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North Bay Holiday Party Outfit And Accessory Shopping Guide

Who doesn't like party time and another excuse to shop for something new to wear? When the shopping bug bites, the North Bay is a natural choice to look for holiday and other occasion party wear. Here are five North Bay locations that just may be a perfect fit for what you are looking for.

Mint

Mint
167-B Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 383-6468
www,mintdesignplay.blogspot.com

A true customer favorite, Mint is described by one fan as "a charmingly sweet little treat of a shop." The specialty here seems to be handmade items from around the world. One customer raves about the playful handmade ice-cream cones from Korea and a collection of themed home décor books from Japan. Special things to wear are here at Mint as well. You will find beautiful leather handbags, metallic ones too, along with unique items to wear such as a woman's rain poncho with its hood sprinkled with fabric flowers to brighten a rainy day. Looking for something special for a night at the theater or symphony or a holiday party? Come on over the Golden Gate Bridge to lovely downtown Mill Valley and see Mint for yourself.

Nicolette
499 Magnolia Ave,
Larkspur, CA 94939
(415) 927-0226
www.facebook.com/pages/Nicolette

Nicolette is one of those shops that women fall in love with quickly. The owner, the staff, the awesome basics, the flirty must haves from up-to-date designers, plus the central North Bay location combine to keep Nicolette a long-time customer favorite. Originally opened in Mill Valley in 1986, the Larkspur site opened in 1992 and continues to offer its loyal regulars and new shoppers an excellent selection of fashion clothing, scarves, shoes, handbags and jewelry to liven things up a notch or two.

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The Mill Valley Hat Box
118 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 383-2757
www.millvalleyhatbox.com

The crowning glory to a party ensemble has got to be a drop-dead-on-sight treasure of a hat -- something that stands out from the crowd and fits you and your image perfectly. And the best place to find this special something is at The Mill Valley Hat Box, where hats are special. Danielle, whose mother Dorothy opened the shop many years ago, definitely knows her hats. The store is beautiful, and along with the great hat selection has a truly helpful staff. In addition to hats, The Mill Valley Hat Box carries a line of classy gloves, handbags of varying sizes, plus some of this and a little of that. Hats for men are here too, including Panizza fedoras "brimming" with good looks. Come into the shop and see it all for yourself.

Related: Best Shops For Cocktail Dresses In East Bay

OSKA

OSKA Mill Valley
153 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 381-1144
www.oska-millvalley.com

This shop is a branch of the well-known OSKA label, established in 1997 and headquartered in Munich, Germany. Known for its women's garments, OSKA production is all-inclusive with its teams responsible for development, design and production of its quality clothing. The same is true for the newer OSKA men's line, available at the Mill Valley store. The men's pieces are classic shapes with updated fabrics and colors, and fit well year round with the Northern California lifestyle and micro climates. For example, OSKA's boiled wool jackets are classics for both men and women with their lightweight yet warm layers, and are ideal additions to a transitional wardrobe. Clothing is designed in Germany and the various layers of production, including cloth dying, are done in the OSKA Czech facility so that the company can maintain consistent standards. The men's designs work well with the dressy-casual holiday and other occasion parties that are seasonal favorites. The OSKA men's line has been updated to suit its American clients with narrower legs and more fitted jacket shapes. Visit the website or stop by to see the men's and women's collections. Another OSKA shop is located in Healdsburg, CA.

Sugar Magnolia
546 Magnolia Ave.
Larkspur, CA 94939
(415) 924-2800

Located right smack in the middle of Main Street in Larkspur, Sugar Magnolia is a cute little consignment store with a little bit of everything, so you are destined to find something just right for that party look you are after. With funky vintage and couture, designer shoes, hats, accessories, jewels and definitely clothes galore, it's easy to walk out with a killer outfit at a reasonable price. Fan reviews boast they have found treasures from Gucci, Prada, Margaret O'Leary and Galliano, plus favorites like Banana Republic and more. Check it out soon.

Related: Dress For Success: South Bay's Best Shops For Office Clothes

Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in San Francisco. She writes on adult education, art and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a member of an independent filmmaking group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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