Discover Model Denim at G-Star Raw San Diego Store

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You bought them when they were washed with acid and you were overjoyed when they were over-dyed, but have you ever tried them Raw? Local shoppers, it's time to discover G-Star Raw, the San Diego store.

San Diego is a denim town: denim skirts are worn with bikinis to the beach, old favorites are paired with suit jackets for casual Fridays at the office, and invitations to four-star restaurants means pairing expensive jeans with Manolos or Hugo Boss cashmere.

G-Star Raw, the high-end European denim brand, fits in with San Diego's love of all things jean while bringing something new to the table - raw denim that becomes a personalized pant as it shapes differently upon each body that rocks it.

The G-Star line was started in 1996 and is focused on industrial chic designs done in, or influenced by, denim. There's a European flair and attention to detail in all pieces of the line, but the items themselves are basic and are meant to reflect the personality of the wearer, rather than to be a brand showpiece. Not that you won't show-off your new jeans or vest every chance you get, just don't be surprised if those admiring glances are for the way the denim hugs your curves rather than for the contrasting stitching on the back pockets.

Admire the Stone Wash

"Industrial chic" describes the G-Star line, and it also applies to the San Diego store. Poured concrete floors, steel hardware, and the muted colors of the store are reflected in the substantial zippers of the hoodies and the monochromatic color palette of the clothes.

The store has a bias towards men's clothes, although there is more than enough to keep any discriminating female shopper occupied in the dressing rooms. G-Star's San Diego location in the Gaslamp shopping district makes it an easy destination for their international clientele who are looking to update their wardrobe by spending bargain-priced dollars instead of yen or euros.

I asked Sylvia, who runs the store, if it's the folks jetting back to wintery locales who have depleted her stock of fur-trimmed hooded jackets and snow-ready puffy nylon coats. She assured me that San Diegans are a well-traveled group and that they've actually been buying most of her winter pieces. Besides, a winter chill does descend upon California's southern-most city in-between gusts of the Santa Anas, and the months ahead will have even the most diehard beach bunny reaching for the warmth and comfort of a down-filled vest.

Give it to Me Straight Leg

So besides warm winter jackets, what will G-Star offer San Diegans for fall and winter? Sylvia stresses two major influences coming from the line this season: layering and attention to detail.

Both the men and women's lines have t-shirts, vests, and jackets, as well as button-down shirts in the men's section and great little dresses in the women's. While G-Star is a great line for basics, don't confuse 'basic' with 'boring' - the details in each and every piece are inventive, well-thought out, and not gratuitous.

An extra pocket on a jacket adds to the piece's practicality, while an interestingly cut collar on a peacoat transforms it from a cool weather necessity to a classic fashion item. It's this attention to the smallest details that adds to the luxurious feel of the G-Star line; even the tag telling you where the piece is made has an artistic icon to represent the location, not your standard "Made in" statement.

And then of course, there are the jeans - or the walls full of denim to be more precise. Any cut, any fit that you're looking for, you'll find it at the G-Star San Diego store. Vogue is stressing the return of the wide leg for fall, but for those of you who have been working out all summer and want to flaunt your perky booty in a pair of super skinny jeans, Sylvia assures they'll still be carrying those, too.

What you won't find in San Diego, unfortunately, is G-Star's stylish and totally utilitarian shoe line. Make sure to ask for it when you come to the counter with your arms filled with denim, dark shirts, and winter vests; maybe with enough demand we can convince them that we need to have Star quality from head to toe.

Five Pocket Discount

Then, of course, there's the question that must be asked in these times of economic uncertainty: what's the price point for G-Star? Sylvia tells me about $200, and really, she's not lying. T-shirts, belts, and hats are less, and the jeans fall a little under, too, while the more expensive looking jackets rise a bit above. That's practically a steal when you consider the quality of the merchandise, but just in case you need more convincing, G-Star isn't just about making you look good, this internationally famed brand is about corporate global responsibility.

G-Star's GSRD Foundation has joined with the United Nations to support the UN's eight Millennium Goals in an effort to halve extreme poverty by 2015. So now you have the chance to support a company that keeps you fashionably and socially aware, and that my friends, is real Star power.

Visit the G-Star Raw San Diego store in the Gaslamp at 470 Fifth Avenue. For everything G-Star, visit the main website at G-Star.com.