Playing with identity is one of San Francisco's favorite pastimes. For the boulevardier, the flaneur, and the romantic, the city has a bound up, Victorian sensuality. Latter-day decadents stroll the city's avenues and creep discreetly through its back-alley clubs.
The city demands sartorial elegance to go with its old-world charm. It can be an expensive hobby for some. But for those who know where to buy, it can be had on the cheap.
Here, the Gentlemen's Society of San Francisco, a loose association of up-to-date aesthetes and drawing-room dandies, share their thrifty style secrets over a friendly game of chess in their club-rooms, somewhere downtown.
Jwlyfer de Winter-Second-hand Anna Sui jacket, $18.00; Banana Republic trousers, $15.00; Tie, $7.99, all from Buffalo Exchange; Used Ralph Lauren vest and antique top hat from Wasteland, $12.00 & $40.00; Shirt, $3.99, from Goodwill.
Rydell Q. Downward-Late 19th century frock coat, $20.00 from Spinnache in Corte Madera; Boots, $30.00 from Buffalo Exchange; Vest, $5.00, from the Salvation Army.
Steven Gray-English smoking jacket from the 1920's, $75 from the Third Hand Store; Used vest and tie, $5.00 and $4.00, from Buffalo Exchange; Pants, $4.00 from Mission Thrift; Shirt, $15.00 from American Rag Cie.
Tim McCabe-1930's two-piece suit, $16.00 from Thrift Town; Tie, $6.00 from Old Vogue; Sweater, $16.00 from Ardis Taylor.
Alysha-Shirt, $5.00 from Goodwill; Vest, $30.00 from Lundgren's in Berkeley; Cravat, $2.00 from the American Cancer Society Thrift Shop in Santa Rosa; pants, $8.00 from Mars Mercentile in Berkeley; Morning coat, $20.00 from Buffalo Exchange, SF.
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