Choice Pieces

Last month I found myself circling the perimeters of the Chateau Marmont hotel like a stealth cat burglar- in 5-inch Saint Laurent heels no less- on a cool and rainy night, making my way towards Bungalow 4 in search of some goods from Torso Vintages, the award-winning San Francisco vintage clothing store. Owner John Hadeed was patiently waiting for me- and my friends- where he had set up shop in the bungalow throughout the week, showing his unique selection of vintage fashion- one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories- to his celebrity clientele. I had a Valley of the Dolls moment once I walked in, as vintage fashion gems- a Dupont number or two- in-house designs, furs, accessories and jewelry were everywhere.

Hadeed and co-owner Dave Gorski started off in the vintage trade in Portland, Oregon with two shops but found another home in San Francisco’s Union Square in 2007, where the locals take to vintage as Angeleno’s take to Botox. Enthusiastically. Noted as one of San Francisco’s most expertly curated vintage shops and purveyors of the finest and most flamboyant fashions from decades past, Torso Vintages sells authentic clothing from Victorian blouses to 70’s platform shoes- you can shop 1stdibs if you can’t make it to the store. In addition, they take fabrics from old pieces and reconstruct new pieces. We left Bungalow 4 that night with a leopard-print (faux) fur cape and silk robe in tow, circling the perimeters of the hotel like a cat burglar once again. www.torsovintages.com