Boston-area store recos for a friend

Hi all,

I have a very good friend who is turning 40, and for this birthday, her husband has offered to take her shopping. She has innate personal style but doesn't spend money on clothing (they have young twins). She is about to go back to school, and I think he wants to celebrate this transition by giving her the chance to undulge herself. When she told him she had no idea where to go, he said, "Well, call Vivian!" Ha! So the pressure is on.

I am going to send them to Boston; otherwise she will end up at the JCrew outlet, as everyone here does.

Where would you send her in Boston? Please in mind that there will not be an unlimited budget, nor unlimited patience with shopping. (My guess, knowing these two, is they will throw in the towel at some point early on and find the best food and craft beer in the area.)

My friend has a haircut like Angie's but light brown (at one point with a magenta streak), wears comfortable, loosely fitting clothes, is an artistic and young 40, is the mother of 7-year-old twins, and is returning to school to pursue a second career.

Would love your best shopping advice!!!!

Thanks!

9 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

There are three Nordstroms in the Boston area...Natick, Braintree and North Shore. How about an appointment with a personal stylist? I know people are sometimes intimidated by Nordstrom but there is something for everyone there, at varying price points and the customer service experience is wonderful. ( speaking as a former Nordie!).

UmmLila (Lisa)

That's hard. I love to go shopping in Boston. In fact that is my plan for tomorrow, since DD's choir has a Vespers service to sing at at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street, and she wants me to pick her up instead of coming back in the bus. It will be a hardship, but I will do it.

But for people of limited patience, it would be hard to put up with crowds and going in and out of places till you find one that reflects your style.

Maybe it would be better for them to go to an area like the South End. I think there is a boutique called Flock that might be a starting point. I haven't been over that way since last winter. It's a good restaurant area, too.

shiny

The Chestnut Hill mall is rarely ever all that crowded, and it's small and "manageable." Personally I find that it's a great mall for those who get easily overwhelmed by malls. For stores it has Bloomingdale's, Ann Taylor, Loft, BR, J Crew, Uniglo, Eileen Fisher, Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman, Sephora, and I'm forgetting the rest. Here you go: http://www.simon.com/mall/the-.....ill/stores. The Bloomie's is pretty good and I actually prefer it to the Natick Nordstrom's, though I prefer Nordstrom's for online shopping.

There are also restaurants & bars in and around that area. Across the street is The Street: http://www.thestreetchestnuthill.com/directory... but I rarely get over there because the parking situation stresses me out.

I don't do much shopping downtown because parking is expensive and difficult. Unless it's Sunday on Newbury street, because then parking is free. There are some great boutiques outside of Newbury that I could recommend if I could remember their names, but I usually don't focus my shopping there because I need petite sizing.

She could do a Harvard Square outing: Tannery, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Urban Outfitters. I.e., clothes for college students!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Newbury street is lovely. LOTS of options and price points.

I liked the mall we went to at the end of our shopping day in Boston this year - blast, can't remember the name of it - where many of us hit the jackpot at BCBG, L.K. Bennet and Elie Tahari. But it's better-ned and more expensive.

kkards

the shops at the Pru, although i fear that at this time of year they will be really crowded. lots of choices (at all price points), a parking garage, many places to eat, and close enough to Boyalston and Newbury street if they want to get outside.

catgirl

The Chestnut Hill mall was my stomping ground as a teen, back when Filene's existed there!

In November, I went to a fantastic outdoor shopping mall in Somerville - it had a Saks Off 5th and a TJ Maxx as well as all the regular stores like J Crew etc.

http://www.assemblyrow.com/

Shiny, are you in Boston? We should have gotten you in on the Thanksgiving meetup!

Oh my Una, how long ago was that? Yes, I DO remember Filene's...

Wait, did you grow up here? SERIOUSLY?? How did I not know that??? I did not grow up here but my DH did - he was born in Cambridge. I've only been within the 95 belt area for 17 years, in the state for 21. I say "only" because even though marrying a native, apparently I still am not from Boston. Were you born here? Do tell! By PM if you prefer...

You haven't lived if you haven't shopped the original Filene's basement, with women stripping down to their underwear and fighting over bargains in the aisles. I got my Norma Kamali flippy mini skirt there in the early 80s.I grew up overseas but my mom was from Massachusetts so a trip to The Basement there was part of the annual US pilgrimage (extra pilgrimage points to anyone who was familiar with the Spag's discount store in Shrewsbury MA.)

Okay, I'll go there. Filene's Basement (the original at Downtown Crossing), Spag's, Building 19, Frugal Fannie's, Ocean State Job Lot... Also Jordan Marsh (can't type it without hearing the accent!). Yeah, straight outta Boston!

Shiny, will PM you but yes, I grew up in the suburbs. How did we miss you - we met in Harvard Square!

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