Pretty Is

Don’t bother trying to call this place. Even to ask a simple question. I have called 3 times now and apparently the reviews with not having enough staff is correct. What a pitty.

I am hooked! I lack confidence in coordinating my wardrobe, doing my make –up and accessorizing when getting dressed up to go out. I can’t afford to buy new outfits for each special occasion or work trip but it feels so good to wear something new. Thanks Pretty Is for your monthly membership and hair/​make up services. Oh and for picking out outfits you think align to my occasion to cut down how much time I am in the store each week. Thanks. Nicole D

I have mixed feelings but overall a positive experience.
You can rent an outfit with all the right accessories suitable for a variety of purposes, and for a pretty low rate. Lupe will find a lot of options for your size and can usually put together very creative and fun looks.
You must MUST go when the store is empty. If there is another customer there besides you, it is very difficult to get help choosing an outfit. Also, there seems to be only one fitting room. Call first. If they don’t answer the phone they are probably helping someone.
My main problem is the selection. While there are a lot of items to choose from, many of the articles of clothing seem… for lack of a better word, cheap. Not necessarily Forever 21 cheap, but still not really designer or necessarily high quality. I definitely wouldn’t mind paying more to rent something really fabulous and expensive for an important night out. Maybe there should be a separate designer section and get rid of anything that looks like it’s less than the cost of an item from Express. I mean, if I wanted to dress cheap I could just do that myself.
Also there is a really small selection of formal wear for weddings. They had nothing in my size for a formal event recently. And, since Lupe wasn’t working on that day I was left alone to try to figure it out while the only young lady working helped the another customer. I ended up walking out with nothing.
Still, I recommend checking it out at least once.

I am so grateful I stumbled upon Pretty Is — it’s an unbelievably brilliant idea. I had gotten to the point where I wore the same thing to work all the time, and I work in a corporate office, so I am expected to always look professional and presentable. I went on the recommendation of a friend, and was floored. They put together outfits so seamlessly, including everything from shoes to purses to belts to jewelry. They even gave me pretty pearl barrettes last time because they went really well with the outfit they had put together. And it is so easy, and affordable. I started Pretty Is a few weeks ago, and since then, everyone at my office has honestly been complimenting me nonstop — a good, styled wardrobe makes all the difference in the world. And for someone like me who isn’t as fashion-​savvy, it is the perfect solution. And they have so many clothes — so many trendy clothes — that every time I go in, it feels like Christmas. I look forward to going to work now so I can show off my new style that ‘magically just appeared.’ And they will style you for any occasion … they have styled me for a boat party, a trip to Mexico, casual Friday outfits — whatever you have going on that week. The options are endless, and the girls are really talented in what they do. I would highly recommend Pretty Is, they provide an initial style consultation so you can test it out before you sign up for a membership. You will not be disappointed! And you will NEVER be unfashionable. :)

Took a class with 4 of my girlfriends. We purchased a deal on Groupon for 3 different classes with Ebresa. The class we took was lame. We had to sign up for 3 more classes. We ended up missing the 2^nd class because we were all not feeling well. Ebresa emailed us back upset that she lost money because she has people on the waiting list. how exactly did she lose money when we PAID to go to this second class. the only one losing on this deal would be US b/​c we didn’t show up to a class we paid for. LAME!
The only thing I liked was that we got a free makeover for purchasing the Groupon special. I wanted to do the high «Kim Kardashian» Pony tail with the bee-​hive looking front. She was able to do that with my hair. The makeup wasn’t so great, I had to retouch up what she did. She also did not have many shades of foundation so the pictures I took that night made me look like a ghost.
She owns a boutique where you can borrow clothes and return it for a fee. I personally don’t like wearing clothes and shoes that strangers wore, and I’m pretty petite so none of the clothes fit me (I’m a size 0 – 2 and most of the dresses are size 4 + and up). You can also donate your clothes to her. Not sure what deal you get for donating your dresses and dressy shoes… if you get anything for free,… but I would rather donate my designer dresses and shoes to the less fortunate or give them to my cousins in the Philippines or my friends over here.
Another annoying thing is she will keep you on the email distribution list and constantly send you emails, although you have asked a few times for her to take me off her distribution list. so instead, I just marked her address as SPAM and I will never have to see her emails again.
Overall, cool concept– the boutique w/​the make over, but for someone who fits the size of the clothing, and for someone that doesn’t have time to do hair and make up. I was NOT impressed with the classes. The ladies that own this business are really nice. … i just didn’t like that they would be having a conversation about somebody they knew in English, in front of me… laugh. and then start talking in Spanish and laugh even more… that was rude. not because they were speaking in another language, but because I actually understood what they were talking about.

