I arrived in Boston needing some last-minute items for an event, and I got lucky because this place came in clutch! Parking: Mostly street parking in the area. Feels: I'm not too familiar with Boston, but I was told this is one of the original areas of the city. There are lots of businesses and apartments nearby, so the neighborhood feels lively. The shop itself is pretty vibrant and spans two floors. They carry a wide range of apparel--from vintage pieces to newer items and even costumes. Customer Service: Awesome. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Overall: 5 stars. They had exactly what I needed, right when I needed it. If you're looking to refresh your wardrobe on a budget or find some unique costume pieces, this is definitely a spot worth checking out. Tip: Check out their "by the pound" section--you can score some really great deals there. read more

The Garment District - Wooo! - Costumes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Yo....Garment District in Cambridge, MA completely flipped the script on me. Why was I expecting the whole 2 floors to look like a damn thrift dungeon with clothes on the floor??? Instead, Garment D. Is Organized, spotless and straight-up vibey. Two full floors to roam. Hot-pink walls, black-and-white checkerboard floors like stepping into an 80s music video. It's quirky, loud and proudly vintage. Everything's sorted with precision: pants with pants, denim with denim, tops with tops. These folks don't play around. And yeah, the majority of the clothing here is all use. But like I always do- I buy my stuff, take it home (or the cleaners), wash it and it snaps back looking like new. By the way- they do carry some new items- as in not used as well. My daughter and I bought some vintage denims, sweaters and a few other things. Zero mess. Zero stress. 100% unexpected. read more

See all

So much to choose from here. Prices are reasonable. Sometimes it can be harder to find sizes above size large for both men and women, but you can usually find some pretty cool T-shirts here on the regular. read more

Large thrift store with lots of variety. Found some really cool vintage stuff. Loved the "by the pound" area. What a good deal! Only downsides were the fitting rooms were dirty and it was one of the grossest restrooms I've ever seen. read more

Love thrifting. The absolute challenge of searching for that unique, retro, funky item(s) in great condition that are my size or able to be altered. It's a treasure hunt! By the pound was something I've always wanted to do. Seriously, kneel/sit on the floor and toss clothing around as you search for the elusive.....WHAT??? Tommy Hillfinger white parka in excellent condition for about $3-4. Woo hoo my size! Score!! $1100 wiggle skirt for $5.....why not? 5 name brand (Abercrombie/Ann Taylor/NFL.com shirts, parka, winter hat, skirt/blouse total $15 I loved this experience it was such fun. The thrift shop upstairs is pricey but has a great and large variety of items. Worth a glance. read more

See all

Upon reading about The Garment District prior to a Boston trip, I really wanted to go there. I loved the "buy by the pound" concept of a certain section of their store. We scored some great deals there. I spent about $8 and left with about ten name brand items. Highlights were a Wrangler plaid shirt, Levi shorts, Hollister sweats and an Old Navy sweatshirt. It's really a place one needs ample time to go through the pile of clothing. Don't make this a quick stop. The main store is decorated to appeal to any vintage lover. That is obviously more pricey, but not cost-prohibitive. I did not have enough time to look there thoroughly, but I certainly will budget more time when I am in Boston again. The young woman working in the poundage section was a sweetie. read more

See all

loved this store years ago (pre covid) and now as a wheelchair user I am just unable to even get inside. everyone is constantly recommending this to me and I feel my soul inside me die each time. please make this accessible read more

