A Stilista Stylist Goes to San Francisco

A few weeks ago I was in San Francisco on a business trip. Fotunately, there was some down-time from my work so I was able to check out the San Francisco shopping scene. And, boy, was it great.

Aside from all of the major retailers that you can think of, the city also boasts a fabulous selection of boutiques – and I only really had to time to explore the part of town that I was staying in!

My favorite shopping-find was Harput’s Own, a unique store on the same block as Chanel and Bulgari, right in Union Square. My husband and I were drawn inside by the Comme des Garcons flag that was flying out front. But, what we found inside was even better.

The store did carry Comme des Garcons, as well as some other high-end avante-garde designers and a fabulous collection of dead-stock vintage sunglasses. But, what I found most intriguing was their own house line.

The owner designs his own clothing and creates them in-house with the help of his stylish staff. They develop a new piece each month and all pieces are incredibly conceptual, well though-out and very design-focused.

I fell in love with their signature piece – the “Swacket”. This convertible jacket can be worn up to – and probably more than – 10 different ways. In its base form, it is a long, loose-fitting jacket with a shawl collar. However, thanks to the addition of some very well-placed sets of snaps, the jacket can be twsted, turned and manipulated into numerous different forms.

My husband and I spent almost an hour in the store while the owner dressed me in as many ways as the “Swacket” allowed. I was hooked two minutes in and my husband was so impressed that he offered to split it with me as my Christmas present. Score!!!

I got it in a salt and pepper color and a wool – cashmere – silk blend which was warm enough for New England winters, but fluid enough to drape and twist as the “Swacket” should.

Want to check it out for yourself?? Hit up www.harputsown.com. This is the “Swacket” and this is what I will be saving my pennies for. I hope to eventually own the entire collection…

–Marisa