If you find yourself to be someone who has champagne taste on a beer budget, you’ve come to the right place! In this column, I’ll try to find you ladies the top consignment stores throughout the streets of Waltham, Cambridge, Boston, and more to get your designer brand clothes for discounted prices!
First Stop: Second Time Around in Harvard Square where “Resale Goes Upscale”
With 10 locations in Mass alone, most bargain hunters in this area have grown to obsess over Second Time Around (STA)…and I certainly can’t blame them. As a past fan from my previous shopping spree in their Newbury Street locations, I didn’t expect anything less than the best at this STA in Cambridge. Across the way from the Eliot Street bus stop in Harvard Square, STA has a two-level store. Both levels have a wide array of shoes, accessories, jackets, dresses, shirts, and much much more ranging from brands like J. Crew to Urban Outfitters! Each rack placed around the store is not only labeled by item, but is organized by size as well, so you’ll know exactly what rack to look through! There’s no shortage of clothes at this location, they manage to stuff the store with deals you’re bound to love. My advice for those new to the consignment store scene is to have patience. Just because you eye the mannequin and cringe at the combination of clothes you see displayed before you, it doesn’t mean that a gorgeous Tory Burch blouse isn’t hiding somewhere in that sea of clothing racks.
Like most consignment stores, STA has created a tag-system where the color of the price tag on a certain clothing item corresponds to how discounted that price is! When I went to visit STA, these were the current price tags and discounts, but Buyer Beware: these tags change all the time with the discount they represent.
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Style Steals: My Favorite Pieces
If you’re a Lauren Conrad junkie like myself, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with her clothing line at Kohl’s, but for only $9, I found myself a pink satin-like tank top with a bow detail around the neckline.
Next up, to for any girl interested in keeping up with the aztec trend, I discovered this thick cardigan covered in an aztec/tribal print. Upon closer look, the tag looked very familiar—it was an Urban Outfitters brand (Staring at Stars). Though it’s a new arrival so it’s ‘full’ price at STA, it only costs $25!
Alright, so most of you probably have a bunch of crop-tops, but I’m sure not many of you have one quite like this one that immediately caught my attention. First off, it’s Ann Taylor—a company well known for having some pretty pricey pieces.
The levels of intricate beading on this top immediatley caught my eye—especially when it hits the light! By wearing this when you go out, you’re basically the disco ball in a party—just not as obnoxious as that sounds. The best part? The green tag attached to it. Originally priced for $29, this shirt was half off—making it only $14.50. Plus, black never goes out of style and has the ability to hide the beer stains that are bound to get on you at the next frat party.
Wanna go here? Here’s how!
It’s easy! Take the Bentley Shuttle into Harvard Square and when you get off the bus, turn around and BAM, it’s right there!
Happy bargain hunting ladies!