the painted bird

I’ve got such a backlog of images to process from my time in Seattle, but first I have to share this recent foray into The Painted Bird with you. Union Square may have every design house and fast fashion chain imaginable, but shopping in SF isn’t complete without stopping into a couple great vintage and thrift boutiques. Avoid the Haight (so touristy, overpriced, and — right now — cold) and trek down to the bottom of Valencia and 24th instead. There’s so many treasures to be found from a variety of decades in this quirky little shop at the base of an old Victorian home. Maybe it’s the repeating skull motifs throughout (and actual skulls), the variety of leather and fur pieces, or the babe in the front nook reading tarot cards — the Painted Bird has an edgy vibe that really speaks to me. The Bird is also in a great location to make a day of vintage and thrift shopping, with Buffalo Exchange and the Salvation Army a block in either direction. You might have to spend hours digging through Salvation Army and Buffalo to find a gem, so I recommend browsing those stops first, after which walking into the Painted Bird will be a sight for sore eyes. Well curated, fantastic prices, and beautifully arranged — these kids have really got it figured out.

Speaking of that tarot card reading babe, I was so thrilled to have a chance to interview and shoot with the one and only Alese Osborn before leaving the shop this day. I’ll be sharing her story and the skinny on her funky style in a feature later this month, so make sure you drop back in!