Get : Shopping

What's in store? A new guide helps indie shoppers find retail Xanadu

Liza Weisstuch — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

40 South

We’re always on the hunt for that which seems unfindable — or just plain unlikely: brooches, hats, and handbags from the 1940s, drink trays from the 1950s, sunglasses from the ’60s, thigh-high white boots from the ’70s, and anything fluorescent from the 1980s. We trawl the cluttered Internet aplenty, but sometimes we want to touch and try, too. The question is, where do we go?

Answer: lots of places. The city is well-colonized with little retail joints that specialize in all things quirky, curious, retro, or repurposed. You just have to look a little harder to find them. Until now. As you already know, small business owners are defined by their get-up-and-go energy, uncompromising creativity, and obsessions bordering on the clinical (in a good way). Turns out that collectively they comprise a network that’s something of a looser version of the Skull & Bones society, a casual confederation of members who talk one another up and help one another out. And now this crew appears to have a skipper. Brooks Morris, who owns Buckaroo’s Mercantile (5 Brookline Street, Cambridge, 617.492.4792), a mecca of retro curios, has published The Eclectic Shopper’s Guide, a nifty pamphlet with a lowkey, attitude-free, DIY look to help the intrepid consumer navigate the side streets and retail carnivals of Boston and beyond. Best part? It’s free! Find it at your local idiosyncratic outpost.

We sat down and talked with Morris about Boston’s underground, overthetop retail culture, and thanked him for reminding us that amid the clamor of corporations, it’s the small businesses that can make the biggest impressions.

Salmagundi

Q: Small businesses can be like a one-man variety show. You’re so busy dashing about to antique fairs and running your own business. What made you decide to take on this project?
A: I actually did one about eight years ago and want to do it again for the same reasons now. When I first moved to Boston, I was like, “Where do I go?” And people told me really stupid places, all these places I had no interest in going to. Twelve years ago, I was visiting a friend in Seattle and someone had done something similar. With that guide, I was able to just walk around to 12 different stores in a day. When I run into folks who own Magpie in Davis Square, we always talk about how we all have similar issues with people finding us. I send people there all the time and vice-versa. We’re all in the same situation. We’re trying to stay afloat and draw new customers. Sure, all the funky little stores get the funky little people, but there are a lot of people who don’t go out of their neighborhood very much, and that’s one reason. If you have something in front of you on paper as opposed to someone saying, “Go here,” that’s more of an incentive — or even just a reminder — to go there.

Q: The surest way to get someone somewhere is to personally invite them. You had each business owner write up his or her own store. Was that a way to make it more of a personal invitation?
A: I was interested to see what each store owner had to say about their place.

Grand

Q: You feature near-institutions, like Cheapo Records in Central Square and the Garment District, and newer stores, like Salmagundi and 40 South Street in Jamaica Plain and Grand in Union Square. What’s the criteria for the stores you’ve included?
A: There’s really only loose guidelines that I’m looking for: stores that are striving to be different in whatever way that may be. I hate having to define things. Stores that create or fill a niche, like Cheapo Records, have been around forever, one of the last places where you can go and get that old recordstore experience. For better or for worse, you’re subjected to the owner’s personality.

Talkin' bout regeneration

Liza Weisstuch — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:45:00 GMT

Old goods find new life at Magpie

They say one gal’s junk heap is another’s treasure— or something like that. If that’s the case, Magpie (416 Highland Avenue, Somerville, 617.623.3330) is a treasure chest, a glimmering Xanadu of would-be rubbish repurposed and reclaimed for the sole purpose of improving your accessory collection or coffee table. In addition to racks of T-shirts and a smattering of baby onesies for that punk-rocker-in-training nephew, you’ll find shelves crammed with clever crafts created by resourceful types. “Repurposing is a big part of the small-scale craft community,” says Leslie Dunn, a manager at Magpie. “I’m seeing more and more interesting stuff. There’s a big market for the raw material.”

A) Lock your photographs (yes, some of us still take real pictures) into the banks of your memory with picture frames rimmed with polished old bike chains ($38).

B) Circuit boards transmit information when they’re plugged in. Once they short out, the sturdy boards can have a long life span when they take on a new identity as bound book covers. Motherboard Gifts produces nifty three-ring binders ($26).

C) We love everything about vinyl — except tossing it into landfills. Crafters these days are taking the grooved material and transforming it into all things, well, groovy. One of Magpie’s owners, Dave Sakowski, reworks old LPs into neat bowls. Other innovative types turn them into coasters ($20), wrist cuffs ($30), and earrings ($14).

D) Those keys on your computer are used to make words and nothing else, right? Some crafters think outside the board. Check out the collection of reconfigured plastic squares. Wear your inner nerd proudly on your sleeve when you don a pair of letter key cufflinks ($20), or pick up dangling earrings ($10) and a matching pin ($8).

