Beacon Hill: traditional, affluent, quaint even, but flagship worthy? Believe it or not Charles Street of Beacon Hill serves as the home to 15 some odd boutiques with the latest fashions by top and local designers showcasing their work.
With shops like Wish, Sara Campbell, and Moxie, Charles Street offers diehard shopaholics a new kind of experience. Unlike the ever so popular Newbury Street, a more personal experience can be had going into one boutique and down to the next on Charles Street. Shop owners make it their mission to get to know the customer, ensuring that they can cater to their every need.
One store no stranger to this style of service is Crush. Housing collections such as Bailey 44, Alexia Admor, and Mink Pink, co-owners Laura Macris and Rebecca Penner have made it their sole intention to dish out “fun, flirty fashion’ with a side order of a personal stylist experience for the customer.
After opening their shop in April 2007, Crush has the appeal that draws women ranging from hard working college students to young professionals taking a strong leap into the workforce. Penner sees Crush as a boutique where the shopper can explore the versatility of the pieces within the store while projecting a warm environment, turning a onetime, “I’m just looking around,” shopper into a regular customer. “Crush is where people can come and play and be creative about fashion,” Penner said. “What distinguishes the shops [on Beacon Hill] is that they are independently owned.”
Designer Cibeline Sariano for example, owns a small boutique on Charles Street
named after herself. As a Boston based designer Sariano displays her work as
well as other designers’ clothing in her store.
One exception of the independently owned model that is so prominent on Charles Street is J.McLaughlin. Although the chain was established 30 years ago, the placements of their shops are the same: cozy, neighborhood feel. With their annual signature pieces, it is hard to resist the coastal New England style of clothing that the designers of J. McLaughlin take such pride in.
“When the customer can’t find something they need here we send them to other shops along Beacon,” said sales associate Lindsey Filipp.” Within the small street, a majority of the store-owners know each other and refer clients to one another to keep the business booming.
Beacon Hill itself is a neighborhood with rich history and suburban appeal; it is easy to forget about the main streets hidden beyond the Boston Common. “Beacon Hill as a whole is a more charming area,” Penner said.
The lack of corporate appeal on Charles Street lends to a more personal experience. If shopping along Charles Street proves to be too exhausting, stop into their many cafes and grab a fresh pastry, guaranteed to make you feel right at home.
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