Once upon a time (today),
in a land far, far away (the Inner Richmond) …

There lived a fairy godmother (local style icon and philanthropist Joy Venturini Bianchi) who decided to open a very special place (the new Helpers House of Couture, sibling to Helpers Bazaar in Ghirardelli Square) filled with fashions, old and new alike (killer vintage mixed with new designers).

The villagers (trendsetters of all shapes and sizes) would go to this magical wonderland to find ancient treasures (frocks by James Galanos, Norman Norell, Valentino) and one-of-a-kind troves (’60s Roger Vivier shoes, cocktail rings, evening gloves, Judith Leiber clutches).

But the one thing that made this secret address so unique was that every time someone bought something, they were giving a gift (100 percent of proceeds benefits local nonprofit Helpers of the Mentally Retarded) to some deserving people.

And all who shopped there lived happily ever after.

The end.

Helpers House of Couture (415-387-3031). By appointment only.