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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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). read more

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. read more

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. read more

The smell, oh the smell. I don't know what it is about consignment stores. Some of them manage not to smell at all and then others smell like something died in it. When I walked into Held Over, it was the latter. Luckily, it was only in the back of the store and so I managed to browse some rings at the front counter. I have been in search of a cute ring for about 2 years now and I finally found one! It was cute, unique and cheap. Even my sister found one that she liked. All in all, I really am only going to give this place an "ok" rating. Aside from the smell, the prices were pretty high. Granted, there was a lot of leather, but still... read more

Vintage heaven!! Love this spot!!! Come in with a budget because you can easily get carried away. Always walk out with a cool find. Street parking free ok side streets. read more

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! read more

One of the coolest vintage and thrift stores I've ever seen! Organized by time-period... you can find a 60's cocktail dress, and 80's prom dress or a hip 70's outfit cool enough for disco! Not to mention, until last Friday "I still hadn't found what I' was looking for" But once I walked in the doors of Held Over, it was like the seas parted and a light shone down from above.... A vintage U2 concert T-shirt from the Unforgettable Fire tour circa 1984 was hanging on the end of the concert T-shirt rack. Classic! Extra points for sure! I am a fan! (yeah, okay - so the song lyric didn't quite work... but ya gotta give me credit for trying!) read more

This has to be one of the most easy to navigate thrift stores in the Haight. They have a bit of everything for every occasion, and my luck has been 100 % here so far. I hosted an 80's prom 2 years ago for my birthday. I needed a dress. This place had a lot of dresses...and the one i found, the pretty purple satin one with beading and tulle that was labeled "burning man" was perfect. A little off the shoulder number, this dress totally started what was to become an epic costume. A few accessories, and BAM! Instant prom queen. I did the Brides of March in 2006, and I wanted to be a preggers bride. Could I find a wedding dress? Nope, but what i did find was a long white nightie that allowed me to put some stuffing in it, accessorize it with a veil, and BAM! Instant knocked up bride. I have had many successes here at Held Over, a true vintage store. The only thing i will say negative about this place is it is a bit over-priced, and BAM! Instant empty wallet. read more

Held Over has tons of amazing vintage pieces, and when i go there, I struggle over what to buy and what I can't allow myself to get. Mainly this is because the prices are just a bit too frickin high for my taste. I was there yesterday, and the first thing I noticed were these hipster-beloved woven sandal type dealies, that looked like they should cost 15 bucks tops, but which I liked because they were in all colors of the rainbow. I look at the tag, and they are thirty dollars. They probably cost less than that new. :( but they were cute, and secretly, no matter how much I pretend that I am an individual and don't want to look like anyone else, I aspire to be thought of as hip. Don't tell anyone. Anyway, I found some amazing stuff, and in the end got a black lace jacket and had to decide between the raddest purse ever (with like ten different kinds of material in it and blue and green embossed leather and gold hardware), and a navy blue minidress with gold buttons that I looked hawt in, but that I would only wear maybe twice a year. They were both $45 so I went with the purse. I still think longingly about that dress, but it was not to be. I had mixed experiences with the sales staff. The ones at the dressing rooms were awesome and gave good opinions of my outfits, but the guy up front was to busy on a social call to ring me up for five minutes. :( read more

Held Over is by no means a Wasteland. I don't go to the Haight to shop at Held Over; I simply shop at Held Over because it's on the Haight. Occasionally, I'll find a nice worn out vintage t-shirt that is moderately priced ($10-$16 range), or worn out flats. But I really wish their dresses were priced a bit lower. If the ridiculous amount of dress sections don't give you a headache prior to looking through the racks (seriously, can't you simply separate them by decade?), then you can find a cute dress or two if you look hard enough. The problem is that '80s prom dresses are in the $50-$65 range. What??? They're $16-$35 anywhere else. That said, I still cough up a pretty penny for quality vintage if I find it. The problem I really have with Held Over isn't their prices, though. It's their lack of customer service. Yesterday, I was shopping in there for a good 40 minutes. Not once did any employee great me with a "hello" or "may I help you" or anything. The store was pretty empty, too. And I even tried making eye-contact and giving them a smile. But nothing. I wanted to try on three dresses, so I went to the dressing room area. When I asked the hipster doofus dressing room attendant, "May I please try these three items on?" he replied with no words, simply pointed at the dressing rooms, his sleepy-eyed face expressionless. Ooookay. Inside the dressing room, there's a sign that reads something to the effect of, "Put your clothes back where you found them." Huh? I mean, I usually do that anyway, but I don't work here! I don't know exactly where everything goes. And that's when I realized that this is why this store's racks are always so jumbled and messy. Anyway, one of the dresses had a broken zipper, and the other two were too big for me. Seeing as I didn't want to spend $45 dollars for a '60s dress that needed to be repaired or severely taken in, I didn't buy either of them. I did buy a nice little '80s belt, though. But the two employees behind the counter were too busy talking about music to greet me or thank me when I did. Overpriced dresses, non-existing customer service, messy racks, and 'put it back where you found it' dressing room rules all add up to equal a mediocre shopping experience. But finding a red '80s belt allows for that golden second star I'm giving Held Over. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to Wasteland. read more

