Take Advantage of Air Fares--and Shopping--on Visit to Bay Area

The air fares to San Francisco have never been better. American, Delta, Southwest, United and USAir have been offering a special round trip at the unprecedented price of $40. If you haven’t already taken advantage of this, you don’t have much time since a 21-day advance purchase is required, and you have only until Feb. 28.

Once you get there, you don’t have to leave your wallet along with your heart. There’s some A-1 bargain shopping in the Bay Area. At the top of the list of the not-to-be missed spots is I. Magnin Finale, the last resting place for the pricey apparel from Magnin’s full-service stores on the West Coast. We had the Finale in Los Angeles until last year, when it moved, and bargain hunters groan, recalling the incredible markdowns. Trust me, whether you’re shopping for clothes for women, men or children, it’s worth a trip up north just to haul in the deals.

Actually, this bargain hunter’s dream is in San Mateo, at 500 S. El Camino Real, (415) 347-2331, in what had been a regular I. Magnin store, chandeliers and all. Be prepared for dazzling prices. I snagged an Anne Klein wool gabardine vest with an original price tag of $210 for a mere $25, and three (tan, gray and rust) Angora wool-and-nylon hats from Italy--originally marked $35--for $6 each. You’ve got the idea.

Next, head for the Burlington Coat Factory, an off-price mall in Yerba Linda Square, 899 Howard St., (415) 495-7234, right in downtown San Francisco, where labels such as Bill Blass, Adrienne Vittadini, Liz Claiborne, London Fog, J. G. Hook, Evan Picone, Christian Dior and the Kleins--Calvin and Anne--are 25% to 70% off retail. There are departments for shoes, linens, furs and apparel for women, men and children.

Everything’s first quality. It may be last season’s merchandise, or it may now be on the floor at the department stores or boutiques. Obviously, the current merchandise carries a lesser markdown than leftovers from last season, but the quality is what counts.

Discriminating San Francisco bargain hunters all know about the Jeanne Marc Outlet at 508 3rd St., (415) 243-4396, and the 50% discounts keep them happy even though the merchandise, women’s better sportswear, is a year behind retail stores.

The M K Shop, 1020 Harrison St., (415) 255-7084, is a good spot for fine leather apparel for men and women, priced at just about wholesale. This outlet store for a San Francisco designer sells to status specialty stores and is understandably shy about using its real name at the outlet store.

Also in San Francisco, Banana Republic has a clearance center where markdown merchandise from West Coast Republics finds a final resting place, at 2253 Polk St., (415) 474-9711, and Eileen West has a blowout store open Saturdays only at 61 Bluxome St., (415) 543-6718. For Esprit devotees, you’ll find overruns and last season’s stock at its outlet at 499 Illinois St., (415) 957-2550.

Now that you’ve shopped the outlets, you can afford to visit the new Nordstrom at 865 Market St., (415) 243-8500. Above street level and in a renovated building, this jewel in the Nordstrom crown became a tourist attraction soon after it opened because of its escalator, the only spiral escalator in the world. A great way to view merchandise.

Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.