5 Streetwear Spots on Telegraph

It’s 3pm and you’ve just finished your last class. As you walk through lower Sproul, you remember that you’ve been meaning to add a few pieces to your wardrobe for a good while now. We’ve put together a little guide of a few street-style spots you can hit in a single stroll down Telegraph.

Mars Mercantile

Mars Mercantile is two blocks down Telegraph, on the intersection with Channing Way. If you’re looking to add some vintage pieces to your wardrobe, Mars should be the first place on your list. Mars has a wide selection of clothing and a clever categorization system based off of different decades and party themes. Be warned: these aren’t thrift store prices, so check twice before you blow a week’s worth of boba money on a couple of jackets. With a little patience and a keen eye, you’ll be able to find a few gems among the racks of denim and workwear style jackets, collections of vintage tees and sweaters, and impressive selection of hats and other accessories. If you’ve ever used the word “distressed” to describe your aesthetic, or if you just like having a more relaxed feel to your outfits, you’ll be able to cop some good finds at Mars.

510 Skateboarding

Another two blocks down, you spot 510 (pronounced five-one-oh).  When you walk in, the first thing that catches your eye is the jarring, tasteless Thrasher x Vans collab that looks like something out of Guy Fieri’s personal closet. Give your eyes some time to adjust, and you’ll be able to find multiple Converse colorways, numerous iterations of Vans, Nike SB dunks and Janowskis, and basic Adidas lowtops. If you’re looking for a new pair of beaters, or just a basic, no-frills sneaker, you’ll be able to pick from their decent collection of retail-priced shoes. 510 also has a few minimal graphic tees, flannels, and cozy hoodies if you’re looking for a carefree, casual aesthetic. Who cares if you don’t even skate?

Upper Playground

Just across the street you see an intriguing walrus logo in the window of Upper Playground. Inside, dozens of colorful, vibrant graphic tees and crewnecks fill the space. If your style is at all loud and/or goofy, you should at the least check out UP just to see if anything speaks to you. T-shirts are around $25, and hoodies will run you $40-$70, so maybe wait until you have a nice internship or a cushy job at your dad’s company before you think about decking yourself out head-to-toe in Upper Playground.

Bows and Arrows

Neighboring Upper Playground, you’re surprised to find a hip-hop blasting, white walled sneaker boutique. From Air Max 97’s to CDG Converse and Raf Simons x adidas, B&A is your one stop shop to becoming a sneaker vlogger or Instagram influencer. The over retail pricing makes it hard to justify a purchase of basic Vans or minimal shirts and jackets that they have on display, but those who are thirsty for some streetwear-centric sneakers can take that L to cop a hot W.

Buffalo Exchange

A stone’s throw from B&A is Buffalo Exchange. As a place for desperate college students to get rid of their extra clothes for a quick buck, Buffalo Exchange carries an abundance of amazing finds for cheap.  Bomber jackets, clean sweaters, and basic tees share rack space with the odd statement piece and dope design. The best part of Buffalo is its wide range of options: you’ll be able to find vintage pieces, current trends, or timeless classics. Need a new pair of shoes? On a good day, you can find Vans, adidas Originals, and nike runners for $20-$50, so don’t sleep on the collection of shoes placed atop the clothing racks and resting on the dividers around the store. No matter your style, Buffalo Exchange will have something that’ll make your day. Stop next door for Uji Time ice cream as a reward for your fire finds; you deserve it.

Illustrations by Judith Kim

Words by Brian Yin