The best fashion and gift stores Massachusetts

A must at Cambridge, if you want to meet students or simply get any book. You can buy both new and used books here, perfect for saving money. The selection is immense, the shop also has postcards, maps and guides useful for the visit. If you're looking for souvenirs to take home, you'll also find a wide selection of Harvard sweaters, T-shirts, mugs and tote bags. We'd spend hours there!

This beautiful brick building dates from 1712, when it was used as a residence and apothecary's shop. The bookstore it houses was established in the 19th century (1828). At the time, it was a meeting place for contemporary writers. In its shelves you will find Henry Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Charles Dickens. Today it is still a bookstore, which also sells souvenirs and postcards. Because of its historical aspect, the Old Corner Bookstore is one of the sites of the Freedom Trail.

Marshalls collects many unsold items from different chains of stores and resells them at bargain prices because they do not sell well or have a small defect. You have to know how to search, but there are many treasures. You'll find mostly brand name products, whether for clothes (Calvin Klein, Free People, Rebecca Taylor) or handbags (Michael Kors, Chloe, Yves Saint Laurent...). Americans can spend hours in this store. A very good place to buy branded clothes and accessories at discounted prices.

The epitome of preppy style. For those who don't know, preppy comes from preparatory schools, those prepas that spread all over the East Coast and attract American students aiming for big universities such as Harvard. Preppy in style, so to speak. You'll quickly notice that preppy style is very much in vogue in Boston. Vineyard Vines has only one store in Boston, but there are several addresses in Massachusetts. A must see to get an idea of the fashion for young, posh Americans. Careful, it's expensive!

Shake the tree... and wonders will fall from it! This little shop will delight women more than men. Inside, perfumed soaps, handbags, colourful clothes and notebooks and decorative objects, all carefully selected by the mistress of the place, who finds inspiration in her travels to Paris, New Delhi or Marrakech. A thousand miles away from department store chains, this independent boutique showcases little-known brands. A good stopover for a bohemian version of shopping.

Since 1994, this long-established shop in the Beacon Hill neighborhood has been selling pretty everyday items. At the beginning, the place was specialized in ink stamps, it has since diversified. You can buy mugs, designer tableware, stationery, lucky charms, small Japanese-inspired objects, etc. There is also a large and beautiful selection of postcards, which is a bit different from what you can find elsewhere. The store has been closed since 2022. But all the items are still for sale on the website.

After closing its stores in downtown Boston, the American sportswear brand has finally taken up residence in Cambridge. We stop by to stock up on T-shirts, jeans, plaid shirts and fashion accessories for men and women. The collection now offers more trendy clothes, in a more bohemian style, but still comfortable. Her women's underwear and sportswear brand, Aerie, focuses on comfort and simplicity.

A nice shop of handicrafts, made only by women. You will be able to stop there to bring back some typical souvenirs from Provincetown: rainbow-coloured magnets, t-shirts with feminist slogans, etc. We love bracelets, earrings and necklaces made of silver and stones. The place is also known as one of the oldest bookstores in P-town, and one of the few feminist bookstores in the United States. About a thousand books are sold there, all written by women.

In 2014, Boston will have a shopping mall for serial shoppers. Some forty factory outlets offering differentiated products all year round are housed in this large complex called The Row by the locals. During sales periods, such as Black Friday, Christmas or Easter, prices can be as much as 70% lower on items that are already inexpensive. You will find, among others, the brands Nike, Banana Republic, Aveda, Converse, J Crew, Loft, Reebok, Puma or even Le Creuset... It is also possible to eat on site.

Dare Nantucket Reds! Nantucket's famous pants are the pride of the city, and this shop is the only one to sell them. Some will say that they are pink, not red, but they certainly give a preppy style that is very appreciated on the island. If the pants are too flashy for your taste, you can always be tempted by hats, sweaters, t-shirts or, at worst, socks in the same kind, which are also great gifts. Do your shopping here and you'll be mistaken for a Nantucket resident!

There's no better place than Salem to stock up on esoteric items and mysterious potions! Crown Haven Corner is the oldest witchcraft shop in Salem. It sells candles, spell books (white magic), herbs, crystal balls and other essential oils. If you are Cartesian, don't make fun; in Salem 5-10% of the population still practice witchcraft and paganism rites. If you are looking for original souvenirs and gifts, this is the place to stop.

Americans, especially in large cities, are avid runners. So it's not surprising that there are shops dedicated solely to this sport! Marathon Sports is the reference store for running in Boston and throughout New England. In addition to selling sneakers and every possible accessory imaginable, this store is involved in sports life and can advise you on the best places to run. The place was severely hit during the attacks of 2013.

Here's a store that lives up to its name! Vintage Taste is a luxury thrift store, selling luxury clothing, bags, shoes, watches and jewellery at unbeatable prices. It's called a consignment store: everything in the store is second-hand. Rest assured, the clothes and accessories on sale are in excellent condition. The only major difference with new products is the prices! The brands on display, mostly French and Italian, are classics: Dior, Burberry, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, etc.

The famous black dog is affixed to all products sold here. Between the t-shirts, hoodies, mugs or cards, you can get the whole range of Martha's Vineyard's famous brand. Plus, the look is adapted to the island, i.e. preppy chic. If you are looking for a place to shop for gifts and souvenirs to take back to France, this is the place to stop!

A pretty and very dynamic bookstore, located in the heart of Nantucket. It presents all year round beautiful photo books and other books related to the island and its history. It is a beloved address for locals, who are lucky to have a quality bookstore on the island. Apart from books, you can find all sorts of trinkets: children's toys, stuffed animals, supplies, beautiful maps but also t-shirts, tote bags and jewellery, some of which bear the mention Nantucket. You can stop here to buy souvenirs.

This large and very well known bookstore in the United States (there are all over the country) is a little bit the equivalent of our Fnac. You can find all kinds of books in English, but unfortunately none in French. Novels, history books, cookery books, etc. This is where you'll find the latest fashionable novel or the biography of your favorite American personality. You will also find most newspapers and magazines. Inside, there is a small café with tables where you can sit and read your new purchases.