by Amanda S.

The Tannery -- i'm torn over how I should review this place.  On the one hand, I want to boycott and not shop here at all both because of the price markups and the incredibly elitist atmosphere that slaps you in the face as soon as you enter.  However, the thing that pulls me back is that I keep finding really cute (albeit out of my price range) clothes here.  It took me about a month to get the guts up to walk in here by myself because I find the salespeople so intimidating which angers me since I know they are actually just stupidly snobby.  Anyhoo, if you can get over the unwarranted elitism since I'm not even sure they sell enough to stay in business, you might find a pretty cute outfit in here.  This location also sells the "higher-end" shoes and a lot of different styles of denim.  Basically, just make sure you're not looking for a friendly salesperson or any help at all in picking out an outfit before you make a visit to this store, and you should be okay.

by Anna S.

This is the new "trendy" tannery.They have a great selection of shoes jeans. However it is so pricey i've only been able to buy one pair of boots from the store ( those boots were a full week's pay check).  BUT they have some great sales. Right now there is a big 50% off sale, which always attracts people like me who hunt down the best prices for the high-end jean brans like Genetic Denim and Ernest Sewn. I would say, definitely take a look. But the prices may have you running out the door fast.

by M L.

Overpriced, snobby service, and not enough sizes in stock.  Ok, you have to give them some credit for having some cool designers. It's a pleasant window to walk past compared with what was there before. Otherwise, though, I'd say this is a good place to try stuff on and get an idea of what you might like before you shop on line. I did that with some boots once and I found them for almost $100 less.  I even told them that I had found them cheaper on line, and they said, "I guess you should buy them on line then." They don't really seem to want your business, which I guess is what other reviewers are commenting on.  The attitude is sort of a turn-off, and you know that because even when you walk by and think about checking out something nice, you think twice about actually going in.

by Justin S.

First and foremost, this store is clearly designed for women, and many men would just pass it by thinking that they only sell women's clothing. But they'd be wrong. They also have some men's stuff, which is why I visited this place a few times. Specifically for Converse, because they had some unusual (rare) shoes. It seems like a precondition for working here is that you have to be a zombie or have ADD, because when I asked for a shoe size the first time I went, the girl came back ten minutes later and asked me what size I needed again.The guy who I guess was the manager said that they had had a big sale that weekend and the basement where the shoes are kept was a mess. I didn't care for his excuses. But they had what I wanted so I had to buy it. Not to mention, I pointed out an inconsistency between website price and in-store price, and since the online price was cheaper, that's what I got them for.  Another time I went for a different pair of shoes and they had someone working there who knew what they were doing, so I had my shoes in no time. So this store is pretty hit and miss. It's okay but there are definitely better stores out there. Also, I don't know what the hell is up with random people walking up from the basement the entire time I'm waiting, like it's a night club or something.

by Jessie S.

RAIN BOOTS.  Before we talk about that, I have to say that my receipt and the business card I took says 39 Brattle, not 4, so....if you are looking for this location you might want to look into it further.  Anyway, this Tannery  location took over the Jasmine Sola that was here.The first thing I see when I walk in is rain boots. I need some!!! They had Hunter brand rain boots for $100, but I found Kamik ones for $60.  They have little hearts all over them and were cute, so I bought them. Yay! I now have rain boots. So overall, I found the Tannery to be okay.  It is very pricey stuff.  I went in cause they were having a 50% off sale.  If you can catch the sales, you could walk away with some cute stuff. However, some things were still overpriced to me even after the discount.  Shirts that seem to be cheaply made, are not unique, and ones that you could find at the mall for half  the price? No thanks. I am talking $80 for these ordinary shirts.  And that is the half off price. They do carry designer brands of some items.  They had Kooba purses (50%  off  too), G-Star Raw, Ugg, Diesel, Ralph Lauren, Ecco Shoes, etc...The 2 items I was happiest to see? Victoria Beckham's new line of jeans (they were on sale too), and this GORGEOUS Helmut Lang black leather coat for $1200.  It was a work of art, a beauty. The BF wanted it so bad (it was a men's coat), but alas, it is too rich for our blood. I had fun browsing. I mostly like the shoes. The clothes didn't really stand out much to me.  The staff was hit or miss. The man that helped us with the Helmut Lang coat was really attentive and nice.  But, the 2 women working in the store were snotty.  First, we were never greeted or asked if we needed assistance the whole time we were there (we approached the guy about the coat and my rain boots).  Second, one of the women followed me around like I was a peasant that was going to soil their products.  At one point, I picked up the VB jeans to see what they looked like unfolded and she ran up to me and said, "Can I help you with that?" She tried to grab it from my hands but I had already folded it back up.  I said to her "I guess I folded it correctly, so you don't have to take it from me."  She then proceeded to follow me around some more and hover. I am sure she was going to go in for the kill if I touched anything else.  I was not impressed.I love my rain boots, and I loved browsing, but this store isn't practical for me. And the staff need to learn how to treat customers, including the non-rich ones.

