Retro City Fashions

Huge vintage and resale store with great '80s/'90s finds. Got a leather jacket here for half what it would cost on Etsy. The back section has \$5 racks if you’re on a budget. Great place to find Halloween costumes or unique outfits. Owners are cool and love chatting about old-school trends. Way better than overpriced curated thrift spots.

"Babe" here accused me of shoplifting while purchasing multiple items here. always made an effort to support local businesses and especially Retro City but will no longer be doing so as i feel i was targeted for looking homeless. i do mutual aid on Haight and poor lots of my energy into helping the homeless and it makes me incredibly sad that this is the way they treat the homeless. i go above and beyond to be transparent with all my items i'm carrying because i understand that i look impoverished, there was absolutely no reason to target me like that and if i was targeted in such way then i can't even imagine how people in worse situations than me are treated. not a progressive business.

Very cool & interesting store with lots of great items to choose from. Hats. Shirts, smoke accessories... If your into the Haight/Ashbury scene they have LOTS to choose from. Great job guys... JAXON

Hat's in the back of the store in a "butcher room" for a decade i've purloined the finest euro hats from back in the day, always a treasure to be found, Mayser, Borsalino, Barbisio, Resitol, Stetson and lots more!!

Always find something any time we come here, very helpful staff, and wide range of clothing styles. Highly recommend this place for those interested in vintage or just general thrift items!

Great selection, well organized. Overall, lots of fun.

Plenty of retro tshirts and clothing, interior was quite chilled but bland.

Why you gotta make 90s tshirts over $200

Held Over is a class act. It always has been and I can confidently confirm - that it is still a class act. Held Over has been open since 1976. The store oozes with history and character - and their well organized racks of clothes are brimming with color and stories. I have manifested so many magical finds here throughout the years and I have always appreciated how helpful and knowledgeable the staff are - as well as their reasonable prices. I love knowing that the Haight has managed to preserve this wondrous thrift gem and its legacy. If you find yourself in the area - please support this special business. Trust.

Huge selection of vintage spanning many decades with a surplus of counter culture clothing. Competitive pricing. Wonderful vibe in the place. Well organized. Hip, unique, fun, and one of kind store. Long live bell bottoms, belt buckles, vintage fur, and 1950s housewife dresses. We love Retro City!

Of the stores on Haight, Held Over has been there and endured. You will need to hunt a bit, but they have so many pieces from a range of time periods. Plus, they are thoughtfully organized in sections from vintage windbreakers, to even older dresses from the 30s & 40s. There is a section for hats, glasses are kept in the glass cases at the cash wrap. While this isn't my favorite shop on the block, they do have specific finds. I've not found anything I felt worth buying based on my own style; but it is worth a walk-thru if you like to hunt and see pieces from the past. Also, big denim section, and extensive knitwear selections.

I went there, at the last minute, to get a dress for an event. When I got there they said they were closing in 10 minutes. I found the, mostly, perfect dress for the event in the time allotted and when I got to the register they just said the register is closed. Why don't you tell people you can look but you can't actually buy anything. I had the exact amount, in cash. He wouldn't take it. Made up something about his register locking. Yeah. Right

Because the best way to dress like Steve McQueen, Miles Davis, or even Gloria Vanderbilt (circa 1970's) is to mix in second-hand clothes and keep it moving. Right in the Haight-Ashbury district, Held Over seems like the best place for throwing a last minute wardrobe together. Love that racks are well organized by style and nothing is miss-matched. Just like when you first walk in, you see a bunch of Hawaiian shirts, there's a rack just for vintage Military jackets, another with 1970s sequin dresses- I mean...this shop has it all!!!! Not sure if they have fitting rooms but wouldn't hurt to ask. I found a pair of military, toe-at-bottom pants for me and a few other things. The selection is pretty damn good. Prices aren't that cheap- but the crap here is so freaking unique. My thing is...treasures can be found in unlikely places, so be sure to check out every square foot here.

