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As thoughts turn to the holiday shopping season, we hit the streets to bring you dispatches from San Diego’s bustling boutique scene. From a Bird Rock surf shop to a Mission Hills purveyor of organic pet products to a Del Mar boutique whose inventory of designer clothing outshines that of some more-celebrated department stores, we cover the retail spectrum. Let the shopping—and vicarious window shopping—commence.
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CAPRICORN
Upscale yet unpretentious, this midsize clothing and gift boutique in Bird Rock is a refreshing alternative to the cooler-than-you ethos at equally trendy counterparts. The shop interior is playful but stylish, with checkered flooring and turquoise wall paint; a lounge area with a fireplace and plush vintage chairs at the back of the shop encourages shoppers to settle in for a spell. Guys can pick up Modern Amusement’s lightweight wool sweaters, Hozell tees and outerwear staples by WeSC. Charlotte Ronson dresses are a popular pick with female shoppers, as are the reasonably priced cotton shirts by Fluxus and silk frocks in bold hues by Christopher Deane. Check out the strappy shoes and shirtdresses by out-of-the-box Australian label Hussy, hats by Christy’s London and bohemian-inspired jewelry designs from n.om. And a note for your holiday shopping list: The Jonathan Adler candles make great gifts for guys and girls.
5544 La Jolla Boulevard, 858-551-2660
THE GROVE
Housed on a quiet street in South Park, The Grove is part bookstore, part knitting shop, part gift boutique—and entirely endearing. It stocks an array of titles, from classics to the latest bestsellers. (The shop also periodically hosts authors for book signings; author Victor Villaseñor was here in September.) The homey space houses an area devoted to all things knitting—yarns, patterns, needles, buttons—as well as a selection of fabrics (find the popular Amy Butler prints here). There’s no shortage of gift-giving options. One corner is filled with children’s toys, clothes and accessories (The Lily Pad Store sells its fine, handcrafted, eco-friendly wares for tots), and there’s a variety of jewelry, apparel, home décor, art, cards, stationery and other inventive items. The Bamboo Store, which recently opened adjacent to The Grove, sells home and garden décor made from bamboo.
3010 Juniper Street, 619-284-7684,
thegrovesandiego.com
FIREFLY
Yoga teacher and fashion designer Carrie Gerstl stocks stylish yoga togs and loungewear, as well as swimsuits, in her artsy Mission Hills boutique. Cute ensembles from Brazilian brand Bellissima, Beyond Yoga, Couture Activewear and Yoga Tribe & Culture carry yogis from downward dog to dinner with the girls. There’s a selection of yoga mats and bags; cotton-canvas bags by via mia stylishly double as purse and gym tote. Other popular picks: Spiritual Gangster’s graphic tanks and tees with song lyrics (think Bob Marley and Michael Franti) and messages (PRACTICE PEACE or ORGANIC SOUL) printed across the front; Havaina flipflops (with or without the Buddha charm and Swarovski crystals); and yoga-inspired dog collars from om my dog.
928 Fort Stockton, Suite 107, 619-299-4359,
catchthespark.com
BIRD ROCK SURF
Ride the wave of anti-corporate, chain-surfstore sentiment right into this killer Bird Rock boutique. Owned by surfer brothers and BR natives Ben and Matt Murphy, the shop just celebrated its one-year anniversary. In addition to all the beach-going essentials for guys, girls and kids—flip-flops, graphic tees, board shorts, sunglasses and sundresses—the store sells leashes, wax, surfboards and most any tool surfers need to practice their craft. Drop in for organic tees by Hippie Tree, a wide selection of Rip Curl wet suits and surfer lifestyle–inspired shirts from Glas, or browse the newly expanded board room for a new stick. The small size of the shop and its family-run ethic translate to personal, friendly customer service.
5544 La Jolla Boulevard, 858-459-9200
GERHARD
Lanvin, Louboutin and McCartney, oh my! Tucked away in Del Mar Plaza, Gerhard stocks women’s apparel and shoes from the most prestigious (and expensive) designer labels, including the aforementioned Lanvin, Christian Louboutin and Stella McCartney, as well as Alberta Ferretti, malo, Gianfranco Ferré and John Paul Gautier. Gerhard is the only shop in San Diego that carries Herve Leger, and also has a head-spinning selection of shoe designs by Robert Cleregie (and did we mention those Louboutins?). There’s also a wide offering of tsesay sweaters and tops for the fall, and James Perse’s tissue-paper-soft tops (a closet staple). If you seek exclusive designer merchandise not available even at Neiman Marcus—and “budget” isn’t necessarily in your vocabulary—this is your place.
1555 Camino del Mar, Suite 315,
Del Mar, 858-481-9709
HOWLISTIC
Dubbed “a natural, holistic and organic dog wellness center,” this Mission Hills pet boutique caters to design-minded dog owners (check out the stylish Jax and Bones bedding and the sleek wood-and-chrome food/water systems) and those who think their pooches should live just as healthy and enviro-friendly as their human families. Among the eco-wise products are hempbased dog collars and toys and West Paw Designs’ bed mats stuffed with recycled material. There’s an assortment of organic doggie treats, as well as all-natural pet-care products such as shampoo and toothpaste. Four full-size, in-store refrigerators house Yoghünd organic frozen yogurt for dogs and raw food from a variety of vendors. The store also carries numerous dry-food lines for both dogs and cats.
914 West Washington Street,
619-255-7317, howlistic.com
FACEVALUE
Dubbed “a lifestyle boutique for all,” this smallish Little Italy storefront carries streetwear and footwear geared largely toward the X Games crowd. Among the fashion-forward, skateboarder-inspired clothing: graphic T-shirts by Truth and RVCA, Truth Soul Armor shirts and hoodies, and streetwear designs by WeSC, Creative Recreation and Chula Vista-based Guttersnipe. The shop’s interior décor is urban-minimal (concrete floor, clean lines and a black-and-white color scheme), a design intention that “lets the product be the art,” according to co-owner Shane Beidler. Among the art/footwear on exhibit: shiny red leather hightops by Supra; a rainbow array of sneaker designs by New Balance (got gold?) and Reebok; and the Converse by John Varvatos line. The shop is also the only place in San Diego where you can pick up Common Project’s street shoes.
1760 Kettner Boulevard, 619-231-1943,
facevalueshop.com
LOU’S RECORDS
There’s a reason why musicians—including our cover boy, Jason Mraz—love Lou’s: It’s all about the music at this no-frills, funky Leucadia shop offering an impressive selection of new and used CDs, LPs, tapes, DVDs, VHS and LaserDiscs. Jack Johnson periodically drops in for an impromptu performance at Lou’s, known for its grass-roots support of buzzworthy acts and local musicians (San Diego band Rocket From the Crypt is a top seller). From hard-to-find imports to Top-40 tracks, the shop stocks it all. The staff is knowledgeable, and the two buildings—one for used, one for new merchandise—are easily navigable. For those who prefer their tunes on vinyl, there’s also a selection of turntable cartridges and styluses.
434 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia,
760-753-1382, lousrecords.com
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