The Closet in the News

There is a nice piece about consignment stores in the Boston Globe today! It's titled Thrifty and Nifty and is a great description of the shop.

Toast of the Town

Hooray Mad Men won the Emmy for Best Drama! I think it is the best show on television right now, so if you are not watching it yet, you had better catch up. The main reason I find it so appealing is the authenticity and attention to detail that makes me feel like I am going back in time. Of course the flawless costumes only add further validity to the talented ensemble cast. Just look at this example from Vanity Fair. One of my favorite characters is sultry office manager Joan Holloway (dressed in emerald green above) and played impeccably by Christina Hendricks. I think she would look stunning in this marigold chiffon evening dress from Neiman Marcus and vintage-inspired Coach purple satin coat (new with tags, originally $1500!) Time for cocktails!

Look...

The Closet is so cool...cause we had that EXACT same Missoni sweater, but we sold it months ago! I wonder if it's the same one?! Anyway it's always fun to see a piece from the past. It's also nice to know that even fancy famous people wear things that are more than a season old (and I have to say it looks much more chic than some of the ensembles she has been sporting recently!) Please no more peg-leg jeans!

LA LA Land

I made my first trip to the West Coast this past weekend, it was awesome! The hotel where I stayed in West Hollywood (the Chamberlain, sooo nice) was within walking distance of the only two shops I was really hoping to visit. At Decades (8214 Melrose) I bragged to Cameron Silver upstairs in the vintage section about The Closet (couldn't resist, and yes, he had heard of us) and later I took my time perusing the perfectly edited consignment boutique below. Further down the block at Resurrection Vintage (8006 Melrose) I tried a beautiful YSL printed linen frock, but it didn't quite zip. They also had a gorgeous Zandra Rhodes purple and aqua chiffon gown that was very tempting. It is always fun to see the different types of resale shops that exist, but I still think The Closet is the best one.

The Closet blog is going on one last summer getaway, we will be back Wednesday. Store hours as usual...hope to see you soon!

Give me Givenchy

Fall is here! The Closet is now accepting transitional & fall merchandise. As you know we get our best pieces early, so now is the time to look through your closet as well. We are starting to receive cashmere sweaters from Lainey and Loro Piana as well as some perfect coats by Daryl K, Givenchy (see above), Isabel Marant, and many more. Hope to see you soon!

Duffy!

We saw Duffy at the Wilbur last night! She put on a great show and seemed to really like Boston, or at least just saying "Boston" in her sweet Welsh accent. She rocked a polka dot romper and a pair of fiery patent pumps. I must say Duffy is quite the pinup, but all I want to know is where she got her heels!

One of the things that makes The Closet such a unique place is the fact that you can find a cute H&M jacket for $10 hanging next to a piece by Yohji Yamamoto for $185. I am consistently amazed by the quality and variety of labels that can be found here. Although we are not a thrift shop, you can find many items at thrift shop prices. You can also find Chanel, Etro, and Missoni. The Closet has the best of both worlds and you just never know what you might find!

Fall Consignment Reminder

Just wanted to let everyone know that The Closet will start accepting fall merchandise in August. Can you believe it?! Fall clothes are way better anyway! So if you have designer items (think labels from Barneys, Saks, high end boutiques, etc) in good condition, and preferably no more than 1 or 2 years old, we would love to hear from you. It is really helpful to call ahead and set up an appointment. We can be reached at 617.536.1919.

To the beach...

with my Phillip Lim tote and a cute Japanese dress! Happy 4th of July! The Closet will be closed Friday for the holiday and reopen Saturday the 5th at 10am. We will also be open Sunday, however the blog will be going on vacation until Thursday. Cheers!

Consignment is chic!

The NY Times talks about consignment in today's Fashion & Style section! Also, we have LOTS of nice Rogan for the boys.

Jelly shoes!

This summer I decided that I am not going to wear flip flops. I hear they are actually a terrible form of footwear, and I hate how dirty my feet become. Perhaps I will bring a pair down to the Cape, but they really don't belong in the city.