Hot necks: Summer scarves

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:27:00 GMT

In Boston, scarves usually stir up images of knee-high snow drifts and schlepping through the midwinter slush, or the contrived and so-over-it Burberry wool number seen all over town for years. But scarves in lightweight, breathable cotton blends have taken on the role of warm-weather accessory, replacing necklaces as the go-to for adding color to simple ensembles. The long, flowing fabric of summer scarves give an air of effortless chic — and some extra sun protection to boot. Local shops where you can get wrapped up include Urban Outfitters (361 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.236.0088), the Gap (various locations), and Habit (703 East Broadway, South Boston, 617.269.1998).

Hot history: Grecian-inspired clothes

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:01:00 GMT

Aphrodite, Persephone, and Athena were total babes, worshipped by an entire culture. Granted, they were considered goddesses. But Helen of Troy, she was a real woman, and a whole war was fought over her! This alone leads us to believe that Greek women were doing something right. We’re downright convinced of it when scoping our new favorite tops and dresses: Grecian-inspired and expertly draped. Eco-friendly, made from recycled materials, Beau Soleil’s tube top ($168) is fit for a deity; get it at Envi (164 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.267.3684). Susana Monaco’s Grecian tube dress ($121), available at www.shopbop.com, will make your figure look chiseled like a statue. The Olympus of them all is Butter’s tri-colored maxi dress ($325) at Calypso (114 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.421.1887). It’s a sure way to turn some heads — without causing years of war and strife.

Hot ash: Gray jeans

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:59:00 GMT

We’re tired of black jeans: they stir up memories of emo concerts and scrawny college boys with smaller pants than us. And white jeans? You run the risk of being Miami Vice’d or floral-underwear-lady. That’s why we’re so excited about gray denim. Somewhere in the safe but unexpected middle, gray denim is our new favorite summer staple. If you’re still going skinny, French Connection (206 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.247.1301) has ashy gray ones ($148) that give new meaning to the idea of cigarette jeans. And Seven for All Mankind’s trouser fit ($231), in a light charcoal hue, is such an unassuming jean that we know you’ll rock them at work, too — that is, when you’re not lying out on the beach in almost nothing at all. Get them at Saks Fifth Avenue (786 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.8500).

Hot hiss: Snakeskin

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:47:00 GMT

We don’t know when someone decided that reptile prints were sexy; we think it might date back to around 2001, when Britney draped a snake over her neck at the VMAs. Regardless, well-placed snakeskin-print accessories are making us feel steamy this summer. Over at BCBG (71 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.536.7182), there’s a light gray, three-inch-thick belt ($108), while Store 344 (344 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.262.0400) carries Jeffrey Campbell gladiator sandals ($76) that are snakeskin-embossed. Our personal favorite? Whiting & Davis’s snakeskin link mini-bag ($298) with metal ring handles, available at Intermix (186 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.236.5172).

Hot wallets: Jack Spade accessories

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Most men, particularly our beloved Boston boys, subscribe to the no-nonsense approach to dressing. For an accessory to make it into their wardrobes, it’s got to be simple, practical, and well-made. This explains why we’ve been seeing canvas messenger bags and leather wallets from Jack Spade (117 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.262.2632) on many a masculine shoulder (and booty) lately. The tiny 300-square-foot Jack Spade store opened its doors below wife Kate’s boutique last fall; it’s the first of its kind outside NYC, and it offers utilitarian-chic goods in a very anti-Newbury décor — think ad-hoc assortments of knickknacks and taxidermy.

Hot and high: Necklines

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:56:00 GMT

The last time you wore a turtleneck was probably to conceal a hickey you got from the boy next door. Now you can get nostalgic as necklines on dresses, tops, and sweaters creep up for fall. But covering up doesn’t mean that sexiness levels have to go down. Short dresses, fitted tops, and form-fitting coats with high necks are also revealing in all the right ways. As always, Intermix (186 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.236.5172) delivers the goods on this season’s trend. Splurge on a Herve Leger sleeveless mock-neck Ombre dress for $1590, or opt for a more affordable floral wrap dress by Falls for $265.

Hot bottoms: New denim stores

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:46:00 GMT

We always knew Boston was wicked smaht, but a couple of new stores have added some pure jeanius to our shopping options. True Religion Brand Jeans (119 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.585.3050) brought their hot bottoms to Boston with the opening of their first New England shop last month. The store features 1984 square feet filled with women’s signature denim, men’s sportswear, accessories, and even a children’s collection. Meanwhile, the intimate feeling of Pure Blu Jeans (1309 Beacon Street, Brookline, 617.566.0800) is a nice alternative to department-store denim shopping, and the friendly sales staff helps you choose that perfectly booty-defining pair from brands including Habitual, J Brand, and Chip & Pepper. With these well-stocked shops now in our retail regimen, we have another excuse to be total smart asses.

