 | A Flower Design Shop Branches Out Over the years Hayes Valley’s seedy scene of drugs and crime has eroded. In the last decade or so it has sprouted into a bustling enclave of trendy boutiques, chic salons, sunny sidewalk cafés and hip restaurants that line not only its main thoroughfare, Hayes Street, but also its side alleys. The latest addition to take root is [b]Birch[/b].More |
 | Magical Outpost in the Mission The sun pours into the Mission when the fog lifts in San Francisco. The warmth draws people onto the streets to wait in line for salted caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery or to bask on the lawn at Dolores Park. Slightly off the main drag is [b]Gravel & Gold[/b], tucked on the corner of Lexington and 21st, providing a cool retreat from the heat and crowd.More |
 | Designers at Non-Designer Prices Bounding off the J-train onto the stretch of 24th Street, I hunt for the place coming up as the new gem boutique in Noe Valley: it’s called Cary Lane and it’s teeming with fresh inventory from au courant designers at non-designer prices.More |
 | It’s a Wrap Body wraps at one point meant Ace bandages or plastic wrap to induce weight loss. Under French fashion house Hervé Legér, body wraps have been redefined. Hervé Léger’s wraps are sexy bandage dresses that literally strap and band strips of fabric onto female forms -- not made for those with claustrophobia, and on the luxe rather than budget end of the spectrum.More |
 | A Swede Welcome A shake-up of sorts rippled through Union Square. The Virgin Megastore whose café I duck into for shopping breaks will be no more as it closes its doors in April. Further along Market Street, Shoe Pavilion’s lights are off along with a number of other dark storefronts scattered in a vibrant shopping destination for locals and tourists alike. In its wake, though, old spaces change hands and revive.More |
 | Raw Talent in Raw Times The outlook appears bleak in the fashion world. Tales are leaden with designers left in precarious situations as they seek financial backers. Headlines lament established designers reigning in their runway productions. Then there are the obituaries of retail shops and those in the apparel trade who are going out of business. Amidst this harsh economic environment there is a bit of an oasis -- Indie Industries.More |
 | Popular Canadian Chain Opens Doors to West Coast Canada just got closer. The latest addition to the Westfield San Francisco Centre is Aritzia, a womenswear boutique that features a mix of modern classics from its own labels as well as others. The clothing chain hails from Vancouver, British Columbia and adds a new dimension to the well-represented European counterparts such as H&M, Zara, Reiss and Karen Millen.More |
 | Fashion that pays to be fashionable Fashion forwards finally can invest in pieces that give back. Philanthropist, a spacious 1,600 square foot boutique nestled in Presidio Heights, houses everything from high-end runway pieces from New York to contemporary basics from Los Angeles. All proceeds from the sale of any item on the floor benefit a select charity, which like fashion, changes with each season. For this fall-winter The Raphael House is the beneficiary.More |
 | Legacy Extends Beyond Exhibit Seventy-two years ago a fashion maestro was born. Forty-seven years ago at 25, he had established his own fashion house. Eight years ago at 63, he had retired and walked his final show. This year the fashion world lost him to brain cancer but for now, and the future, Yves Saint Laurent’s legacy will prevail.More |
 | New Flagship Anchors in the Mission What started as a night job selling clothes to a few record stores has now turned into a full-time retail empire that stretches from Brooklyn to San Francisco. Wendy Mullin has just claimed her latest domain with her fourth Built by Wendy flagship store in the Mission where her summer collection of fantasy prep school looks and kitschy Americana tees have just arrived.More |
