Shopping in the US

[JetLagged]

HI everyone: next month will be in San Francisco and Boston for a few days each: wondering whether anyone has good shopping suggestions for those places. Two things I am interested in are:

• BOSE noise cancelling headphones
• mens clothing - especially jeans and other denim. Note: needs to be largew mens sizes (4XL upwards).

We're actually travelling on from America, so some weight concerns apply. Looking forward to your suggestions.

Cheers,

JetLagged

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would buy your Bose's from Amazon before the trip $299 plus delivery to AU.

 

[138-CAN]

I've never been to Boston, but there is huge Westfield Shopping Centre on Market Street in San Francisco. There would surely be a range of stores there that you could search through! It is really easy to get to, the F Line runs past there which also takes you up Market Street, past the piers, to Fisherman's Wharf. There are also some cool shops around Fishermans Wharf. However, they are more 'touristy.' Didn't get to any outlet stores or anything like that... too much other stuff to see!

 

[LiamR]

I've never been to Boston, but there is huge Westfield Shopping Centre on Market Street in San Francisco. There would surely be a range of stores there that you could search through! It is really easy to get to, the F Line runs past there which also takes you up Market Street, past the piers, to Fisherman's Wharf. There are also some cool shops around Fishermans Wharf. However, they are more 'touristy.' Didn't get to any outlet stores or anything like that... too much other stuff to see!

+1 to the Westfield Shopping Centre on Market Street. If you can't find what you are looking for there, you won't find it anywhere.

 

[FuzzyAUS]

I'll be in San Fran for 3-4 days early next month, are people sure westfields does have stores with larger sizes?

I have looked in other states/locations and never had any luck, I'm pretty much the same size as the OP

cheers
Fuzz

 

[cove]

We do a lot of shopping at Camarillo Outlet Mall which is north of Los Angeles on the 101 freeway by about 1 hour from LAX. It is worth the drive but avoid the weekend as that is a real zoo!You can look this up on the Internet.

 

[AV8]

Try Gilroy Premium Outlets (Levi store) has a good range, also I have been able to buy from Sears (mens big & tall dept), Walmart is another excellent store for this size range with quality brand name clothing. Generally I find that the suburban shopping centres cater for the larger male rather than the inner city/cbd store.

 

[Bugalugz]

The Westfield in the City is pretty decent and has a good range of shops. Fishermans wharf is more the touristy shops and trinkets.

Actually come to think of it Westfield has my favorite US department store: Bloomingdales, freaking love that shop! Really decent stuff at decent prices. Bought thousands of dollars worth of bedding and Manchester for a few hundred dollars in one of their sales this time last year.

I'm XL to XXL but easy enough to get big sizes in the USA.....they all aren't exactly "small", love going to theme parks and shops and feeling thin by American standards!!

Sears, Macys, JC Penney all have branded clothes and usually have decent deals on stuff too. Also Oakley stores do GREAT jeans and big sizes if you ask!

Walmart is a must go to just for a laugh but they actually do have branded clothes and some decent stuff really cheap.

As has been said try and go to the outlets (unlike Australia) they are actually cheap, you do have the usual places that aren't any cheaper but some brands are cheap.

We found each department store has a sale on a different thing and we took advantage of that. The postage system is okay, if you can send stuff home still works out cheaper than buying it in rip off Aussie.

My problem is with the USA go over with 1 suitcase and come back with 3 and after the other 3/4 boxes of stuff we have already sent home. Of course none of it is over $1000 though its it

 

[Sprucegoose]

Brooks Brothers for good shirts and suits.

This is a quality shop and on sale is good value.

BB have outfitted most Presidents.

Brooks Brothers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Fantic125]

Have a look at some of the Gap outlets for clothing;

http://www.gap.com/browse/info.do?cid=48620

Not 100% sure about sizing - maybe check the website!

 

[drron]

The closest outlets to San francisco are The Great Mall of The Bay area at Milpitas to the south and Vacaville to the west.
The Great Mall is huge and includes around it other chains such as Walmart and Burlington Coat Factory.
Vacaville is convenient if you were driving to or from the Napa valley.
In town Burlington Coat has a shop just 2 blocks from the Westfied centre on Howard st.Big range but usually have to search for better brands.But usually arranged by size.
Another a little further away on 9th st. is Nordstrom Rack-this is the outlet for Nordstom's dept.store.Usally a big range of upmarket labels.Particularly known for their shoes.
Gap outlets are good but big sizes often in short supply.But you do get an extra 10% off when flashing your RACQ etc card.Always ask in any store if they give an AAA discount as all our motoring clubs are ffiliated with AAA.

