California: Part II
My husband had to schedule a business trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles, and in fashionista form, I couldn’t resist the urge to tag along for a week in these to cities for support and, well, shopping. And shop I did.
Our first business dinner as we arrived in San Francisco allowed me the opportunity to meet the fashion-forward lead singer of Karmacoda, Heather Pierce (check her out on iTunes or at www.karmacoda.com). We instantly bonded as she shared some secrets of San Francisco shopping with me.
Eager to begin exploring new parts of the city, I started with her suggestion of the shops near the cross streets of Haight and Ashbury. The decidedly San Francisco feel to the area is a fun experience, even if you are a non-shopper. After a quick lunch at The People’s Café, I headed on my way through this urban shopping jungle. There are divine stores in the Haight for all types of shoppers. Vintage and thrift store shoppers will be in heaven here with stores like La Rosa Vintage Boutique and Wasteland (dubbed the best place to sell your clothes by Rolling Stone magazine). Shoppers disinterested in perusing through thrift stores will also find joy in stores like Ambience and Shoe Biz. Ambience was mentioned in the previous San Francisco entry, and this Haight Street branch was no disappointment. Shoe Biz had a great selection of fun, unique shoes, and I found myself a pair of cozy brown printed boots that have been the recipient of dozens of compliments.
I also decided to visit the upscale Union Square, the well-known San Francisco shopping district. I entered this area thinking I would find myself in the midst of expensive global brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. I was right, but I also found myself blissfully lost in plenty of shops which are more difficult to find like Ted Baker and Ben Sherman. Union Square has more shopping than one could cover in one day…or week. I found a delicious creamy white winter coat at Ben Sherman that the salesperson tried relentlessly to talk me out of. She was sure I would want the more practical gray or black, but love is blind, and no matter how much more practical a black coat would have been, the white was too divine to pass up. I also fell madly in love with a pair of brown leather boots from Gucci. They were practical with no heel and a high arch, and they will most certainly get me fashionably and comfortably through this winter.
If you live in or near the San Francisco area or you are just planning a trip there, I would recommend picking up Crave San Francisco: The Urban Girl’s Manifesto. This manual will direct you easily to all the best shopping San Francisco has to offer.
We left San Francisco too soon for starstruck Los Angeles, staying within minutes of Rodeo Drive. If you haven’t been there, go there, for every fashionista needs to visit Rodeo Drive once because of its notoriety. But once you’ve been there once, there is very little need to go back. Rodeo boasts a few blocks of fantastic global brands like Tiffany, Cartier, Juicy Couture, and more, along with a few wonderful department stores like Barney’s. But Los Angeles has so much more to offer than this, so be sure to tear yourself away to visit some of the other LA shopping districts. Grab a cupcake (if the line isn’t too long) at Sprinkles Cupcakes, and hail a taxi to Melrose St.
Begin your day with lunch at Fred Segal. I don’t spend too much time in Fred Segal, but there are definitely a lot of fun clothes to look at for those of you who are interested. But be sure to head across the street to Miss Sixty. This fantastic store has a wide selection of denim along with lots and lots of fun tops. The only time I have left that store without purchasing something (a knee length dark wash denim skirt with a ruffled hem…sigh), I have greatly regretted it. This time around, I found a few great sweaters on sale. Melrose is laid-back cool, home to real Los Angelinos, not the high society women that shop on Rodeo to see and be seen. A two story Urban Outfitters is on this strip, and the rest of the stores follow suit with a relaxed, urban vibe. I had a lot of fun looking, but I only found a very cute ¾ sleeve sweatshirt at Paul Frank.
Our time in California ended with many shops unturned, but there will plenty to see when I return. And if you know of any fantastic finds in these shopping meccas, be sure to pass them on to us.
Our first business dinner as we arrived in San Francisco allowed me the opportunity to meet the fashion-forward lead singer of Karmacoda, Heather Pierce (check her out on iTunes or at www.karmacoda.com). We instantly bonded as she shared some secrets of San Francisco shopping with me.
Eager to begin exploring new parts of the city, I started with her suggestion of the shops near the cross streets of Haight and Ashbury. The decidedly San Francisco feel to the area is a fun experience, even if you are a non-shopper. After a quick lunch at The People’s Café, I headed on my way through this urban shopping jungle. There are divine stores in the Haight for all types of shoppers. Vintage and thrift store shoppers will be in heaven here with stores like La Rosa Vintage Boutique and Wasteland (dubbed the best place to sell your clothes by Rolling Stone magazine). Shoppers disinterested in perusing through thrift stores will also find joy in stores like Ambience and Shoe Biz. Ambience was mentioned in the previous San Francisco entry, and this Haight Street branch was no disappointment. Shoe Biz had a great selection of fun, unique shoes, and I found myself a pair of cozy brown printed boots that have been the recipient of dozens of compliments.
I also decided to visit the upscale Union Square, the well-known San Francisco shopping district. I entered this area thinking I would find myself in the midst of expensive global brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. I was right, but I also found myself blissfully lost in plenty of shops which are more difficult to find like Ted Baker and Ben Sherman. Union Square has more shopping than one could cover in one day…or week. I found a delicious creamy white winter coat at Ben Sherman that the salesperson tried relentlessly to talk me out of. She was sure I would want the more practical gray or black, but love is blind, and no matter how much more practical a black coat would have been, the white was too divine to pass up. I also fell madly in love with a pair of brown leather boots from Gucci. They were practical with no heel and a high arch, and they will most certainly get me fashionably and comfortably through this winter.
If you live in or near the San Francisco area or you are just planning a trip there, I would recommend picking up Crave San Francisco: The Urban Girl’s Manifesto. This manual will direct you easily to all the best shopping San Francisco has to offer.
We left San Francisco too soon for starstruck Los Angeles, staying within minutes of Rodeo Drive. If you haven’t been there, go there, for every fashionista needs to visit Rodeo Drive once because of its notoriety. But once you’ve been there once, there is very little need to go back. Rodeo boasts a few blocks of fantastic global brands like Tiffany, Cartier, Juicy Couture, and more, along with a few wonderful department stores like Barney’s. But Los Angeles has so much more to offer than this, so be sure to tear yourself away to visit some of the other LA shopping districts. Grab a cupcake (if the line isn’t too long) at Sprinkles Cupcakes, and hail a taxi to Melrose St.
Begin your day with lunch at Fred Segal. I don’t spend too much time in Fred Segal, but there are definitely a lot of fun clothes to look at for those of you who are interested. But be sure to head across the street to Miss Sixty. This fantastic store has a wide selection of denim along with lots and lots of fun tops. The only time I have left that store without purchasing something (a knee length dark wash denim skirt with a ruffled hem…sigh), I have greatly regretted it. This time around, I found a few great sweaters on sale. Melrose is laid-back cool, home to real Los Angelinos, not the high society women that shop on Rodeo to see and be seen. A two story Urban Outfitters is on this strip, and the rest of the stores follow suit with a relaxed, urban vibe. I had a lot of fun looking, but I only found a very cute ¾ sleeve sweatshirt at Paul Frank.
Our time in California ended with many shops unturned, but there will plenty to see when I return. And if you know of any fantastic finds in these shopping meccas, be sure to pass them on to us.
posted by Lindsay @ 3:38 PM
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