It’s that time of year again…

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Sanfrancisco_2

It’s the end of October, it’s nearly Halloween time and it’s that time of the year for Susie to jet off to some random place in America…. first it was Texas, then Miami and now it’s….actually not so random…. San Francisco, the true birthplace of the Arts of Fashion event which I will be attending for the third year in a row.  I was supposed to teach a masterclass but since they found out I have nothing useful to teach, I’m merely there along for the ride, poking cameras/recording devices in people’s faces and taking in the atmosphere of it all.  There’s a stonking list of things going on….fashion showcases by Cathy Pill, Isabelle Steger (Hyeres 2008 contestant), Sandrina Fasoli and my friends Douglas Reker and Carlos Santiago.  Sandra Backlund is giving a masterclass in knitting so hopefully I will found out how the hell she produces those massive amazing knits of her’s.  The people from last year are back; Natalia Brilli (whose SS09 collection is stonkingly good….) will be teaching bag making, Tony Delcampe and Laurent Edmond (first creative assistant to Maison Martin Margiela) will be getting people to make rainbow warrior creations and the OWN boys are helping people creating odd kimonos.  All in a city which I’ve only visited once and know very little about other than it’s supposedly the most ‘European’ of American cities.  I’ll be hitting up ex-SF-er The Coveted for tips and I know the obvious places such as Modern Appealing Clothing and Acrimony but of course as per the past two years; THE MORE TIPS THE MERRIER!  I’m there for almost a week and in a city where public transport is good, I won’t have to rely on begging people for lifts and will therefore be able to get around and really explore.  This clueless Brit doesn’t ask for much so any help would be most appreciated…. and of course in return, I’ll be reporting indepth on what San Francisco has to offer.

60 comments

  1. im from southern california and im going to san francisco for the same event i havent been there for years and honestly im looking forward mostly to dressing up for halloween down in castro oh and for thrifting at thrift town

  2. When I visited a few years ago I spent a whole day on Haight St. I visited the street for all the skate and snowboard shops but I remember that there were quite a few vintage shops along it to.
    Hope this helps and have a good time.

  3. Yaaaa! My city! You will love it here, it’ such a amazing city. If you are interested in vintage shops and great thrifting the mission is great, I live here and it’s one of the best places to shop in the city. You have thrift town, community thrift (both are within a block of each other 17th and valencia and 17th and mission) For vintage shops there is clothing by the pound at 16th and valencia (part thrift part vintage finds, really inexpensive) and Schauplatz valencia between 18th and 19th. Haight is a great place for vintage shops as well. The mission is also full of amazing food and bars and little shops of all sorts. Bi rite creamery (home made gourmet ice cream) is amazing and my fave restaurant is Bar Tartine, Tartine bakery is really popular as well.
    If you have any more questions visit my blog and send me a email.
    http://www.prettyprettypirate.blogsopt.com
    for a extensive list of shops in the mission check this link
    http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=vintage+clothing&ns=1&rpp=10&find_loc=mission%2C+San+Francisco%2C+CA

  4. I’m so excited you’ll be visiting my city! I’m quite a fan of your site and fashion, and would be happy to help w/any public transportation inquiries, places to go, etc.
    To Oni at 18:36 – Don’t know if the Castro Halloween will be going on as the city closed it last year and it was a ghost town. They got all the shops, bars and restaurants to close for the evening and it was quieter than it usually is on a Tuesday evening! There will be private parties, but based on the previous year, this will not be the usual rawkus event the Castro is known for.

  5. SF is awesome! I hear the weather here is similar to that of London, so you should feel right at home. If Castro Halloween isn’t closed for Halloween, I definitely recommend. Bring lots of spare change for public transport!
    No one else has mentioned this yet (I think) but Ghiradelli Square is a MUST. It’s at the end of the embarcadero, and it’s a wonderful place to relax after a long day.
    Hope you have a wonderful time! 🙂

