Decades of Fashion

When you step into this place it’s like going in a time machine. It’s amazing how many different clothing styles can be found in one place. The horrible part about this place is how they treat you. They treat you like your Edward Scissorhand and you’re going to ruin the clothes. I know my way around vintage clothes I’m not going to do anything to compromise them. The prices are way overpriced and they also follow you like your gonna steal sometime. I get its vintage and you wanna keep everything looking nice but mistreating potential customers like that is not the way to keep them coming back. I was intending to find a dress for a birthday party and one for a tea party, I also wanted to get whole outfits with accessories and shoes. I didn’t care how much I spent, I just wanted to find something I liked and looked good on me. But I was totally turned off by the way they treat you. I went elsewhere and found just what I was looking for a better price and extremely better customer service.

Friendly service! Wonderful costumes for Halloween and beautiful accessories. Prices are not cheap so be prepared to spend a pretty penny!

Rude customer service. Staff is not friendly. It is overpriced and smells of old clothes. Was really excited to come here but not happy with the Asian employee who rudely barked that a section was closed unless we intended to buy. There was no sign saying an area was closed.

The most amazing place to get vintages and other interesting clothing. Its the largest I have ever seen here or in new York and its possible the best stocked. Thats saying a lot, I enjoy checking out vintage shops and have visited many, this place has them all beat. The selections are organized by decade and also by category so it easy to find your genre. The staff is very friendly and helpful so its a delight to shop here. Check out all the nooks and crannies, there are a lot of interesting items tucked away that are worth looking for. Set aside some time and peruse all the interesting clothing and accessories, there are some lovely items here and they all have a story to tell.

Fascinators
Boots
Mink
Jeans
Leather
Jewelry
Pocketbooks
Hats
Scarves
Sandals
Belts
Staff has lots of knowledge about style and even the origin of their items. They also have a personality to match. Very helpful and fun. Pricing varies but can you really put a price on priceless items…
Finish your drinks or leave them at the door; as they are not allowed in the store. DOF does have a little table up front if you trust leaving your drink there while you shop. I say ditch the drink and go have fun in this fashion haberdashery.

Shopping at Decades of Fashion should be a delightful experience. The store is literally filled to the rafters with amazing vintage apparel, accessories and more all organized by decade. I’ve seen gems (real and figurative) there I haven’t been able to find anywhere else but as others have noted their customer service leaves much to be desired.
There are many signs around the store instructing customers on the right way to «shop» the store. «Only handle clothes by the hangers» «No photos» etc, which I get but you can’t even browse without being followed around like you’re going to steal something.
The only time I observed the staff doing anything other than standing around like sentries or stalking (not helping) the many customers in the store was when they would remind someone looking at a garment to «HANDLE ONLY BY THE HANGERS».
I get it, you want to protect your merchandise but then maybe your business model should be by appointment only.
As other reviewers have noted, most are not welcome here. Take your business somewhere else.

This is my first negative Unilocal review and the only reason I’m writing it is because I was just completely shocked about how rudely I was treated.
I love stores like this and was so excited to see all the amazing clothes from all the decades. I’d been looking for a suede coat so when my friend and I went inside and I saw this amazing blue coat on a hanger she convinced me to try it on.
As I was trying it on a saleswoman asked if I needed assistance (I realize now she was trying to politely say that I was suppose to ask before trying something on) I however learned this seconds later when another woman (who looked like she was in charge) started yelling at me «What are you doing! Did you not see the sign you’re suppose to ask for assistance!!» (And no, neither I nor my friend saw said sign) I apologized at least 7 times and immediately took the coat off. I understand wanting to protect your merchandise as a store owner. As I was trying to put it back on the hanger being incredibly embarrassed the woman then proceeded to yell at me more «Do you have any idea how much that’s worth?! That’s a 3,000 dollar coat that you’re holding by the suid» I again apologized and then she started saying «and besides this is a size 2 what were you even doing with it» and then gave me an up and down look (okay I am no size 2 but I’m a size 6 and it was a baggy coat that was in no danger of being ripped by my fatness). I understand I made a mistake but I obviously did not see the sign and after apologizing profusely to then yell and attack me and then make a snide comment about my weight just seems mean. I clearly wasn’t welcomed in that store which is fine as I’m never coming back.