Okay, so first off: The building is huge, it gives a, "You're a teenager again, with your friends, probably all in your hipster phase with the lattes and bobbed haircuts at 6 o'clock at night" vibe. That being said, the first level of the building is a costume shop. You'll find: wigs, wings, suspenders, tutus, masks, you name it, you might just find it. The store has full costumes in a variety of styles and themes. Including a jewelry area in the front, for that touch of something different. Now you roundabout to the stairs, there's an adorably funky statue and a stoplight on the base. I will warn you, this is where it can be overwhelming. So many clothes, so many options, and not enough time. I honestly think his store alone could be a two day trip. The contemporary clothes are in the main room, think 2000's and some 90's fem and masc sweaters, and hoodies. If you're looking for a statement sweater between $30-$45 you'll find comfort here. Now if you're looking for more vintage stuff, like I was, you'll wanna go to the very back of the main room. There are two double sided doorways, which bring you to "Vintage Galore" from the 90's to the 50's and some 40's vintage clothes (please use care as these are some delicate pieces, they also are a bit pricey but for being so aged I understand). I spent most of my time in the 80's, 70's, and 60's sections. There's so much, think: leather jackets, wool coats, cardigans, button up sweater jackets, and that's just the outwear. Sincerely, if you go slow through the racks, you'll find some dream pieces. Also don't shy from the costume rack, these have some very useful qualities that can add a little sophistication or merriment to a casual outfit. This is also where the try-on rooms are located, the man there was dressed as casual Santa (it was winter time) and was so kind and supportive. Frankly, I wanted to tip him but I thought that might seem rude, he was that nice. I walked away with 9 or 10 pieces and did not exceed my budget of $150. Again I went for the vintage stuff. I imagine one could easily find some really cool and nice pieces without going over $100. The workers did seem tired but it was the holiday season, we are ALL exhausted, they were still patience and wished me well. I definitely plan to come again, and really take my time. P.S. They do sell Garment District reusable bags, think of it as a memorabilia bag. I brought my own but I thought it was a nice touch. read more

See all

The Garment District is one of the better thrift stores in MA. They still do $1.50/lb for clothes downstairs. Upstairs, they have a little bit of everything; if you're looking for the "vintage" look, you'll have great fun here. I find them to be kind of pricey but a good find, is a good find. Parking: There are some meter street parking spots right outside. Overall, not bad at all! read more

If you are looking for it, you will find it here. Largest variety accompanied by decent quality clothes, shoes & accessories. The price point is fair-great value. Also if you are looking for cowboy boots, come here first. Street parking. There is a section where if you are willing to look through piles of clothes on the floor, you will pay $2 pound!!! There is also a whole separate costume shop. read more

See all

The store is pretty big with a nice selection of clothes. The upstairs section had good prices, and I was able to find some great sweaters. The atmosphere upstairs was nice and made for a pleasant shopping experience. However, the downstairs section, where you pay by the pound, was less appealing. You have to dig through piles of clothes on the floor, and some items looked dirty, making it a less enjoyable shopping experience. Customer service was average. read more

I guess this used to be a resale shop, with some high-quality offerings. Now, it's just a very large thrift shop (everything they offer has been donated). If you need a basic pair of jeans or a sweatshirt, it will suffice, but don't expect many really interesting items. read more

Great vintage finds; place just needs a better detergent for the clothes or air freshener

There's definitely a selection of items, plenty of costumes to choose from.. but some were a little pricey for my budget. The tutus, I'd gone for were too pricey for my one-off planned use. They also offer a "fill the bag" offer, but with misleading wall price signs; one side that I was looking at, where the main items are has a wall sign, $1 per pound...but when I got to the cash register it was $2/lb, and the cashier showed me another sign facing the counter. That ain't cool. With patience, you can find some cool stuff, but you have to want to. Otherwise, there's other used store options. Overall, I was quite underwhelmed per expectations--plenty of stuff, but not much I can't find elsewhere. read more

This place is a local legend, and it lives up to its reputation. Came here to accessorize my daughter's Halloween costume and found just what we need while having a ton of fun trying things on. Highly recommend! read more

It's 3 stores in one large warehouse house which is super cool and especially with garment district where you can find vintage pieces however it's not gonna be at the price you want if your looking for a great deal read more