Hot, squared: Concepts and the Tannery

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:43:00 GMT

Near the home of an institution marked by tradition, it’s refreshing to see two Harvard Square shops with innovative face-lifts. Concepts (37 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617.868.2001) and the Tannery (39 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617.491.0810) have expanded their digs and proved that sometimes bigger is better. The Tannery’s “style you live in” mantra has been attracting stylish young shoppers who appreciate the store’s minimalist aesthetic that lets the $200 jeans speak for themselves. At Concepts, the sneaker-and-streetwear-loving crowd is eating up the fireplace in the center of the store, flanked by walls of bright kicks and quirky T-shirts and jewelry.

Hot and mysterious: Dark clothing for men

webteam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:30:00 GMT

In a fitting trends for uncertain times, menswear is going slightly gloomy for fall. Not to worry: the looks aren’t dismal or dreary, just charcoal trousers, maroon button-downs, dark overcoats, and lots of black-on-black looks. Look for Nom De Guerre button-downs and Robert Geller coats at Stel’s (334 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.262.3348). For a British-hipster take on the trend, shop for Opening Ceremony’s high-necked gray linen jacket ($504), or pick up a dark-gray canvas trench coat by End of an Era ($432), both at the Achilles Project (283 Summer Street, Boston, 617.695.2257).

Hot feet: Sneakers

webteam — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:35:00 GMT

Sneaker culture isn’t new to Boston, but it certainly is alive and kicking. It’s been moving toward the mainstream in the last few years, thanks (or not) to the Internet and collaborations between artists and popular sneaker companies that deliver more colorful, interesting footwear to the masses. True sneakerheads comprise a microcosm of shoe collectors who drop big bucks for their addiction: high-priced pairs of kicks (many of which go unworn or are sold on eBay). Our city has a reputation as one of the greatest walking cities around, so it’s not much of a surprise that Bostonians like to don fancy footwear. Think limited-edition, brightly colored Nikes, Adidas shell toes, and hard-to-find underground brands that range in price from $80 to $2000 for a single pair. Right now, we’re seeing lots of reissues of ’80s styles worn with skinny jeans. Looking to channel your creativity from the bottom up? If you want to maintain credibility as hot as your kicks, walk this way to some of Boston’s sneaker mainstays: Laced (569 Columbus Avenue, Boston, 617.262.5223), Motley Shoe (76 Dartmouth Street, Boston, 617.351.6969), Karmaloop (160 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.369.0100), and Bodega (6 Clearway Street, Boston, 617.421.1550).

Hot and frugal: Sale racks on Newbury Street

webteam — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:27:00 GMT

In this city full of an increasing number of highend shops (and an increasingly bad economy), we worried that we’d never find a bargain again. But the boutiques lining Newbury Street have sale racks, and according to store owners and shoppers, they’re better than you’ll find in any city. One of our favorite artsy boutiques, Stel’s (334 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.262.3348), swears they have the best designer duds at the lowest prices. Walk a little farther and you’ll find dozens of half-priced but head-turning dresses at Betsey Johnson (201 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.236.7072), and you can get jewelry to match at Aldo Accessories (184 Newbury Street, 617.266.2189), where the entire back wall is covered with purses, clutches, and shoes on sale for almost nothing. Or head over to the bargain basement at Urban Outfitters (11 Bolton Street, Cambridge, 617.864.0070). You’ll probably spend more of your paycheck playing their vintage Pac-Man video game than you will on a pair of neon sunglasses and flats to match.

Hot pants: Pants that fit like jeans

webteam — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:59:00 GMT

For some, wearing jeans to the office is a big nono. But denim is such a comfy option and serious wardrobe staple, and a fabulous pair of jeans can be dressed up or down for practically any occasion. Well, we can’t change your company’s lame dress code, but we are happy to deliver the news on an ultra-cool trend: denim companies go formal this fall, introducing a new crop of pants that are made to fit like jeans. Paige Premium Denim, Joe’s Jeans, Kasil, and Citizens of Humanity are among the brands to watch for. Yes, it’s still lame that jeans are shunned by corporate America, but at least now you can feel like you’re wearing your favorite pair to the office — minus the nasty memo from HR. Find an assortment of styles at Injeanius (441 Hanover Street, Boston, 617.523.5326) and Saks Fifth Avenue (786 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.8500) this fall.

Hot design: Vessel

webteam — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:58:00 GMT

The key to decorating on a budget is mixing affordable finds with really cool accent pieces. Enter Vessel (125 Kingston Street, Boston, 617.292.0982; 652 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.425.5292), a local haven for unusual and useful home goods. Vessel’s newest South End location is a modern-day curiosities shop, carrying tabletop items, furniture, lighting, and other unique objects. Find reasonably priced designs from Blu Dot furniture, housewares and bags from Authentics, quirky childen’s products from Denmark, and a smart selection of food and design books from Phaidon Press. Enter at your own risk: it’s hard to leave empty-handed.