Welcome to Racked SF, where local fashion blogger Kristen Philipkoski reports on retail comings and goings around San Francisco. Philipkoski has been living and shopping in San Francisco for 20 years, and she blogs about it over at Stylenik.com. Seen a store open, close, or otherwise claim your attention? Hit the tipline, s'il vous plait
Uniqlo's San Francisco opening is pretty darn exciting, but a few other things are happening this week as well! The Bay Area is alive with retail as well as philanthropy, read all about it:
1. Union Square: The big news in retail this week, you may have heard, is UNIQLO San Francisco is opening tomorrow! After a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:45, shoppers will be let loose at the spanking new 111 Powell (formerly DSW, sniff) location (check out our sneak peek!). We get the feeling people are going to freak the you-know-what out, so be prepared. The Japanese retailer will gift a free heat-tech (formerly long underwear technology, now is outerwear) item to the first 500 customers. We're guessing they'll have a cleaning crew going all night following a VIP opening party this evening. The mayor and Joe Montana will be there, holla!
Once the store opens doors for shopping, look for $10 skinny jeans in a rainbow of colors for $10—a special price for the SF outpost. Also look for other special SF-only sales as well as the to-die colors and patterns they've got going for their women's and men's flannels and fleeces. We love UNIQLO's collabs with Orla Kiely and Double Standard Clothing: they couldn't be more different style-wise, but we covet them both equally. With all this excitement, the place is sure to be a madhouse this weekend, but Uniqlo has an army of staff trained and ready for the assault of shoppers. [Uniqlo]
2. Union Square: Onassis Clothing opened its doors in the Westfield Shopping Centre this past weekend. It's the company's third store, and its first outside of NYC. You'll find unique menswear inspired by American style, rooted in European styling and fit, and handcrafted with Japanese techniques. They also carry handmade leather accessories. [SF Gate]
3. Union Square: The fashion stylist for tween TV sensation Pretty Little Liars, Mandi Line, will on hand at Macy's this Saturday along with local bloggers Britt+Whit, Stylepint, and Inspirafashion to help you style the latest fall trends. You can also enter to win a Macy's $300 gift card and a personal style consultation with Lane. It's happening on October 6 starting at 2pm at 170 O'Farrell Street on Level 4. [Refinery 29]
4. Berkeley: Viv & Ingrid are offering yummy Maison Bouche Fleur de Sel chocolate bars with pink wrappers for breast cancer awareness month. They're also selling a $70 pink-themed gift set. Ten percent of proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Fund. Plus, through the end of the month, Viv & Ingrid will donate 15 percent of sales to three women's organizations: The Breast Cancer Fund, Dress for Success, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. [Viv&Ingrid]
5. Berkeley: Convert has a new, exclusive, 100 percent vegan line by Jeffery Campbell. The shoes are made of biodegradable fibers, synthetic leathers, and dead-stock fabrics. It's the fifth similar collab, and they seem to get better every time! [Convert]
6. Oakland: If you missed them at La Boutique last week, now is your chance for a meet and greet with the lovely ladies behind new local shoe brand Freda Salvador. They'll be on hand today at Crimson Mim from 2 to 6pm. If you're in SF, the animal print booties and menswear-inspired loafers are totally worth a trip across the bridge! It's happening at 855 El Camino Real, Suite 35 (near Galvez Street). [Crimson Mim on Facebook]
7. Bay Area: Halloween is a-coming! Don't get caught trying to fashion your child's costume out of paper bags the night before; peruse 7x7's list of kid-friendly Bay Area costume shops. [7x7]
8. San Francisco: Check out Refinery 29's cute round-up of the best dressing rooms in the city. They come complete with reading materials and blankets in case you decide to stay a while. [Refinery 29]