My favorite thrift shop on Haight Street! This place has amazing prices. Unlike any other on the street. I've noticed that all the thrift shops on Haight rack up their prices like crazy. Like $50 for a T-Shirt or $80 for a hoodie. I've gotten amazing deals here for Harley T's and other well known brands. I saw an almost new Polo grey crew neck here for $14! They have such a wide selection of clothes for both men and women. You can definitely find at least something you want! The workers here are so friendly too! They also put in new pieces really often.

This place hands down takes the cake among what seems like a bajillion thrift/vintage stores along Haight St. You can never really judge a thrift store selection since it's always rotating, but on the day that we came it was so solid! So many cool pieces and rare finds (I especially loved their sweater selection). Love that they actually reflect (or at least are in the ballpark of) thrift store prices (the prices at some other stores on this street are insane!). The staff are really chill and helpful too! Definitely stop by the next time you're out thrifting!

I came here with friends and I agree with most that lots of cool pieces can be found here! Not only designer but hard to find tops, bottoms, accessories! One of the more affordable high-end thrift stores on the Haight! First time for me and I'll be back!

The best vintage in San Francisco. If you're looking for selection, if you're looking for reasonable prices, and if you're looking for the coolest staff, look no further! Held Over takes the cake. I am totally addicted to this vintage jewel of a store. I just know that if you go anywhere else you may not experience the proper way to shop for vintage. Be sure to ask for something if you don't see it and also if you want to haggle over the price of something, hopefully you are doing it for a good reason, just know that you will be respected and get a price adjustment if at all possible- I just got yards and yards of the most amazing 70s fabrics for a tenth of what I would pay anywhere else in the city!! Love this place!

For starters the staff is lovely-very polite and helpful-the curation is great and you can tell they really care about giving the shop's stock a destinct identity. The average quality of the stock is fairly high, making the prices feel very fair . The store organization is great as well, nice wide walkways, everything is very easy to find and browse, and clothing racks are appropriately stocked so there's just enough space on the rack to comfortably browse without feeling like you have to part the red seas to reach for a jacket or something (im looking at you Buffalo Exchange ). My biggest issue is just that the shop's stock is somewhat redundant- lots of Levis and wranglers of the exact same cut, fairly standard knits, their dresses are a bit more on the drab side, and the sizing is really limited for thinner men (27-30 waist) The shopping experience is comfortable, the prices are good, and while the stock can be a little on the boring side, I think that element of consistency is what keeps bringing me back. Definitely drop by if you're in the upper Haight.

Loved this store. You can feel the difference when you walk in that it's gonna be a good experience. Very spacious. Nice fitting rooms. Great selection of women's and men's. I found the Dale of Norway sweater of my dreams here! Also good value and good service.

i had a very strange experience shopping at held over last night and it's bothered me all day today. i don't write many reviews but this feels important to share. to the male staffer who tried to pull a fast one on me and covertly tell me what you thought about my israel flag sticker on my phone by using the words GENOCIDE and OCCUPATION multiple times in what was supposed to be a light conversation with an enthusiastic new customer: you're an idiot. i won't waste my time telling you how wrong you are and how stupid it sounds when people throw this literal garbage out into the world. in december of 1939, my grandmother escaped nazi germany when she was six years old. how dare you make any assumptions about anything about me when you don't know a single thing about my story. it is a miracle i am alive. the nazis tried to make sure i was never born as they tried to kill my grandmother as a child, but she was one of the lucky ones. nobody else in our family survived. they all were murdered in the holocaust. do you have any idea how that impacts a family generation after generation? how dare you have the audacity to comment on this indirectly without even knowing my name or anything about me and when i am a patron in your business that employs you. what israel means to me is extremely personal, runs deep in my blood and genes, is nuanced, among so many other things. you don't get to have an opinion on how i honor my family so keep your stupid comments to yourself. i can't believe i missed this as it was happening. it was clear you were unfriendly, but i was so impressed with the above average vintage tee quality and selection and was in such a good mood, it wasn't until i left held over that i had this realization that explained your bizarre and off-putting behavior. i spent over a hundred bucks at this store and i regret it. some advice for you: educate yourself. entertain some critical thinking. we live in a world that affords us access to vast amounts of information. i challenge you to dig in to the source materials yourself, read about the history and determine for yourself what is real and what is noise. and also don't jeopardize business by feeling so entitled that you need to throw out your own political views and / or foreign policy preferences. it seems crazy to have to say this. there used to be a time when discussing religion, politics, or money was taboo; it's the old school approach, or, rather fittingly, a vintage approach. how about we try that one on back on for size?

