Shopping in Piedmont

After spending the morning sketching designs for vintage-inspired nightgowns, Karen Judge pauses to admire the view of the port of San Francisco and Oakland’s hills from the tall windows of her studio in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood. She also gazes south towards SoMa, where her team of expert garment makers stitch every finalized design from cotton, silk, microfleece, and satin. In addition to giving Toute la Nuit Loungewear’s founder and creative director easy access to supervising the sewing, the workshop’s location reflects her desire to pay fair labor prices and reduce the carbon footprint that often comes with fashion manufacturing.

Karen’s drive to forge her own fashionable path actually inspired her to create Toute la Nuit Loungewear. Frustrated by the pajamas she found in stores—which were either overwhelming sexy or scandalously frumpy—she began designing sleepwear that could easily transition from “bed to breakfast.” Inspired by vintage nightgowns, modern daywear, and old Hollywood style, she designed feminine, romantic, and comfortable robes, nightgowns, and separates. For their versatility and woman-friendly design, the styles have earned props from Daily Candy and California ApparelNews.net and a cease-and-desist letter from the fishnet stockings union.

Behind Silver Moon Jeweler's stately black flared awning, delicate wood and glass display cases glitter with precious stones and sterling-silver jewelry for women and men. Baubles from more than 40 artists such as Boma, Holly Yashi, and Rosselini dapple bracelets with inlaid stones, lend spartan embellishments to stately men's rings, and crown women's rings with jewels such as onyx and blue topaz. Silver Moon Jewelers nestles every bauble in a sealed gift bag along with an anti-tarnish strip to ensure ornaments remain sparkling and free of smudges and ancient curses.

Both the Denver Post and the Examiner have featured Melt. Four Yelpers give Melt a four-star average:

As an artist, Jay Joya views frames as pieces of art in and of themselves. He salvages old barn wood and rustic scraps to craft frames that he paints by hand. In addition to the details he puts into his custom borders, Joya's acid-free matting and high-quality glass and acrylic ensure works of art remain preserved for years. A stock of more than 80 sizes of ready-made frames is always at hand to frame pieces in any style, from landscape to portrait to panorama. Beyond art and photography, Joya and his staff help clients frame or shadowbox items such as mirrors, heirlooms, and perfectly cooked steaks.

Master tailor Peter Navin works in the bespoke tradition of London's Savile Row, hand-making each article of clothing to the specifications of his clients. Once he has captured a body's measurements and consulted clients on their style preferences, Mr. Navin delves into his stock of more than 350 fabrics and patterns, sifting through fine wools and cottons from around the globe. He then takes up needle and thread to craft two- and three-piece suits for men and women, custom shirts and blouses, and trousers that stylishly accommodate measurements with style.

American Rag Cie founder Mark Werts teamed up with Rudolphe Faulcon and Larry Russ to found Industrie Denim, an emporium for high-end blue jeans and casual clothing. They carry more than 80 denim brands, including Joe’s Jeans, APC, Ksubi, and Wesc, along with sustaining a special partnership with Levi’s. They outfit dressing rooms with a “booty cam,” allowing patrons to see styles from an all-important angle and discover any unknown back tattoos. Each store’s resident expert or “jean-ius” gives further insights into the cut and wash of the pants. Industrie’s staff can perform alterations in the storefront store, decorated with vintage architectural salvage from classy junkyards and flea markets.