Dearest Gentle Reader: Bridgerton has released the first four episodes of its long-awaited third season, and fans all over the world are swooning over Penelope and Colin’s friends-to-lovers story. The show is famous for its creative takes on the Regency era, retaining the extravagant stylings of the time while inserting a contemporary touch through the use of modern music, brilliant ostentatious fabrics, and stylish makeup.
After seeing the reveal of Penelope in her jaw-dropping emerald-green gown, it’s only natural that we’d want to introduce a little Regency glamour into our own wardrobes… and here are some essential San Francisco vintage shops and boutiques that will help you to do just that. Make haste! It’s time for a trip to the modiste… and then perhaps some tea.
Table Of Contents
Upscale gowns and suits
1. Bella Bridesmaids
A bridesmaid dress can be a wonderful choice for a regency-inspired gown! Bella Bridesmaids is a luxurious high-end wedding boutique stocking the best in designer gowns. You’ll need to make an appointment with a stylist in order to shop their selection, meaning you’ll enjoy a totally personalized experience while searching for the perfect Bridgerton dress.
🌐 Website: Bella Bridesmaids
📍 Location: 2250 Union St. Suite 1B, San Francisco, CA
2. Dark Garden Corsetry
Dark Garden is best known for creating stunning custom corsets, but you can take it up a notch with their selection of couture ensembles and separates that elevate any corseted look into an absolute showstopper. If you’re looking to pull out all the stops, this is where you should start.
🌐 Website: Dark Garden Corsetry
📍 Location: 321 Linden St., San Francisco, CA
3. Couture Uomo
Couture Uomo is the upscale menswear store that outfits the Golden State Warriors. They specialize in European menswear with extremely high-quality clothing made to fit like a glove. You’ll need to make an appointment 48 hours in advance for a fitting.
🌐 Website: Couture Uomo
📍 Location: 450 Sutter St. Suite 1003, San Francisco, CA
4. Freeborn Designs
The Castro’s Freeborn Designs brings exciting colors, patterns, and textures to traditional men’s fashion. Their jackets are handmade in India by a family of 5th-generation tailors, and their Brocade fabric is made on antique looms using a 300-year-old weaving method.
🌐 Website: Freeborn Designs
📍 Location: 463 Castro St., San Francisco, CA
Consignment, vintage, and costume shops
5. Cris Consignment
If you want to dress to the nines while watching your budget, this luxury consignment store is a great place to start. They stock a highly-curated selection of discount designer clothing, shoes, and accessories for a timeless and high-end look.
🌐 Website: Cris Consignment
📍 Location: 1813 Polk St., San Francisco, CA
6. Sui Generis Consignment
Here’s another chic consignment store with exciting runway pieces from top designers including Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. Not only is their selection impressive, but shopping here is a delight thanks for their helpful and knowledgeable staff.
🌐 Website: Sui Generis Consignment
📍 Location: 2231 Market St., San Francisco, CA
7. Decades of Fashion
Decades of Fashion prides itself on “100 years of fashion,” stretching from the mid-1800s to the 1980s. They stock the largest selection of men’s vintage clothing in San Francisco and are a one-stop shop for themed parties.
🌐 Website: Decades of Fashion
📍 Location: 1653 Haight St., San Francisco, CA
8. Held Over
Held Over sets itself apart with a strong focus on vintage European fashion, along with substantial American classic vintage offerings. Broken down into refreshingly specific sections like “1960s formal,” “1980s Prom,” or just “Long and Groovy,” the racks are easy to navigate. They’ve been in business since the ’70s and are one of the oldest vintage stores in SF.
🌐 Website: Held Over
📍 Location: 1543 Haight St., San Francisco, CA
9. Haight Street Costumes
Haight Street Costumes has stocked the city’s most unique and exciting costume selection for over 3 decades. Even better, they offer rentals — meaning you can ham it up for the big night without breaking the bank, and then return the costume for someone else to enjoy.
🌐 Website: Haight Street Costumes
📍 Location: 735 Haight St., San Francisco, CA
Accessories
10. Métier
This Hayes Valley spot curates a selection of both modern and vintage jewelry pieces. The deep blue walls and glimmering displays transform the whole store into a human-sized jewelry box, where you can admire pieces dating all the way back to the 1700s. While Metier is known for fine jewelry, it’s worth scrolling through their under-$500 section, which has timeless pieces that you can wear for a lifetime.
🌐 Website: Métier
📍 Location: 575 Hayes St., San Francisco, CA
11. Local flea markets
If you’re on a budget, these local flea markets offer a respectable range of affordable jewelry and accessories. Here are a few to put on your list:
Alemany Flea Market
This large no-frills outdoor flea market has an enormous selection of vintage and secondhand items. Bring cash and get ready to do some digging.
🌐 Website: Alemany Flea Market
🕝 Hours: 7am-3pm on Sundays
📍 Location: 100 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA
Fog City Flea Trading Post
The Ferry Building’s iconic Fog City Flea opened a brick-and-mortar Trading Post a few years ago. The larger outdoor market continues to take place twice a month, but you can visit the Trading Post any day of the week. Be prepared for a higher-end market with handmade items mixed in with curated vintage pieces.
🌐 Website: Fog City Flea Trading Post
🕝 Hours: 11am-6pm, Monday-Sunday
📍 Location: Ferry Building, shop #37, San Francisco, CA
Berkeley Flea Market
This flea market in Berkeley happens every weekend, so it’s a reliable option if you’re willing to hop on BART. Since its origins in the ’70s, the market has evolved into a festival of sorts with both secondhand and handmade items, plus great local food and music.
🌐 Website: Berkeley Flea Market
🕝 Hours: 9am-5pm, Saturdays and Sundays
📍 Location: Ashby BART Station parking lot, Berkeley, CA
12. Toujours Lingerie
Want the perfect undergarments? Indulge in a flirtatious lingerie selection courtesy of this charming boutique. You’ll find gorgeous separates in the show’s characteristic pastel color scheme, as well as dainty European sleepwear to end your night with luxury.
🌐 Website: Toujours Lingerie
📍 Location: 2484 Sacramento St
13. Goorin Bros Hat Shop
This iconic hat shop started out as a horse-drawn cart in 1895 Pennsylvania. Since then it’s grown into a massively popular retail chain with storefronts all across the country – and we’re lucky enough to have two such locations here in SF. Browse their selection of modern and classic hats to complete your look.
🌐 Website: Goorin Bros Hat Shop
📍 Locations:
- 111 Geary St., San Francisco, CA
- 1612 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA