I was meeting my S.O. for an early dinner in Rockridge She said she'd be over 30 minutes late…read morebecause she was at this store. Worked out well for me: I got to hang out at the bar at Wood Tavern, and scored needed points for being the patient and supportive stand-up guy that I am. Here's her take on the store: I've walked by this store many times. I always paused or slowed down because of the great window displays but never walked in: I mean, do I need another pair of earrings? Turns out I do! I also needed very chic trousers a bit reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn that I can wear all year. I need as much help as I can get to reach my goal of casual elegance - still unattained but these things will get me closer, lol . I almost put them on to wear to dinner. Whoever does the buying has a great design sense. Great place to pick up gifts, too. The whole experience - ambience, lovely young woman who helped me, beautiful things I wouldn't find on Amazon - was such a nice boost that I felt moved to bother to write a review! And because I overlooked the shop, I thought I'd point it out to others. It reminded me that shopping IRL is usually way more fun and effective for clothes and gifts, and that I'm relieved that retail and Oakland are not dead. And so conveniently located near La Farine, Cole Coffee...

Leave your food and drinks by the door - they have a little table you can place these items at…read morewhile you wander about the store. Here, you'll find women's clothing, jewelry, handbags, hats, accessories, home, beauty, wellness, decor, and lifestyle items. You'll spend time perusing through every inch of the merchandised space. I found that they carry Clare V. handbags - they currently have the ones that are made from real leather, the kind that is buttery soft to the touch! (oooh). I found a book I was first introduced to via social media and when I had recognized it on their shelf, I knew it was meant to find me. There were a few eye-catching prints and colors apparel brands - on the higher-end price point, but looked to be well-made pieces. Good place to try to find a gift for someone or for yourself. Its connected to the kids shop next door and is under the same ownership.

I've gotten two stunning dresses from this charming place, both for special events. I love that…read morethey have unique and beautiful designs in larger sizes. Always my first stop when I have the $ for perfection.

Lesley Evers had many items which interestes The Wife, which is good enough for a positive review…read more But while wandering around myself, I noticed several items with a prominent tag "Proudly made in Oakland California". I love that. It's a boutique that specializes in bright colors and patterns, like the late sixties dropped in for a visit and decided to stay. It was very tidy and well organized. And they have husband chairs near the dressing rooms. The staff was very attentive, making nice suggestions. And it was reasonably priced.

I absolutely adored the vision that is Bella Vita…read more Walking in, I was taken in by the most amazing collection of barrettes I've ever seen. They had barrettes shaped like animals and fruit and adorable little hair claws shaped like bat wings. Bella Vita also boasted absolutely adorable pastel party decor for the girly girl at heart. The service was friendly and helpful, and I loved their overall selection of fanciful accessories. I will most definitely be back!

My wife and I got my nieces some cute Fairytale Star Double Alice Headbands ($18 each) and my wife…read moregot herself a fun Jenny Lemon's Banana Hair Claw ($24) at this store, Bella Vita, in Rockridge. This is a local boutique shop that's filled with lots of unique, high-quality apparel, accessories, and gifts for women and children. My sister, who lives in the neighborhood, has been a regular for years. She introduced my wife and me to this delightful place during our last trip to Oakland. We visited on an ordinary Monday afternoon. Owner Jennifer was the only one working at the time. She was friendly. She and my sister know each other from my sister's visits. Jennifer was also helping a couple women at the dressing rooms. The store was sizable, clean, and well organized. It had a homey, curated feel to it. I could tell a lot of thought had been put into each and every product, not only by Jennifer, but by the people who made them. If you're having trouble finding a good gift for a woman/girl, Bella Vita has many interesting and novel items to choose from. They also offer online ordering for pickup in-store or shipping to the lower 48 states. At the time of writing this review, you can subscribe to their emails for 10% off your first purchase at https://bellavitahome.com/

If you are looking for something unique or special occasion, look no further. Rana curates her…read moreselection beautifully and provides a high level service. I enjoy the shopping experience at Chic and never feel pressured.

Rana has a unique and wonderful eye for finding the coolest fashion from around the world…read more I treasure my collection of the outfits I've acquired from Chic over many years. Dressing up is fun and provides me with extra motivation to keep getting out to do interesting things...

On Valentine's Day, I came in with my 1.5-year-old baby on my back to shop during the last 5…read moreminutes before closing. The associate was so nice that she let us shop until I found what I was looking for; not that I was looking for something particular. Although, I did find some really cute clearance items. These were only one-size left items, so they go for 50% off. With a sleeping baby on my back, I didn't want to try on this super cute dress I bought. I almost thought it was a dumb idea since it was not refundable, but went with my gut feeling to just buy it! The lady told me that the particular brand tends to run small, so I bought the last size larger. When I got home, I was thrilled that it fit me perfectly! Awesome customer service.

I like it! It's more Misses or Jr's on the fashion/size tip, but they do have cute trendy clothing…read moreand accessories I can see myself wearing, ( I'm a non-busty size 9/10) especially all the cute dresses! I liked the BB Dakota stuff they had, and they carry some Kersh sweaters, which, for sort of plain looking cotton blend sweaters, have become an everyday basic that last surprisingly long in my wardrobe. They had a good sale on fancy name brand jeans (only going up to waist size 31-32) and my Mom got some cute/silly flannel pattern PJ's on sale for around $34.00. She was pleased. They also had a lot of winter coats on sale. I like smaller stores like this because they don't overwhelm me and the prices are good/fair. I'll come back to support this local business when I need more leggings, leg warmers, maybe a cute top to wear out, accessories, a dress for an event, or to check out the sale section upstairs. They also carry Hollywood Fashion tape products including nipple concealers. Yeah nip concealers!