 

[cove]

Every time I buy a Quicksilver casual shirt I make a donation to my sons wardrobe as they never fit me despite the size looking like it would. Those shirts are a slim fit!
You have the opportunity to buy casual trousers where they fit you exactly in length and breadth....just tear off the tags and wear them. I turn up in America with a light bag then head into Macy's Men's store to get some Dockers trousers using the international discount available.
I still think Costco,Target and Walmart stores are way out the best retailers in America but the more boutique stores can have fantastic offerings that suit you better.
If you go to Ross Dress For Less I have seen jackets still on Macy's hangers for $39 or less and it really can be fun shopping there mid week. In fact if you are over 62 you claim 5% extra discount every Tuesday.
In America you can shop till you cannot afford to save any more money!

 

[mole]

I always check out Burlington Coat Factory too, you never know what you might find! Loehmanns is also worth a look and the San Francisco branch has a separate mens store.

 

[bluebean]

In SF I found Macy's and Ross Dress for Less were great places to pick some deals. Gap didn't do it for me but Banana Republic (their premium brand) was fantastic and the SF shop is huge.

 

[thommo9]

In Boston, Boylston St (same street as the Prudential Centre) is home of Shopping in Boston. Major outlets (Saks 5th avenue etc) to nice boutique stores. A bit of a walk up and down but stopping for a coffee anywhere along there is amazing. Also the next street north Newbury St has even more boutique shopping if that's your cup of tea.

 

[BAM1748]

Also back two blocks from the Westfield in SF is Union Square, there is a three story Levi's shop on the north east corner of the square.

 

[dfcatch]

Also back two blocks from the Westfield in SF is Union Square, there is a three story Levi's shop on the north east corner of the square.

And The Cheesecake Factory

 

[cove]

dfcatch that is a good idea as you would be nothing without a bit of sustenance. We go there at least once a week when we are States side.

 

[ceieoc]

HI everyone: next month will be in San Francisco and Boston for a few days each: wondering whether anyone has good shopping suggestions for those places. Two things I am interested in are:

• BOSE noise cancelling headphones
• mens clothing - especially jeans and other denim. Note: needs to be largew mens sizes (4XL upwards).

We're actually travelling on from America, so some weight concerns apply. Looking forward to your suggestions.

Cheers,

JetLagged

Your in luck as San Francisco is the headquarters for Levi's. They do custom fittings for jeans and denim.

From Fodor's Travel Guide:

Levi Strauss headquarters Review

The carefully landscaped complex appears so collegiate that it's affectionately known as LSU—short for Levi Strauss University. Lawns complement the redbrick buildings, and gurgling fountains drown out the sounds of traffic, providing a perfect environment for brown-bag and picnic lunches. The lobby visitor center has six displays focusing on the history of the company, including a vintage ad exhibit and the latest Levi products. The Filbert Steps to Coit Tower are across the street.
Address: Levi's Plaza, 1155 Battery St., North Beach, San Francisco, California, 94111. Sorry that AFF will not allow me to post a link until my post count is 10 or more. This is my second post.

More info from Levi's news release.
Levi’s® Curve ID Is Company’s First Global Women’s Denim Line
SAN FRANCISCO (August 9, 2010) – Today, Levi’s® – the original, definitive jeans brand – announced a new line of custom fit jeans made to fit the curve of a woman’s body. The new line, Levi’s® Curve ID, utilizes a revolutionary fit system based on shape, not size and was created as a result of studying more than 60,000 body scans and listening to women around the world of all shapes and sizes...

BOSE products you can purchase most anywhere but most states will add 6-9% sales tax on top of the purchase. Check out in the duty-free stores as you travel.

 

[JetLagged]

Thanks eveyrone for all of those great suggestions. Due to slight change of plans will actually be in Boston longer than we are in san Francisco - connecting from there to LHR. So looking forward to some shopping - any other suggestions for Boston?

Staying at the Hotel Commonwealth - it gets great write-ups from Trip Advisor, and managed to find what I think is a great deal: $680AU for 3 nights in a Commonwealth room.

Will post a trip report along the way: travelling QF93 from MEL, 2 nights at the Mark Hopkins in San Franscico, AA flights from LAX-SFO, then SFO-xORD-BOS, then those 3 nights at the Commonwealth in Boston. That is the first 5 days!