Best vintage store in San Francisco, hands down. Fair prices, great selection - color coded and by era. It's my go to.

Very open, inviting, funky, and well-organized store, that has lots of period clothing. No, not period clothing like the red-spotted clothes of ghetto thrift stores: I mean periods like the 20s, the 40s, the 60s, etc, with Hawaiian shirts, fur coats, 20s clothes, Bavarian suits, soldier jackets, funky ties, a whole rack of cheap Mexican ponchos -- they had at least 14 pieces of lederhosen! They must be the top lederhosen store. They are the leaderhosen. Add the friendly and unpretentious Duckie-like clerk who works there and it's a great place to window shop if you don't need leather chaps and a bedazzled horse tie.

There's a lot of super cool stuff here but unfortunately the merchandise was pretty limited. I got lucky and found a cool red jacket that was my size. The jacket goes hard, very happy I stumbled into this place. Would recommend to others to check it out. Would likely shop here again.

Out of all the thrift, consignment and vintage stores in the Haight Asbury, Held Over is by far my favorite. They have a wide and perfectly curated selection of period clothing from every decade as well as themed sections like army, jumpsuit, fur coats, and Hawaiian shirts. For my boyfriend and I who are not big shoppers, this is a big plus for us as opposed to some other shops on the block where you have to shift through clothing. I'd say this is the perfect place for costumes, but really my boyfriend and I come here for clothes for really any event. We have gotten a dirndl and lederhosen, full tux for a fancy event, Hawaiian shirts, etc.. And the best part is - it's affordable! Really it has the quality and curation (even more so) of other antique stores on the block but is the price of a consignment store. Highly recommend coming to this store if you have an event coming up or are in the market for som unique pieces!

Today I was looking for vintage blazers at thrift/consignment stores on Haight Street. I didn't find a blazer I liked. I did find a Hawaiian shirt to buy from Held Over. It was about $23. It's blue and has turtles and a sea theme. It's fits okay and I didn't even try it on. This shop is good for Hawaiian shirts.

Best true vintage shop on Haight. Interesting clothes at reasonable prices. Nice ambience. Have been shopping there for over a decade. I always make sure to pop in any time I'm in the area.

The staff was awesome, I love that their vintage clothes aren't overpriced. The only thing stopping me from giving them 5 stars is that when I visited a couple of days ago the store was pretty disorganized and it was kind of difficult to navigate. Other than that, this is one of the best thrift stores in San Francisco.

Large, well-organized selection of vintage clothing, including large collections of men's jackets, lingerie, and traditional European wear. Prices are fair and everything is very helpfully labeled.

This place oozes cool. It's a huge space full of vintage gems. From Victorian frill dresses to 20's flapper frocks to aloha shirts to a vast selection of cowboy boots, you'll find it all here. What really helps is the fact that racks are era-organized, so you won't have to go through all the pretty 50's dresses of you're specifically looking for Dawid Bowie'esque 80's jumpsuit. That's right, you'll find things like this here. Along with a full rack of vintage circus costumes. Cool, eh?

This store helped me out when I was looking for a party look! There are a lot of different knick-knacks. The staff is polite, the opening hours are acceptable.

It's a big store with a wide AF range of vintage items - I adore. I like the staff, and I'm happy to see lots of changing rooms. My one star off is generally price related. I can't really understand how thrift stores work; items are donated for free, right? So why is a gorgeous beaded gown sitting on the rack for an unchanged $35 for six months? I'd have bought it for $20 by now, and you'd have that rack space for another garment. I could be wrong there... maybe the whole operation is more costly than I give it credit. Regardless, I do like this store and have picked up the occasional thing from them.