I didn’t even make it to the back of the store when I was told I was mishandling the clothing (in the most pretentious way possible), and to only move them by the hangers since they hand wash everything.
I’m not a clothing monster who tears through stores like a bull. I love and respect vintage clothing. But I also like to touch material to feel the quality. I’m assuming other people might too. If the clothing is so fragile, but then put it in bags. That’s what other vintage shops do. Not all vintage clothing is priceless, especially in this shop.

This is a really cool place with many cool things. I haven’t gone in awhile but I saw a lot of items that were there from months ago. Sadly, I believe there is new management. At least new people for the most part. I felt as if I was being stalked around as if I were going to steal something or handle something wrong. Two tall looking amazons, a man and female were the ones who were making me feel VERY Uncomfortable. They did not say hi, or if I needed help with anything. It’s a shame because I’m usually in there for at least an hour hoping to buy something. It was an unpleasant visit. I won’t probably come back for awhile again and hope those people will be replaced by then.

Interesting store… thought I’d pop in and shop. Unfortunately, the manager (older lady with red hair) was extremely rude and condescending… to me and my family members (extremely loud and berating to us in front of other patrons). To think I was willing to fork over a pretty dime for items too. Will not be returning, that’s a definite.

Word to the wise– if you’re looking to rock the 1920s as a life$tyle, this is the place to make an inve$tment. If you’re looking to rock a costume for a single event or are on any type of budget, keep on shoppin’ elsewhere and I hope you have better luck than I did.
I came in here looking for a 1920’s type dress for an event I was attending and was elated with the superior selection of Gatsby-​era garb (and pretty much every post-​industrial era wearables as well) until I flipped over a few price tags ranging from $ 299-​$ 699. Eep.
There’s no shortage of cool stuff to look at, and it seemed that most of the customers who were in here at the (super busy) time I was were tourists treating the shop more as a museum, doing more clogging of the aisles, pointing, and ogling than actually shopping, but after realizing the nature and price point of the shop I really can’t blame them.
The shop is fascinating, although the employees seemed confused and I’m certain there’s a way they could communicate their shop needs without yelling at each other or customers, as I witnessed, but I guess that’s really none of my business (insert Kermit drinking tea meme).

I am in the market to purchase a fur jacket or stole, because I want one.
While visiting this store with my teenage niece and friend from out of town I was thrilled to see many options and I was browsing every single one of them.
I raised my hand up to touch a stole to see if it was real and this older, fake red haired lady YELLED at me to not touch them and continued to YELL at me that the oils on my hand will attract moths.
EVERY person in that half of the store turned to look at me.
I was LIVID at how I was being treated, but smiled and nodded and said «OK, sorry!» and walked off. I was SO turned off by the experience it just made my way to the front and left.
Treating possible paying customers like they are children and shouting at them is NOT a way to attract business. I fully understand that these items are expensive, old and rare in some cases, but it would have been much more professional (and customer service friendly) to politely come up to me and talk, or even ask if I’d be interested in looking at an item to purchase (because that was indeed the case).
I will NEVER return to this store.

So much fun and joy as soon as you open the door of this store! As the name of the stores clearly indicate, this is THE place where you can find any clothing or accessory item from the 20s, 30s, 40s until our days. Very nicely maintained. Everything is pretty and tons of cool stuff, and even the mannequins are HOT. My girlfriends and I had too much fun trying things (yet shopping nothing, but we were in a touristy mission, I will definitively come back to spend several hours in this Pandora box of fine things). If you like vintage clothing, or even if you don’t value fabrics, patterns and textures and you are there just to find some costume for your next themed party, this is the place to go. I haven’t seen such a museum quality like store!

