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LouisBoston has been around since 1925, and was located in a swanky, free-standing brick fortress between Newbury and Boyleston Streets for over two decades. About a year ago, the pseudo-department store gave up the mansion for an airy cube with harbor views on the Boston's perpetually-troubled and developmentally-challenged Fan Pier. Louis loves Louis, calling themselves "one of the finest, most unique and most influential clothing stores in the world."
We politely disagree—it's unabashedly expensive and sort of stodgy. Sure, they've thrown in about three shirts by Burkman Bros. and a jaunty plaid jacket from Billy Reid, and yeah, that's some funky china and hip jewelry. Also: Viva Marni! But, the stock—and there is by no means a glut of it—is largely gray and black, and produced expensively in Italy by labels people who care about labels don't care much about. Most importantly, the shoes are meh.
To get there you need to drive out to the pier and brave a massive, crumbling pay-to-park parking lot prone to puddles and occasionally rage-y federal courthouse overflow. You can walk—but it's a haul. And once you get there you will be outnumbered by staff about three-to-one. That doesn't mean they'll greet you—they left the Back Bay but didn't forget the attitude.
Long story less long: We'll be at the Barneys.
· LouisBoston [Official Site]
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