Getting Away With Murder: The Glory that is Thrifting
By Jenn Zipp
I’m not one of those girls that reminisce about shopping with my mother growing up. I have friends that gush over the wonderful, fond memories of going to Montgomery Ward with their mothers on Sunday afternoons after church, of browsing the perfume counters and having their first sniff of Chanel no. 5, of realizing the beauty of being a woman while watching their mothers shop for underpants at Macy’s.
No. I don’t have those memories. The only memory I have of shopping with my mother is being dragged through Chinatown trying to hold my breath in the fish markets. (She’s lucky I didn’t pass out.) My clothes came from a garbage bag kept in the closet stuffed with hand-me-down t-shirts from my sisters (they were teenagers in the 80s. While everyone in junior high was sporting their flannel and denim overalls, I was the only one sporting the Duran Duran Girls On Film Tour t-shirt. If only I knew then how retro I was…)
Which is probably why I love vintage thrift stores. It’s like digging through that big trash bag of Duran Duran fan club t-shirts… but Better. And there’s something about finding that diamond in the rough when you’re vintage shopping that makes you feel like you’re getting away with murder.
The Painted Bird
http://www.paintedbird.org/
Location: 1201A Guerrero St (24th and Guerrero), San Francisco
What I found: high waisted leather mini-skirts, skinny belts, Jordache jeans like your Aunt Pat use to wear in the 80’s, good sunglasses selection, a shitload of prayer scarves in every color you could think of (including the Muslim extremist scarf that TV Food Network personality Rachel Ray got burned for. Oh c’mon! Urban Outfitters has been selling those for years and really, I doubt Rachel Ray is a Muslim extremist. I think the only thing she’ll terrorize is daytime television with her network show. Seriously, count how many times she laughs at herself on her own show. I friggen hate her). Did I mention we found a ten dollar bill ripped in half in the back pocket of a pair of denim cut-off shorts? Oh the endless goodies!!
Bluebird
http://www.bluebirdcollection.com/
Location: 243 Pierce St (and Haight St.), San Francisco, CA
What I found: the cutest children’s collection with a vintage inspiration. It makes me think that having a daughter wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. The women’s line is coming soon. However, there’s authentic vintage pieces, everything from dresses to slips ranging anywhere from $25-$100. Beautiful jewelry selection and for the budding designer, they have vintage textiles available.
Still Life
http://www.still-life-sf.com/
Location: 835 Divisadero St (between McAllister and Fulton St.), San Francisco, CA
What I Found: awesome owner Kelly travels all over the US to bring the goods back to the bay. In San Francisco, where every hipster girl has already snagged the last pair of flat black leather boots from every flea market and yard sale, Kelly brings them over from Memphis. The store also has a great jewelry selection that Kelly designs a lot of herself.
Brown Bear
http://www.brownbearsf.com/
Location: 289 Divisadero St (and Page St.), San Francisco, CA
What I Found: A lot of kitschy vintage-wear. I mean… the kind of stuff you pull from the rack, show your friend and say “This is awesome” but nothing that I’d actually have the balls to wear in public if it weren’t Halloween or some sort of outdoor event that included a parade of some sort. Granted, cute boots, but they have a small shoe collection. What makes the place worth visiting is that it’s half vintage store, half art gallery.