  6. I live in SF and I think you might find some stuff you like on Hayes street between Franklin and Laguna.

  7. aww how awesome! i’m sure you’ll have a lovely time! there’s lots of places i think you’ll like, but coming from london… it’s a super small town.
    just what ever you do… dont’ forget to go to painted bird… it’s an absolute necessity, if you don’t i’ll actually come to london to shake you around. seriously.
    🙂
    i acutally have a strange love for pacific heights. it’s not the hipster capital, but they have harputs market with all the ‘avant garde’ stuff… then up the street they have elizabeth charles with all the aussie designers, it’s great, and even further up the hill is the junior league charity shoppe, that has delectable designer vintage. and even FURTHER up the hill is Gimme Shoes. not to mention, the Grove was my favorite place to have a coffee and a rice krispy treat.
    yeah, halloween aint what it used to be but… being as it used to be the whole town shut down and you couldn’t get anywhere even if you desperately needed to. i’m sure true to sf tradition they’ll be some smashingly cool parties.
    aww.. now i’m a home sick, if you’ll excuse me i’m going to be eating some european cheeses to remind me how great it is to be on this side of the pond.

  9. how curious! i’m also a brit named susie and even weirder is that i’m heading to san francisco this wednesday to see my sister! when is the arts of fashion event? i’d love to go, but i’m only in town for a week! i’m glad to see there’s a lot of vintage shops in sf!

  11. Hi Susie,
    Glad to hear you are visiting our fair city. I would recommend taking a stroll through the Mission on Valencia St. from about 15th St. to 24th. It’s hipster central, but the apparel and furniture boutiques along with the restaurants are some of the cities best- plus, you’re guaranteed some of the best weather in the city in this little micro-climate as well. If the weather is particularly nice, cruise over to Dolores Park for some great city views and people watching (especially if it’s the weekend), the scene always reminds me of a modern day version of Seurat’s Sunday in the Park with 20’s and 30 something bohemian types and every other type of person you could imagine for that matter.
    If you’re going to be here this Sunday evening, I would suggest also checking out the Sunset Halloween boat party- which is a costume party on a yacht that cruises the bay. It’s one of the best events of the year. (Tickets sell out fast though, they just went on sale on going.com today, if you’re interested get them ASAP.)
    I also second Pacific Heights as well!
    Hope you have a lovely visit!

  12. looks like Jocehairart covered most of what i would have suggested, particularly as far as vintage/thrift stuff goes. we have great thrifting here. must second the advice to go to “thrift town”…it’s hands-down my fave thrift in SF. i found a never worn eley kishimoto dress there for $5 this past spring.
    i have also had much luck at the goodwill’s at s. van ness and mission, as well as the one in the haight at haight and cole.
    the city is small (7 x 7 miles) and generally very walkable. wear comfortable shoes. 🙂
    enjoy your stay here!

  24. Sounds like fun! I’ve only ever been to SF once, so I don’t really have any tips. However, I can tell that my (extremely biased in favor of NY) opinion is that it’s a bit pretentious.

  26. Wow, haven’t been to San Fran in years! Am so jealous of your trip! I’m afraid I don’t have any tips, but I do love the store Elizabeth Charles ‘lady coveted’ suggested, they stock my favourite Aussie designer Akira Isogawa…Hope you have a blast!

  27. Hi Susie,
    I live here in SF and I’ll be taking that knitwear masterclass with Sandra Backlund. If you need anything, feel free to stop by the room and say hi.. Hopefully I will be of help in guiding you where to take lunch breaks, etc. I’m so excited for this event.

  28. don’t forget to eat sushi…
    oh another thing i forgot to mention, is japantown has a great bookstore with all the japansese fashion mags, loads of great restaurants and the stationery stores i loved so much aand it’s between harputs market and elizabeth charles…
    i haven’t had good sushi since i left. it makes me very sad. also there’s mexican food which you can’t get in london…
    as for chinese food, you may kill me, but there’s a much bigger selection there than in london. bigger selection means big chance for hit and miss… but here are two places that are alwasy good: dinner R&G lounge http://www.rnglounge.com/ make a reservation… they are sooo good.
    and breakfast/lunch Washington Street Bakery, which I used to pass every day on my way to work (and back) it’s a hong kong style bakery, with hong kong tea and little cakes with cream filling… yum.
    and dont even get me started on vietnamese or the best burgers i’ll be writing all night.

  29. Yay! Yay! Yay!! As another SF-er, and as you helped me out a lot by emailing me when I went to London, you are absolutely welcome to pick my brain too — I’m a public transit-only girl so I can tell you how the system works. Japantown is one of my favorite stomping grounds, but there are a lot of fun places in the city; I definitely agree that the Mission is best for thrifting!