I've recently come to the conclusion that I'd rather save up for a high quality item of clothing…read morethat I will be able to wear for years rather than spend money on flash-in-the-pan fashions that will scream "I think the best years of my life are behind me, so I'm going to cling to my youth by shopping at Forever 21 well into my late 20's." This is the reason that I love FIT. Their clothing is classic and beautiful, and the sales staff are friendly without making you feel bad if you don't end up buying something. They've given me their honest opinion on several dresses (That one's pretty, but too formal for you to wear to work. You'll get more wear out of the other one, etc). Is there clothing expensive? YES. Is it worth the investment? I think so. I've gotten compliments on the few (but cherished) items that I've purchased there, and I'm always happy with the way I feel wearing their clothing.

Great place and better customer service! Loved the owner!…read moreWonderful place to get a local community vibe and great clothes

Mercy Vintage is next door to the theater on Piedmont, in Oakland. This is not a thrift store, it…read moreis a high-end vintage consignment shop. They also sell their clothing, jewelry, handbags, and shoes online. If you know someone that is an inventory coordinator and sales support--they are looking to hire someone. They have some items for men - - however, it is primarily for women. If you love vintage, and you haven't been here, you gotta check it out. Vintage***** I love their ambience! They have intertwined beautiful plants throughout their shop with an interesting arrangement of clothing and accessories from the past. Ambiance***** Accessibility is excellent.***** Be forewarned, this is not a thrift store. There are some excellent deals here. If you know your brands, you can shop thrift stores and put them on consignment or sell them here at Mercy Vintage. So, if you are crafty, you can make money here! For me personally, their prices are high, but I am thrifty and frugal. Cost** They had a friendly sales person there. Service*****

Mercy Vintage is a cool little shop on College Avenue in Rockridge. They have a really interesting…read moreselection of high-quality secondhand clothing, with some genuine vintage pieces mixed in. It's a fun place to browse, and you never quite know what you're going to find. They carry both men's and women's clothing, although there's definitely more women's merchandise. The selection is thoughtfully curated, with a particularly interesting assortment of high-quality denim, heritage workwear, and clothing from some terrific specialty brands like Kapital, Indigofera, Momotaro, Trophy, and The Real McCoy's. They also sometimes have some great boots! There's a nice mix of almost new/contemporary and relatively recent secondhand clothing, along with some genuine vintage pieces. If you appreciate well-made clothing with a little character, there's lots here to enjoy. The store itself is very cool. Stylish interior, attractive displays, and a nice, relaxed atmosphere. They've even got comfortable seating, which is particularly appreciated when your son decides to take his sweet time examining every denim jacket in the store (!!). Prices are on the higher side, but I think they're fair given the quality of the merchandise. This isn't a thrift store, and I wouldn't expect thrift store prices. You're paying for good clothing that's been carefully selected, and I think the value is there. My only minor quibble is parking. Street parking on College Avenue can be a bit of a challenge, especially when the neighborhood is busy. Certainly not their fault, and not a big deal, but worth mentioning. All in all, a really enjoyable place to shop. Interesting merchandise, a nice atmosphere, and plenty of opportunities to find something special. It's worth a visit.

This Crossroads is convenient location for my wife who sells there occasionally. It depends on the…read moreseason, brand and quality of what you're selling, and they'll either offer cash or store credit (my wife usually accepts credit and gets stuff there). Like with many thrift stores, it's the luck of the draw whether you find something you really like, it can hit or miss. Their pricing seems reasonable. Like with a lot of thrift stores, in my opinion, there tends to be less men's clothes options, but every once in a while there's a good find. This Crossroads is in a nice neighborhood, Rockridge, with a bunch of shops and restaurants on College Avenue.

Finally, a super well organized clothing store! I have…read morealways loved crossroads, but this is by far the best one that I have seen. Super well organized, really friendly staff... will be back!

Atomic Garden is a cute little gift shop with beautiful knitted items and children's toys. They…read morecarry bedding, bath, and clothing items and give off a low-waste plastic-free organic air. That being said, I found the store to be a bit overflowing (almost hodgepodge) and at the end of the day think I prefer fair trade stores laid out a bit more cleanly like Makers Market or Harmony House.

I walked in with a specific list of items I need for the upcoming trip:…read more- Breathable pajamas made from natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or silk - Silicone free mineral SPF - Plastic sandals or slippers (e.g. Birkenstocks etc.) - Beach tote with a zipper - small travel jewelry organizer - 100% cotton white tee I found 2 items from the list. As a Bay Area local i am finding it very draining to go from one "unique" shop to another without being able to simply just find the items I need. I'd love to see more stores where thoughtful curation goes beyond aesthetics and extends to understanding what people actually need and want to find.

Great selection of high-quality clothing. It was a pleasure visiting the store and almost always…read morefind something.

Terrific selection and style options. Nice they babe swimwear and undergarments. Wait for Eileen…read moresales.