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Jokes about whale nether regions aside, there's much to love about San Diego. Besides being the place to score the mythical California burrito, the coastal city's also got a host of happening neighborhoods that are home to a treasure trove of vintage and consignment boutiques.
From the burgeoning arts district of North Park—which recently landed on Forbes' hippest 'hoods list next to our own Silver Lake (no surprise)—to the eclectic residential community of South Park and the LGBT-friendly Hillcrest, here are nine must-visit indie shops to add to your itinerary for your next SD road trip.
There's no shortage of neighborhood drag queen supply shops in Hillcrest, but don't be fooled by Flashbacks' collection of crazy costume wear and groovy garb. This 2,500-square-foot consignment store poses some fierce competition for Buffalo Exchange across the way with its inventory of covetable contemporary and vintage designer merch. Case in point: Chanel, Louboutin and Ferragamo are just a few top players in the shoe department.
This small designer consignment boutique packs a punch with a sizable selection of men's and women's apparel, shoes and bags, plus wacky costume accessories (after all, this is Hillcrest). Find high-end Italian labels like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Armani over in the men's section, plus plenty of premium denim for both ladies and gents.
If you're headed east out of Hillcrest and into North Park, Frock You! is a must-stop for affordable vintage gems, an entire back room dedicated to shoes and even more steals in the outside tent. (The place is bigger than it looks!) Time your visit right to score finds under $20 during the boutique's flea market, where local vendors gather every other month for a three-day blowout.
Bringing boho chic to North Park is this eclectic boutique of men's and women's vintage and up-cycled apparel, plus tees and jewelry from the area's top talent.
Come to play dress-up at North Park's Ms. Vintage, then proceed to marvel at the high-end pieces' wallet-friendly prices. Whether you're looking to channel your inner Jackie O. or seeking Diane Keaton's '70s style, the shop has something for every vintage vixen.
One of the few boutiques on University Boulevard that sells new clothing, Home houses cool contemporary brands like Obey for the men and Lush and Piko 1988 for the ladies. And yes, they've got great vintage too, along with their own in-house label of re-worked apparel. Fun fact: The shop takes its name from the original Home in Pacific Beach, a regular hangout spot for musicians like John Lennon, David Bowie and other heavy hitters in the '70s.
This North Park vintage haven boasts a perfectly pristine collection of men's and women's clothing and accessories—including designer frocks, dead stock bathing suits (!) and a serious assortment of hand-painted '50s Mexican circle skirts—that makes shopping at this high-end store feel like browsing a museum of fashion history.
This cute and quirky South Park boutique stocks a well-curated inventory of vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories and brick-a-brack. Need decor for your digs? You'll also find furniture and home goods from Art Deco to kitschy to mid century and every era in between.
Though technically not a shopping spot nor a vintage store, this by-appointment-only bespoke menswear studio makes the list for being the stylish gent's place to go for custom-made apparel. Men can personalize pieces from a selection of styles and handpicked fabrics or have clothing designed from scratch. Grooms: they can handle your wedding party's looks too!
There's no shortage of neighborhood drag queen supply shops in Hillcrest, but don't be fooled by Flashbacks' collection of crazy costume wear and groovy garb. This 2,500-square-foot consignment store poses some fierce competition for Buffalo Exchange across the way with its inventory of covetable contemporary and vintage designer merch. Case in point: Chanel, Louboutin and Ferragamo are just a few top players in the shoe department.
This small designer consignment boutique packs a punch with a sizable selection of men's and women's apparel, shoes and bags, plus wacky costume accessories (after all, this is Hillcrest). Find high-end Italian labels like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Armani over in the men's section, plus plenty of premium denim for both ladies and gents.
If you're headed east out of Hillcrest and into North Park, Frock You! is a must-stop for affordable vintage gems, an entire back room dedicated to shoes and even more steals in the outside tent. (The place is bigger than it looks!) Time your visit right to score finds under $20 during the boutique's flea market, where local vendors gather every other month for a three-day blowout.
Bringing boho chic to North Park is this eclectic boutique of men's and women's vintage and up-cycled apparel, plus tees and jewelry from the area's top talent.
Come to play dress-up at North Park's Ms. Vintage, then proceed to marvel at the high-end pieces' wallet-friendly prices. Whether you're looking to channel your inner Jackie O. or seeking Diane Keaton's '70s style, the shop has something for every vintage vixen.
One of the few boutiques on University Boulevard that sells new clothing, Home houses cool contemporary brands like Obey for the men and Lush and Piko 1988 for the ladies. And yes, they've got great vintage too, along with their own in-house label of re-worked apparel. Fun fact: The shop takes its name from the original Home in Pacific Beach, a regular hangout spot for musicians like John Lennon, David Bowie and other heavy hitters in the '70s.
This North Park vintage haven boasts a perfectly pristine collection of men's and women's clothing and accessories—including designer frocks, dead stock bathing suits (!) and a serious assortment of hand-painted '50s Mexican circle skirts—that makes shopping at this high-end store feel like browsing a museum of fashion history.
This cute and quirky South Park boutique stocks a well-curated inventory of vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories and brick-a-brack. Need decor for your digs? You'll also find furniture and home goods from Art Deco to kitschy to mid century and every era in between.
Though technically not a shopping spot nor a vintage store, this by-appointment-only bespoke menswear studio makes the list for being the stylish gent's place to go for custom-made apparel. Men can personalize pieces from a selection of styles and handpicked fabrics or have clothing designed from scratch. Grooms: they can handle your wedding party's looks too!
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