  30. my head is spinning. wow talk about being connected. I’m so in awe of your sense of organization and awareness of the fashion industry. You must be an Aries yes? I have no idea why I’m guessing that. My other guess would be pices? My kids live there.
    Enjoy San Francisco susiebubble 🙂
    oh loved all your posts lately expecially the shiny plastic leggings a week ago or so
    very nice.
    thecraftycameleon in california

  33. And also Susie on Wednesday, Oct 29 at the SFMOMA for a live TandemTalkShow…
    Can’t wait to have you with all of us in San Francisco!

  34. it seems like you’re getting plenty of help here. Good stuff.
    Have a good one mate. I don’t expect anything less than ‘indepth’ from you.

  35. son of a bitch. backlund’s gonna be here and i can’t participate? that’s immensely fucked up.

  37. i am so happy you are coming to SF! i know you will love this city with its mild weather and great victorian architecture and shopping in the fillmore and whatnot. i’ve been your biggest fan for YEARS ahhhhhhhhhh i hope to see you around susie!

  40. As a fellow foodie I HIGHLY recommend Burma Superstar in the Richmond area. I’d never had Burmese food before I went there and it was AMAZING. Kind of a combo of Thai and Indian but so much better! Get the tea leaf salad, rainbow salad and samosa soup. It’s kind of a hole in the wall place but there’s an hour wait minimum! Hand’s down the best food I had in the city. Also Korea House in Japantown for Korean bbq!

  41. Hi!
    If you buy a week long transit pass (costs about $15), you can ride buses, streetcars, BART, and MUNI trains. No trolley’s, though, but those are always packed anyways. http://www.sfmuni.com
    As for food, my neighborhood (Tender-nob, located between Tenderloin and Nob Hill) has tons of Indian restaurants. My favorite is Shalimar; it’s really tiny and usually crowded, so I suggest take-out. Accepts only cash.
    There’s also a good American breakfast place next door to Shalimar called Dotties. I’ve never been because there’s always a massive wait, but I hear the food is really good. Cash only.
    If you can, visit the Ferry Building. It’s full of wonderful little food shops and cafes. The Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Cafe is one of my favorites.

  42. SF is a good place to do the tourist things, because they really don’t disappoint – just buy Alcatraz tickets way ahead of time if you’re interested, they sell out immediately!

  43. If you’re staying until November and aren’t sick of fashion by then, the deYoung is also having a YSL exhibit that I’m eagerly anticipating.

  44. i havent been to SF since i was a little kid and got food poising at chucky cheese!
    there’s a place in south beach that carries Natalia Brilli, cant afford it at the moment, but it felt like such a privilege to able to see something so amazing upclose!

  45. i moved to san francisco two years ago from los angeles. this city is full of unique charm. i wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a fashion capital, but we’re on our way!
    STORES
    + the grocery store (you won’t find any vegetables here!)
    + modern appealing clothing
    + acrimony
    + barneys
    + harput’s market
    + marc by marc jacobs
    + the original levi’s store
    + cris
    BOOKSTORES
    + city lights
    + dog eared books
    + borderlands books
    + green apple books
    + ameoba (music!)
    THRIFTING
    + american rag cie
    + thrift town
    + painted bird
    + schauplatz
    + idol vintage
    + still life clothing
    GOOD EATS
    + mama’s (1701 stockton – yummy for breakfast! sometimes the lines are long though)
    + la boulange de polk
    + miette patisserie (macaroons)
    + boogaloos
    + tartine bakery
    + dottie’s true blue cafe
    + absinthe brasserie
    + lime (mimosas!!!)
    + foreign cinema
    + cafe du soleil
    BARS
    + delirium
    the rest of this week is supposed to be nice weather, so stop by dolores park in the mission and enjoy the sun!
    hope the rest of your trip is fun!

  46. please take lots of pictures from the knitting masterclass, it would be so great to get to go, you’re one lucky girl, enjoy SF! I was there when I was 14 and met the buyer from bloomingdales….only then a didn’t know what networking was….damn!

