San Diego Shopping Guide

Lucky's favorite stores in San Diego!

San Diego's East Village arts district is a haven for inventive shops, and I Am is the leader of the pack. Its raw interior provides a striking backdrop for the coolly esoteric offerings, which include Redtoenails plaid boleros and Thea Grant gun-pendant necklaces.
633 Ninth Ave., 619-231-1221

Products: Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags, Jewelry
Type of Store: Boutique

Graphic designer Gary Benzel opened this studiolike space to give rising names in his field a space to see their self-produced goods, like vibrant silk-screened prints and art books filled with cartoony visuals.
640 W. Beech St., 619-234-5855

Products: Women's Clothing, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

Cushy slipcovered chairs and nautical ephemera set a casual tone for the abundance of cute clothing at the ever-welcoming L.A. Fairchild. Its new, nearby spin-off denim bar presents about 25 brands of jeans in a rugged, saloonish space—it even offers draft beer to thirsty shoppers, freshly tapped from the in-house keg.
2021 and 2029 San Elijo Ave., 760-487-1277, lafairchild.com

Products: Denim, Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags
Type of Store: Boutique

This spot is as homey as it gets. Every Nanette Lepore top, and pair of Trina Turk jeans is laid out in a maze of intimate rooms, and the shop exterior features a porch, rose-filled flowerboxes, and a white picket fence.
136 S. Cedros Ave., 858-794-0066,

Products: Women's Clothing, Bags, Jewelry, Beauty, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

Painters/sculptors David Brian and Meegan Nolan Cuzick have created a lively mood in their South Park venue, thanks to an expertly curated amalgam of playful jewelry, bright clothing, and art by West Coasters. Bonus: Magpie stays open until 11 PM on weeknights.
2205 Fern St., 520-529-4000, 619-563-5124, magpielovesyou.com

Products: Women's Clothing, Jewelry, Decorative/Lighting
Type of Store: Boutique

From romantic Rachel Pally skirts to lacy Jill Stuart dresses, every garment found here is compellingly arranged into little color-coordinated vignettes. The effect is quite persuasive: You'll find yourself branching out and selecting pieces you wouldn't ordinarily consider.
2689 Via de la Valle, 858-523-0693

Products: Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique

This massive emporium is filled with modern home goods and gorgeous paintings by local artists—it's one of our all-time-favorite pit stops.
2210 Kettner Blvd., 619-239-4788, mixturehome.com

Products: Women's Clothing, Jewelry, Decorative/Lighting, Furniture, Linens, Outdoor, Tabletop, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

The last thing you'd expect to find among the pasta shops and trattorias in Little Italy is this singularly cool little spot, selling Spring & Clifton sweaters, shoes from Marc Jacobs and BCBG , and girlie dresses created by local designer Carla Manuel.
621 W. Fir St., 619-615-0782

Products: Women's Clothing, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique