Pop quiz: What do vintage shops, talented designers, local businesses, and day-drinking have in common? If you answered, “They’re the four things that I most love to support!” you would be correct, but the real answer is  that you can indulge in all of the above this Saturday as you Sip and Shop with Grand and Poor Little Rich Girl.

Saturday’s event marks the re-launch of Poor Little Rich Girl’s flagship in its move from Davis Square to new digs in a space shared with Grand. The home accessories store is an amazing destination for fun and smart design – their array of animal-themed collectibles is sincerely not to be missed. Grand is also gaining a reputation as a hub for community enterprises (such as last summer’s Ice Cream Showdown) and area start-ups (it was the first brick and mortar home of the Boston Shaker). In keeping with the local theme, libations are courtesy of area brewers Pretty Things Beer. So come on out, snag a drink, and get pretty inside and out as you shop local in sweetly tipsy style.

–Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong

For years I’ve been shopping at Boomerangs. Worth making the long haul out to Jamaica Plain from Cambridge, shopping there has been ever so successful due to their good prices and a large selection of vintage and up-to-date items, as well as furniture and electronics to boot. Boomerangs is a strictly donation-based shop, with their wares mostly coming from overstock from local retailers and people in the community. The best part of all? 100% of the proceeds goes to AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC).

Since the flagship store opened in 1996, there have been many high-end and designer clothing donations, but these donations were not often sold in the JP store but to other consignment shops or on eBay. Luckily for us thrift-enthusiasts, AAC opened Boomerang’s doors on Washington Street in the South End, it carries only high-end labels at a fraction of the price.

Formally dubbed Boomerangs Special Edition, the South End store is unlike its counterparts in JP and West Roxbury because it feels like other boutiques in that neighborhood– a long and narrow shop, with lots of natural lighting, beautiful hard wood floors, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings. Beyond the space itself, the racks are not as jam packed as most thrift stores and the labels in the shop include everything from Marc by Marc Jacobs and Prada, to gently worn mall brands, like J. Crew and French Connection. There’s even a vintage rack.

In a recent interview, store manager Nancy Wall Farrington told us that they have been getting a lot of attention and foot traffic. This is a great sign for the new little shop, but also for shoppers. More and more of the South End community have been stopping in and inquiring about donating. I’ve been a few times and there are new items in the store each time I’m there. My favorite purchase so far is a $40 gold sparkly Frock by Tracy Reese dress, new with tags priced at $315.

Boomerangs Special Edition is a great place to add to the roster for shopping in Boston, especially because one can shop there relatively guilt free!

For more information please check out their website.

–Rachel Ganin

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Coming up next month…

“Do you enjoy partying until the “breaka breaka dawn”? Do you enjoy being in a sweaty room surrounded by stud muffins and beautiful dames? Do you want to hear jams from Judas Priest and Chromeo in the same night? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, you need to get hip to this: Bodega Girls Present: Cool Ranch on Wednesday, April 28th. A new dance night brought to by the record collections of the slimiest, band of tricksters in Boston…Bodega Girls. Hot jams will be heard, memories will be made, sins will be committed…all you have to do is show up and look pretty. And shake it.” – EvRock

Introducing Flock, a great new clothing store in the South End.

While a lot of the South End is dominated by high-end home decor boutiques, this cozy shop is stocked with unique wearables. Think mittens with knit animals as the design, big beaded necklaces, striking prints and an attention to detail evidenced in the bold buttons of a blouse and the plaid lining of a jacket.

The first time I noticed the store, I wandered in because I loved the window display. On the right side of the door, there was an antique post office mail organizer, a large wooden box with several small compartments, each compartment filled with a small treasure– a single bracelet, a rolled up silk top, a thick piece of plaid fabric. The window on the left side of the door showcased a snowman made of white disks. Clearly handmade, it exemplified the artistic vibe echoed throughout the rest of the store.

Inside, the decor was sparse but inviting. Metal rolling racks scattered on the wooden floor were complimented by the comfortable couch positioned next to the dressing rooms (the ideal waiting area for a patient friend). It feels like you could almost be in one of your friends rooms– the dim lighting softened the space and provided a brief respite away from the real world.

I interviewed, Danielle Kupsc, the “daughter” half of the mother-daughter duo that owns the shop. That’s a pretty cool thing to be able to say when asked what you do– “Oh, I own a rad store with my mom.” Jealous.

–Erica Sorensen

What made you want to start Flock?

I have always wanted to open my own shop but I felt like the time was finally right.

Do you have any previous buying experience? Or are you learning as you go?

I have a lot of experience in retail, but the buying side of the business is completely new to me. It’s probably been one of the biggest challenges for me with the store but I’m definitely learning as I go. As the store has been open longer, I have a better idea of who my customer is and what she likes so I think it will be a bit easier going forward.

Are you originally from the Boston area? If not, what lead you here?

I am originally from Cohasset, MA, which is on the south shore. I left to go to college in New Orleans, then lived in DC for a few years so I just returned back to Boston a couple of years ago. I wanted to be close to my family again so that’s really what brought me back.

Any favorite pieces you’ve bought for your store?

I really, really love the Lauren Moffatt bomber jacket I have. She is one of my favorite designers– It’s grey wool with stud detailing, and is lined with a pink, blue and white plaid print.

Who designed the interior of the store?

I did the interior design of the store. I wanted to create a warm and welcoming space, that combines natural, organic influences with a vintage industrial kind of feel. The racks we built from plumbing piping from Home Depot and the furniture I just found at different unique furniture and antique stores.

Why Shawmut Ave?

I looked at various locations but continued to be drawn to the South End. Although Tremont street was enticing and appealing, I really loved how quaint and tucked away Shawmut Ave is. I wanted people to sort of “discover” Flock and wander in.

Favorite spot in Boston?

Anywhere I can bring my dogs.

Coolest thing you noticed one of your customer’s wearing?

One of my customers had on an awesome pair of tall brown leather boots. They were the perfect color and looked worn in with a lot of character. She said she had gotten them from a vintage store– good find!

What makes Flock different?

I try to bring in designers that aren’t seen in a lot of other retailers in Boston. I always love discovering new designers when I’m out shopping so I try to do that for my customers. I also brought in some California based lines because I think of my own style as more west coast, a little more laid back so I wanted to bring some of that style into the store.

Story behind naming the store “Flock”?

I spent awhile trying to think of names for the store and wrote down lots of things that popped into my head. Flock just seemed right.

Inspiration?

I really love nature inspired things so I look for images and things that sort of speak to me in that way. My mom has been a huge inspiration for Flock. We own the store together and we’ve really built it from the ground up together, but she is very determined and a wonderful person that constantly helps me believe in myself and my vision.

Best find at a thrift shop?

I’d have to say a belt that I have. It’s a dark navy blue leather that’s already worn and it has a vintage-looking owl clasp. I love it!

Any new up and coming designers to keep an eye on?

For the spring I am bringing in a line called Mr. Larkin. The designer is Casey Larkin and it’s based out of San Francisco. She is totally committed to sustainability and it’s apparent all the way down to the details. She uses organic cottons and recycled vintage embellishments. The dyes are made from dried plants, flowers and vegetables and even the hang tags are biodegradable seed paper which you can plant and will blossom into flowers. It’s very stylish, yet easy to wear and comfortable as well. This couldn’t be a more perfect brand for Flock so I’m super excited to bring it to Boston. I think you will see Mr.Larkin become a very well known line with time.

Just because- Favorite drink?

I make this drink in the summer that’s made of tea-infused vodka, homemade iced tea, and a bit of elderflower liqueur.

Flock

274 Shawmut Avenue . Boston, MA 02118-2125

Photography by CATIE-RAE

NO TOMORROW: THE FINAL SIGN April 3rd @ Machine Nightclub

For instance, the other day a client sat down in the chair and after getting through the, “Oh, the weather is terrible,” nicety bit, he said, “You know, every time I get a haircut, I think, ‘Oh, I don’t have to do that now. And then, three months later, I look in the mirror and I’m surprised that I have to do it again.”

For most men (though not all), haircuts are a chore, an item on a to-do list that falls somewhere between grocery shopping and repairing a flat bike tire. Sure, for that rare Boston male who sees a haircut as the best accessory one has (and a cheaper way, in these frugal times, to express personal style) a great cut is art.

