11/05/08

Wasted birthday gift

by PhilaS

I made the colossal mistake of buying my sister a gift certificate to this place with a bra fitting thinking that it will be fun for her. The bra they sold her was way too tight for her and it kept digging into her shoulders. She had expressed her concern about the bra size but they assured her it will be fine. After the first time she could never use it again. The same with the underwear. It did exactly what she did not want it to do. Since she had paid above the certificate she went back to them and they refused to accept that the bra was too tight and the underwear the wrong fit, did not offer a different size for her to try or speak to manager. Very poor customer service for a place that it supposed to sell high end lingerie, not to mention the fact that the fitters clearly have no idea what they're doing. Completely unacceptable.

12/08/06

Best in SF

by etherangel

This is absolutely the best place for lingerie in San Francisco. Both stores have an amazing selection of cutting edge designer lingerie from (mostly) Italy as well as a great selection of basic everyday bras. The greatest advantage Alla Prima has over other lingerie boutiques, department stores, and corporate stores like VS or AP is that the staff has been trained to look past hanger appeal to find pieces that fit and flatter real bodies in different shapes and sizes. A friend suggested I treat myself to some nice lingerie after a recent break -up and suggested I go to Alla Prima. I was pretty skeptical but that changed soon after I was led to a dressing room and asked to take my top off. After explaining why the bra I was wearing didn't really do much for my figure, the salesgirl asked me to wait while she found a bra for me to try on - the fit was perfect and I looked fabulous in the ultra-tight tshirt she had me put on to see how the bra looked under clothes. She then left me alone "to admire yourself" while she looked for something a bit bolder. I bought 3 new bras for everyday wear under t-shirts and sweaters. I also purchased 2 beautiful sets. One is a black silk lace with an overlay of tulle - textured, dramatic and elegant. The other is satin the color of crushed berries covered with a fine web of indigo lace. Yes, my visit to Alla Prima set me back a few bucks but the experience was priceless.

• Pros: selection, service, atmosphere
• Cons: parking

Unleash your inner sex goddess with the luxe lingerie from this glamorous shop.

by Contributor

In Short
There is a great elegance to both outposts of this lingerie boutique, with every item, from glittering chandeliers to a striped settee, gingerly selected and refurbished by the passionate owners. The Hayes Valley shop is larger and loft-like with exposed columns, rustic floors and spacious dressing rooms, while the narrow North Beach location is more intimate with a Parisian flare. Both stores have signature yellow-painted walls and a savvy, well-traveled clientele.