Ver Unica

I love my vintage everything. I went to Ver Unica, after wandering the neighborhood awhile. The intriguing window display drew me in. I tried on a few things, a Lanvin dress, and a few other goodies, before settling on a vintage St. Laurent mini dress from the late 60s/​early 70s.
This spicy little gem was not cheap, I had to really go through my price per wear options before pulling out the credit card. Luckily, I had Hubs with me, who loves to see me wear cute vintage that shows off the gams.
Really good service in the store, the sales clerk pulled out some other sweet dresses for me to try on. There is a great selection of both basic and upscale vintage. Prices aren’t cheap, but, after going to about ten other stores, I came to the conclusion that well, maybe this place isn’t so bad. They certainly had the best selection of women’s vintage clothing and accessories.
I will definitely come back the next time I am in San Francisco.

The owner here is the sweetest most genuine person! And she’s a dog lover! Big tick! I love this store she has so many beautiful things I’m a huge fan of vintage jewelry and she has so many stunning pieces!

Loooove. Well edited selection of clothing. Great place to buy a vintage dress and some jewelry. My weakness is 40s/​50s style ladylike clothing and I scored a great 40s esque wrap dress. It’s not cheap but it’s
SF and well edited.
Items are in good condition and they often have high end labels (if you happen to be a label fiend– I’m not, but some are).

Bit of a new convert to vintage clothing. It’s just that I’m so tired of disposable clothing, in other words what is currently available at the mall. And I’m now the age where I would rather pick up a few key investment pieces than a new outfit or two every month.
Have shopped here a few times with vintagaholics and I’ve been really impressed with their acquisitions. The sales women are invested in their merchandise and everything is in pristine condition. Very friendly and helpful.
Additionally the prices for the Chanel & Pucci are very reasonable. Lower than I’ve seen for comparable pieces online.
Can’t wait to wear my new skirt in the fall, and I plan to add it to my list of special shops in SF.

Pricey. Some nice chanel —
Over the top prices on many pieces. Loved a few things but the prices were a fraction off retail — so it’s vintage but at time of season it was made it might have been that price on a sale rack… I couldn’t find anything under size 6 that I liked enough to buy and alter.

Strolling through the city and discovered this gem! The location is superb — right in the heart of Hayes Valley. They have Chanel, Ferragamo and other fabulous designers. The items are well selected and in MINT condition. The price is a little steep but it’s definitely one of a kind and worth every penny. The lady (Aviva) was awesome as well. She was super helpful and I can chat with her all day about fashion. I can’t wait to go back!

This review is long overdue. I have been shopping at Ver Unica for over four years now. I work in the neighborhood and I am somewhat of a stalker. Cindy, the owner, is a dream, the same goes for her staff. The shop service harkens back to a bygone era when shop people were actually friendly and helpful. The collection of clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags and perfume are just as dreamy as the staff. It is my happy place on a hard day; a happy place that has been hard on my wallet, but everything I’ve purchases has been impeccable and one-​of-​a-​kind. Cindy has a wonderful eye, and I appreciate when she flags things for me to try on, like a personal stylist, or fairy godmother. My future husband has gone in to look for gifts, and with Cindy’s guidance he always hits the nail on the head. All of this is to say, that it makes me feel really good to spend my money at a place where your business is truly appreciated. Thank you, Cindy and the team at Ver Unica for being so wonderful!

As an extremely avid vintage shopper new to SF I was extremely happy to find Ver Unica… they do have a great selection of beautiful items and their high-​er price tags didn’t bother me since I am coming from New York and that is pretty standard…
I came into the shop several times a month, always buying multiple pieces… I had a change of heart on an item after leaving the store and called the next afternoon to put the piece on hold. The friendly sales girl quickly found it, remembered me and put the item on hold until close the next day… the next day i took my lunch and headed off to purchase my item — when i got off bart i checked my phone and had a voicemail saying they had another interested customer — quickly called back (within 15 minutes) only to find out they sold the piece… the sales girl gave me what I guess she considered an apology and said she would have the owner call me. this was over a month ago. still waiting for that call — and to return to the store.
Overall, nice selection, a bit overpriced. bad customer service.

