San Francisco : Lucky Magazine

Russian Hill

Lucky's favorite stores in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood!

This famed retailer's Los Angeles outpost may get most of the accolades, but the San Francisco shop is the original—it's the same size as its neighboring car dealerships, offering a compendious assortment of vintage dresses and tops (all arranged by era) along with new talents like Monrow and Humanoid.
1305 Van Ness Ave., 415-474-5214

Anica

Occupying a slender open-air duplex in Russian Hill, this three-year-old all-white cube of a boutique provides a spare backdrop to a handful of artfully crafted collections. Owner Rati Sahi, a former banker, selects pieces that qualify as both elegant and interesting, which translates to names such as Vena Cava, Karen Walker, Wood Wood, and the locally based House of Hengst.
2418 Polk St., 415‑447-2878, anicaboutique.com

As featured in Lucky's City Summer Shopping Guide!

Eco Citizen

Tucked away in Russian Hill and owned by a former stylist, zeroes in on the best pieces from the most fashion-forward green designers. Turk + Taylor tops and Larsen Gray dresses are here, along with an ample array of clutches, totes, and heels.
1488 Vallejo St., 415-614-0100

Helpers House of Couture

Iconic San Francisco socialite Joy Venturini Bianchi's newest undertaking is a brownstone turned appointment-only store, replete with centuries' worth of vintage that's been donated by her many friends. Venturini Bianchi, who is always on hand, knows the history and lineage of almost every garment here, from the Estevez capes to the Chanel dresses. Prices are reasonable considering the inventory, and all sales directly benefit the charity she's been supporting since she was 14, Helpers, which aids the mentally disabled.
415-387-3031

Swallowtail

Helmed by one of the city's most celebrated interior designers, Sheri Sheridan's store has been an inimitable source for inspirational home goods since it opened in 1996. In naming her store after the bird that's supposed to guide wayward sailors to shore, Sheridan takes a far-flung, nest-building approach to creating her displays, placing Stephen Sprouse graffitied chairs next to botanical posters and ages-old ephemera.
2217 Polk St., 415-567-1555

The Mission

Lucky's favorite stores in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood!

Bell Jar

Former art director Sasha Wingate had a vision for her new shop: dark, gothic, and a bit twisted, but ultimately really gorgeous. It's an aesthetic that's mirrored in every inch of her opulent spot, which feels like the sanctuary of a sorceress of the dark arts. There's lots of clothing, but the selection particularly shines when you zero in on the home goods, sourced from as far away as the flea markets of China (busts, antique glove molds, opalescent vases).
3187 16th St., 415-626-1749

As featured in Lucky's City Summer Shopping Guide!

Candystore Collective

A Willy Wonka-esque wall of candy behind the register—from swirled lollipops the width of Frisbees to caramels in retro wrappings—provides a serious distraction as you step inside. But those who can work their way past the counter will find loads of girly clothing labels like Built by Wendy and regional designers such as She-bible and Mixie.
3153 16th St., 415-863-8143, candystorecollective.com

The Curiosity Shoppe

Resembling the sort of general store that one might have found in a Wisconsin summer resort town in the '40s, The Curiosity Shoppe focuses on beautifully designed yet useful items, including staplers made from wood and glass vases that mimic cheap plastic water bottles. It's all carefully chosen by the crafty owners, Lauren Smith (a Todd Oldham alum) and Derek Fagerstrom (a former editor at Interview and ReadyMade).
855 Valencia St., 415-671-5384, curiosityshoppeonline.com