Motley

Snyopsis — A clean, slick little botique that makes great use of its small space, Motley features an assortment of «indie» man-​centric goods but doesn’t really break the mold with originality. They supposedly sell women clothes but honestly a girl’s hipster t shirt that’s cut too small looks like a guy’s hipster t shirt that’s cut too small so…
The meh — The «oh look how random we are» t shirts (other than a few Boston ‘hood referencing t shirts that were cool) and intentionally kitschy chotchky rang of the hipster/​yuppy subset that favor stores like Urban Outfitters. That is all the rage now so I get the store is catering to their audience, and they do it quite well, but it isn’t for me. It’s also not the type of stuff I would buy the majority of the guys I hang out, which was a smart inkling on my end as both of my male companions left empty handed save toiletries.
The good — The biggest draw to me were the assortment of Old Whaling Co products (I scored an oatmeal and honey bar that smells so good my entire bathroom is like a bakery now) but even my soap had a $ 2 mark up over the Etsy store price. I’m sure the manufacturers aren’t selling this at cost on their website (i.e. they are making a profit) and I’m double sure they aren’t selling it to a store ordering dozens of bars at once for even close to what they sell it to the general public. So yah, didn’t understand that mark up. But high rents, the struggle of small business, yada yada. Maybe they really need to tack that extra on to make it worth their while financially. Also they had some pretty sweet watches which seemed reasonably priced and could be unisex.
Oh and did I mentioned the INCREDIBLY SMOKING HOT and super nice tall, built Asian-​American store clerk (I’m only describing you in such detail because if you’re reading this, will you marry me? Seriously?)? Lawd, I needed a church fan to cool myself off! If the owner did one thing right, it was his hiring. My customer service experience here was excellent (even removing how distractingly attractive the employee was from the equation) — he was courteous, genuinely friendly and helpful.

Unique store that sells really cool T-​Shirts! Store owners and employees are great and very helpful!

*Update*
I received a message from the owner explaining his reasoning for the prices and I very much respect his timely response to feedback and dedication to his customers. It’s not the easiest job for small businesses to compete against heavy hitters like Macy’s, Kohl’s, etc. that can offer significant discounts on the same items. My point was just that not everyone can afford the higher prices that smaller businesses may charge out of sheer necessity. I’m told that sales happen quite often, so don’t let my experience deter you from checking out the jean selection here.
Regarding the rest of the merchandise, Motley has a wide variety of novelty items that would make great gifts for many people. I took a good look around and just didn’t find anything suitable for me or my friends, but many others clearly have so the only way to find out is to come by and see for yourself!

so, i have to show some love for this place because its such a fun store and they are always so friendly. this type of shop is my favorite place to window shop and stop by when i have nothing better to do and am out for a walk. they have an eclectic array of items here – from ice trays to t-​shirts to wallets to wall clocks. and they usually have pretty original items too… not things that ive seen over and over at other local places.
i think their home goods are my favorite things because they are all just so random. they have a pretty small clothing selection, but what they do have goes on sale fairly frequently because i think they like to get new items in as often as they can.
in general, this is a fun store to stop by, especially if youre looking for unique home wares or need to get a gift for someone.

There is something to be said for originality.
Motley is a postage stamp sized store in the middle of Bostons South End. Its basically about 500 square feet with a dressing room.
So, one day I wore my Beigish cargo shorts with a blue top… to discover every guy had some variance of beige short/​blue shirt combo.
At Motley, however, you will find hip, interesting clothes. I picked out a pair of mosiac and black Mad Max looking shorts as well as some avant garde shirts
Shirts, so avante garde, they cannot be adaquately described in words… meaning I have no clue why a mermaid would be holding an umbrella on a shirt, but it all works
This is a great place for the not so usual… if only hip clothes can make a hip person
PS: Thank you for the free aftershave balm

Whenever I need a gift for the person who has everything, I go to Motley.
Besides having tons of cute, fun necessities, all the boys who work here are really hot. Very important in a neighborhood doodad shop.

im kind of over this false pretense of the legitimacy of the piracy that is hipster status. i mean, seriously, its another fad which in turn will fade out with everything else that we see as whack, its only a matter of time. motley caters to this kind of subset at the moment. its like an urban outfitters with prices jacked up a bit and a more limited selection. youd think boutiques do the dirty work and sift through the bad clothing and only present the good stuff, but there was some bad stuff here. i saw a t shirt that basically looks like it came from the Gap, i mean, its awful to say, but its true.
i bought a pair of levis that were 33% cheaper online, but whatever, i like things here and now. i suppose i may stop by here occasionally, but whatever, like not even alot.