I really enjoyed my visit to the garment district. A lot of other reviews say that it's overpriced, but I wasn't looking for t shirts and jeans. I went straight for the vintage dresses and beaded attire. I've been to a bunch of vintage and curated store that sell these beaded beauties for ridiculous prices($100+). At the garment district they were almost all $35 and under. I appreciated the many dressing rooms, which many throat store only have like one or two. The kind older gentleman at the cash was a gem. I will definitely be back. read more

See all

Way too expensive for why they are. For the price I'd expect a much better curated selection . One search on Poshmark would get me the same stuff at less than half the price . Generally unfriendly staff with lots of signs telling you everything you can't do. They were good in the 80s/90s , not so much now read more

My 18 year old daughter wanted to go thrifting and a friend took us here. Overpriced is the first thing that comes to mind. It didn't help that they don't have air conditioning and we visited on a 97F day. While much of the clothing is considered to be designer, a lot isn't but is priced like it is. I collect wedding gowns and they had a small selection of homemade and low-end vintage gowns that had seen better days. The ground floor is a costume shop and the vintage wear is upstairs. I saw a lot of stuff from Target that would have been less at Target. I found some nice dresses from Macy's that I was considering but they stank of body odor, probably exacerbated by the heat. I was totally turned off and left. Honestly, we did much better the next day at Goodwill. read more

Fun variety and atmosphere. Good prices, quality thrift! I return regularly to see what they have. BONUS: They have big boys sizes, too!

A little pricey for thrift, and it's more of a vintage store. By the pound isn't bad and it's the reason for the extra star because there are many great deals even though it's just clothes thrown in the floor. The selection is not thrift, but vintage and some not. You can find what you're looking for, just be prepared for a non- thrift price tag. read more

I started shopping here in '88. Those were my Vintage days. Then grunge and finally goth. They had EVERYTHING.I was so young / 19 - 20. I usually went to Oona's during my vintage days. It was costly as a teen though. Garment District was one of the only places I would shop 'cause they always had the correct clothing for my alternative -- grunge--goth days as well as appropriate items for work. That was so many decades ago. I miss it. It's huge & they had anything I wanted. iNo need to go to NYC! read more

First, this place is a bit expensive. However, the selection work is done well - clothing is of decent to high quality & condition, some of it is designer (and priced accordingly), styles are current or traditional enough to be timeless. It's also a popular spot among the younger crowd, if you go later during the day later during the week. Some brands I've seen: gap, banana republic, j.crew, lululemon, levy's, north face, express, tahari, converse sneakers, j.brand, lily pulitzer, dooney and bourke bags, coach bags. There's a designer section and a regular section. Items are organized by type (e.g. coats, sweaters, purses) and by size. They also have a huge vintage section - mostly 80s and 90s. read more

Overpriced items upstairs- it's just better to go through the giant pile of by the pound clothes downstairs even if it can be stressful. Saw a Primark jacket upstairs for $18 when it was definitely being sold less than that a Primark! However, got a lot of nice clothes from the by the pound area! You just have to have the patience to dig through and maneuver around other people. read more

See all

This place is fun to visit for an afternoon. I wouldn't really call this place a thrift shop, more of a vintage shop as the items feel a bit more curated and the prices are pricier. The first floor is a costume shop, and it's always interesting to see what is going on. The second floor has the other clothing selection. I have not visited since COVID has started, but previously they used to have a by the pound sale on the first floor. There is a massive mound of clothes, and you pay by the pound. Every semester they used to have an event for college kids where up to 20 pounds was free! It was certainly a hectic, but extremely memorable event especially if you are a thriftier, or are looking to try different styles. Overall, I would give it 4 stars given the price, and the fact that this place doesn't appeal to my personal style. But it is a place to stop by if you are in the area and you have time. read more