I had a makeup and styling session here and I decided to sign up for a membership with Pretty is. Their clothing is amazing! I don’t know what one Unilocal reviewer was writing about not finding name brands at Pretty is… I am currently wearing their BCBG shoes! For my birthday, I wore a red and black Max Azra dress! The makeup session taught me so much about how to use my brushes, and I learned so much on how to do my eyes. Also, the makeup session is a tutorial on how to you how to use YOUR makeup (if you don’t have makeup, they will try to work with you on that) …so the thing with the one reviewer expecting «department store makeup» is a little much. What kind of makeup you buy is up to you. The difference between a department store makeover and the pretty-​is tutorial, is that you leave the tutorial confident, knowing how you can create that look all over again, and not have to worry about going to a department store! The makeup session was so helpful, I put on my makeup differently now, and it makes a beautiful difference. Also their clothing DOES fit many shapes and sizes. My friend is an 18 and has had no problem finding clothes from Pretty is and she also has a membership. For the last five years, I have been fluctuating between three sizes, so the membership has been very helpful. I won’t have to throw away or donate clothes I don’t fit into anymore because I know Pretty is would have my back! The boutique is located downtown; I have lived all over SD for 8 years and travel to and from anywhere in SD takes an average of 20 minutes, anyway. I don’t live downtown, it actually takes me 30 minutes to get there from where I currently live in north San Diego. It’s worth it in my opinion to take an hour out of the week and try on clothes – it has been my new favorite thing to look forward to. It makes me feel good about myself, and the ladies who own and run the place, Lupe and Idania are so accommodating and so NICE! So, I bought a coupon from Unilocal,got a 6 month membership and am now paying $ 35 monthly fees instead of the month-​to-​month $ 55. $ 35 for access to beautiful clothes and styling? I think yes.

The concept is really cool! What girl would not love to have a closet of stuff they don’t have to pay for (except the $ 55/​month membership), borrow once, and never have to keep an outfit sitting in your closet again?
I got a style consultation with a livingsocial coupon that I got. It was pretty cool. They picked out clothes that I would have never picked for myself, told me how to wear them and accessorized with shoes, jewelry and bag. I tried on a few outfits and like most of them. They have pretty much anything you would want in your closet and you get to borrow it! The only catch is that you have to dry clean it or pay a dry cleaning fee for each item of clothing you borrow.
Overall, I like the concept, they styled me nicely, but I don’t like the additional (dry cleaning) fee and the fact that other people wear the clothes (esp the shoes). But the studio is really cute. Looks like a gigantic walk in closet, organized really well, accessories shown off nicely and a little walk in shoe closet on the side too.
I might think about coming back though for those special occasion outfits that sit in my closet anyways since I don’t want to re-​wear something that I already took a picture in. haha.

