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While Boston is known for plenty of things — Duck Tours, Fenway, and Revolutionary War history among them — its fashion and shopping scene doesn't usually top the list. But New England's largest city plays host to a number of great independent shops, local designers, vintage markets, and other shopping destinations you can't find anywhere else. From the luxury hub of Newbury Street to a weekly open air artisan market in the South End, we've pulled together the very best shopping that Boston has to offer.
Newbury Street is the place to shop in Boston — but if you’re pressed for time, skip the designer flagships and head to Alan Bilzerian, an early adopter of avant-garde style. The store’s own label is sold alongside designers like Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Isabel Marant, and Alexander McQueen. (If you do have time to explore, hit up Riccardi and Serenella, too.)
Believe it or not, Bobby is a real person, and he specializes in high-quality vintage pieces like collegiate sweaters, leather bags, denim jackets, and period props and accessories. The women’s selection is small, but the menswear scores and movie set ambience make this vintage retailer a must-visit for everyone. If you’re really on the hunt, make a private appointment to check out Bobby Garnett’s giant warehouse in nearby Lynn, MA.
Step inside the false Snapple machine in this corner store to find Boston’s best streetwear and sneaker shop, featuring the latest coveted goods from Nike, Adidas, Stussy, Carhartt, and others labels (including the store's in-house brand). If you're just looking for quarter snacks, you can shop the actual bodega, too.
The vibes in this store are très Brooklyn, with minimalist ceramics, cocktail syrups, canvas rucksacks, and other giftable products for the home, office, and garden. You’ll be surprised how much you can fall in love with something as pedestrian as a stapler or a picnic knife.
With locations in SoWa and Beacon Hill, December Thieves offers an eclectic collection of home goods, clothing, and accessories from international designers you likely haven’t heard of but will fall in love with. Jewelry from Barcelona’s No. 3 and leather goods from Boston designer Gina DeWolfe are displayed alongside Moroccan slippers and Italian candles. Owner Lana Barakat also hosts crafting workshops at the brand's cozy space on 524 Harrison Street.
Boston’s best-dressed ladies head to this Beacon Hill boutique for contemporary labels like Rachel Comey, Ulla Johnson, Ace & Jig, and Nili Lotan. A small selection of home goods by Gallery NF rounds out the selection.
This Boston-based shop (with additional locations in Nantucket and DC) offers all-natural beauty and skincare from American makers in an airy, calming environment. Founder Tara Foley will happily walk you through each chemical-free product.
What began as a passion project in 1978 has grown into three locations in Boston and New York. Check out the Cambridge original for world class cheese, spices, and hard kitchen wares. Owners Ihsan and Valerie Gurdal travel the globe to source their goods direct from small farms and producers (which means Formaggio Kitchen is the only place you can find them).
Bras and underwear are not always the most fun items to shop for, but Rachel Wentworth and Meredith Donaldson’s cute shop on the edge of Harvard Square has us rethinking this stance. Lacy intimates from Cosabella, Stella McCartney, and Eberjey are stocked alongside extras like lingerie detergent, garter accessories, and pajamas.
If you don’t feel like sorting through the clothing-by-the-pound thing at shops like The Garment District, head to Oona’s for a well-curated selection of men's and women's vintage clothing and accessories. Bonus: The store also features modern brands like Ali Golden, Native Youth, Dusen Dusen, and Baggu.
Stocking only female-designed, locally-made jewelry (plus a small selection of vintage jewelry) with a big emphasis on sustainability, Ore is the place for something you can’t get anywhere else. Look for pieces by owner Sophie Hughes made from recycled gold and silver and old mine cut diamonds.
Don’t let the name deceive you — this design studio may have started in New York, but the Patch NYC, a frequent collaborators with brands like Anthropologie and West Elm, calls Boston’s South End home. The headquarters has a charming shop for its home goods and accessories like block-printed napkins, suede coin purses, and beaded earrings made in collaboration with Miriam Haskell.