by Lynette S.

The guy who got the shoes for me was a jerk with no people skills. This was several months ago and I was there again today. I hope he no longer works there. Im pretty sure they work on commission...i's a good thing they don't work for tips; he would have gotten nothing!

by Kelli P.

Based on my previous experience in the Tannery, I reformatted my buying approach. Because, damn, they had two pairs of boots that I had to have. I just couldn't stay away. So, I grabbed the display boots, walked to a random person standing around, and cut through the BS. As in, I pushed the boots into her hands and said, "I need these boots in a size ten and I'll wait by the cash register for you." Good thing this person actually worked there, right? This strategy worked well, because 5 minutes and some $$$ later I had my boots and was done. I would go back to the Tannery because I got nice, durable shoes that are definitely worth the money I spent. Their customer service is still terrible. Does anyone work at this place? There were a couple of people that MAY have worked there, but since…

by Bethany B.

I got to live out that Rodeo Drive scene in Pretty Woman at the Tannery. Thanks for saving me a plane ticket.

by Chloe B.

I just bought new Ray Bans at The Tannery. Good sunglasses, I think most can agree, are really hard to find -- but The Tannery, while certainly expensive, has a great collection of high end, well-made sunglasses that will NOT fall apart on you. The salesclerk who helped me was funny, very nice, and eager to show me his own vintage Gucci frames. He also stroked my ego a little, which is surprising when it comes to shopping for sunglasses. In the end, I left with a pair of "Clubmaster" Ray Ban's (my salesclerk informed me excitedly: "just in case anyone wants to know the style!"), which are an 80s classic reborn, that I probably could have purchased online for less, but that I was happy to buy with a 10% discount at The Tannery.

by Ligaya T.

The newest of the entire Tannery empire is undoubtedly also the most upscale of its ilk, focusing its inventory on leather foot wear with only a smattering of sneakers, premium denim and designer clothing. The owner promises an influx of unique brands towards innovative design and has come correct with several though overall I've yet to be wowed.The store itself is a spacious and modern, with bright lights and easy to browse displays. I've found the staff to be helpful when asked and there's often so many in there you'll never have to wait long. It's definitely in my regular circuit for a gander, but I haven't purchased much to date as the prices are often a bit more than impulse buys for me. I've got my eyes on some moon boots though. Don't you dare!

by Shaina G.

Shopping for shoes is like deciding whether or not you'll go home with a guy after a night at the bar.  You know before you go in that you'll find that perfect shoe, that this is the store to do it, and that you'll definitely take the plunge.  You might drop your IQ slightly to conversate with the staff who are clearly workin it.  You might feel a bit of shame the morning after.  But had you not walked through that door with the decision to make a deal, you might wake up craving more.I went into the Tannery with the determination to buy myself a great pair of shoes.  I was drawn by the vast floor space not densely cluttered like the other.  I felt dizzy after turning around and around the circular shoe displays, touch-testing each pair.  And then, I found THE shoe.  Pricey, but on the cheaper side of shoes compared to other pairs, beautiful worn tan color, soft leather, high heel, cushy sole, t-strap.  I asked the staff if I could try on a pair.  She scurried off to the storage room and returned with the last available pair in my size.  I buckled them on and I knew.  These were it!I admired them on myself in the mirror and then it started.  The girl attending to me began to over-compliment and discuss all the great things about the shoe and how I would definitely not be disappointed if  I made this purchase.  I was ultra close to leaving the store.  It was like meeting the guy who is so close to bringing you home but once he starts talking, it's over.  Anyway, I bought the damned shoes.

by Alex T.