Finding vintage is a hit or miss activity. Luck plays a large role on finding something not only in the right era but also in the right size.
The +‘s:
+ Great quality. The vintage pieces do not showcase moth holes, stains, tears or much wear.
+ Nearly every era is represented. Try 80’s Gucci, 60’s I. Magnin sheaths with matching jackets, 70’s pleated dresses or heck even 90’s Loubutins in black velvet.
+ The shop reps are very nice. They are helpful and assist without being obsequious.
+ Location is superb. Hayes Valley has come a long way and it’s nice to see vintage finds that are not in Upper Haight or the Mission.
The -‘s:
— As with all vintage stores, it’s one of a kind and hence sizing is not always available. This is not a fault with Ver Unica but rather a fact when shopping vintage. Thus the main drawback is the price. For the same amount I can find a brand new dress by a contemporary designer but then again so can everyone else.
TIP: As for any vintage find, i have to visit regularly to see what’s in stock. Items come and go. Outfits in the window do not come down until a week later.

Not sure if I’d actually purchase anything from Ver Unica, but it was great just window shopping and browsing around!

Nice collection of beautiful vintage clothing! The staff is also quite sweet.

This place is vintage heaven! I had the pleasure of visiting this store last weekend. It is so well curated for a vintage store, none of those crappy polyester knit dresses from the 70’s that I see in so many other vintage stores. Everything was beautifully cleaned and pressed and presented in a really nice way. I also really liked the girls that worked at both stores, very sweet and helpful.
While it is a bit pricey, I was able to find the perfect 1970’s hand crocheted white dress in a size 6 that I’ve wanted for years. I immediately decided to get it and, while it would have taken quite the toll on my wallet, was pleased to discover that they have layaway! I put down the minimum payment (30%) and will keep visiting my dress and the store over the next couple of months in order to fully pay for my very, VERY pretty dress.

And for my 700^th review.
I had an extremely positive experience at Ver Unica, which I probably would not have had had I not been fully willing to drop money on clothing. Keeping that in mind, here was my experience:
I adored the store. It’s well situated, though could use more advertising listing it as a vintage store in the window and the layout actually worked quite well. They had two dressing areas with large mirrors on either end of the room and said dressing rooms used drapes, so you had plenty of space to move back and eyeball the article you were contemplating.
As I was going to a rummage sale beforehand I looked vaguely like a hooker, with a tiny skirt and pull off top for easy try/​pull off on in a small space, and because there were three other women in the store and one sales girl I was pretty much thankfully ignored until I asked about the item I was debating buying.
The sales girl was cheery, if not a bit forced in her liveliness and wrapped my clothing quite well. I think overall however, finding the item was the main source of my excitement, and not having a negative experience merely upped my perception of the store.
I don’t know that I’d be back as it’s not a store I could afford regularly, however for well chosen gifts it’s a pretty good stop to make.

I went to this store a little before lunch on a weekday. The store has some interesting items and I would be interested in shopping there but the salesperson who was there was incredibly annoying and pretty much ruined my very casual browsing.
The store is small. They basically have a rack of clothing on either side of the store and a circular rack in the center. I looked at a few things on one rack and then moved on to another rack, etc. As soon as I moved on, the salesperson immediately flew to the area where I had just been and moved the hangers around or otherwise «straightened out» the area. Did she think I put a vintage dress or five into my bag? Did she think I had cooties and had to disinfect the area even though in many instances I hadn’t touched a thing? It was very strange and unwelcoming.
Note to Ver Unica: get some staff that is not so OCD.

