Shop Affordable Vintage Fashion at Akia in Little Italy

Finding cool style at decent prices can be quite the task for male shoppers in San Diego.

While the ladies get rows upon rows upon shelves of fashionable habiliments, men are often left with a small corner in an expensive boutique heaving with trendy graphics.

This is where shopping at Akia can save a San Diego chap from becoming fashion road kill. Akia – pronounced “Ah-key-Ah” – is not to be confused with the low-quality Swedish furniture mega store, Ikea. On the contrary, Akia is small shop in Little Italy owned by a Japanese man that sells quality vintage clothing.

Located on the artsy Kettner Blvd., Akia has turned the tables on the usual fashion situation for men. Although an adorable selection, women have only a corner rack and five pairs of retro heels to browse through, while the men get to bathe in wonderful old school treats.

The goods at Akia consist of authentic vintage shirts along with vests, jackets, hats and sweaters. The only items made after 1990 is a pile of white slacks, circa 2009, and maybe the cash register.

The entire store is smaller than my last apartment, but they have utilized the space efficiently so as not to alert the shopper to its close confines. You don’t feel packed and you can peruse the merchandise with ease. The bars of clothing are set up like bunk beds and the dressing room is placed directly next to the ringing area… where the employees go to the bathroom is a mystery to me.

When I first walked into the store and greeted the owner I noted the edgy ambiance and incredible vintage finds and assumed the prices would be high. I spied a super soft tee with an old-fashioned scuba diver design on it and the phrase, “Divers do it deeper” and felt my heart sink as I reached for its price tag. Not because I couldn’t afford it, but because I am absolutely tired of cool vintage shops selling aged t-shirts for outrageous prices. I just know the same t-shirt is floating around some thrift store for $4.

Imagine my shock when I saw this fantastically vulgar tee cost $24. Yes, it’s more than $4, but its half the price of most vintage stops in Los Angeles. As for San Diego, you can’t actually find this kind of true vintage selection when it comes to tees. I’ve done the legwork.

As a personal stylist one of my biggest challenges is finding fashionable t-shirts for my male clients. These days mass produced tees for men are mostly splattered with swirly graphics that will date men so quickly. Nobody needs more than two of this type of tee, and everyone needs more than two shirts. How odd that I have to look to the past to find modern trends.

Akia has the one-of-a-kind tees that an up-to-the-minute fella needs. Fun sayings, color variety, cool graphics and the best fits are where the selection starts and fabulous jackets are to follow. They have numerous Members Only jackets, ultra hips vests, in vogue sweaters and ultra hot derby hats to boot.

Akia also sells some amazing ‘70s polyester goodies in the long sleeves department with incredibly unique patterns. But when you discover the leather is the moment you will start composing a thank you letter to DiscoverSD.com for introducing you to Akia. Cropped vintage leather jackets in the very stylish earth tones rest on hangers, begging to be tried on by a hip sexy man wandering through Little Italy, looking to add that kick to his wardrobe.

Discover more San Diego boutiques here and shopping tips and trends here. For more San Diego fashion advice or a wardrobe consultation with a personal stylist, visit vanessavaliente.com.