This stellar concept store opened up in June 2016, providing Boston with a chance to shop edgy emerging and established designers like Delpozo, Jaquemus, and Sacai. The store also hosts events and art installations.
Newbury Street is the place to shop in Boston — but if you’re pressed for time, skip the designer flagships and head to Alan Bilzerian, an early adopter of avant-garde style. The store’s own label is sold alongside designers like Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Isabel Marant, and Alexander McQueen. (If you do have time to explore, hit up Riccardi and Serenella, too.)
Believe it or not, Bobby is a real person, and he specializes in high-quality vintage pieces like collegiate sweaters, leather bags, denim jackets, and period props and accessories. The women’s selection is small, but the menswear scores and movie set ambience make this vintage retailer a must-visit for everyone. If you’re really on the hunt, make a private appointment to check out Bobby Garnett’s giant warehouse in nearby Lynn, MA.
Step inside the false Snapple machine in this corner store to find Boston’s best streetwear and sneaker shop, featuring the latest coveted goods from Nike, Adidas, Stussy, Carhartt, and others labels (including the store's in-house brand). If you're just looking for quarter snacks, you can shop the actual bodega, too.
The vibes in this store are très Brooklyn, with minimalist ceramics, cocktail syrups, canvas rucksacks, and other giftable products for the home, office, and garden. You’ll be surprised how much you can fall in love with something as pedestrian as a stapler or a picnic knife.
With locations in SoWa and Beacon Hill, December Thieves offers an eclectic collection of home goods, clothing, and accessories from international designers you likely haven’t heard of but will fall in love with. Jewelry from Barcelona’s No. 3 and leather goods from Boston designer Gina DeWolfe are displayed alongside Moroccan slippers and Italian candles. Owner Lana Barakat also hosts crafting workshops at the brand's cozy space on 524 Harrison Street.
Boston’s best-dressed ladies head to this Beacon Hill boutique for contemporary labels like Rachel Comey, Ulla Johnson, Ace & Jig, and Nili Lotan. A small selection of home goods by Gallery NF rounds out the selection.
This Boston-based shop (with additional locations in Nantucket and DC) offers all-natural beauty and skincare from American makers in an airy, calming environment. Founder Tara Foley will happily walk you through each chemical-free product.
What began as a passion project in 1978 has grown into three locations in Boston and New York. Check out the Cambridge original for world class cheese, spices, and hard kitchen wares. Owners Ihsan and Valerie Gurdal travel the globe to source their goods direct from small farms and producers (which means Formaggio Kitchen is the only place you can find them).
Bras and underwear are not always the most fun items to shop for, but Rachel Wentworth and Meredith Donaldson’s cute shop on the edge of Harvard Square has us rethinking this stance. Lacy intimates from Cosabella, Stella McCartney, and Eberjey are stocked alongside extras like lingerie detergent, garter accessories, and pajamas.
If you don’t feel like sorting through the clothing-by-the-pound thing at shops like The Garment District, head to Oona’s for a well-curated selection of men's and women's vintage clothing and accessories. Bonus: The store also features modern brands like Ali Golden, Native Youth, Dusen Dusen, and Baggu.
Stocking only female-designed, locally-made jewelry (plus a small selection of vintage jewelry) with a big emphasis on sustainability, Ore is the place for something you can’t get anywhere else. Look for pieces by owner Sophie Hughes made from recycled gold and silver and old mine cut diamonds.
Don’t let the name deceive you — this design studio may have started in New York, but the Patch NYC, a frequent collaborators with brands like Anthropologie and West Elm, calls Boston’s South End home. The headquarters has a charming shop for its home goods and accessories like block-printed napkins, suede coin purses, and beaded earrings made in collaboration with Miriam Haskell.
This stellar concept store opened up in June 2016, providing Boston with a chance to shop edgy emerging and established designers like Delpozo, Jaquemus, and Sacai. The store also hosts events and art installations.
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