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SALE! The word is all that much more meaningful at Berk's, where massive end-of-season sales take up to 50-75% off their wide variety of name-brand shoes, sandals, and boots. The selection tends toward the funky and includes Steve Madden, Doc Marten, RocketDog, Diesel, Lucini, Destroy, and Frye, from silver-glittered platforms to cowboy boots. Prices are reasonable, starting at $20 for flats and sneakers (they stock Converse, Puma, and Saucony, among others), and reaching $200 for knee-high, cut-out platform boots. Comfort shoes have made their way into nearly half of the store, lining the walls with the likes of Dansko, Birkenstock, and Naot. A men's section has recently emerged, though the selection, while trendy, is limited. Limited clothing and jewelry sections.

As the owner bills it, this boutique is “mini Barney's,” with elegant yet hip designers like MaxStudio, Tahari's new Elite line, Teenflo, and Donald Pliner shoes ($120+). The selection is mainly business and business casual, and be prepared to pay for the high quality you get; suits run $200+, pants $150+, and shirts $80+. Still, a good source for that job interview-acing ensemble. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

At the alterna-chic Hootenanny, slick designer brands such as mod-bod Ben Sherman (shirts $59-80), retro-Brit Fred Perry (a whopping $70 for a polo shirt), and monkey-face Paul Frank (shirts $20) abound, complemented by lashings of Dickies pants, Levi's bags, and Diesel shoes. The store shows its real wild side in the back section, however, with black-and-red PVC and lace-trimmed outfits (men's and women's) for that S&M/goth look you like to wear once in a while. Nowhere else in the Square will you find full fishnet-stocking Buddhists ($6-10)—we hope. Wigs ($15-35), angel wings ($60), and cheap hair-dye/make-up/jewelry also available for quick costume party fixes. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Quit Stalin and head over to Proletariat, recently relocated to the Garage. Proletariat delivers to upscale vintage connoisseurs, with a variety of Lacoste polos, Michael Jackson t-shirts, and '80s bomber jackets at reasonable prices (t-shirts $11+). If wearing someone else's used clothing doesn't appeal to you, Proletariat also sells new items from up-and-coming (read: avant garde) designers, skate-boarding merchandise, and graffiti supplies. Other services include screen printing and iron-on letters for t-shirts. The people have it: Proletariat is the place to go to for designer vintage finds at a fraction of the original price. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

The Hempest is a clothing store featuring natural organic style clothing- mainly from the plant by-product hemp. For the record, please don't light your clothing on fire ... it doesn't work.

Descend the stairs into a non-profit mecca for thrift store shoppers with a conscience: proceeds from the sale of donated clothing help fund grassroots programs in Africa, India, and Latin America. Items are organized by type and also often by color. Look for an impressive collection of colorful vintage t-shirts among the random assortment of Gap sweaters and matronly dresses. Most clothes $5-8, higher quality shirts and jeans $12-20. Find items with the color tag of the day and save 50%. A Customer Club card is available for frequent buyers—10 $10 stamps gets you $15 store credit. With its quirky assortment of unusual apparel, Planet Aid is a funky interruption to the increasingly homogenous retail world of Harvard Square. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

There's a rigorous admissions process for this consignment shop's merchandise: clothes must have designer labels and be no more than 2 years old. Friendly staff, reasonable prices, and an extensive selection of styles make this one of the nicest second-hand experiences in the Square. Head to the back for a tempting array of shoes and a small men's section. Call or e-mail (consign@secondtimearound.net) to make an appointment to sell something of your own for a 50/50 split of the sale price, which starts around 1/3 of the original price and drops over the max. 90 days of shelf life; you will receive payment after the item is sold. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

This shop screams “Harvard,” in the dinner-jacket wearing, cigar-smoking, final-club joining sense of the word. In the same location since 1932, tradition is the name of the game. Boasting the patronage of such luminaries as Yo-Yo Ma, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, and most recently Tommy Lee Jones, this is a store for people who organize their sock drawers in neat, color-coded rows. J. Press carries a full range of conservative men's clothes, including wool suits ($475+), plain ties ($35+), and suspenders ($35+), as well as a good selection of cufflinks ($30+). This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

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