This ... is what I'm talking about.  When I shop, I don't want some high school student on a summer job with a hemp necklace telling me about fit or style.  I want a professional, mature, stylish, and helpful assistants.  The Tannery has a high-end, grown-up, chic-and-casual, type vibe.  Whoever is a buyer for this place has an excellent eye for the fashionable and new.  The layout is spacious with the best fitting room area of any store I've been in Boston/Cam.  As far as the service goes, I was left alone while I browse with the sales peole flashing smiles at me.  No pushy undertones.  When I asked for help, staff was very knowledgable, friendly, and helpful.  My girlfriend was all smiles as she found a boutique handbag and Converse sneakers that she liked.  The prices are high-end for the quality and brands but you get what you pay for.  When we went, there was a 50% off sale going on for a whole wall full off stuff.  Either way, maybe I'm an "Elitist" or a "Snob" myself but I really like this place.  This store is now one of my favorite places to shop beside Riccardi on Newbury.

by marie c.

I was really nervous about buying shoes here, after all the reviews I read on Yelp.  So nervous, in fact, that I almost went to Simon's in Brookline instead.  Anyway, I came in here on Thursday and, at first, I was a little overwhelmed.  There are a lot of shoes there.  I tried on most of them.I'm not even kidding, I really think I tried on 30 pairs of shoes.  Over the course of two days.Anyway, I bought a pair of shoes on Thursday, but when I got home, I was having serious second thoughts. I tried them on and I didn't like the way the felt anymore.  Why does that always happen?I felt like they weren't going to "break in", so I went back to the Tannery on Friday and exchanged them.  I was worried they would give me a hard time or something, but the exchange process couldn't be simpler.  Of course, the same girl was there to help me out, which was more than a little mortifying.  But she was incredibly nice about my indecisiveness and REALLY helpful.  In the end, I got a great pair of summer shoes that I'm really excited about.  I'm trying not to spend tons of money on shoes, but I'm sure I'll be back here in the fall for some boots.  I should probably start saving now.Anyway, the vibe here is a little weird, and when I went there were a lot of sales people standing around, but in a weirdly "don't approach me kind of way".  The woman who helped me, however, was really wonderful, I definitely had a 5 star experience.

by Trish F.

I forgot to wear my cool clothes so maybe that's why no one paid attention last time I was here. I just wanted to pop in to get flip flops anyway.. how could I have forgotten a pair on one of the few days I wear heels a week? Sigh.. This Tannery has a huge selection of shoes that I'd love to try on. In fact, right now, there is a pair of shoes there that I've been lusting over for awhile since I spotted them on the internet. I wanted to try them on, but I couldn't find any workers. Good thing, I thought, because I'd probably spend money I don't have on other pairs. So I selected a pair of non-frilly flip flops and off to the register I went. Doo dee doo.. dum dee dum.. after several minutes one of the co-workers decided to grace me with his presence. He rung me up without saying a word and then left the register. No "thanks for coming".. no offer to put my shoes in a bag (just plopped them on the counter).. seriously? Wtf? I mean I didn't need a bag.. but what's the 'tude?I don't know man.. 1 star for the shoes. The lovely lovely shoes being held captive by the cool kids.

by Kate D.

I've been in this place a few times, bought a few pairs of shoes, and also experienced the horror of their customer service.  Then I met someone who worked there and I got the real scoop-- most employees are paid  $10 per hour, earn no commission, and HAVE to commit to working 12 hour shifts each day.  Most of them are exhausted, underpaid, and have no real incentive to sell-- blame management 100%

by Susie C.

