Where To Shop
Vintage Shops
As time goes by, it gets harder and harder to find Jazz Age clothing in good condition. Cloth just doesn’t age as well as marble. However, San Francisco and the Bay Area do have a fair number of vintage shops, and you may have some luck if your visits to them are timed fortuitously. Here are a few:
Decades of Fashion
1653 Haight Street
San Francisco
The Alameda Point Antiques Faire
2900 Navy Way
(at Main Street)
Alameda
The largest antiques show in Northern California, the Antiques Faire is open one day each month on the first Sunday. On sale are vintage and antique clothing, jewelry, art, home furnishings, books, and collectibles.
Relic Vintage
1475 Haight Street
(at Ashbury)
San Francisco
Lang Antiques
Goorin Bros.
1612 Stockton Street
San Francisco
Hats, baby! It’s all about the hats!
Cable Car Clothiers (haberdashers)
110 Sutter Street
San Francisco
A good selection of hats, bow ties, suspenders (braces) and other accessories a sheik may desire.
Online Sources
Ebay is an endless river of vintage offerings. Etsy is also good, and there are plenty more. I think this is what they mean when they say “going down a rabbit hole.”
Custom Made and/or Rentals
If your body doesn’t fit the mold (like certain Jazz Age Junkies), you will probably be better off having something made especially for you.
Spidora of San Francisco
www. SPIDORAOFSANFRANCISCO.com
415 629 0212
Specializing in vintage silhouettes, custom clothing, made to measure, alterations and repairs.
Sheila Ash
415 385 4424
Vintage Rentals
Dark Garden Unique Corsetry and Le Jardin Bridal & Special Occasion Couture
321 Linden Street
San Francisco
Not just corsets. Historically accurate, museum-quality costuming.
Collectibles
Art Deco Collection.com
3227 14th Avenue
Oakland
By appointment: 510 301 4020