I visited the Pretty Is boutique in conjunction with a LivingSocial coupon for classes with ebyresa. Pretty Is hosted the classes and the only services I received was the makeover included in the ebyresa coupon. With that said, I will only comment on the services I received.
The makeover was free with the coupon. Unfortunately, I would not pay anything more for that makeover. I did not find the makeup artist to be apt with general makeup rules. For example, Makeup 101 shuns mixing both strong lips AND strong eyes. I walked out of there with very heavily lined eyes, which was fine, but with this bright, fuchsia lipstick and lip liner that went over my lip line. Makeup 101 also teaches us that bold colors must be used with care. Neon colors was a very short-​lived trend (thankfully) and, like wearing horizontal stripes, does not suit everyone. I am one of those people that cannot wear bright, warm, neon colors. It was unfortunate that the makeup artist did not know, take into consideration, or care about this rule. Another example of poor makeup application was that I walked out of the makeover with eyelashes that looked like spider legs. I understand multiple coats of mascara, but the clumps were ridiculous. I also did not appreciate my makeup applied with fingers.
Later, I learned that Pretty Is normally charges $ 80 for their makeovers and $ 120 for Bridal makeup. Those prices are ridiculous. The price is even more ridiculous when the makeup artist uses cosmetics you buy at your local drug store. If I am paying $ 80, I expect makeup from a department store, not CoverGirl. I know MAC asks for $ 50 in product purchase for any of their makeovers and those makeup artists know what they are doing and use makeup brushes.
As a Boutique «extension of my closet» concept, I feel lukewarm about the idea. People come in many shapes and sizes and I did not see how the clothing collection could accommodate everyone. I also did not notice any name-​brands. At $ 55/​month, I would expect name brand merchandise and more selection. I suppose the Boutique would be useful if you lived downtown, were willing to spend $ 55/​month and knew what you were doing/​wearing by 6pm when Pretty Is closes.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! As the matron of honor, I was having trouble finding a good venue for an intimate bachelorette party that would be the first stop before going out on the night on the town.
I was so lucky I found their website! We just had our bachlorette party last night and it was all I wanted out of a bachelorette party for my best friend and more. Lupe, the owner, and her staff make you feel like they are old friends from the minute you walk in. They helped us pick out the cutest outfits, shoes, accessories, and more. They even have wigs and some sexy costumes!
It’s located in the heart of the Gaslamp about a block away from Fluxx nightclub and right across from the convention center, only a few blocks from the trolley. It’s in this historic building right above Candelas restaurant where we were able to order drinks and food delivered right upstairs to us while we tried on clothes and had fabulous makeovers. There is an entire room with racks of shoes, another room full of outfits: sexy dresses, tops, bottoms, anything you could want. There is another room full of mirrors with big lightbulbs framing it like in a dressing room in Hollywood. Some of us paid for very reasonably priced makeovers. Others just brought their own curling irons or other stuff and made use of the mirrors to get ready there. It was so much fun. Very girly and fun chatting and gossiping together while we got ready.
Her sister used my straightener to create dramatic wavy curls (Victoria’s Secret runway model style) in my hair. I didn’t even know my straightener could do that! She also did my eyes and fake lashes. She was amazing! My husband kept saying I looked like a different person when I came home and said he liked this new wife!
Lupe helped me pick a fun and flirty blue dress that I loved and accessorized me from head to toe. I felt like a completely new person. A much sexier and younger version of my 35 year old self (a mother of 3). For the entire outfit, including Chanel style dress, killer heals, and accessories, I paid $ 25 to rent for 4 days (it’s usually 3 days but they don’t count the weekends). All I have to do is return the dress either dry cleaned myself or pay her $ 5 to have it cleaned. It was so cheap! The accessories and clothes rent for as low as $ 2!
After we got ready, we had Nikki Nites (expert on Naughty toys), do a fun and educational passion party right in the middle of the boutique. We had fun seeing all the products and demos that could help us spice up the bedroom. I was always curious about the infamous «Rabbit» from Sex and the City and had never seen one up close. Her prices were very reasonable and many of the girls left with fun toys and other items. The best thing is that the passion party demo is free!
Lastly, we went to the back patio which is a very intimate room with lovely cushions and benches and two stripper poles. We enjoyed refreshments there and the nicest thing was that I brought my own folding table along with all the decorations for the party earlier that morning. When I arrived early before the party to set up, the staff had already done it for me and the room looked amazing!!! It was a very kind thing to do.
Lupe hooked us up with a striptease instructor named Resa (
) who did a fun and educational class for our party of 10. (She requires a min 10 girls). We had such a blast learning how to walk sexy, how to give a lap dance and how to do the sensual crawl. The girls from Nikki Nites also joined in and showed us a couple of stripper pole moves. It was all very casual and comfortable. We laughed a lot and brought home some moves that we could share with our boyfriends/​husbands. Resa made even our naturally shy bride really come out of her shell and have a great time. See my Unilocal review on Resa. I really recommend her. she was the best!
All in all, I was extremely impressed and satisfied with the level of customer service and the uniqueness of this boutique. I have never seen any other place like it and when you bring your friends here they will all compliment you on this gem of a place and wonder how you ever found it! That’s all I heard all night from my friends.
Just a few tips:
Getting the makeovers done took much longer than I had budgeted my time for so get there early if you have a lot of girls doing makeovers. Also, most of my girls didn’t want to have makeovers done until they saw how great those of us who got them looked. So they ended up doing more makeovers then we had planned and it kind of got us off to a late start with the passion party and striptease class. Plus I wanted more time to really try on lots of clothes so I would say schedule for more time if you can. We were there from 6:30 — 9:30.
Bring different types of undergarments in case you come in wearing a regular bra and end up wearing a strapless dress.
I can’t recommend this place enough. I would rate it ten stars if I could. Thank you Lupe, Resa, Nikki!

