Shopping in LA and San Fran Hi, I'm looking for trendy/fancy men's apparel shops that aren't big chain stores in LA and San Francisco. The types of clothes you'd wear out for a night on the town, I'm looking specifiy for places that sell button down shirts. Do you know of any? Thanks in advance

Also, looking for stores that carry designer labels, not their own brands. Thanks again!

I'm glad you asked. I shop at Traffic at the Beverly Center, Bloomingdales at the Century City Mall, Paul Frank on Third/Crescent Heights. Lisa Kline Men is a great shop too --website is www.lisaklinemen.com, and I think her store is on Melrose. Fred Segal on Melrose is worth a try. Barney's on Wilshire in BH too. Also check out that store on Robertson across from the News Room...name escapes me. Von Dutch has sorta played itself out by now, but their stores are kinda cool--I only know the one on South Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Last purchase for me was an overpriced hoodie from J Crew and 2 pairs of Lucky Dungarees at the Grove, but I don't usually have the pulchritude to shop there on a regular basis. You too should stay away. The Grove was made for the vomit of Middle Class America and the insipid neuvo riche of LA. Love, Theodore F. Greene

pulchritude Are you sure this is the word your looking for? pulchritude \PUL-kruh-tood; -tyood\, noun: That quality of appearance which pleases the eye; beauty; comeliness; grace; loveliness.

For SF, Some Wonderful vintage shops on Haight Street Rolo on Market between Castro and Noe. A bit Pricy but great designers. In-Jean-ious on Castro has a great selection of 7-Diamonds, Kenneth Cole, Whittall & Shon, amongst others. A new shop on Market near Sanchez that has some great New York style fashion shirts (I can't remember the name). Best of Luck!

Those are all great-and you said you were looking for button down's as well-my favorite menswear designer for that is Thomas Pink. They have a shop right off Union Square near the Saks Mens Store.

I shop at Syms, where an "educated consumer is our best customer". Top that!

I only shop at Thrift Stores, Designer thrift stores of course.

Buddy, have you asked the right person!... I am a veteran shopper. When in Los Angeles, you need to hit Barneys New York (on Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills). Barney's carries all the major designer brands such as Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Jill Sander, Dries Van Noten etc...but they also carry brands like Martin Marjiela, Lucien Pellat Finet, and Alexander McQueen that are known mainly by the fashion cognoscenti. Barney's also has lots of lower priced, but totally hip casual brands like Rogues Gallery, Rogan, etc... Also in Los Angeles is Maxfield (on Melrose at the Corner of Melrose and Robertson in West Hollywood). Maxfield is the creme de la creme of boutiques in Los Angeles, and, possibly in America. Their clothes are uber-expensive. They carry all the same brands that Barney's New York carries...only they often have the more expensive, more couture part of the brand. For examply you can find white label Comme des Garcons at Barneys...but Maxfield carries the more exclusive black label Comme des Garcons. You can also find things at Maxfield like antique dildoes shaped like the devil, vintage furniture, or a Prada horsehair rug for your living room. Even if you don't buy anything there, Maxfield is worth a visit just to see how the top .0001 percent of wealth in America lives. Everyone raves about Fred Segal, but I can never find anything that I like there. Also, keep in mind that scattered throughout Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, you will find stand alone stores of major designers such as Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Paul Smith, Marc Jacobs, Miu-Miu, etc... Having lived in S.F. for ten years, I can say that shopping there pales in comparison to Los Angeles. Rolo on Market Street is passable, though not terribly exciting...and then you are left with all the department stores downtown like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc...

Maxfield! That's the one across from the Newsroo I couldn't think of the name!!! Thank you Peter Parker!! Love, Theodore Greene