There are a few moments in a woman's life where she feels like a princess. True royalty. A few moments may include: her first princess themed birthday party, Sweet 16, prom night, and the long-coveted wedding day. It's not the hair, make up or shoes that make the night. It's the dress. The dress of your Princess Dreams. The one that, once put on, transports you to a time and place only imagined. At Held Over, I found this dress. My friend and I were walking around Haight (we're transplants, Marina folk who don't usually leave North of Market) attempting to find the just perfect costumes for this Halloween. I walked into Held Over and immediately beelined to the back. My dress, the dress of dreams, was hanging on the wall. Coveted by the store employees I was told "If you don't buy it, we will" I tried it on with apprehension. Would this gorgeous, off white, hand beaded, satin and lace vintage Renaissance inspired gown even fit me? The corset alone looked daunting. Low and behold, it took to my body like a fish takes to water. At that moment, all done up in my Princess Gown, things changed. Everything looked brighter, better even. My eyes twinkled. My hair shined. People around me took notice, taking time to compliment the stunningness that was The Dress. I bought it with no moments wait. Held Over, I will always and forever remember your store as I look at my vintage gown hanging with delicacy in my closet. Well, I lie, it's actually hanging on my wall as a testament to the beauty that is vintage. May your eyes sparkle and your hair shine when you find your dress of dreams. read more

I love vintage clothing. I treasure each piece I've found in my thrift store adventuring, and luckily can fit into items I purchased AGES ago. Give me authentic original pieces from any era and I can put them together into one incredible outfit. Imagine my euphoria when I stepped into Held Over for the first time. You know that thing people do where they say "awwhhh" as though though they've just had a religious experience? Yeah, it was something like that. I have literally spent HOURS inside this store just trying on dresses, amazed at the sheer variety of materials, patterns, and periods of fashion I held over my arm as I returned time and again to the dressing room. And their prices? I could name a few other vintage stores that should take tips from Held Over. They even have an awesome men's section - and THAT is what a 5 start vintage shop is all about. They've definitely got something for everyone, and it won't break the bank. Love it! read more

This place was overpriced [even for vintage furs and etc. An un-lined corduroy blazer for $65? no thanks], smelled like someone died in the clothes, and is haunted by a pug that looks like it will eat your soul. The jewelry selection was the best part, and even that was slipshod and poorly displayed. Staff was stand-offish and unavailable, the collection was huge but narrowly divided [lots of coats, lots of lingerie, not a lot of variety]. And what's with the giant felt vagina over the dressing rooms? read more

Check out the pants and shoes...thanks, Held Over! http://static.px.yelp.com/photo/ZgaNBxl1ZlxmcGPD1zrToA/l read more

Ruffles and taffeta and lace, oh my! I love a fashion show, especially an 80s prom one. Other shoppers were not amused as my friends and I hogged the dressing rooms to try on and model each amazing prom dress for our upcoming party. I thought the perfect 80s prom dress was an urban myth, but I was pleasantly suprised upon entrance to Held Over. Neon pink, candy apple red, saphire blue-theres a dress in every color imaginable. The only "hold back" is apparently people didnt eat in the 80s and a size 12 is actually equivalent to a size 2 nowadays, which made size selection a little tricky. And fluffy dresses arent the only items tickling my fancy. I got a great Hawaian Mumu and a plaid ruffled top for under $20!!! If you love vintage and eclectic finds, you will LOVE this place! read more

Goodbye paycheck, hello kick ass vintage wardrobe! By far one of my favorite stores in SF, this has been the discovery grounds for some of my most fantastical vintage scores! The dresses are simply amazing and I LOVE the fact that they are perfectly organized by color, genre, year and even party theme. Seriously, they have everything from flapper dresses to cocktail swank, it's incredible. I simply can't get out of this store for under $200 and that is walking out with a few bags. So for the best in price, selection and quality, I highly recommend a stop here and plan on a good half hour to go through everything! Yay Yay :) read more

