Redbird

This is my favorite place to shop in Berkeley, there’s no other place like it in the East Bay, the owner has great style, or at least it jives with my sensibility. Besides clothes, they also have an excellent selection of fine jewelry, and I’ve bought many pieces that I wear often. I know this place is on the expensive side, but they do have seasonal sales, if you can wait, and the owner will put you on the mailing list to notify you of any sales.

Bought a one of a kind purse at Redbird. Was disappointed to find that it was imperfect. When I returned to speak to the owner two days later, I was very impressed by her professional approach to the problem. I know that damage and returns are very difficult for the bottom line at a privately owned boutique, and I sometimes shy away from purchases at smaller stores for that reason.
I would set Redbird apart from boutiques where the financials are a hindrance to relations with their customers. The understanding, calm response to my problem speaks to the ethos of the store and the owner.

If I could give them more than five stars, I would. Beautifully edited collection of clothing every season [with a fiercely stylish bent]. Redbird is an oasis of style in the Bay Area. I find way more inspiration here than I do shlepping over the bridge to Barney’s in the city. I have a background in sales + customer service. I always walk out of RedBird feeling as if I’ve just paid for a personal styling session with the most lovely folks. Amazing service and great style with a wide range of price points. Thank you ladies!

Shopping trip on Saturday.
Tried on several beautiful dresses.
Most of them around $ 500-​$ 700.
Saleswoman was super.
Very polite and well conversed in fashion.
My friend took a picture with my phone.
I needed to see all sides of my dress.
The dress would be an investment.
Surely I was entitled to see all angles.
The owner storms in and yells.
«Pictures aren’t allowed.»
I would have been fine if she stopped at that.
She didn’t. She yanked open the curtain.
I was standing in my bra and underwear, changing.
«I need to make sure that you aren’t taking pictures.»
She growled.
I immediately put on my clothes.
Grabbed my friends and left.
Never going back.

I have to agree with others here. I really like the clothes, and sometimes make the trek from SF, esp for the outlet. I have been to the store about 4 times, and each time the owner treats me as if I am Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman — even though I am 52 yr old and dress respectfully! She acts like it is a waste of time to help me or answer a question. I wonder if she is so unhappy in her personal life it just transfers over to her customer-​service. Oh well. I am glad I have so many more choices.

The clothes are lovely one of a kind pieces — but — you do need to be a «petite» to look really good in most of the designer wear and have a healthy bank balance to purchase them. Not much for the more mature woman with healthy breast sizes. (Gotta have that a cup & size 3 hips to even get some of them on ladies…) Couple of the more esoteric pieces left us wondering what one is supposed to do with them (designers gone mad).
The outlet store on Domingo consistently has pieces that are suitable for any occasion at pieces that are worth checking out. None of the «panache» but great stuff can be found if you *look*. On the downside, it’s only open three days a week and the girl who works there doesn’t know a thing about customer service. She closes at random times and chases customers out ten to fifteen minutes before closing — even if the customer has her cash/​checkbook/​credit card out and is ready to buy.

Let me just say this– I love the clothing and jewelry at Red Bird. Love it — shop there regularly, take friends there to introduce them to the place– love it!
That said — I will not spend another dime there.
I was in last week with a friend. I had tried on and picked out some pieces to purchase when I heard an exchange between the owner and a client that was unbelievable in the utter rudeness of the owner. The other customer was very politely trying to exchange a gift given to her by her sister. It was clearly a Red Bird piece, in great shape, etc. The saleswoman was great. The piece was no longer on the shelves and they were doing some great problem solving.
Its fine that returns don’t happen — I get it– there are polices. The problem was how the situation got «resolved»
Enter the owner. Her rudeness was stunning. It wasn’t her complete unwillingness to accept a return, nor her lack of initiative to make any effort to accommodate a customer (a regular as was the woman’s sister who had given her the Red Bird gift) that got me, it was her nasty tone and utter disdain for the customer in front of her. She was seriously rude.
My friend and I were both stunned. As was the customer. All of us regular Red Bird shoppers.
No more! I let the saleswoman know while I totally appreciated her great attitude and assistance, that I would not buy the clothes I had picked out due to the owner’s treatment of the other customer.
Its really too bad. I think the saleswomen at Red Bird are great. I LOVE my clothing and jewelry from there, but, I don’t want to spend my money supporting a business owner who treats other people so poorly.

Wonderful unique clothing and very interesting jewelry.
one of a kind. Most of the time I want to work on not wanting to acquire and to live from within and be one with the earth and this place makes me wish I were really really rich! Some of the things there are a work of art.

I’ve been a Red Bird fan for years, and each visit is immensely enjoyable. In a world of fashion monotony and declining quality, this place is a jewel. Definitely not for Old Navy and Target fans. They view clothing, accessories and jewelry as works of art, and have an exquisite collection. I’ve always found the sales team, in particular Karen, the owner, helpful and creative, whether you’re carrying a Vuitton tote or an llbean backpack. I’ll do my personal part to make sure they weather the recession!

I had decided to just «step in and take a look around» after grabbing some coffee and pastries to see what it was all about. I was very impressed by the selection and the sales were fabulous. I bought what is perhaps the softest sweater I will ever own in my whole life and it has a wonderful style to it that I haven’t seen anywhere. The saleswomen were very attentive.
I plan to return here to buy quality pieces for my wardrobe that I know will last for years.
I also confess I visited the outlet after wards and found a steal of a pair of boots.
Definitely a fan!

I had visited Redbird earlier and the staff and owner had always been so knowledgeable. Not just about clothing and design, but textiles and art in general. I just visited them the other day and got a pullover and pants and could not be happier.
Their prices put them in the pricier league, but their selection puts them on par with the best (non-​formal wear) clothing boutiques in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, you name it.
Plus they don’t just have the smaller labels with high quality that you want to find, they also select, what I believe are the best pieces from each season’s collection.
I really enjoyed shopping at Redbird.

I love this boutique! They have all of my favorite small designers, and the saleswomen are truly helpful. They know when to step in, and when to leave me alone to peruse as I wish. Oh, yeah, and their sales are wonderful. You can experience sales year-​round now at the outlet shop nearby. I have to admit, I spend way too much money at Redbird, but my wardrobe is now full of fabulous, unique items. I can’t recommend this place highly enough. it is one of the few places in the East Bay that is on par with San Francisco boutiques. Warning: this is no place for the Berkeley fleece brigade.

I actually had a nice experience here… thought the owner was more than welcoming and helpful and seemed to care about good customer service. I adored the clothes and the jewelry — they were original and well-made…and they carry Henry Cuir leather goods! They also have an «outlet» nearby where you can buy off-​season stuff. Pricey, yes, but nobody forced me to go there so how can I complain?
I understand A.K.‘s frustration, but it’s often impossible for small boutiques to offer the same kind of return policy as big national department stores. Even if the clothes carry a hefty price tag, it’s a struggle for most boutiques like this to make ends meet. I used to work at one that was enormously successful, but it still was a roll of the dice every month.

Today, my friend brought me to this wonderful store, after a sunny lunch in one of the claremont hotel’s restaurants. What a discovery! the store is pretty small but offers a wide selection of clothes and shoes. Don’t miss it if you are around. It will be the first store on my list if I have to find something nice and unique.