I can see why The Garment District may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm sippin'! I've been here on more than one visit to Cambridge, and there's never a lack of unique vintage, costume, and gently used modern pieces to add to my wardrobe. I can easily spend an hour or more perusing the racks and people watching. The Garment District is a place of it's own. This is a two story warehouse full of goodies in every corner. I can't speak to the accessibility; I'm not sure if there are elevators or ramps to enter. There is, however, a gender neutral restroom - though I didn't utilize it myself. The first floor is primarily brand new costume pieces, makeup, and accessories. The second floor is where the real magic happens. It's a neatly organized, seemingly never-ending collection of gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories dating as far back as the 1940's. I can't say enough about the cleanliness and organization: "Women's 80's Jackets" and "Vintage College Sweatshirts" are just two examples of the categorized clothing racks. If you're seeking trends from a specific era or attending an event with a particular dress-code, the Garment District makes it easy to sift through their selection. The missing star is for pricing. Though many of the items are niche, there were lofts of items I would have likely purchased if the prices were more reflective of the quality of the purchased item. I have a hard time dishing out $15-20 for items with obvious flaws, stains, or holes - I don't care how "vintage" it claims to be. I did, however, snag a blouse or two for my work wardrobe, both ranging $10 or below. There are good deals, but on the whole, the pricing is higher than you'd pay in most other second hand stores. read more

I really enjoy going to the Garment District every now and then because they rotate their inventory pretty frequently. On the first floor they have a section where they sell clothes by the pound for really cheap ($1/pound). Additionally, they offer student-free Friday's in this section every now and then. However, this section is definitely not for everyone because it is just a huge pile of clothes on the ground and you have to go through it yourself with there no being rhyme or reason (that I know of) of how it is organized. It's very hit or miss, but given the price, something that appeals to many people. Upstairs is where I typically shop the most when I'm at Garment District. The clothes are separated by decade and style (70's Men's shirts, 80's Women's Jackets, etc.) The clothes are always separated accurately and most racks are sorted properly by size AND color which is very convenient. While items here are often more expensive than the $1/pound section, they are still very reasonably priced. Overall, the Garment District is a great place to stop by if you're in the area. I have seen brands such as Champion, Levi's, Nike, etc. that are in great condition and go for really cheap. A good place to go to if you need vintage-looking clothes for a pretty good price. read more

The Garment District - By the pound section. - Costumes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I love this place. The best place to get costumes and some nice used clothing and sometimes you able to find a nice vintage item. Of course, you have to shift through a lot of clothes and piles but eventually you might find something you really like. I was really lucky I found some nice great pre owned Cole Haan pumps and new keds! I was lucky! read more

The Garment District - Costumes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I went to the pay by the pound section. It's literally a pile of clothes on the floor. I found many wool, silk and cashmere tops! I bought a down jacket and a Micheal Kore cashmere cardigan for $4.50!! A steal! It's a nice setting for casual thrifter. They also have an upstairs section for a more curated selection. read more

Friendly staff! $1.50/lb clothes. Be sure to let them know you brought your own bag so you get that 0.05 discount. Valentines Day is a huge sale day, as is Halloween time. There is a huge orange-tagged area during Halloween season that has discounted costumes. During Christmas time, this is where the hipsters who desire an ugly xmas sweater for those infamous ironic shindigs at an insane markup go (think $30). It does come in handy when they don't have time to hunt for one at Goodwill. There are literally 6 racks of nothing but those knitted monstrosities on the 2nd floor. Sorted by color. The theatrical makeup section is impressive. They even have the tiniest size of the Mehron Rigid Collodion for scar-making purposes, along with pigments for body paint, the dark/light theatrical blood, mustaches, latex elf ears, etc. Also, this is the place to rent crazy animal mascot costumes, should you ever have the need. And there's a whole wall of steampunk-themed costume accessories. Nice. read more

The Garment District - An entire floor of $30 ugly xmas sweaters. - Costumes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I really don't understand the prices here. Unless you're doing the clothing by the pound (quite effortful and couldn't find anything nice) items were mostly over $10-15. For example, $20 for a Jones New York polyester dress that was just old, not vintage or stylish. I took my mom who was visiting. We're both avid thrifters. We spent about an hour here and left shaking our heads. Goodwill and Boomerangs have way better items IMO. read more