This place was incredible! I love a vintage shop that clearly marks the clothing by the decades.
To really dig in you have to spend a good amount of time digging. I quickly went through my sizing of dresses, but would have liked more time and maybe a little bit more larger sizing clothing.
Knut, there were cases and cases of jewelry. When I came up fitting nothing I picked out, I took a quick glance at one of the many jewelry displays and found a Ruby red ring from the 60’s.
I tried it on and it was love at first site. I don’t know if it was a ruby or a fancy red button from the 60’s, but I knew it was special. $ 50 later and I’ve been wearing the ring ever since!

From new orleans to San francisco. .the owner of decades of fashion is the rudest of all. pretentious, aged – and not well, without personality and style

I had to press a star to make a comment. But I. Take, the star back 0 star
We are. Interior designers from New Orleans with money to spend. I received a call from my hotel and the owner screamed at. Me saying this as the your office honey! The call lasted 20 seconds. I. Went off. She’s ugly bad hair bad, bad face and bad disposition. I. Pray a streetcar rolls over her! That’s my Karma for her! What a Bitch! Don’t shop there!
Please keep walking past her nightmare of a store!

Oh goody. Where shall i start? This is the paradise of vintage clothing. Everything is so beautiful so fashionable, so well organized and arranged. Every time i walk in here i feel like a kid in a candy store, only i am a woman in a vintage dress store where many of the dresses fit perfectly and look like a dream. I could easily spend thousands and thousands of dollars in this store if i had them.
They have the most amazing selection of delicate vintage clothing, things from the 1910s, 20s, 30s that are breathtaking. Gowns the likes you can imagine the 30s movie stars wear.
Truly an incredible store full of gems. Be warned however, things here are pricey but they are also unique and authentic. And the owner is very helpful and knows her stuff very well. She always lets me try on all the beautiful and delicate dresses. Definitely a place to pay a visit when in SF.

I know they have incredible things here. I’ve actually bought a beautiful turquoise coat here in the past, but there’s just something about this place that never makes me feel quite comfortable. Something which never really makes me want to try things on.
Decades of Fashion has a museum-​like quality about it. It’s vast collection of unique fashion pieces from different eras is exciting and well worth checking out, but I always feel like it’s a bit of an ordeal to try things on here and the price-​tag is always just a bit higher than I’d like to pay.
If you’re in the area — and want to check out some well curated fashion pieces — I am sure Decades of Fashion will have a slew. If you’re looking for a vintage store with a more laid-​back and accessible vibe — then I’d recommend checking out some others on Haight street.
Trust.

I almost passed this up!
This. this is what I want my closet to look like, and I’ve got a fairly good start on it. I went here, more on the aspect of it being a museum, not a re-​sale shop, and if you go there with that in mind, you’ll really enjoy yourself. Some of the items are STUNNING. Look in the windows, in the display cases, on the walls. It is GORGEOUS!
I certainly wouldn’t buy anything. I looked at the price of one of their ‘Corsets’ — an acrylic boned, modern cincher, and they wanted over $ 100 for it, I about laughed myself out of the store.
So I appreciate the idea, I appreciate the collection, but I wouldn’t patronize them.

Yes, the place is huge with an okay selection, but boy, is the old rhino woman with awful red hair a screaming witch. I’m a collector of high end vintage, well-​dressed and have manners. I’m generally kind and low-​key, but trust me when I say I have some money to spend on lovely things. It gave me a great sense of pleasure to walk out of this store not spending a dime.
I brought my 12 year old daughter, who is respectful of vintage and knows how to gently handle vintage items, in to shop for a graduation dress. The red-​headed ogre told my daughter not to touch any of the dresses (not the 20s dresses, the ones on the rack.) My daughter politely assured her she is respectful of vintage clothing and knows how to handle the garments by the hangers, not by the dress and promised to be very careful. I was also right next to her helping her shop.
She then bent down to my daughter’s eye level and said, in an affected baby-​voice, «Well some children put their widdle dirty hands in the widdle dirty mouths and like to touch all of the clothes like this…» and the witch started manhandling her own clothes roughly. Wow. Really?
We walked out. Stay away.