Secret Shopper: Boston’s Best Secondhand Stores

In light of the recession and the ongoing obsession with all things green, I figured it was time to tackle Boston's best secondhand shops. Originally intending to stop at four locations, I was distracted during my Newbury St. tour by an amazing new store that is neither recession-friendly nor particularly green, but so awesome that I just had to feature it anyway. Armed with my BlackBerry (which, I've found the hard way, draws fewer weird looks from shopkeepers than a notepad), I set out to give you my honest opinion on each of these stores. Of course, the biggest downside of vintage shopping is that something you like may not be in your size—but if you find something that is, you'll be the only one you know wearing it.

POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL

Two locations:

DAVIS SQUARE – 255 Elm St., Somerville

The store has a kitschy-retro feel, with hanging paper lamps and old records (Gordon Lightfoot, Humble Pie) everywhere. Here, you'll find outrageous treasures like a lime-green tweed coat ($64), a purple Christian Dior wool suit ($98) and fur cloche hats galore. There are shoes everywhere, mostly $20ish and in fair condition (lots of Ferragamo pumps); more expensive ones include Diesel boots and Miu Miu sandals (around $100). The denim selection leaves much to be desired—there's only one small circular rack, and what is there seems a little overpriced, hovering around $60. The store's best parts are a great collection of cute clutches, a solid blazer/jacket section, and the sale rack ($5-10). There were also some new boutique items, mostly sundresses.

BACK BAY – 166 Newbury St., Boston

This smaller, sleeker version of Poor Little Rich Girl is definitely dressier. Vintage items are well-edited and in better condition overall than at the Davis Square location; I found an awesome blue, orange and white pleated romper from the '70s for $38. Boutique items include silky red ruffled dresses ($64), white and yellow sundresses ($34), and sunglasses galore (think polka-dot Wayfarers, $10). The shoe section, at the back of the store, is limited, but that's understandable in a place of this size.

SECOND TIME AROUND – 176 Newbury St., Boston

This Eastern Mass.-based consignment chain has a branch in Harvard Square, but I figured I'd make a stop at the bigger and better-organized Newbury Street location. Downstairs was a great selection of summery white tops and tons of amazing shoes (Car Shoe driving moccasins totally covered in sequins are $52; Jimmy Choo chained flat sandals are $118). There are extensive racks of jeans in every possible size and style (Earnest Sewn, $52; Citizens of Humanity, $62). The atmosphere, if crowded, is pleasant—everything is organized by color, and there's always slightly outdated guilty-pleasure music playing (Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado). The big sale room in back featured mostly winter items—many corduroys—and Lilly Pulitzer. If you, like me, love a good oversized men's shirt (so cute belted with leggings), you'll find a whole rack of them.

Upstairs, I found two whole racks of white jeans for summer, as well as an entire Marc by Marc Jacobs rack (shirts run around $60) and a Juicy Couture one. This is where tons of great dresses are located—last spring, I found an amazing Trina Turk paisley halter sundress in like-new condition that I continue to wear at every possible opportunity. There's a high-end designer section, where you'll strike gold if you're in the market for a Carolina Herrera metallic painted ballgown in size 10 ($648) or a Moschino polka dot coat in Italian size 40 ($328). I tend to judge a good secondhand store by its leather jacket selection, and the one here is disappointing, but I found a red Burberry peacoat that I liked so much I'll forgive them.

PINKYOTTO – 156 Newbury St, Boston

Okay, so it isn't secondhand, but I liked this recently opened store (other branches are in New York) so much I couldn't resist. Nearly everything in here, with the exception of a few blazers and skirts, is a dress; although many are similar to one another, most are the only ones of their kind in the entire store. Mostly knee-length and shorter, they run between about $120 and $200 and come in every style from '80s-ish belted green strapless minidresses to billowy floral silk numbers. The sales associates' enthusiasm verges on the annoying, but they seemed genuinely excited to bring me item after unsolicited item that they thought I'd "just love." Most of their recommendations were actually my style—I was impressed, and particularly tempted by an off-white miniskirt with a black elastic waistband and a gauze overlay with stars on it.