Stop #18
I thought Motley was closing down? And this was back in February when it had its «Closing Sale» with discounts of 25% to 80% off. Oh well, I suppose South End is better off with Motley still being open. Like Alicia B. said, «Motley is just that — a motley of randomness.» And that’s probably what people like about it.
Note: In February of 2009, Cindy and I embarked on a 48-​hour eating tour around the greater Boston area. I called it the Boston Masticare — a bad pun off the Italian transitive verb «to chew.»
[Original Visit: February 15, 2009, 2:05 PM]

Motley is just that — a motley of randomness. From t-​shirts and Levis to Diseal bags and hats, this place is a must-​stop on your Tremont exploration. However, don’t be surprised if you’re unable to find something… or, like me, you find the most amazing thing. Some call that Retail Kismet. Or luck. Whatever it is, I had it the day I stopped in.
Motley was going out to business. Then, they got bought out; so, they won’t be going anywhere. Same name. Different management. This bodes well for business, I think, since Motley is a pretty popular place. So, I’m in a quandary. I found this place during their «everything must go» sale, yet found out, after purchasing an amazing winter hat and scarf, that everything must go because they’re being taken over by another management team.
So, this review, like many people, has a split personality. 3-​stars for the Motley I saw — the marked down version of a retail hotspot. I’ll have to go back in a couple months to check out the new stock and see what’s become of this store.
I suggest you do the same.

I was only slightly impressed with Motley, they really don’t have a wide range of items for men. They had some cool bags for the ladies, and a good selection of sale winter hats. I bought a cool hat for 50% off.
They have a huge pile of Levi’s jeans in the middle of the store, they aren’t any special style, just the basic Levi’s you can find elsewhere. I don’t see the differentiating factor of this place from other shops like it, but it’s local and it’s good to support local businesses. Maybe I caught them between seasons, I will try back in the Summer and see what they have.

Just right down the street from my house. I walk past it all the time and finally went in to see what the store looks like. I was absolutely taken aback of how this place was! It was Über Cool… i.e., «geil».
Cool T’s for guests and true Boston clothings for them as well. Check it out! There’s something for everyone there! A bit pricey, but you’re paying for something worthwhile.

Motley is one-​of-​a-​kind. I’ve been a loyal customer since day one.
The coolest clothes, accessories, and gifts in the south end. They are always adding new items — I get more compliments on stuff from Motley than anything else I have.
There is something for everyone — I get at least half of my christmas gifts (and ALWAYS my chrismtas cards) there.
It is NOT safe to «window shop» — you will immediately be sucked in and spending money I don’t have. But, damn, it’s a satisfying experience.

Ever wonder what a gay man’s closet looks like after he comes out? Then visit Motley.
It’s full of vintage, hipster, and futuristic stuff for all orientations alike. You’ll find everything you always wanted and will never need. It’s like a christmas store for grown-​ups.
Check it out. You’ll find the awesomest stuff ever!

What a great little shop this is! I was hunting for new summer shorts, and feeling completely unfulfilled with the cookie-​cutter offerings of the Pru/​Copley circuit. I had never been to Motley before, but after a friend tipped me off, I stopped in and found joy.
The clothing selection is small but diverse, and everything comes in the right sizes — not like when you’re hunting for t-​shirts at, say, Gap, and there’s a stack of ten XLs and two smalls, and nothing in between. Motley’s genre happily straddles that fashionista-​indie divide. Like Rob said below, the odds and ends are just what Urban Outfitters wishes it could offer — a fun smattering of the neat, random, and surprising.
Good clothes + trinkets + wonderful staff = A-​list South End shopping destination.