I don't do a lot of thrift store shopping, mainly because it's near impossible to find smaller guy sizes. However, I do make use of them for shoes, ties, scarves, and other accessories. Held Over has never let me down in any of these departments. So many of thrift/used clothing stores on Haight are really picked over and/or filled with really dated items. Somehow, Held Over is able to maintain a great selection all the time. Not only that, the prices are quite affordable. And if you're a girl into vintage clothing, this place seems to be a jackpot. I've seen so many friends come away from here with classic 60s dresses, in great condition.

I was in a time crunch and Eli helped me to find the perfect dress for an 80s prom party! Eli is knows period pieces and has a great eye! I love how this store is organized by theme (disco, 80s glamour dresses, prairie dresses, etc). I have referred friends here and I will definitely come back!

This place is great! Tons of great vintage stuff, tons of european/german stuff!!! I got a great German Sportcoat there for a great price, absolutely going to keep coming back here.

As strange as it may sound, just a couple weeks ago I didn't own a single article of 70's clothing. Crazy, right? This was really a problem since I would be attending the funky fabulous Soul Kitchen Shakedown Elite Event @ House Kitchen & Bar up in Sacramento. Looking for a place to get my hands on some vintage 70's threads, I, of course, turned to Yelp. Held Over popped up in my Yelp search & looked promising, so the girlfriend & I were off to the Haight-Ashbury. Parking was Mission Impossible. I hopped out of the car in front of the store while the girlfriend continued trolling for a parking spot. Held Over has a big selection of vintage clothing spanning many decades, but I couldn't find bell bottoms in my size. I still did manage to score a fine polyester shirt with butterfly collar & polyester pants. The condition of these items was excellent & the prices were reasonable. On the way to checkout, the girlfriend spotted a red, white & blue Texas bandana. It was perfect for the upcoming Yelp's Colors Don't Run @ Missouri Lounge East Bay YEE, so I grabbed that too. Held Over is a treasure trove of vintage goodies. You might not find exactly what you're looking for, but there's also plenty of unexpected pleasant surprises.

Held Over is my favorite thrift store in San Francisco--probably the most organized one that I've visited as well. Everything is neat and color-coded which makes it easy to shop at. The prices are decent as well, lower than what you'd find on Poshmark or Etsy. I found an Oleg Cassini shirt for $45 (which usually retails for $75) and a pair of vintage bright blue Wrangler jeans. Would definitely recommend Held Over.

Attention: Whitney, I just wanted to tell you that day I came in and bought all that stuff from you, then called you back a couple of times? Oh yes, then your staff accused me of being romantically attracted to you? Whitney, I need to be blunt with you. I never, ever had any kind of feelings for you other than gratitude which you and your staff misinterpret and I have no doubt you aren't mature enough to admit you were wrong since its easier to smear me, all when I was excited about going up and down thew west coast buying vintage clothing in little towns and stores then bringing them to stores in SF for resale. THAT That is why I wanted to talk to you Whitney. Just FYI for you and your staff Thanks for your outstanding customer service....?

This is not a used clothing store. It is more like a vintage periodical custom boutique. I came here while hunting for some burning man custom, and there is definitely plenty of inspiration and choices. They organize items by time, region, and theme. Everything is well organized and each item would be the center of whatever outfit you decide to wear with. So unless you are a very "loudly" dressed person, you wouldn't come here for something for your everyday wardrobe. As I mentioned before, it is a boutique, so it has boutique prices. They match new clothes' prices, and even go beyond that sometimes. I bought a Chinese brocade top for $32, to give you an idea. Tips: The amount of cool stuff they have might cloud your judgement. Since all sales are final; try things on, take a picture, and walk around the rest of height/ashbury neighborhood and it's many vintage stores. Come back if you still want it.

Stopped in while walking Haight St. my daughter absolutely loves thrift shopping. The store is clean and orderly. However, a little over proved for our liking. We ended up a few doors down at Buffalo Exchange.

