Start shopping: 383 Hanover St., Boston MA 02113; 617-523-8870
Karma.
Twin sisters, Joy and Judy Catuogno, run Karma Designer Consignments, which stocks vintage high-end clothing and accessories. Many go to Karma to find a Dolce & Gabbana piece, a Fendi fur, or a Gucci bag. Joy and Judy especially enjoy helping customers find the perfect attire for formal events, such as proms, black-tie parties, and other special occasions. They also carry lingerie from a variety of top designers.
Expect to find pieces tagged at about half of their original prices. I like to come here and daydream about the history of the vintage pieces, and also picture myself in some of them at a fancy gala. Should I ever have such an event to go to, Karma will be the first stop on my list to find the perfect outfit.
Start shopping: 26 Prince St., Boston MA 02113; 617-723-8338
Cadia Vintage.
Tucked in a small storefront on Salem Street lies Cadia Vintage, a “grandma’s attic” boutique offering one-of-a-kind finds. “My goal is to keep [the store] affordable and fun,” says owner Carole Springhetti. “Boston has plenty of museums already! Cadia Vintage is a place where you can touch and browse and ask questions—and then walk out with a purchase for less than $20. Hopefully that purchase will inspire a lifetime of collecting.” When choosing pieces for her store, Springhetti looks for “anything that has visual appeal in shape and color, some comedy about it, a uniqueness to its time period, and of course, a reasonable price tag. Vintage clothing and jewelry must evoke a memory. Those memories can be of the Brady Bunch girls, my sister and I shopping for new school clothes and toys in the Sears catalog, my grandmother’s costume jewelry, or an old classic film.”
Beyond vintage clothing and furnishings, Cadia Vintage offers a treasure trove of handbags, accessories, and jewelry, among other lovely antiques. Visitors take note, however: the store is open only on weekends or by appointment.
Start shopping: 148 Salem St., Boston MA 02113; 617-742-1203
