hills and jaw-dropping bay views, but the city also serves as the fashion center of Northern California. While decidedly more low-key in the shopping arena than cities like Paris or New York, San Francisco plays host to major consumer headquarters like Gap and Williams-Sonoma and features the perfect shopping destination for any budget.
Haute Spots: For those in the mood for lavish style, Union Square is a must. Top designers including Gucci, Christian Dior and Armani have plush boutiques in the bustling shopping district. Sumptuous interiors and displays make shopping at stores like Tiffany & Co. and Neiman Marcus a pleasure in itself.
In an already high-end area, the pinnacle of splurging can be found on Maiden Lane, a small street in the Union Square area. The quaint cobblestone road feels like it belongs in the middle of Paris, and it’s lined with stores including Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and high-end spas and salons including the famous 77 Maiden Lane Salon and Spa.
It is especially delightful to shop at Union Square around the holidays, when the central park area is transformed into a twinkling ice-skating rink, and an enormous Christmas tree is displayed. The historic Macy’s building across the way hangs festive wreaths in its many windows and often teams with local animal shelters to create sumptuous window displays featuring adorable puppies and kittens.
Boutique Bliss: While the big names and flashy labels of designer wares may impress, sometimes the fun of shopping in a new city is taking the time to browse among stores that you may have never heard of before. Fillmore Street, a hilly and beautiful route through the city’s tony Pacific Heights district, is a great place to find special little boutiques while soaking in a more relaxed atmosphere and lower prices.
While some of the stores, such as Marc Jacobs and Betsy Johnson, will be recognizable, others will feel distinctly San Franciscan. For example, Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic brand has a store on the street, and although some may not recall the name, the store embodies the trendsetting look that home design buffs are sure to know. Those looking for new accents to their homes can also go into Nest, which features colorful handmade quilts and delicate stationery and gifts.
Going Hippy-Dipping: It’s been nearly fifty years since the scent of patchouli took over the San Francisco air, but the Haight-Ashbury district has been doing everything in its power to keep the peace and love vibe alive. While the city’s hippies continue to be pushed out by those younger and, well, hipper, “the Haight” has become one of the city’s most unique — and budget-conscious — shopping destinations.
The most striking feature of Haight Street is its impressive litany of secondhand shops. The street’s vintage stores include Aardvark’s, Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads Trading Company and Wasteland, among others. Wasteland is the most entertaining of the bunch, offering outlandish vintage furs, dingy rocker T-shirts and ridiculously high platforms from the 1970’s, mingled in with more wearable goods such as perfectly worn-in jeans and quirky retro dresses. Vintage clothing on the Haight ranges in budget from dirt-cheap (for those who really need to wear secondhand clothes) to inflated (for those who just want to look like they need them).
The Haight is also a great place to take your time and poke around for treasures you may not be able to find anywhere else. The street holds true to its roots with several stores selling tie-dye and other hippie paraphernalia. The Giant Robot store is home to Japanese comic books, art, figurines and other trendy collectibles. The Haight even has a thriving military surplus store and several tattoo parlors, in case you’re in the mood for something a little bolder.