Masquerade

As good as it gets! Love this store, and the folks running it. We needed masks for a sparkly winter party, so we stopped in while having lunch in Little Italy. They showed us around all the beautiful Italian masks even though we told them we weren’t buying until we got our outfits. We went back a couple months later to purchase, and they remembered us. We bought quality masks for less than I could find them online, and supported a locally owned small business while we were at it. YAY!

Masquerade is a very darling boutique with a little bit of everything a coquettish girl might need: purses, Carnevale masks, items for decorating the table, nice vintage posters, perfumes, candles, jewelry… and everything in between, very packed and tiny store. So if you see more than 4 people browsing, wait until they get out, or you won’t be comfortable.
Prices are excessively high. Only because they are in Little Italy and the boutique is cute they shouldn’t be charging so much. I guess they must have good shoppers when they keep this pricing. I only buy Carnevale masks and items on sale there.
Also, customer service could improve a bit. They are not friendly to the customers, I have never had any pleasant experience with the owners, just feeling observed too much, like I was willing to break something. Maybe is their style, they don’t ask you what you need, and some people prefer that approach, but I don’t see friendliness in the air.

Fun shop in Little Italy, stuffed with stuff. Hats, sunglasses, jewelry, gifts, scarves, furniture, home goods.
It’s a cramped little shop with lots of hidden goodies. Worth a visit.

Gorgeous merchandise and masks. I love to try on all the masks. There was this mardi gras mask that was silver and cranberry red and it sparkled and there was a feather on the side. It was 59 dollars. I would have gotten it if I had the money at the time. Other masks were considerably higher, but the average was 59 dollars. They had a beautiful gold Julius Caesar mask for the men… wow wow. I would love to see a hunky man model that one.
The owners were super nice and helpful. At the last minute when I went to get a card the owner pulled out this bright turquoise mask and I gasped. So gorgeous! Then he said «Would you like a business card?» Just what I was going to ask him. Cute little shop and a must see every time you come to Little Italy, I’ve been here 3 times so far!

BE CAREFUL. I bought a purse there, got it home, it didn’t work for me and attempted to return it the very next day. The gal working there sympathized but was adamant that the owner had a strict no-​return policy that she would not budge from. Ok, so that is her prerogative, I get that. Here is the problem.
One tiny, itty-​bitty sign at the register alerts you to that, but she took payment from me further along the counter. Another slightly bigger sign is way at the back behind the counter and you have to squint to see it. and it’s totally unnoticeable If you are going to have a policy that is non customer-​centric and adamantly stick to it, then make SURE people know about it before they make a purchase. I would have never bought there had I known. I have a store credit, but the whole thing sticks in my craw.

Gorgeous boutique… excellent for gifts! Cozy and smells amazing, and the service is excellent without pressure from sales staff.
Variety of jewelry that is unique, beautiful purses, books, candles, and great fragrance oil lamps and fragrance oil varieties. I visit about once per month and every time I go I find new things I love.

Masquerade is one of my favorate shops for gifts. i have purchase several lamps and purses for friends and relatives. I now have two lamps that i enjoy and plan to collect a few more. The ladies are always so helpful and laugh at my husband’s jokes.(which helps while purchasing)
Good quality and unique merchandise.

Very friendly accomadating employees.
Thery don’t pressure you.
Lots of fun eclectic merchandise, most of which I have not seen before. Best advice, take your time and look very carefully.
Beautiful different silver jewlery from Italy, reasonably priced.
Dog friendly. They even play with the dog.

This is a darling, wee store in Little Italy. They have lots of trinkets and cute stuff some women seem to like, for me I am not into a lot of it, my accessories tend to be small and muted. But I am partial to purses.
This place has some really great ones that are very different and reasonably priced. I know people on here have complained about prices but for me the purses are good value compared to the «same as everyone else» styles at the mall.
It’s a good place to pick up something unique without breaking the bank

I love Masquerade. Dominique and Janet are always so helpful. I have purchased about 5 handbags from them and lots of jewelry from them too. I get compliments all the time on everything I have from there and the best part is everything is so unique. I never have to worry about running into someone wearing the same thing. Good quality is worth paying for. I find what I buy lasts.

Interesting store in Little Italy. From masquerade masks, jewelry, purses, housewares and fancy napkin rings — it has a little of everything. I have to admit, some of the purses were very cute but pricey. Ranging from $ 150-​$ 300. The napkin rings that caught my eye was $ 160. Yikes.
I know where to come though when I need a masquerade mask. They had a great selection. Other than that, I don’t think I’d buy much from here.

