Filene's Basement - Boston Shopping

This is the outlet store that everyone living in Boston (or who has visited it) recommends. It is right in downtown so pretty easy to reach while touring the city, and there are many other shops around in case you want to take advantage of the shopping trip and check out a bunch of stuff in different places.

Watch out when entering this outlet: there's this big department store called FILENE'S which will catch your attention, but the prices here are very high just like in any other department store (JC Penny, Bloomingdale's, etc.). You want to go to Filene's Basement, so you have to find the entrance to the basement level: take the stairs or escalator towards the metro station, there's a little door leading to the shop before you enter the station itself.

You will find designer clothing, accesories (even some perfumes) and houseware at very good prices. I found some great deals here and a lot of beautiful clothes & lingerie. As for clothing shopping, check this out: the fitting rooms are usually packed, so be patient if you want to try things on. Also, this is not a place for you if you're too shy, as there is not privacy inside the fitting rooms: they are only large empty rooms with mirrors where you have to get undressed and try the stuff on in front of the rest of the girls that are doing the same. No one cares about you, but if you're too self conscious it might be uncomfortable to try things on this way. The cashiers are usually fast despite the fact there is always a lot of people inside the store.

Clothes, souvenirs, accesories, houseware.

The only problem with this store is that everything is quite messy: you have to spend a good deal of time trying to find a garment you like, then trying to find your size, etc. Everything is rather mingled, although there are specific sections according to the type of clothes and the prices are visible. This is the same system other outlets usually use, so you just have to deal with it..... it's the price to pay for getting cool bargains ;)

Besides the low prices in the tags, they have additional discounts depending on how long a certain garment/item has been on sale at the store: if it's a "new" item (newly arrived) you will only get the regular discount, but as weeks go by they decrease the price even more (20%, 30%, 50% ,etc.) if the same item has not been purchased, so you can end up paying 40% of its original price or even less if no one has been interested in it before you. I had never seen this kind of system before but it's cool.

Filene's Basement, Boston

Boston Hotels

Filene's Basement, Boston

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Visiting Boston?

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