I stepped into the shop and I was instantly transported back in time. I was in complete awe of everything around me. And there was A LOT around me. Men’s suit jackets, pants, an entire room of shoes! Shirts, sweaters, cuff links, hats.
Mixed between this beautifully curated collection of men’s clothes were other items from eras gone by. A well-worn baseball glove, a pile of pennants from local high schools. Under a table was a line of vintage suitcases and bags.
I was inside of an amazing vintage shop at 19 Thayer Street in the South End of Boston. Not just any vintage shop. I was in Bobby from Boston. And holding court in the middle of it all, was the man himself…Bobby Garnett.
Bobby has been collecting mostly men’s vintage clothing, accessories and anything cool, since the 70’s. He does have women’s vintage, but it’s mainly men’s. His collection is so vast and desirable that he is known from Boston to Hollywood…from London to Tokyo.
Hollywood has come calling for items to clothe actors in over 50 movies. It started in 1990 with “Mermaids” starring Cher and Winona Ryder. In that movie, the black combat boots Ryder’s character was extremely attached to and refused to take off, were from Bobby’s.
He’s also helped other costume designers for movies filmed in and around Massachusetts. They’re huge hits like Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed”. Also, “Shutter Island” and the soon to be released gangster movie “Black Mass” with Johnny Depp.
And it’s not just movies shot in Massachusetts. He has a close relationship with Oscar-winning Costume Designer, Sandy Powell. She worked on “The Departed”, but also on a number of other films that needed clothing from Bobby’s.
He knows everyone and everyone knows him.
He’s been all over the world to dig for vintage treasures. He’s famous in Tokyo. He was even featured on the cover of the Japanese men’s style magazine, Clutch. When I asked what they wrote about him in the article, he said, “I don’t know. I don’t speak Japanese!” Then he just laughed.
We laughed a lot during our interview. He is very funny and has a million stories to tell. My favorite was this one: A girl stopped into the store just as they were about to close. He stayed open for her and she struck up a conversation with him. He told me that he kept looking at her, that she looked so familiar. Finally he broke his silence and said, “You look just like Scarlett Johansson”. She smiled and said, “I am Scarlett Johansson”.
Her husband at the time, Ryan Reynolds, was filming a movie in Boston. She heard about Bobby’s shop (who hasn’t?) and she wanted to pick up a gift for Ryan.
But Bobby’s collection goes way beyond the South End store. He has a WAREHOUSE just north of Boston which is filled to the brim with vintage men’s and women’s clothing that dates back to the 1930’s. When I was in the store I met a couple who had just come from there.
The woman bought a black suit from the 40’s. I told her that I was going to the warehouse in a few weeks. Her husband smiled and told me to “carbo load” and be “well hydrated”. He said the warehouse is so huge, there is so much to see, that I would need to be well nourished before I went in. Duly noted. I will follow his advice because I want to see everything.
Bobby told me to call and make an appointment, but not to be disappointed if the man in charge of the warehouse couldn’t show me around. “Sometimes”, he said, ” those Hollywood people are there”.
Bobby, you make me laugh. I look forward to seeing you again my friend.
Now I know to go in on a Sunday. That’s the day he sees visitors and has time to chat. Of course, I will probably have to wait a bit while he talks to everyone else who stops in to see him. But it’s worth it.
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