Do I really need another vintage tee to stuff in my overflowing drawer that I just can’t seem to shut lately? No.
Do I really need that kickass box of matches when all I smoke is the hookah? Nope.
Do I really need my name spelled out with random magnets that have letters made from city scenes? Absolutely not.
But yes. Yes I do. In fact, I need all these things!
Or so I think the longer I browse this store chock full of random shopaholic goodness.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Waltham Tavern tee. OMG I NEED that shirt. Classic! Then I saw the vintage Pats shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants that Urban Outfitters was selling but no longer carries. Ooh goodie. $ 58 for a long sleeve tee? Even more for those oh so comfy but sexy at the same time sweatpants with the grumpy Patriot on my hip flexor? Crap, I can’t justify that!
However, I couldn’t leave the store NOT getting anything. I saw the vintage Pats hat and thought to myself — it’s in the guys’ section, there’s no chance in hell it’s going to fit my puny little head. Lo and behold, with a little adjusting, it fits! And I must say, I look like quite the hipster in it. Too bad it’s now March 26, the Pats blew the Super Bowl and there are months of frying in the sun before the season starts again, but who cares? Can’t wait to wear the crap out of this thing.
And I can’t wait to sneak back here because I have GOT to get that Waltham Tavern shirt, even if I have to give up cheese for a whole week (oh the horror!).

This is a great little shop in the South End, selling clothing for men and women, and a million other little things you don’t need, but DO need. Know what I mean?
My boyfriend would kill me if I ever got him clothing from here. That being said, I love their menswear. They have nice jeans and great true vintage and faux vintage t-​shirts and hoodies. Take your pick. Plenty there for well dressed stud, and also enough ironic t’s to satisfy the hipster crowd.
Love their women’s clothing, too. There’s also vintage t’s and pants for the ladies, as well as some really nice knitwear. I live in my knitted hat I got from there, and get compliments every 5 seconds. Which is nice, since it set me back a shiny, shiny penny.
Total hole in the wall, and worth checking out! Bring some money– you won’t want to leave empty handed.

My usual solution for having no idea what to get people for xmas involves a day-​long trip into the city to go search out strange and interesting things, because that always seems to me to be a good place to start. And happily, this little store turned out to be exactly the kind of thing i was looking for. Packed to the brim with interesting odds and ends, like an Urban Outfitters, but less crass and cynical, and a whole lot less corporate. And of course, it’s smaller than my kitchen.
weird t-​shirts, interesting books, goofy little toys, and other stuff, exactly what i wanted. and the recipients liked ‘em too, which was also nice.

Where else can you find books on building deranged stuffed animals?
I came here after an unsuccessful trip to Bazaar Bizarre (meaning that I spent too much money), and ended up doing a bunch more shopping here. Chock full of the odd little odds and ends that you never knew you wanted until you saw them. Highly recommended, unless you are looking to go to a store where you won’t buy anything.

This shop pretty much epitomizes the young (or wants to be young looking) gay male.
Me being the epitome of wannabe billysburg hipster/​mod, I wouldn’t wear anything from this store, as it really doesn’t do anything for me style-​wise (I’m not very much into distressed/​pre-​vintaged printed t-​shirts and loose denim), as it all looks like it belongs on a 27 year old west coast surf-​poser, but it’s well laid out for the amount of space they have and they seem to have sales once in a while.
Great staff, they were willing to hold open the shop a little later for me and the girl to browse (and it seemed pretty busy up until closing!), so they’re doing a capitol job!
I might come back and look at some other little stuff or if they’ve changed selections at all, but I’ll probably keep my clothes buying habits down the street at Uniform.

I really want to hate this place, because it sells crap you don’t need and $ 60 long-​sleeved t-​shirts. People that buy long-​sleeved t-​shirts for $ 60 are douchebags. But the thing is that their crap you don’t need is kinda cool, like those Viewmaster things from when you were a kid and old-​school wind-​up robot toys and real larvae that you can eat. And I was in there yesterday and they were offering «buy one get two free» on the shirts, which brings them down to a more reasonable ~$ 20 each, so I gave in, and these shirts — one of which I’m wearing right now — are unbelievably comfortable. I want to make out with these shirts. Hell, I would let these shirts make out with my wife. I can tell already that I’m not gonna wear anything but these shirts all weekend, every weekend from now on. My wife is gonna hate these shirts. And not just because I let them make out with her.
Also the music is from the owner’s iPod, and his iPod played Eric B & Rakim followed by the Cure. That’s awesome enough by itself, but he can also carry on a serious discussion about Eric B & Rakim and how their sound doesn’t sound even faintly dated 20 years later. That’s super crazy awesome.
It’s still a store that sells crap you don’t need, but I can dig it. As long as the shirts are on sale. If they’re not on sale and you still buy one, you’re a douchebag.