Other than goodwill down the street, Held Over has the fairest prices for real vintage clothing. They have a huge selection of vintage jackets, pants, festive wear, and almost everything, arranged by decade of fashion (except t-shirts). The store is pretty quickly restocked so you can find new things often. You're not going to find a steal in terms of price, everything is how much you would expect to pay for a vintage item that has been catagorized (25-50$), but many stores on the street sell for 3x more. It is probably the only vintage store I would actually shop at besides goodwill, where you would have to dig through countless items.

If you're a woman looking to buy a costume that's not garish, overly slutty or highly bizarre, this is simply the best place to go. The costumes are all neatly organized and labeled by style (e.g. "Flappers", "70s Disco", "Royalty", "Victorian"), generally good quality material and craftsmanship (I've been in a seamstress for years so I know what I'm talking about) and best of all, very affordable. My friend and I were absolutely floored to find elaborate medieval/renaissance-style gowns with lace, ruffles, trims, buttons and other accessories for under $40. They would easily cost twice as much at a costume rental store! Yes, they're secondhand and have been worn before....but then, so have costumes at a rental store. All this explains why I, a normally frugal and un-materialistic person who hates buying unnecessary "stuff" (and I'd say a once-a-year costume is definitely unnecessary), ended up walking out of this store with a beautiful gothic-style gown. I definitely did not come in here intending to do anything more than browse, but I don't regret my decision at all. Bonus: The staff are really nice.

They have a variety of vintage clothing, but my favorite was their rack of thick & warm flannels which is perfect for the chilly weather in SF . Very organized and this store is such a hidden gem in the haight. If you want to come here for some cute vintage clothes, it's a definitely a wonderful place

Good stuff, good stuff, and it doesnt smell or anything. appreciate how well-organized everything is as well. only complaint would be their strict "no-returns or exchanges" policy. my brother purchased 2 hats (found in the meat locker room) for $40 each ,and later concluded that one of them was too small and wouldnt stretch out. two days later we came back to try to convince them to allow for an exchange, but it was a no-go. fair enough, since theres a sign saying that! but i wish they didnt have to be so strict.

Favorite vintage store in SF. Good selection, typically of more than one [insert what you seek]. Things I've observed there (an incomplete list): -An entire rack of leather jackets in a variety of lengths, colors and styles. -Authentic dirndls, lederhosen, and other German clothing (military jackets appear the most popular but I've also seen traditional woolen coats). -Dresses sorted by the decade (wise): something out of Little House on the Prairie, Audrey Hepburn-style dresses, muumuus, 80s prom; you name it. -A former meat locker full of men's attire (Hawaiian shirts, suits, vests, etc). Hats, hot pants, coats, accessories galore and more! Only bummer (or not, if you like uninterrupted shopping): cell service is very limited. Make arrangements before you head inside.

This vintage store is so well curated. Reasonable vintage for how little you have to try to find something great. The manager was incredibly helpful and kind to us. All the staff was friendly and did not give off a snobby vibe at all. I would come here again and again.

There is a really good assortment of clothes here. They have a vintage, Italian dress pants and even high waisted jeans for those looking to embrace their inner 80s fashionista. My only complaint about this place is that some items can get outside of my price range. Nevertheless, I can definitely spend an hour or two combing the racks.

I've been shopping here since middle school - over 20 years now! I now live in Seattle but come home to SF often and always make it a point to visit HO. It has been perfectly consistent in the shop's look, its product selection and prices. I hope with all the changes in retail spaces along Haight, that they'll remain a fixture!