This place is exactly what EVERY CITY NEEDS! The perfect place for the girls to go to get ready before a night out. Or, throw an event at Pretty Is. Lupe has done an excellent job of making sure the boutique is full of the latest trends in fashion and staple pieces for women of all shapes and sizes. There are tons of shoes, accessories and clothing to fit any personality! The cost of renting a single piece or an entire outfit is so affordable and I love that she offers memberships. Perfect for social butterflies or someone who works in the industry and always needs or wants to look fresh and amazing.
Idania is one of the best MUA’s I have been to. She always makes sure that you have the perfect makeup to work with a person’s features and clothing. I hate sleeping in makeup… except when she does my makeup! I love keeping it on for the next day (shh…). I also love how they do my hair… it is always perfect for each event or occasion!
Not only can you find the perfect outfit to rent for a night out or weekend away, you can get a makeover, throw an event (bachelorette party, birthday party, etc…) and know that you are going to have a blast!

What a genius concept! A boutique that offers you its closet of trendy clothes and shoes, while also supplying you with hair and makeup artists. I love this idea, especially if you are coming in from out of town and don’t feel like hauling a huge suitcase with you just to look put-​together for a night out.
They really have a wide selection and their shoe closet is a girl’s dream. They have a mini pole studio as well for girls night out parties which is beautifully situated in an open air space. When I was there they offered chocolate covered strawberries to munch on and champagne to sip as you browsed.
I’m not sure of their pricing, because I was passing through to use their pole studio, but I know they offer membership and one time rentals. I’m so jealous of all you people in San Diego! What a great idea. The owners should consider opening a branch in New York. With all the tourists passing through as well as regulars always looking for something new to wear out, I think it would do very well. NY is also a town that never sleeps and has a party going on every night… So to the owners, consider it!

I love this boutique and concept. I am hooked and you will be also. Are you sick of the same clothes in your closet? I am than pretty-​is is for you. Do you ever need help with putting together outfits? I do. That is why I love pretty-​is. They offer a membership or a rental fee to borrow clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses ect. Also they will help you style your hair, makeup and make you feel pretty. I love going in there and hanging out with Lupe and Idania. Also they have different classes, workshops and weekly events.