I just came home from visiting this vintage shop. Tried on a Pendleton jacket, vintage, late 60’s, new condition. Fell in love with it right away, but could not afford it at the time I was in the store, so I asked that it be put on hold. The young lady was charming enough, and happily put it on hold for one day, which would be fine with me.
Well, when I got home, I saw that 20 minutes earlier, I had gotten a phone call from the same young lady, telling me that someone wanted the jacket, and that if I wanted it, I would have to call back in the next few minutes. Now, I don’t know about you, but that is the first time I have ever put anything on hold with the condition that it’s on hold… unless someone wants to buy it. Which, of course, is NOT a hold policy at all. Just tell the customer you don’t hold items.
So, of course, I called back. And, of course, she had sold the jacket. I have to say, that is the absolute worst sort of customer service, and though they have a very nice selection, that was very unprofessional. When I protested, I was told «sorry, but we are a very small business», which I can understand, times are tough all around, but DON’T tell someone you will put something on hold, then SELL it because they didn’t call you back in a few minutes. That sort of thinking doesn’t build good word of mouth or store loyalty. Very disappointing.
To the folks who run Ver Unica, I suggest you change your hold policy.
Just don’t have one at all.

I made my first VINTAGE clothing purchase here! DARLING :)
So many amazing clothes at a reasonable price! I had to leave, before I spent all my money there! I have to bring all my girlfriends, they will die at the fun vintage finds.
And the owner is so nice and helpful! He really knows fashion! Many Kudos!

yum yum yum yum yum yum.
If vintage clothing were a nutritious diet then I’d subsist solely off Ver Unica.
Happiness is pretty things and lovely staff to sell them to you. Ahhh, joy!

I try not to go into this shop very often just because it’s DANGER in there! So many beautiful things! A well edited vintage lovers dream! I’ve yet to walk into that store and not leave with something. Sure, it’s a little pricey… but when you take into account the quality of what they have it makes more sense to me. When I have friends come to town this store is always on my list of great places to shop.
I’ve only had amazing customer service in there. Last night I even met the owner of the store and she was so warm and lovely!

There are actually 2 Ver Unica shops within 1 block of each other.
While they have plenty of good vintage clothes, I believe they are a stand-​out vintage store specifically for their shoe and jewelry collection. GORGEOUS jewelry… if you can afford it…

I give Ver Unica 2 starts solely on customer service. I understand the pricing because it is Hayes Valley and they can get away with it. I work in the area and I like to go in and browse often. I love the clothes and wish I could afford to buy everything up — maybe then the girls would be less short with me.
Only once, out of a handful of times, did I experience a nice and cheery girl who was more than happy to answer my questions with more than one short sentence, like a normal person. Every other time, I’ve experienced snobbish attitudes from the girls there — as if they are too cool for me because they work at a vintage store. Nobody wants to spend money at a place when they are getting treated like they aren’t good enough to wear the clothes. Although, I admit, I fell in love with a pair of boots and the price was reasonable so I purchased them. Then and only then, did I get one smile from the sales girl.

The debaucherous shores of Ibiza are in my future. So, I was pretty thrilled to stumble upon an awesome vintage bathing suit at this shop on Hayes to add to my collection for the beach. In fact, I’d tried on three items on the bathing suit rack that were sweet: another was an adorable gingham two-​piece, and a third was a suit in the most perfect shade of green.
Vintage suits from like the ‘50s are hit-​or-​miss, but the black-​and-​white one I snagged is awesome.
Summer in the Balearic Islands, here I come.

This place is ridiculously priced!
I just can’t seem to bring myself to pay the amounts on the price tag when I’m used to an entire neighborhood of endless vintage stores in Australia.
And no, I’m not talking about the stores where the clothes have holes in them and smell funky… but stores just like Ver Unica with one off designer pieces… and when you look at the prices your eyes don’t light up thinking you’re about to pay HUNDREDS of dollars for a dress which was sat on, farted in, sweated in, and god knows what else back in those days.
I know it’s not feasible to catch a flight down under, but I tell you what is reasonable… if everyone stopped paying these ridiculous prices, maybe then (just a thought) you’ll see the price tags come down.
And once they do, you can buy your vintage number AND board a plane to sunny Sydney with the money you saved!