When visiting San Francisco, there are a few things you’re going to need: 1. a pair of shoes fit for walking up and down the city’s steep hills and busy streets; 2. a truly great hat to protect your hair from the wind and fog -- we’ll take hat-head over uncontrollable frizz any day; and, 3. a crossbody bag that can carry your stuff with style and won’t weigh you down. But we recommend saving space in your luggage and scooping up all of these items once you actually arrive in S.F.
In recent years, the city has upped its accessories game, and now some of its homegrown brands are going global with their designs. Take Cuyana: the small, S.F.-born company expanded to Los Angeles after testing the market with a successful pop-up shop, and it’s now trying its bags in Washington, D.C. with a pop-up there open through July 31. Angelina Jolie was even spotted sporting one of Cuyana’s chic carryalls at the airport (and if it’s good enough for Jolie’s travels, it’s good enough for ours). Too, there's Freda Salvador: the S.F. shoe company now retails on major sites like Shopbop, and opened a Los Angeles store at the hip new Platform shopping center just a few months ago. Pair those brands with long-established ones, like Goorin Bros., an S.F. hat company that has been in business for more than a century, and Timbuk2 which some credit with revolutionizing bike messenger style. A visit to Timbuk2’s Mission District digs even offers a chance to see how bags are made from scratch. Read on for the details of how to shop each brand, so you can outfit yourself from head to toe with pure S.F. style.
CUYANA
The place to go for "It" girl bags on a real-girl budget, Cuyana’s “fewer, better” motto means your investment (Italian leather totes and structured cinch bags) will never go out of style. Its newly redesigned showroom on the second floor of its historic Union Square building is a must-visit while in S.F. While there, be sure to check out its new line of summer basics, including oversized straw hats and bags, and silky beach cover-ups and slip dresses.
291 Geary St., 2nd Floor; 844-326-6005; cuyana.com
FREDA SALVADOR
Sartorial stars know they can find the best boots (and loafers) made for walking the hilly streets of S.F. at Freda Salvador’s gorgeous Pacific Heights flagship store. The brand’s metallic calf leather d’Orsay flats and ankle boots with removable leather bracelets (giving you multiple looks for your money) are perennial faves among the style set.
2416 Fillmore St.; 415-872-9690; fredasalvador.com
GOORIN BROS.
This fourth generation family-owned milliner has been topping S.F. with bespoke hats since 1895. Visit its North Beach home base for the full fedora: sip a glass of whisky while you get a personalized hat fitting, then choose a signature style from old-school mahogany shelves and cap it off with a custom flourish, such as feathers, pins, scarves, or leather bands.
1612 Stockton St.; 415-402-0454; goorin.com
TIMBUK2
Often credited as being one of the original and best bike messenger bag makers, visitors can now stop by the brand’s new “innovation lab” in San Francisco’s Mission District to check out its latest FEMME collection of luxe-yet-functional women’s bags, as well as its range of custom design options. Peek into its 23,000-square foot manufacturing facility and headquarters next door, where many of its bags are made from start to finish and shipped around the world.
587 Shotwell St.; 415-321-6806; timbuk2.com