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. read more

I love this shop. I love the selection that they have here and how they have everything neatly organized. Separated in the time era as well helps finding what you are seeking for a lot more easier. Tons of stuff both for the gent and the ladies. Originally I was looking for Dolman sleeve dresses or jacket. I ended up finding a vintage slip from the 60's that was cool. Had visions of wearing it with my new empire waist drop style coat and purple stocking with granny boots. How excited I was when I had it in my hands. Was it worth $26? Mmmm, had it fit properly possibly but that's my bust for not trying it on. It is a little big so I will have to get it taken in a bit. So, I highly suggest trying the clothing on. Unpretentious people working in here. The tall guy with the awesome locks of curls was helpful, nice and cute. I think it was those curls of his. Sorry boyfriend... Anyhoot... I like this shop.. I especially liked how they were playing the album "HA HA Sound" from Broadcast! It made me wan tot stay and shop more hence I haven't listened to this album in eons. In short this shop is perfect for the vintage loving/seeking fan. Reminds me a little of La Bomba in Long Beach and of Jet Rag in LA. For the most part prices are decent. Not overly expensive all though I could of got a slip similar for less else at a flea market but whatever. Shoe selection is awesome. Tons of boots. Te jewelry selection as well is amazing. I will be back when I am in the area again! read more

I absolutely LOVE LOVE this store. Gorgeous vintage clothes, inexpensive prices, wide selection, everything from vintage scarves for $3, coats, garters, gloves, hats, bowties, etc. There's tons of stores with pricey vintage-gear, but this is the store you should go to for equally gorgeous, good quality, but also inexpensive, vintage clothes to look fabulous. Great for accessories. read more

This is my 100th review! Yay! I had a lot of fun in this store. First of all, it was requested that you check any shopping bags brought in, which I did. I received a token to reclaim my bag. I was glad that I did not have to carry that bag around because it would have just been in the way. So much to see! Clothing was organized on racks according to style and period. I found the cutest green and white polka dot 1970's mini from Sears. The price was reasonable, and it was in good condition. Will definitely return when in San Francisco. read more

I scored the cutest-ever red vintage purse here. Yesss. Reasons why Held Over is awesome, in no particular order: -an amazing, vast, and varied selection of super awesome vintage clothes and accessories -it's all categorized and compartmentalized neatly and accurately for your browsing pleasure -a good assortment of both men's and women's wares -rad ass spoken word shit was playing the first time I was there, and Tom Waits the second time (I think) -an entire section dedicated to leather shorts... seriously, who has that?! -takes itself seriously and it shows in the best way possible I dig! read more

I found the most gorgeous cocktail dress for my birthday party...and I proceeded to get really drunk and threw up all over myself. But that's what you're supposed to do on your birthday. It's mandatory. It's my favorite place to go for vintage dresses because the quality is so high and then I can ruin them by getting sicky on them. There is also a great selection for men. If I were a boy, I'd live here. I'm a girl and I practically live here anyway. Oh and the best thing: I was once in here and on of the employees was basically giving a speech about the state of indie rock. How great it that? EDIT 5/25/07: And what did I just buy here? A NEIL SEDAKA t-shirt. That's right, I fucking went there. read more

Pretty grossed out by all the fur here. And leather, too, but the fur seemed to be everywhere. I couldn't even stand to stay in this store while my friend shopped. I won't support a business who proudly profits off fur, even secondhand fur. Animals in the fur industry are kept in tiny wire cages, going insane, for many months, then anally electrocuted and skinned ALIVE for their coats (since the fur "turns out better" that way). Even if the animals were tortured a long time ago, time doesn't make the product of torture fashionable or cool to wear. I hope this store considers donating all fur to wildlife rescues, who use it to comfort orphaned baby animals. That at least would be a way to make up for a little bit of the wrong done by the fur industry and everyone who manufactures, buys, and profits from it. read more

I literally have most of my clothing in my closets from this place. I love everything about Held Over. The staff is amazing, they are consistently getting fantastic shipments in that are all unique, with a huge range of sizes and a ton of ranges in decades. Anywhere from the 20's to the 90's! Run don't walk to Held Over! read more

Prices are not amazing but selection is well organized by theme and style. Large selection with carefully organized sections. Reliable for costume balls too in a pinch. Still, prices are way too high--'80s Jessica McClintock "Victoriana" blouses are a dime a dozen from mass production during the Victorian puffed sleeve revival. Goodwill is a better bet for $2-5 rather than $30 here. read more

Yo fashion gets recycled so tybg this place exists. They have a variety of stuff ranging from waaay-back prom dresses, tie-dye shirts, military jackets, garter belts, scarves and sunglasses to wigs and maxi skirts. If you're looking for something vintage-y, you'll definitely find it here and even if you're not looking for something, you'll still probably find something cool. I ended up taking home a cool rainbow gradient scarf that I probably would never stumble upon or see anywhere else. It's an awesome place to thrift or even just explore. Plenty of mirrors around and great vintage-y vibes. read more