Everyone knows only two types of people should shop vintage. Folks gifted with an innate sense of style and asians, who have a genetic predisposition for making trash chic. If you don't fall into either group, you're seriously fucked. That said, you should still visit Held Over. It's huge and has something for everybody. The size, however, is not the first thing you notice about Held Over; it's the smell. Mothballs, dried alcohol, dandruff, cheap perfume, and rubber: it smells like Todd Oldham and Anna Wintour post-coitus, if Todd was straight and Anna Wintour was a woman. So hold your breath, pinch your nose and don your flashlight helmet, 'cause we've got a lot of FUGLY SHIT to dig through! Thankfully, the scenester emo kids who work here have taken a break from cutting themselves and strategically tearing their Fugazi shirts, and have sorted things according to genre (t-shirts, jeans, coats, dresses), period (50s, 60s, 70s), and color. Standard Vintage Clothes Shopping Rules apply, of course. For your reference: 1. Check all hems and seams. 2. Check for disgusting stains. 3. Don't spend more than $25 bucks on a tee, it doesn't fucking matter what's printed on it. 4. Don't confuse "achingly hip" with "unbearably rank." There are some awesome finds here, some of which I've purchased and used in sexual role play: - Japanese WWII replica uniform - 60s muumuu with a hibiscus print - Jordache jeans and gray cut-off 70s Adidas athletic tee - Peter Sellers' pajamas from The Pink Panther Strikes Again - Leather asschaps - "Gondolier" collared shirt - Pink frilled lace bloomies - Flourescent yellow fishnet undershirt - all of Faye Dunaway's outfits from Mommie Dearest Fuck you, I'm kinky.

Best. Vintage. Collection. Period. This is a gem in the Haight that is perfect for finding awesome pieces for everyday wear or Burning Man. Great service and always well organized and solid prices.

Location: Haight and Ashbury Mission: To scrounge up a wham-bam totally bitchin' 80s outfit. Time: T-minus 29 minutes. From our vantage point we could see Aardvarks, Crossroads, Held Over and Wasteland. A perfunctory gander of the nearest shop was fruitless. We wasted no time and marched onto Held Over. Surveying the land, we saw meticulously organized rows designated by era, article and color. (So easy to browse, why aren't all vintage stores ordered this way?!) Our target was clear to see, and we moved in stealthily towards the racks of glimmering sequins. Like a honey bee to a flower (before getting all messed up from cell phone signals), like a bar fly to the Belvedere. Purple jumpsuit, stop hiding. We see you! Shoulder pads to the sky. This mission was clearly in the bag, triumph was ours! The staff gives convincing advice, and if they can fool you, well then who really cares if they really know the sartorial differences between 50s and 60s, right? When the hunt calls for a costume, you're looking for accessories to spruce up and funktify, or if your wardrobe needs a blast of the unique, add another dimension here.

I never understood why chesty girls talk about being busty as both a blessing and curse... and then I got invited to a roaring 20s party and realized my options were basically different fringed and shiny variations on burlap sacks. It's just not a great look if you're rack-y, but otherwise not so curvy. No matter what you do, you'll probably end up looking 60-lbs heavier than you are or like you possibly work in the world's oldest profession. Oh, a curse... I get it now. I came to the Haight specifically to patronize Held Over in hopes of finding a Gatsby gal-type costume for a work event and thought this would surely be the place to find it given the luck other Yelpers had when searching for 20s-era style dresses. Unfortunately for me, I think I got here a little too tale in the game because the only 20s-ish style dresses were in far larger sizes than I would be able to pull off (read: I put them on over my hear and they dropped completely to the floor), or they fit on most of my body, but my bubbies would definitely need a completely separate outfit for themselves because they just don't fit in this sh*t. The staff here were super helpful and compared to the 9 other shops I went to, this was by far and away the most affordable for any type of vintage and/or costume attire and their quality was one of the best as well. I'd come back in a heartbeat just to peruse for gems, as i'm sure this shop it chick full of 'em hiding in the era-separated racks. I especially like that their selection of ultra vintage wares is more wearable than costume-y so you can plan to get a whole 'nother lifetime worth of wear out of whatever you find at Held Over.

Yee haw! I scored a vintage Lee plaid shirt in great condition and for only $18 here. Held Over is the perfect spot to shop for a costume party. The store is nice and spacious, and very well organized, which makes for quick and easy shopping. You won't have a headache from browsing their racks, because each section is clearly labeled by era or style. While Haight St is full of secondhand shops, this is one is better than the rest, so stop here first on your mission to finding that perfect ________ for the next themed party you go to.