So thank you, Boston men– the Financial District 9-5ers, the eternally pink-cheeked bike messengers, the hopeful job seekers, the baby-faced college students, the “sacrifice regular haircuts for beer” dudes. Without you, this Lady Barber would never have developed the vocabulary and the style of communicating that takes what you say and allows me to translate it to the top of your head.

Unfortunately, not all barbers will be so astute. Here are a few tips to help you help them give you what you want.

How to Not Get Lost in Translation:

1. Clippers or buzzers, and sometimes “the machine” depending on where you hail from, generally have metal or plastic attachments with a number system (i.e. 1, 2, 3). What matters is not the number, unless you’re a “Numbers Guy” (the kind of guy who knows that every time he goes to the barber shop, he can order a haircut like the McDonald’s menu: “Four on the sides, scissors on top”). If you’re unsure of what number to get on the side, request that the barber run the clipper up the sideburn and a little into the hairline to determine which length works well.

2. Barbers ask a lot of seemingly random questions, overstate and clarify what you just said for a reason: their work is on your head. Think about that guy on the T whose head you’ve had to stare at for the entire ride, wondering whether the haircut was the result of a lost bet. Clarify whether you want an inch off or an inch left on the top of the head. If the receding hairline really makes you nervous, no matter how embarrassing it is to bring it up, mention you’d like a little length on the front to hide it. If you’d rather not have a distinct line going around your ears (known as “white walls” in extreme cases), say it. If your mutton chops are your prized facial hair, tell the barber to lay off with the squaring off. Even if you don’t know what you like, you probably know what you don’t like. Get vocal.

3. “I’m growing my hair out,” can mean a multitude of things: laziness, lack of funds, living under the academic rock and emerging with five pounds of hair. If it was your intention to grow it out, come to barber shop with an idea of what you want the end result to be. Most men who are growing out their hair come in with their hair looking like that m-word, but dare not speak it’s name. (Yes, they are big in Europe.) Know how long you want it to grow out. The bottom line with long hair is shape, so it doesn’t look like a fluffy, amorphous Brillo pad, or a stringy, greasy mess. Be prepared to maintain the length and shape of the haircut every 4-6 weeks, 6-8 weeks if the budget calls for it.

4. Bringing in a picture can be a helpful jumping-off point. Your hair thickness, straightness or waviness, and possible thinning are all considerations when attempting to copy the haircut– as a mentor once said, “It’s a comb, not a wand.”

5. Product is what makes all the layering and texturing a barber does truly stand out. Ask for a demonstration on how to apply the goop so doesn’t end up in a blob-like dollop just in the front of the hair. Most products are categorized on a scale of strength of hold, how shiny or matte the product is, pliability, and what kind of hair it enhances. Just be careful– Products with high amounts of polymers, which is essentially plastic and silicone, coat the hair and can clog the hair follicles, creating a difficult terrain for the little guys to sprout from. Shampoos with strong floral, fruit and herbal fragrances are high in alcohol content, which great for beer, not so much for the amount of drying out it does to your hair.

6. And, finally, much like the female A-line bob, the fauxhawk really does look good on a variety of people. But, that’s why you see it everywhere. When the term “corporate fauxhawk” is uttered in the barber chair, the haircut is tired. Be the guy with the great haircut, not the guy with the same haircut as everyone else. Ladies (and gents) do take notice.

– Kristen Schaer

So, since I usually have mediocre success at clothing swaps and suspect that others may have had similar experiences, I’ve been looking into alternatives. Boston-based thredUP is one company aimed at dispelling any fears one might have about clothing swaps, while helping the shopping obsessed freshen up their closet without blowing the bank.

thredUP works on the (probably true) premise that most people do not wear 50% of the clothing in their closet, and that we not only despise, but are sick of wearing most items in there (also probably true). thredUP organizes snail mail-based, person-to-person swaps. The only cost to the swappers is buying the pre-paid envelopes for $25. You also need a computer and a mailbox. This is how it works:

1. Join thredUP at thredUP.com, it’s just $5 for a new customer for three pre-paid envelopes, or $25 for a returning customer.

2. Select three shirts which you may have worn a number of times but are done with. Not ones that have holes and stains, but items that you think realistically will be worn again by someone else.