I'd prefer not to judge these people, because everyone is entitled to their own taste, but I can't resist... so here we go...Snoo-tay Eurotrash glide around this place, pawing the soft leather shoes and stealing glances of themselves in the window. And that's just the staff. Most of the shoes are gorgeous. Most of the shoes are very expensive. If you are looking for a very specific style of shoe, this place could be great for that. They have beautiful boots, but then again so does DSW and Lord and Taylor. The racks of women's clothes are also very expensive, and some of them look more like pieces of string hung together with bits of tape and ribbon.I walk in here and sigh, longing for the Harvard Square of old.

by Inez N.

Wah! Wah! No body's paying attention to me!!!! (rolls on the floor, blow-pop stuck in hair) I actually enjoy the virtually absent sales force here. I want EVERYONE to leave me alone until I need to try something on. And I've never had to wait or hunt for an associate to assist me once I've begun slinging clothes over my arm, quite the opposite actually. Maybe I'm just a fashion fascist. The space is vast, well lit, and teeming with up-and-coming and contemporary designer clothes. I love to see: Lauren Moffat, Castle Star, Sunner, Charlotte Ronson and Rag and Bone on the racks. Well made clothes make my life worth living. The shoes are often unique and always high quality. They seem to cater to the more practical footwear club... which is smart given all the bat-shit cobblestone that comprises Cambridge's sidewalks, streets and alleyways. I get their idea. And I'm a fan. But I'd also like to make a friendly suggestion or two: - Improve the dressing rooms. There are no mirrors in the cubicles. That means you have to traipse out to the communal mirror where everyone can see you before you can see yourself and they are all thinking those jeans are way too tight! Zing! The dressing rooms are also missing benches. So I have to put my purse on the floor?? Isn't there a bad superstition involving loosing all your money when you do that? Oh wait a minute..... I think that's the point!! AHA! (I'm onto you) I'm also not a fan of the "curtain-as-a-door" idea. I know the register person can see my ass from there. I hope the customer service lynch mob doesn't cause this place to close down. If they have it their way the place will turn into a hookah bar where everyone holds hands and resoles their Birkenstocks. PS. Tannery: Please feel free to discount a size 6 of that awesome green silk dress in the window. xoxo

by Sameer N.

First things first.  You can find some pretty bananas shoes in this joint.  You can find some pretty hot clothes too.  BUT WHY DID I GIVE THIS 2 STARS?  That's because whenever I go in there and ask a dude (who REFUSES to pay attention to you) if they have a certain shoe in my size they go "NO" before I even finish asking.  Then they put their phone back to their ear and talk in some crazy talk language (I speak 7 languages so.. it's none of the ones I speak) and they keep rambling on.  They don't look at you again either.  Then I tell them a lie and pretend I'm a size 7 (not true, but just to see if they say "NO" to everything I say) and they go "NO", "NO SHOES FOR YOU" and I'm like "yeah but what if I'm buying them for a friend" and they're off to ignoring you again.  They hate helping you out.  The prices are ridic and sometimes the selection is total Von Dutch steeze.  It's all a bunch of colorful out of date overpriced nonsense.. then sometimes it's too hot to handle but no one will allow you to buy it because it's a front for something evil or something..If you're here though it's in a central location.  You can get hassled by street performers outside or asked to join some weird donation only political coalition.  And you can go ice skating in the winter very close by.  Kiss my balls outside of the pants if you think ice skating is weak.  You are wrong, as usual.

by Leighann F.

Five star shoe and boot sale.Two star customer service.Common gripes I agree with:1. The customer service here is nearly non-existent. Especially when in the clothing section. 2.The mark-up here is absurd. $800 bucks for a jacket? $200 T-shirts? It's gouging like this that acutally allows them to have sales. If you can call a $150 pair of jeans a sale.Common gripes I do not agree with:1. Their selection is terrible. That is completely unfounded. They sell beautiful clothing, well-made and current. Maybe a little too current, as what you buy may go out of style tomorrow...like those Andy Warhol brand overalls that are acutally a skirt made out of some synthetic fabric adorned with dangling chains and six different kinds of buttons.3. Their prices are high. Again, it's not the prices of the clothing, it's the markup. And regardless, if you don't like their prices, there are nine hundred other places to patronage with your pennies in Boston.The only thing I've ever purchased here? A pair of navy plaid rain boots, on sale for $49... A 50% discount! I pretty much live in themzn so The Tannery gets the A-OK from me for a great find. What they don't get the nod for is that this is the exception not the norm.

by Miriam L.

