Last year, the retro rockabilly mecca, Bettie Page clothing, opened shop in the Haight. A little bird told me the girls there have some serious vintage swagger, so I thought I'd head over and check it out. I found (left to right) Jessica Goss, Liz Ireland, Mindy Gaines, and Hayley Griffin, done up in pin-up. These ladies are lucky enough to call their dress code a job perk.
What Hayley's wearing: Purple high-waisted pants and stripped crop top from Bettie Page; Thrifted vintage belt; Tattoos done in Atlanta and also by Joey and Dave at Haight Ashbury Tattoo & Piercing.
7 Questions for the Bettie Page girls:
1. What's your favorite color to wear?
LI: Black and grey, neutral tones go with everything.
MG: I have to pick just one?! Well, as far as colors go, I'd have to say green.
JG: Red.
HG: Gimme them all.
2. Chocolate or lipstick?
LI: Chocolate, hands down.
MG: Well, I'll have to go with chocolate, because it turns out lipstick is in fact not edible.
JG: Tough call...can't I eat chocolate while wearing lipstick? Chocolate, definitely.
HG: No contest -- lipstick always.
3. What are your favorite fashion blogs or magazines?
LI: Hel-Looks and A Beautiful Mess
MG: Honestly, I can't say that I read any.
JG: Vogue always has amazing fashion photography.
HG: Vintage Playboys -- less is more.
4. Other than Bettie Page, what are your top SF boutiques?
LI: Buffalo Exchange, Wasteland, Thrift Town and Crossroads
MG: Well, I am a sucker for the vintage shops in the city, particularly La Rosa and Mystery Mister. They have some really amazing dresses. Also, you can't really go wrong with thrift stores!
JG: 90% of my clothes are used, usually from thrift stores or vintage shops. Mission Thrift is great. Mission thrift stores are great in general. Wasteland, Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads have some fantastic finds, too. I love La Rosa, too...working on Haight St. is dangerous!
HG: La Rosa, Decades of Fashion, Wasteland, Mystery Mister, Aunt Bill's Stuff.
5. Which neighborhoods in SF deserve props for mad style?
LI: The Mission
MG: Bayview. Hands Down.
JG: That's tough...the city has great style no matter where you go. People do there own thing, that's what I love about this city.
HG: Financial District. I love a man in a suit.
6. Which musician or band has rockin' style?
LI: Dolly Parton, past present and future.
MG: Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
JG: I've got a soft spot in my heart for 1950's girl groups: The Crystals, The Ronettes, The Shirelles...I could go on forever. Those women could not only belt out tunes, they did so with immaculate hair and matching dresses. Also, Karen O, Jenny Lewis, and any man brave enough to wear a one-piece jumpsuit.
HG: Dolly Parton, DEVO, and the girls in all of The Beach Boys music videos.
7. What cold weather finds are you most excited to wear this fall?
LI: Pea coats and 70's coats with fur accents. Oh, and big comfortable scarfs.
MG: My mink fur. His name is Sir Albert Minksly. Unfortunately he lost an eye recently, but he can still bite his own tail.
JG: Long warm coats, boots and scarfs! Especially my new Doc Martens!
HG: Vintage fur coats and my cha cha heels!
Lily Ko (lily.7x7 @ gmail.com) studied fashion design and merchandising at Central Saint Martins and the Academy of Art University. In addition to writing for 7x7, Lily is an editor at SF Station, works as a freelance stylist and covers food, fashion and fun on her blog, Curated SF.
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