3. On the site, type in the color, size, brand and type of shirt. It will then match you up with someone who has a similar size and brand of shirt.

4. You will then place your clean, gently used shirt in one of these envelopes and off it goes to St Louis, or wherever your match might be.

5. A week later you will receive your new garment.

6. Repeat.

Though thredUP only launched a few months ago–and swaps are only for shirts right now–the site boasts about 9,000 users with an 80% satisfaction rate. Soon, the creators of thredUP, three male Harvard Businesses School grads, are launching thredUP Kids. It’s the same basic concept but parents can exchange for larger sizes, 10 pieces at a time. As a child grows, the parent can swap with other parents–it’s hand-me-downs at their best.

In my never ending quest to refresh my wardrobe on a budget, thredUP is a good alternative to throw into the mix along with thrifting and swapping. I’m planning on sending in my floral ruffled top from the 80’s. I hope it will find a good home and, while I will not make any money off my exchange, I look forward to getting something much better – something new (to me)!

–Rachel Ganin

This week marks the start of the electronic music festival, Together, here in Boston. The weeklong celebration is not only about the music, but features related lectures, art, dance, technology, fashion, and other innovations that are inspired by Boston’s electronic music scene. On Feb. 14, the final day of the festival, The Get Together: Record Expo, Trade Fair and Remix Fashion Show will be held at the lovely, converted church, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts in the South End. This event mixes vinyl vendors, product demos, fashion designers, and vintage clothing dealers, but the pièce de résistance of the event is the fashion show, beginning at 4 p.m. sharp. The fashion show will feature original fashion by The Void Above, and styling from Deconize and Carrigan dB.

These Boston-based stylists and designers cite the following Futurist statement as their inspiration – “The futuristic and rebellious zeitgeist of the 1960’s, shuffled through the escapism and experimentalism embodied by electronic music’s storied history.” Each stylist will be showing her own adaptation and response to this statement.

“We want no part of it, the past, we the young and strong Futurists!” wrote the father of Futurism, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, in his manifesto. The Futurists admired speed, technology, youth and violence – the car, the airplane and the industrial city. They rejected cultures of the past, loving only those of the future represented by science and technology. Interestingly, two out of the three stylists showing will repurpose vintage and used clothing to show their take on the future. By making clothing from the past new again, they’re putting a fresh spin on each garment.

THE VOID ABOVE

Fashion designers Ether and Coco of The Void Above will be showing six original looks – most of them hand-sewn pieces with minimal accessories. Their show will be more of a performance piece, rather than just a fashion show – blending art and fashion with music. The designers would disclose very few details about the show. However, they did share a few images of the work we can expect to see [shown below]. Ether told us that she hopes that the audience is surprised by the “theatrical, avant-garde looks that will literally be danced across the raised stage,” as stated in the event press release.

“Though electronic music is often times associated with parties and clubs, this event is painting a picture of the electronic music culture,” says stylist Ariana Paoletti of Deconize. She tells us that in Boston – where innovative work from MassArt and MIT’s Media Lab leads the way – fashion and style is being pushed, altered, and explored. Paoletti’s show promises highly graphic and geometric work, almost minimalist at times. She is pulling mainly from used pieces from the 80s and 90s, incorporating her own handmade jewelry (pictured) in mostly black and primary colors. She is hoping to evoke the title of her collection – “The Future is Now.”

Carrigan Denny-Brown of Carrigan dB is coming from a different place all together. She’s pulled garments from the 1960s – a nod to an important time in the history of electronic music, the birth of the Moog synthesizer. While mixing many different pieces together, Denny-Brown manages to create a cohesive, effortless look, which could easily be pulled from any of the top magazines of today, despite the fact that many of her pieces are reworked or repurposed specifically for the models and for this show. She told me that her work will also play with humor and the element of surprise with nods to pop-culture. The girl in her story is modern, dressing for the future.

Electronic music was born out of innovation and technology, driving the modern idea of music – just as this fashion show hopes to inspire you to re-evaluate the way you dress and how you think of wearing garments. Or, as Paoletti suggests, “shop in the closet of history and create a new style that is uniquely you.

– Rachel Ganin

DECONIZE