Gear Up for El Niño: 5 Shops to Check Out in Hayes Valley
El Niño has officially arrived in the Bay Area. More rain fell in the first six days of January than the past three Januaries (2013, 2014, 2015) combined. In fact, no rain fell in San Francisco last January, which may explain why we’ve forgotten how to dress for the wet weather. (Pro tip: sneakers and hoodies are not well suited for a torrential downpour.)
Whether you like it or not, the weather pattern seems to be sticking around for awhile and it’s time to gear up. We’ve narrowed our selection down to some of Hayes Valley’s best boutiques so you can outfit the entire family in one trip.
Azalea
Azalea is a trendy boutique located in the heart of Hayes Valley offering upscale clothing items, accessories and shoes. Azalea currently has a stock of RAINS Anorak and Breaker raincoats for men, and several waterproof bags to protect documents and technology during your commute. If anybody knows rainwear, it’s RAINS. RAINS is based out of Denmark, where it rains 121 days annually on average. These modern raincoats are made out from 50% polyester and 50% polyurethane, making them an essential part of El Niño wardrobe. Azalea is not currently carrying rainwear for women.
RAINS Anorak Jacket: $84.59 [Amazon] RAINS Breaker Jacket: $88.93 [Amazon] RAINS MSN Bag: $80.99 [Amazon]
Azalea‘s Hayes Valley location is located at 411 Hayes Street, near the corner of Hayes and Gough Streets. Open daily: 11:00am–7:00pm.
gather
gather is a trendy independent retailer based in Hayes Valley that aims to connect local designers and consumers through its curated inventory of handcrafted apparel, jewelry, housewares and more. gather‘s current online offerings include the Erie Waxed Cotton Jacket, a classic black women’s rain parka lined with red flannel with small white polka dots, and Alamere’s Puff Jacket, a lightweight, water-resistant women’s puff jacket in sage featuring wooden buttons and Primaloft filling (the same material The North Face and Patagonia use in their puff jackets).
Erie Waxed Cotton Jacket: $245
Alamere’s Puff Jacket in Sage: $179
gather is located at 541 Octavia Street, between Grove & Ivy Streets. Open Monday–Saturday: 11:00am–7:00pm, Sunday: 12:00–6:00pm.
Gimme Shoes
Gimme Shoes is the go-to shoe store in San Francisco. This Hayes Valley establishment is known for its wide variety of designer men’s and women’s footwear and accessories. This low-key shop is prepared to keep your feet warm and dry throughout the El Niño season with a wide variety of rain boots. Women will find a selection of 13 designer rain boots at Gimme Shoes, with lace-up boots from Ilse Jacobsen, and pull-on boots from both Ilse Jacobsen and Aigle Rainboots. Gimme Shoes’ selection men’s rain boots are limited to three styles but cover the essentials with Aigle Rainboot’s classic jodhpur and pull-on rain boots.
Women’s Rain Boots: $160–$225
Men’s Rain Boots: $160–$185
Gimme Shoes is located at 416 Hayes Street, between Gough and Octavia Streets. Open Monday–Saturday: 11:00am–7:00pm, Sunday: 12:00–6:00pm.
Flight 001
While Flight 001 is known as a travel goods and accessories store, it has some great items that will have you ready for El Niño in no time. First of all, they typically have a wide variety of durable, compact umbrellas in many colors. Flight 001 also has waterproof backpacks and bags for your muddy boots.
Super Slim Auto Umbrella in Pink: $29
Flip and Tumble Backpack in Grey and Blue: $34
F1 Go Clean Boots Bag in Grey: $36
Flight 001 is located at 525 Hayes Street, between Octavia and Laguna Streets. Open: Monday–Saturday: 11:00am–7:00pm, Sunday: 11:00am–6:00pm.
Fiddlesticks
Fiddlesticks is a children’s boutique with a wide variety of stylish apparel and outerwear, shoes and accessories. On top of Fiddlesticks’ inventory of high quality, well-made clothing, it also has a selection of toys and books to keep your children entertained on a rainy El Niño day indoors.
Fiddlesticks is located at 540 Hayes Street, between Octavia and Laguna Streets. Open daily: 11:00am–7:00pm.
