 | A Vessel of Sensational Finds A new vessel just opened its contents on Mission’s 16th Street. It’s called BellJar and it is a quite a deep vessel housing objects of an eclectic and stylish mix. Sasha Wingate, the visionary of this cozy space, showcases a delightful array of pieces that cover home décor, fashion and beauty for all to experience and take home as their own. Wingate explains, “I really felt inspired collecting, decorating and conceptualizing environments and creating these special little moments.”More |
 | Pinning It Up Seeking Bettie Grable or Dita Von Teese pinup status? Discriminating applicants may apply at Dollhouse Bettie -- the domain where one can find wall to wall selections of vintage lace gowns sheer enough to maintain some mystery or au courant naughty bra cups that show all with a slight pull of a bow. Founders Michelle Athanasiades and Eric Metens bring romance and glamour to a boudoir that showcases lingerie looks of yesterday and tomorrow.More |
 | Let Us Eat Cake! Encased behind protective glass counters like diamonds in a jewelry store, displays of cupcakes may soon become not only a girl’s new best friend, but also everyone’s new guiltiest indulgence. Like diamonds, these baked creations come in different sizes. They glisten with buttercream and Italian meringue frosting. Colors and brilliancy range from vanilla white to pearly pink. Best of all, they come in their own version of Tiffany boxes without the Tiffany prices.More |
 | Give Good Green I love New York. I love New York even more when it’s in San Francisco. Barneys New York is the latest shopping destination to have newly rooted itself near our own Union Square. What used to be FAO Schwartz’s tower of toys that greeted us through the opening doors are now a six-floor of fashion mecca.More |
 | French Couture at Target Prices New York, Milan, Paris and London all find themselves as spotlights for the catwalk circuits of any major design house. Other cities fetch some flash such as Los Angeles but San Francisco? Not so much. Californian denizens such as Peter Som and Derek Lam flock to New York to define au courant looks for Bill Blass and Tod‘s, respectively. Now Erin Fetherston has fled the coop too.More |
 | Hidden and Found in Cow Hollow Tucked inside a blushing Queen Anne Victorian above street level and in a large bay window lays a creamy pink room with a cast iron bed strewn with a lace and pearl thong. Cast atop a nightstand lays a pink suede blindfold. Just beyond the bedroom, shelves of glittering private and demure pleasures beckon. Here, at IntimaGirl, we find an affair of intimate indulgences.More |
 | Finding It in San Francisco No two dads are the same. Thus, finding that one gift to suit all dads is nearly impossible. I begin my search on the premise that San Francisco neighborhoods reflect shops that cater to certain types of people and hence types of dads. The sampling begins in the Haight.More |
 | British Fashion Queen Then & Now A designer who can understand punk and proper Saville Row suiting deserves a crown. Let that queen of fashion be Vivienne Westwood. Through June 10th, the de Young Museum presents a 30-plus-year retrospective of Ms. Westwood’s iconic looks that start with bondage latex suits and anarchy themed shirts in the 70s to 21st century tailored gowns cut in intriguing proportions and mixed materials.More |
 | Glam Couture in the USA Couture made in the Glamorous USA? I thought [b]real[/b] couture came from Paris! Not so, as the phenomenon of Juicy Couture has erupted and spreads from Pacoima, California to every major fashion capital around the world. San Francisco hits the radar in a very big way with not only two stores in Union Square, but also the largest flagship store in the US.More |
 | Under a jade and coral gateway, you enter Chinatown- one of the largest Chinese quarters outside of Asia. From this juncture at Bush and Grant, you encounter streets thick with herbs, tea leaves, jade jewelery and wisdom hats that crowd amongst the singing crickets and clamor of both locals and tourists. Forget about parking. The area is best covered by foot.More |