It's a really fun place to go to!!! Everything was really well priced but you definitely have to SEARCH for stuff you genuinely like. It's a lot of whimsical or silly stuff but it's a really fun experience and if you have the patience you can find some great pieces :) read more

The Garment District - Entrance - Costumes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I'm not sure I get the fascination with this place. It's fun to visit, as they have every kind of clothing you can imagine. This is the place we hit when my daughter is making a costume and looking for something specific. (We don't go to the costume section, but rather the vintage area.) Even then, we have a 50/50 change of finding the specific item. But it is EXPENSIVE! Before I started my review, I read a few others. One person noted that a Target t-shirt was more at the Garment District used, then it cost at Target new. And that's EXACTLY what I was going to say. A t-shirt that I own was here, for $20. I think I paid $12 at Target, 2 years ago. (Not very vintage, if it's only 2 years old.) If you're looking to poke around, it's fun. But if you're in the market for something wearable and affordable, this probably isn't the place for you. read more

Huge selection of clothes, including nice variety of 50s/60s items. Some stuff a little overpriced for being secondhand. Would've loved to check out the by the pound section if I had the time. The cutesy pink interior really livens up the shopping experience compared to most thrift stores. read more

This place is incredible. Two floors of vintage, curated pre-loved pieces arranged by decade? Yes, please. I snapped up a one-of-a-kind beaded tank top, circa 1970's, for a song. A silk wrap sleeveless top from the 80's came home with me along with several other special pieces. Attentive staff, ample dressing rooms and a costume section on the first floor. Can't wait to go back. read more

I've been here before a bunch of times and had good experiences, found some cool thrift scores. But what makes it 5 stars for me is when they didn't have a specific item I had been searching all over for, they were the only ones who were able to suggest an alternate location which actually did have the item. This may sound so small, but when every other place I've checked said "why don't you just google it?" Like I hadn't already thought of that. So thank you Garment District & Boston Costume for still being human beings. read more

As with all thrift and used-clothing stores, it's more about the thrill of finding something unique than finding exactly what you're looking for. The Garment District is just a few blocks away from Kendall/MIT and boasts an underwhelming storefront. Go inside and you'll realize it's a lot bigger than it seems. It's organized incredibly well and is all about fair pricing. Items are priced based on brand, material, etc. It's affordable across the board in most cases (that is, unless you're planning on buying a vintage leather jacket) and has clothing items from a-z! I managed to find a cute vintage sweater from the 80's for $14 in great condition. Worth a stop if you like something a little less touristy and a little more adventurous. The area/town it's in makes you pay 10 cents for plastic bags, bring your own (it's better for your wallet AND the environment). read more

I have been going to the Garment District for years, it's definitely my favorite shop for second-hand clothes! I have found so many great pieces here over the years and enjoy sifting through the racks upstairs (I have never done by-the-pound so I can't review that). As a plus-size girl, I'm so happy that they have their clothing separated by size. That saves me both time and sanity when looking for new pieces. Their 50% off sales are TO DIE FOR! I definitely recommend going early on the first day to avoid bigger crowds. My only complaint is that sometimes there's a slight sewage smell there some days. I'm not sure why. read more

Oh yes! I love thrift shopping so I just had to come here when visiting Boston! I'm so happy I did! There was so much to choose from it was hard to call it quits! If only I had brought a bigger suitcase....next time I will go to the by the pound Section first (on the 1st floor before heading to the second floor) read more

Boston must know how to party because this plus the costume store it's attached to is loaded with costume parts, vintage clothing, and accessories to make and complete your look. Hosted in a giant warehouse-style building, there's a lot of more unique clothing options for funky folks, all separated by style, time period, etc... They had a pretty darn good selection of vintage and costume clothing items for pretty reasonable prices, while others were more on the expensive side. But I do have one gripe... how does a Lilly Pulitzer dress end up in the 60s Dresses section? *shakes head* Regardless, this place is worth a stop in! read more

See all