If it weren't for recent experiences, this place would get two stars.  The selection is lovely, I won't deny that, but it's ridiculously overpriced and sales help is usually pretty absent.  I've said it before - I'm not the kind of girl who needs constant attention in a store - but I do want to feel as though they actually care whether or not I buy something.  I usually don't feel that way here.However, I came in a few weeks ago, lured by the 70% off clothing.  I didn't see much there, but I did see a table full of 50% off shoes.  Yum!  I'd barely picked up a cute pair of ankle booties, when someone came over and asked if I wanted to see them in a specific size.  Wow, really?  Much better service than I'm used to here.  They didn't seem to mind, either, that I tried on several pairs of shoes and didn't end up buying.  Definitely an improvement.Not an improvement, however, is the fact that their size range in jeans is abysmal.  The first time I came in looking for Joe's Chelsea or Cigarette jeans, I was told that they don't carry past a size 30 (that's a size 8-10).  Most recently, when I came in, I was poking through the Citizen's of Humanity Jeans, and couldn't find my size.  One of the sales guys asked which I was looking for, I told him, and he looked through the pile.  They didn't have my size, though he assured me that they typically carry the full range of sizes (24-32) in COH and Seven for All Mankind, and almost the full range (25-31) in Joe's.  The thing is, they only order ONE pair of each style in the largest two sizes.One pair.In THE most average size out there.Um, what?I questioned him, and he said that when they order more in larger sizes, they never sell all of them, and the jeans all end up on the sale racks.  Has he not noticed that the sales racks are filled with jeans in sizes 24-26?  Clearly, they don't have any qualms (over)ordering on the teensy sizes and then putting those on sale.Oh, and the reason the larger jeans sizes don't sell?  This store gives off a snobby vibe that would normally make me assume they don't carry past a size 6 or so.  Guess I'm partly right.

by jules t.

this, for real life, happened on monday (10/5):walking through harvard square, i was lured into the tannery by the cleverly placed boot display. i spotted the gray ugg cardy boot that i've been daydreaming about lately. i had no intention of spending my money there but was surprised when a sales person actually approached me. the 40ish guy who was wearing 20ish guy jeans asked me if i needed help. i asked how much the boots were and he said "$169". i replied, "THESE boots?" he avoided eye contact with me, became suddenly distracted by another customer and said curtly, "$169".the fact is, that euro trash dude and the tannery are full of horse shit because everywhere else on earth those boots are $140. the tannery, you suck again. why oh why can i not give you less than one star? the tannery, you suck. employees: too cool for school. or work. merchandise: overpricedatmosphere:…

by Morgan T.

The Tannery empire is a strange place. The one on Boylston should be avoided like the plague (the service is truly abominable). But this one in Harvard is a bit of a different animal. I have to give them props for having a pretty good menswear section, especially for Boston which is way too stuck in North Face land. They stock brands here that can't be found any place else in the area. And the shoe selection is great as well, especially for nice bootsl. Yes, most of it isn't cheap. But if you want cheap clothes go to Urban Outfitters for the knock offs. I appreciate that they're trying something more fashion forward in an area where people won't spend money and are afraid of being different in the slightest. I do feel like the selection has gotten better this year (2009) than last. Maybe they switched buyers.In terms of the service issue, I've never had bad service here. It's not great, or even friendly, but it's usually pretty efficient. And frankly, I don't want anybody talking to me until I want to ask a question. While I definitely don't doubt people's experiences here, I think a lot of people  are just put off by the prices and would have the same reaction to any store that had clothes that were more expensive than The Gap.