This San Diego spot offers clean and sophisticated style in a laid-back, friendly environment.

by Laurel Pinson

Growing up just outside San Francisco, Kate Ross adored the little shops in the bustling Haight-Ashbury district. I loved all those boutiques because you felt special shopping in them," she says. When she relocated to San Diego eight years later, she had trouble finding similar independent stores with a welcoming vibe. "I wanted to re-create that same feeling here." So in 2005 she opened a sunny storefront with whitewashed walls, custom wood fixtures, and personality-driven details like parachutes on the ceiling and a single gorgeous organic lantern. The clothing is equally inviting, with a relaxed West Coast appeal. Standouts include an array of hip LA Made tanks, comfy Velvet tunics, and Mixie sundresses in bold beachy prints. Around the corner, the newly opened Kate Ross Shoes, which shares its space with a local artist, stocks brilliant beach- and evening-friendly footwear. 3013 University Ave., 619-688-1088 shopkateross.com

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