I have been in here many times. They have a great collection of 50s 60s 70s items of all kinds. Which is the ONLY reason I return. This is the DEFINITION of bad customer service. Every single employee here makes you feel as though you are a guest in their home and asking for ANYTHING is a great inconvenience to them. I was most recently looking for a white Marilyn halter dress, and tried to get the attention of the two fitting room girls who were completely engrossed in something on their phone, and when I asked I get a roll of the eyes and a half handed attempt to find something (the one girl pulled out a dress covered in print. Not what I was looking for) and when I rejected the suggestion they immediately gave up helping and returned to their spot behind the iphone. I literally once asked a girl ringing me up if it was horrible working there, because everyone always has a stank face on. She said "it's not busy, so we're bored". How ironic that when someone actually needs something you are of no help, and you make people feel bad about asking for it. I never write reviews, and I write this one in hopes that Held Over will read it and do something about the pretentious, lazy, cranky, bitchy way they handle their customers. Please and thank you. I love the product in your store, please match it with your service.

Awesome finds for your thrifting pleasure! Held Over is a nice random thrift store which has an extensive collection of both high and low end brands. Personally I came in here looking for a good ole grandpa sweater I can throw on since I forgot my jacket in SJ, and not only did I find something but I found 2 great finds for the right price. Definitely coming back to check up on some more hidden gems.

Every year, I got through a trusty Halloween ritual best known as procrastination: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU-0bF_sSas Unless I have a lightening bolt moment where I know exactly what I want to be, I'm left scrapping together anything homemade and easy. So this year, no different from any other, I'm running around trying to secure the best costume ever! Thankfully, there's the Haight and a costume, no matter the time of year, is always within reach. Held Over is awesome. You'll find period pieces, ethnic gowns, prairie dresses, frocks a la Dolly Parton, ties, belts, berets, ascots, sequins, sci fi wear, western gear... the list goes on. While most, if not all, of the items are vintage, you won't find adhesive mustaches or bacon band-aids, but never fear, you can add the finishing touches by hitting up a neighboring novelty store (i.e. Cheap Thrills).

I am normally not a vintage store kind of a gal, and I get frustrated picking through racks but how can you NOT want to go into a store smack dab in the middle of Haight Ashbury? There was bound to be some great stuff in here and by golly, I was determined to find some. I spotted a beautiful chocolate brown suede coat with faux fur trim for the bargain price of $65. Sadly, it did not fit, but I persevered and kept browsing. This place is very well-organized. Racks of dresses were organized by decade: 80s prom dresses (think Cyndi Lauper) 50s suit dresses for channeling your inner Jackie Kennedy, and way-cool 60s psychedelic print shift dresses reminiscent of Grace Slick. I found a slinky white/pink/purple sleeveless shift that I just know was worn with white go-go boots back in the day and I had to have it. I hoped and prayed that it would fit. Ok, so as long as I don't gain another ounce, it fits fine. And look for me to be sportin' this number at the Tributosaurus Jefferson Airplane show next week. If we didn't have a plane to catch, we'd no doubt have spent way more time and money in this place. It has a little bit of everything and it's in mostly pristine condition, with very fair prices.

Held Over is, I believe, one of the best vintage stores in San Francisco. It's perfect for someone like me, who wishes she could afford Mark Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent, but also wants to look more unique. I At Held Over, you can find that sweater that looks like vintage Mark Jacobs, or an amazing purse that looks like vintage Chanel. However, you have to be resourceful to find things here. I usually go there, find a few amazing items, and then find NOTHING else the rest of the time. Steer clear of the dresses (unless you're going for that "Little House on the Prairie" meets "Carrie" look), run far, far away from those nasty fur coats and fur hats, and don't expect to find any cute velvet blazers that fit. However, check out the lingerie section for stuff that translates well into sexy going-out wear, look carefully through the sweaters and cardigans, belts, purses, shoes, and sometimes coats. Check out the little room in the back, which includes pricier "recycled" vintage -- designers take apart seemingly hopeless vintage items and recombine with sometimes successful results.