These fun plastic jellies ($20 at Aldo) were recommended to me by a trusted shoe connoisseur and friend of The Closet, one who happens to have the best collection of flats that I know. I was a little unsure at first, but my friend was right. They took me from a day wandering the Harbor Islands to dinner back in the city, and I can report that I am blister free and had clean feet when I got home!

Should have bought it...when I saw it!

This is a good rule, especially if you are shopping in a consignment store, where what you see is what you get. Part of the charm of The Closet is that we have only one of each item/only one size, so it is either meant for you or it isn't. This is one reason we choose not to ship. It is also important for shoppers to be able to examine an item in person, since our merchandise has been 'gently worn'. We like to keep it simple! Although online shopping is an increasingly popular method of treasure hunting, there is no substitute for the feeling one gets upon finding a piece that can be enjoyed immediately. Who wants to wait!

YSL 1936-2008

I was sad to hear of the death of Mr. Yves Saint Laurent. He was a supremely talented designer who revolutionized the way women dress. His ideas continue to influence the fashion world today. I have to say I was very amused as I listened to a program on NPR earlier today during which Kate Betts is asked something along the lines of whether Mr. Laurent would have taken the Project Runway show seriously...I guess the interviewer didn't know that Mr. Laurent first made his name by winning a design competition in Paris when he was 18! I recommend The Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake to those who would like to be entertained and inspired by his amazing creative genius. He is a legend.

Best of Boston

My most favorite fashion site, Fashionista,  just mentioned The Closet Blog! They linked  to us yippee  Now we just need them to start consigning! 

A True Consignment Shop

There always seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding the characteristics of a true consignment shop. Please consider that The Closet is the most authentic shop in Boston, mainly because we don't purchase ANY of our merchandise outright and have only one of everything. This is the defining factor of a resale shop, because really, picking up leftovers from a boutique (who couldn't sell them in the first place) is just not the same as hunting for a unique garment, that has already been chosen for you by another talented fashionista. 

We are really not a thrift shop either, which is important to understand. Although we do have a handy markdown system, the majority of items we carry are more pricey, high end designer brands that hold there value very well, as they are rarely marked down at the original point of sale. 

Since we are consignment, all of our sales are split 50/50 with the consignor. Therefore, we price items to sell, while attempting to garner the consignor a fair share. If you ever have any questions about consigning or shopping, please give us a call at 617.536.1919. 

The Closet in Elle Magazine

It isn't often that The Closet gets a mention in the media, let alone in one of the most major fashion publications around, but here we are! (Thanks to Noe for letting us know!) It is nice to be included in a piece about such stylish destinations as the ICA and Bodega! As you all know, The Closet itself is reason enough to take a trip up to Boston, and enjoy a little culture as well.

Spring is here!

The Closet is now accepting spring items for consignment. We look for things that are not more than 1 or 2 years old and in excellent condition. High end brands are preferred, as is an appointment, so if you have any questions, please get in touch. You can give us a call at 617.536.1919 to set up a time to come in, or just stop by and say hi! 

The only place I really shop on Newbury Street is The Closet, but every now and then I find myself wandering down to Stel's to see what they've got...and I have to say, the selection is always soooo tempting. I began to notice they were stocking Rogan this past fall...and I'm happy to see they will be carrying a full line come spring. The other night they had a party to celebrate, and the designer, Rogan Gregory was there, along with his ping pong table. It was fun to see some old friends of The Closet and check out the collection. Rogan himself is a big fan of consignment, no surprise there (and it looks like he loves yellow this season too!). If you're lucky and have a good eye, you may come across some pieces from time to time at The Closet as well. Images courtesy of  www.rogannyc.com

Welcome to The Closet Inc.'s first blog!

This year The Closet celebrates 30 years on Newbury Street...that is a long time for a little store like us! Not much has changed in the past three decades, except our inventory of course (which changes everyday) but we thought it would be fun to share with you some of the things that make The Closet such a special place. 

From the Broadway music every Saturday morning to the nonexistent hours on the door, you must have realized by now that The Closet is one of a kind. 

So we invite you, whether you are a shopper, consignor, or just plain curious, to take a look inside...you never know what you might find!

Enjoy!

Thank you,

Your Friends at The Closet Inc.