  47. oh also, if you’re unsure how to get from point A to point B
    try going to 511.org and plan a trip
    you just type the addresses and it tells you what buses or trains to take! i use it everyday!

  48. Hey dear, I don’t think anyone has mentioned, The Archive. It’s menswear, but lots of nice pieces. Also second Harput’s, M.A.C., and Acrimony (say hi to Jennie the owner.. she is super sweet).

  49. So conclusion…I’m going to get fatter than I already am and poor….yay!
    I can’t thank you guys enough and hope to see some of you out there(???)

  50. I would say Monica summed it up very nicely.
    I second, third, fourth, Burma Superstar, really truly unbelievably good food.
    There are great curiosity shops for accessories, my favorite being Paxton’s Gate on Valencia at 19th st.
    If you’re looking for galleries, art, evening events, check Fecalface.com. Saturday, 12-9pm, there is a hipster block party in the Mission next to Mission Thrift (and near most of what Monica posted). There is crazy street fashion watching to be had there.
    Since there are so many micro-climates in SF, wear light layers that can be thrown on/discarded as needed.

  51. I you are ever wondering when your bus will come, call 311. The operator can help you with any public transit needs.

  52. You should try Twenty-Two Shoes in SF and Oakland. They’re an independent shoe design store and they’re going out of business b/c of the credit crunch. There should be some great deals.
    http://www.twentytwoshoes.com/

  54. How exciting! SF is my favorite city to visit! I try to visit Hayes Valley, Pacific Heights, and sometimes Haight Ashbury. You can walk most places if you don’t mind hills, as the city is compact. I can’t wait to read about your trip. Have fun!

  55. How exciting! SF is my favorite city to visit! I try to visit Hayes Valley, Pacific Heights, and sometimes Haight Ashbury. You can walk most places if you don’t mind hills, as the city is compact. I can’t wait to read about your trip. Have fun!

  56. I’m an English girl living in San Francisco for 8 months now, and I really wouldn’t be anywhere else – it’s the most beautiful of cities but best of all it seems to be peopled by the most creative, relaxed and genuinely kind people (so nice after years in London!).
    Outside the Arts of Fashion you’ll see some occasional flashes of brilliant style in amongst the generally laidback dressing. The fashion is not as obviously cutting edge in the way that London so clearly is, but look closely and you’ll see there’s space for everyone to be themselves.
    Forget about touristy Fisherman’s Wharf (but do ride a cable car, it’s fun!). Go to Japantown and potter about and eat. Head to the Mission and eat at Foreign Cinema, drink too much in the divebars (the Phonebooth is a favourite – you can smoke in there, the popcorn is free and there is a foolproof jukebox), shop the thrift stores and visit the world’s most curious of curiosity shops, Paxton’s Gate. Make sure to check out the sweaty dancing and all the Hallowe’en craziness in the Castro. And save your valuable currency for boutique shopping in Hayes Valley!
    Have a ball. And thanks for the ever-stimulating blog.

  57. Oh and if you want the best lunch and you love seafood – join the line at the Swan Oyster Depot in Nob Hill…

  58. A few places that i don’t think were mentioned, and are definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area:
    Haight St: Held Over (vintage) & Rosa Vintage
    Divisadero & Oak: Venus Superstar (local designers)
    Polk St (Russian Hill area): Molte/Belle Cose, Mascara Vintage, Town School Clothes Closet
    Finally, I know this was already mentioned, but definitely spend some time in Hayes Valley (loads of great boutiques) & go to Harputs Market.
    Okay, I hope this helps! I’m sure you’ll have a blast.
    Please feel free to look me up while you’re here if you’d like to go shopping and/or have drinks!

  59. OH! and last but not least, Still Life Clothing. It’s close to Venus Superstar @ Divisadero + Fulton. Another great boutique with vintage clothing and locally designed goodies.

  60. Hello,
    Im one of the people that the nice person above recommend that she hoped you would run into 🙂 (http://fashionforestry.blogspot.com) Im making my whole outfit for the event (hat and a dress).
    Are you just going to the fashion show, or are you going to peek around at everything?
    I hope I run into you!!!
    Email me about anything! If you want to hang out or have a home cooked meal hahha Ill be available!! 🙂 (ldvnicole@gmail.com)
    Nicole 🙂

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