San Francisco - Alison Bing [102]
ISDA & CO Map Clothing & Accessories, Local Designer
415-512-1610; www.isda-and-co.com; 21 S Park Ave; 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 10, 15, 30, 76, N, T
Sharp SF urban professionals aren’t born into casual Friday elegance – they probably clawed their way up through racks of pin-tucked jackets and tie-front cardigans at this local designer outlet. Colors are mostly variations on a charcoal-gray theme, but the lean silhouette is shamelessly flattering.
JEREMY’S Map Clothing & Accessories
415-882-4929; www.jeremys.com; 2 S Park St; 11am-6pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun; 10, 15, 30, 76, N, T
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.
ROLO GARAGE Map Clothing & Accessories
415-355-1122; www.rolo.com; 1235 Howard St; 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun; 12,19, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Civic Center
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.
MADAME S & MR S LEATHER Map Costumes & Fetish Wear
800-746-7677; www.madame-s.com; 385 8th St; 11am-7pm; 12, 19, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Civic Center
Only in San Francisco would an S&M superstore outsize Home Depot, with such musts as suspension stirrups, latex hoods and, for that special someone, a chrome-plated codpiece. If you’ve been a very bad puppy, there’s an entire department catering to you here, and gluttons for punishment will find home decor inspiration in Dungeon Furniture.
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top picks
SF FOODIE SUPPLIES
Omnivore Signed cookbooks.
Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market Andante cheeses and Marin Sun Farms boar.
Kamei Restaurant Supply Amuse-bouche plates.
Le Sanctuaire Molecular gastronomy makings.
PlumpJack Wines (opposite) Local wines under $30.
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SAN FRANCISCO FLOWER MART Map Flowers & Gardens
415-781-8410; www.sfflmart.com; 640 Brannan St; 10am-3pm Mon-Sat; 27, 42, N
When you’re in San Francisco, in love, and in the doghouse, do what the locals do: bring armloads of relentlessly cheerful sunflowers, bask in forgiveness and never let on that you got them cheap at the Flower Mart. Many of the 80 flower and plant vendors offer seasonal flowers grown locally, not flown in, so you can enjoy your greenery the green way.
GENERAL BEAD Map Jewelry, DIY
415-255-2323; www.genbead.com; 637 Minna St; 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, noon-5pm Sun; 12, 19, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Civic Center
Blind beading ambition will seize you when you’re upstairs among the racks of bagged bulk beads, where visions of holiday gifts for the entire family appear like mirages: multi-tiered necklaces, sequined seascapes, beaded frames, lampshades even. To practice restraint, order smaller quantities downstairs from the bead-bedecked staff behind the counter, who will ring you up on bejeweled calculators.
GOODWILL ‘AS IS’ SHOP Map Vintage Clothing & Accessories
415-575-2197; www.sfgoodwill.org; 86 11th St; 8am-3:30pm; & Civic Center
‘Ooh, that wedding dress would look fierce with some blood on it!’ Getting to the bottom of the bin before the regular crowds of emerging designers, vintage resellers, drag queens, serial costume-partiers and the rest of San Francisco’s fashion rebels isn’t always easy, but every item costs $2.50 and the