I find the most exquisite delight from good second-hand stores. I love second hand shops for three reasons. One, they are usually less expensive than shops that sell exclusively new products. Two, used products are environmentally friendly (I think America could stop making and importing new “stuff” for quite some time before we ran out of old “stuff”). Three, second-hand shops carry products that are entirely unique – when I buy a dress at a thrift store I have little worry that I’ll run into someone else wearing the same dress.
For a great selection of second-hand shops in the Boston Area I recommend a trip to Davis Square, Somerville.
Artifaktori, 22 College Avenue
The recently opened Artifaktori is a one-room boutique that offers a small collection of art, jewelry, home-wares, shoes, and vintage clothing. The shop is dark and crowded with a wide range of things, from old chairs to posters to a mechanical typewriter. For me, the highlight was the racks of vintage women’s clothing nestled in the back of the store. The dresses, skirts, blouses and shoes are one of a kind but wearable, and elegant but comfortable. Shirts and skirts cost $20-$30, dresses and blouses are $35-$50
The owner is friendly, but her hours are flexible to say the least. She is most often open in the afternoons and early evenings, Monday – Saturday.
For such a small store, Artifaktori has a good selection of shoes.
Poor Little Rich Girl, 225 Elm Street
Poor Little Rich Girl carries women’s new, consigned, and vintage clothing and accessories. The store is neatly organized and moderately sized, with a large shoe section and four well-kept dressing rooms. The meticulous set-up allows customers to easily browse a very wide range of styles, from clean-cut tailored shorts to brightly colored cut-out dresses.
I get the impression that the store’s very fashionable employees are sent to pick through the piles at thrift stores and flea markets, choose the nicest and trendiest clothing, and then resell them for triple the price (the clothing ranges from $5-$350). This impression is not meant to be an insult: it takes a lot of time and a keen eye to spot the quality clothes among all the junk at thrift stores. If you can afford it, why not pay someone else to do it for you? Plus, you get to shop to the sweet sound of Patsy Cline or Dionne Warwick on vinyl.
The Goodwill Store, 250 Elm Street
The Goodwill in Davis is a true thrift store, and I love it because it has two floors packed with racks and racks of men’s and women’s clothing ($5-$10), $1 records and books, posters and mirrors, mugs and silverware, appliances, electronics, and barrels of purses and belts. The store is very busy so the huge stock is constantly turning over, offering a completely new selection from week to week.
The disadvantage of Goodwill is that a large portion of the stuff is cheap or damaged, and the clothing is organized by type and color rather than size, which means you have to thumb through the racks with an eye out for style, quality, and size. That being said, enough time and energy can yield some amazing finds.
Some of my favorite Goodwill purchases (each for under $10!)
The Consignment Galleries, 363 Highland Avenue
I visited The Consignment Galleries for the first time this afternoon and was surprised to walk into two large rooms stuffed with antique home furnishings. The Galleries offer cherry wardrobes, beaded purses, stained glass lamps, paintings and prints, hand-upholstered chairs, crystal glasses, necklaces, broaches, and the like. I even came across a wooden paddle, used to initiate fraternity brothers. My favorite section was of course the jewelry ($5-$50), some of which was absolutely stunning (there was a triple-strand, aqua-glass beaded necklace for $20 that I just may have go back and buy). The store was crowded but easily navigable, and the staff were friendly and helpful but in no way overbearing. I would recommend this store to anyone looking for unique home furnishings or accessories.
Davis Square is full of opportunities for the used-goods buyer or seller. If you visit on the weekend you can also be sure to find a few yard sales in the surrounding neighborhood.
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
