Sue Fisher King Is More Practical Than Gwyneth Paltrow

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

We don't count ourselves among the anti-Gwynnie crowd. She (usually) makes good movies. She can sing. She can cook. She wears pretty dresses. She has many fine qualities. But we have to agree to disagree on her gifting tips. Sure, we wish we could hand out $500 candles and and $6000 kitchen sets to all our friends during the holidays, but we don't make GOOP-style bank. At least Sue Fisher King understands that.

King may be one of San Francisco's style queens —seriously, have you been to her eponymous Sacramento Street shop?— but the Chronicle notes that she has a practical approach to gift-giving. "I love my friends, truly I do, but I don't buy $200 dollar birthday presents," she tells the paper. "If I can't find something special in my own store for a reasonable price, then something is terribly wrong. I'm too practical in my own life to be OK with that." So yes, you will find Missoni bedding in King's shop, but you'll also find pieces at less aspirational price points.
· Sue Fisher King [Official Site]
· The 38 Best Home Goods Shops in San Francisco [Racked]