Now this is the kind of vintage store I've been looking for. Absolutely everything in the store is labeled, so you can glide right over to the leather jacket section or remind yourself where you are when you get lost in vintage euphoria. The organization and classification of the dresses is especially appreciated. Rather than sift through racks and racks of indiscernible dress-like cloths, I can delightfully look over the "hippie chic" or the "70s disco" or buy a "70s/80s secretary dress" that I look AH-mazing in. Not even being conceited, the dress is simply incredible. And very reasonably priced! The tops are cute, the dresses are cute, the sweaters are cute. They have normal-people sizes (!) and not tiny-people-of-the-past Twiggy sizes (though there's plenty of those, too.) I just don't know what else I could ask for! read more

If you are looking for something to wear to a costume party - this is the place to go to. I got my prom dress here for only $35. It was a vintage cocktail dress from the 80's. It had a small rip in the back so when I bought it I asked if I could get a discount and they gave it to me which I thought was very nice of them since a lot of vintage places only sell stuff as is. The best things to buy at Held Over are dresses of all kinds (every decade, length, fabric, style, tackiness level you could ever dream of) and leather jackets. It is fairly pricey, but the items are all in good condition and are one of a kind. For girls who want an alternative to Macy's, prom dress shopping here can be really fun and you may find something thats not too ridiculous. read more

I love this place. Instead of just separating clothes by type, the go even further and do it by style. Say I wanted a shirt, it would be shirt section, long sleeve, size large and plaid. It makes it easier to find exactly what you're looking for instead of searching the stacks. If I lived here, I would be here every week. read more

I went to Held Over in desperate need of a prom dress. The only dresses they have that could be passed off as prom dresses were 80's prom dresses and 'disco' dresses. I found a great one that was sequined and fit like a glove but was a little shocked at the price ($60). The store was VERY well organized by article, era, and even had a section labeled 'sexy librarian.' The staff was a little standoffish but was the 'too cool, I'm a bad ass' attitude I expected. The dressing rooms were super laid back. The staff standing nearby looked at what I had in my arms and said, "can you put them back where you got them if you don't want them?" to which I replied 'yup.' It was a little awkward coming out of the raised dressing room in an 80's sequined dress to show my friends, but all the other shoppers just smiled and gave a thumbs up. I enjoyed shopping at Held Over even though to me, it seemed a tad overpriced (though I'm no vintage shopper). read more

Fantastic selection! I spent quite a bit of time looking at the vintage hats, ties and vests. I ended up buying a cool tie for a friend. Everything here looked well kept and must have been carefully selected. The prices were not too crazy either. Definitely worth a look. read more

Interesting clothes, I have found a few winners and a few deals. Service is 'eh', I think you have to come in with all your fashion guns blazing to get their attention. It's a bit of a put-off really. But I have found some good pieces, so I always check it out when I go shopping in the Upper Haight. read more

Held over gets it right. Their buyers know exactly the kind of thing that folks want to buy. Red tutus and sassy 70s nightgowns...yes please! They've literally got something for Everyone. Men. women. children. clowns. and the clown thing isn't a bad thing. cause come halloween,I know it's going to be really really hard to decide on exactly what sequined covered figure skating outfit I want to wear. Seriously though, really really beautiful stuff here. Adorable old bathing suits, old vintage dresses with layer upon layer of tulle and lace. Cowboy boots galore! Coon skin hats and leaderhosen! I make a beeline for this place when I hit up the haight. read more

This place is awesome! The staff is incredibly helpful and have a great eye for putting things together. Basically did the shopping for me. Love them! My bf and I went in to find outfits for a steampunk wedding and didn't know what we were doing- 30 minutes later we were out the door with smoking hot brown Levi's and vest for him and prairie girl pink, lacey dress for me. Super organized and items are in very good condition. read more

The hungover people behind the counter are actually really nice. One guy helped me decide which pair of sunglasses to get my roommate for his birthday. The dress selection is awesome here, especially if you have a 24" waist. read more

this is a great store. for fans of vintage who want an organized, non-chaotic shopping experience this is pretty much as good as it gets. It is so manageable, I don't feel like I have to elbow my way through masses of people (or clothing), and my hands don't feel like I've been touching brown musty clothes when I leave. What it basically comes down to is that sometimes it is just feels nice to have someone with good taste pre-scout fabulous vintage dresses (which abound here) and clothes, so you don't have to. Although sometimes finding your own is fun, too. A word about cost. this is not one of those places where I can go and leave with a bag full of clothing. It isn't the goodwill, but I normally find one solid piece, definitely worth the price, and definitely worth adding to my wardrobe. read more