Small boutique with a unique flair for fashion, packed with lots of «eye candy» for the clever home decorator. Masquerade does NOT pretend to sell «fine art», although you can occasionally spot a Lalique lamp or Murano glass among the many fun items that fill this European-​styled shop. Locally owned and operated by three delightful ladies from the «old school». One owner is from the island nation of Mauritius, which might explain her French sensibility towards certain clientele (as otherwise detailed by one hapless reviewer below). If you want fast and cheap, please visit TJ Maxx (as suggested by another reviewer) to get fashion tips for the general public. Even my Cocker Spaniel enjoyed the warm greeting from everyone as we strolled slowly and repeatedly so as to not miss a hidden treasure. Dog friendly and part of the Little Italy experience, Masquerade welcomes patrons willing to pay for the inspiration and not just the product.

Masquerade aka Masquerade Art of Living is a great find. I’ve gone into this shop at least 5 times, they have some really unique items there and I really like the selection of handbags. Everyone I’ve taken to this shop ranging in age from 20 to 50 like it too. I bought a red purse there and a friend visiting from Hawaii admired it so I bought one for her for her birthday. While at the birthday party, another person liked it so much and wanted to buy one too. There are some things that are expensive and other items that are moderately priced. This is to be expected for unique items that are merchandised for the discriminating shopper.
While reviewing some of the other comments, I see there are remarks about it having high prices but what do you expect for a specialty boutique in Little Italy? I’d rather pay more here than go wasting valuable time going to one of the malls where commercial mass production is prevalent. The staff here have always had great customer service and gift wrap for free with very nice paperware.
I think this is a great addition to the restaurant row on India Street. Since I work near the shop, this is on my list for gift hunting; I would certainly recommend it to others.

Cool little boutique store. They sell an eclectic mix of art– visual, sensual and wearable. The store is small, so everytime I go in there, I see something I hadn’t noticed before– weird for a small space, but it’s because everything is so compacted!
I love their scented «lamps” — in which they also sell the liquid to burn in them (I think it’s alcohol, not oil). THis is the reason I keep coming back.
Oh, they always have some great tunes playing, too. But I don’t know if they sell them…

I’d been here once before admiring the fragrance lamps. The staff was informative but not friendly. As much as I wanted to purchase one (they supposedly help purify the air and emit fragrance) I did not because they are between $ 50 – 100 and found myself waiting for my birthday or some holiday to hopefully receive one. Well, the universe helped me receive one but via the APRL (Animal Protection and Rescue League) Thrift Store off Clairemont Mesa. It was $ 10! I’d kept it wrapped in my car for weeks waiting for the day I’d end up at this store to buy my fragrance oil. Today was that day.
I was very excited and went in with my dog which they welcomed. I asked the employee (who turns out to be the owner) about my oil lamp and wanted to make sure I had everything I needed for it to work. She explained I needed to wash and dry it as the oil had gotten on the outside and could be dangerous. I was to purchase the oil after I cleaned it and «started from scratch» (Ok???) She asked where I got it (even though I already had told her) and kind of scoffed that I bought it in a thrift store. If I had said «consignment shop» or «antique store» I am sure her response would have been nicer. The bag (s) I brought it in had oil on them and I asked for another bag to carry my lamp in. She looked around and said, «Oh, you can have MY bag» and proceeded to hand me a HUGE Bloomingdales bag. Mind you these lamps are about the size of a large fist and made of GLASS. I was not about to put my find in a huge bag and risk it breaking. I asked if she had something smaller to which she remarked «No.» Then, I asked her what she puts things in when people buy them. She proceeded with a snooty, «I’m not giving you one of MY bags YOU did NOT purchase this at MASQUERADE!» So I replied, «Well then I’ll be buying my oils somewhere else if you are going to be stingy with your bags!» She said, «These are special products and I was explaining to you how to use them!» Wow. I can’t have a fucking bag?
I realized later she may have thought I was trying to gift it and pose it as something from her «fabulous» shop. Well, lady. I wasn’t. The lamp was for me. I was so ticked at the way she treated me that I called her and thanked her for her advice on the product but that she lost a potential customer and I understand she wants high spenders and not thrifty ones like me. She told me she did «not want to have this conversation» with me and I told her I’d be doing what I just did; Told San Diego about their shitty customer service. Now… off to finding fragrance oil online!

Masquerade is really proud of their collection of Lampe Berge fragrance sets which take up about half of the store. They look like strangely large perfume bottles. The woman who worked there was super friendly and offered to show us how to use the oil to make the scent.
The other half of the store consists of home décor, mostly «fine art.» However, their art was mostly canvas reproductions — not unlike what you’d find at a TJ Maxx/​Home Goods store. However, while it would be $ 100 at TJ Maxx/​Home Goods it was at least $ 500 (and sometimes close to $ 1000) here. Eeek!

Masquerade struck me for one particular reason, and that is the large number of Lampe Berger that they display. All shapes and sizes with the accompanying fragrance gamut to choose from makes it a must stop for anyone who’s looking for this specific item. The professional employee will offer you a demonstration if you so choose. I liked the small Italian oil paintings hung on their walls and the carafes and wine bottles’ bejeweled corks and coasters to make the perfect vintage a grandiose sight.