Salmagundi

Jessen and Kira are wonderful! I brought in a purse that I purchased from Salmagundi a couple of years ago — the straps were almost broken and I was hoping to get it repaired. Jessen was able to track down replacement straps from the manufacturer and Kira sewed them on for me. The customer service at Salmagundi goes above and beyond!

This place is so fun and somehow I have never been before! I loved so much of their merchandise it was impossible to choose. I was offered bourbon upon my arrival, heck yes. Staff were super friendly and attentive. They do this thing where they put different hats on you while you are shopping. Its a great sales technique, though I was a little daunted by the $ 300+ price tag of one of the hats they had me try. Beautiful hat though. Really high quality merchandise, not everything is as expensive.

Best hat shop is Boston. This adds to the vibe of Jamaica plain. I love the hat selections and the great customer service. If your looking for a great hat to go with an outfit or going to a derby party this is the place for you.

I am always happy to see the excellent merchandising and very friendly staff. There are a lot of choices for men’s accessories, including belts, leather gloves, mufflers, and all types of hats. The quality is great and the feeling in the store is very nice because it is small and intimate and personal. A great shop here in Jamaica Plain, you would have to go downtown to Neimans or Nordstrom or maybe closer by at Bloomingdale’s for anything comparable.
Of course, the woman’s selection of hats, scarves and associated apparel is quite extensive.
Great boutique experience!

Salmagundi is the best (only?) hattery in Boston. I’ve never bought a hat there because it all seems pretty pricey to me and I’m frugal, but if you want to be stylin’ and don’t mind paying a little more, then go for it. The folks here are super friendly and willing to help out and answer questions. The quality of the products are very nice, too. I’m happy that even if I don’t purchase hats or clothes here, at least we have such a place in JP.

I’ve never bought a hat. Never went to a hat store. Didn’t know they existed.
When you go here, you leave with a hat. That’s just how it works.
They delight you with their excellent sales presence, offer you champagne, tell you that everything looks great on you, impress you with their national hat collection rankings, and then you leave ready to audition for Newsies.
I suddenly want more hats. I don’t think I’ll ever wear them outside this shop, but I want a reason to go back to this hat wonderland.
Oh, and props for the word Salmagundi. It used to be my random word-​of-​the-​day gem to friends and there it was.

Came here with my mom to shop for Bridal Tea Party hats. The staff was very welcoming and helpful and the champagne is always appreciated! We both left with perfect hats for the occasion and i would gladly recommend this great little shop to anyone!

Please know the 5 stars are solely rating my experience as I am always going to be too poor and/​or frugal to buy anything from here. The hats are mad expensive… but get this! The employees don’t judge you for not being able to afford them. In fact, they give you free champagne, take you on a tour and let you try on the most gorgeous hats you will EVER see. I do hope that one day I have a reason to splurge on one… hats are fabulous and make life so much more fun, theirs are the best of the best. Also– free champage.

Great place and service. It’s all about looking good with your hat. Staff is not pushy. Very helpful in getting you the right hat!
Amazing selection and price ranges. I like the fact that you can change the ribbon (for an extra fee) on a hat to your liking. The size selection is very dependable, you’ll go out of the shop with a hat that’s sized right for you.

Great Place and really Great people who work there !!
Spent over an hour at Salmagundi and they never lost their patience !
Found an awesome hat !!

I moved just around the corner from this hat store a few months ago, and finally stopped in to search for a reasonably priced hat to keep the sun off my face when prancing around town, etc. I basically said only the following: not too expensive, comfortable and some level of sun protection. The gentleman that helped me put hats on my head, which I responded to, until he found the perfect one for my needs — took maybe 6 or 7 minutes. While many of the hats i spied prior to being assisted cost well over $ 100, and presumably some much more, he only showed me lower priced options and mine cost $ 38. I will absolutely go back for more hats!
In response to lots of the other comments, I suppose you could paint some of the staff with the hipster-​brush, but if the outward appearance of the very knowledgeable and helpful people selling you things is that important, I guess you should keep looking for a hat shop elsewhere?

I have purchased a few hats here — the staff is passionate about what they do and there is always fun new merchandise

I had thee most delightful time in this little shop. I passed the storefront a number of times with a friend who lives nearby. Neither of us were quite sure what it was; I figured random boutique. Every time, it happened to be late and closed. Finally one afternoon, breeze-​blown and frumpy looking after a trip to the beach, we arrived during business hrs…
…to learn that Salmagundi is no random boutique, but a hat shop. Upon realizing this and being asked if we wanted assistance, I asked the woman working a question to which I have been dying to know the answer: How does one become a hat person?
You know what, she did not look at me like I was crazy. She was Awesome. She took my measurement, confided in us the absurdity of the fact that most hats for women come in one size, assured us that their handmade hats came in different ones, and made lovely suggestions. I was so taken with the experience and the gorgeous hat she recommended that I threw down an unspeakable amount for it.
Yes, the hats are expensive, but they’re one of a kind skull-​gold. The dude owner started telling me during checkout how his wife had found the striped fabric that comprises the bow on my new cloche hat was found and its entire story. Nervous about my new treasure, he assured me it was safe and that if it required reshaping or repair they’d do it for free. They even took our photo while we donned sweet hats, because my friend is not nearly as impulsive as I am.
Love. The end.

Guys, this is embarrassing. I’ve been going to Salmagundi for pretty much the entire life of the store and I forgot to review it until now.
The hubs and I have probably bought about 10 hats from here, including winter hats, fly lady hats, and sexy grown man hats. They have great jewelry, dresses, shirts, gloves and mittens, scarves, belts, everything a stylish man or woman could ask for.
Let’s pretend that this review was written four years ago and that I was on record shouting its praises for all that time. Because it’s been great ever since it showed up on Centre St. Also, cool parties if you’re on the email list.

Absolutely the best service.
I am not a hat person, but I had a hat need — an all-​day lake party that was happening on the hottest day of the year. I have a tiny little head, and I wear glasses, so finding a hat that doesn’t make me look like a hobbit, is extremely difficult, but somehow the staff at Salmagundi made it happen. They had lots of suggestions and excellent advice.
I got a great straw sunhat that kept me safe from sunstroke and made me look totally unhobbit-​like, and actually pretty great. All for $ 32. They even sized the hat in the store for no extra charge! Awesome.

Oh my god this place is fun! And oh the hats! And the Hatmasters of Salamagundi want you to have fun trying on all of the elegant hats and accessories. Something for everyone and the best fun you’ll ever have shopping.

best staff ever.
When I last visited Salmagundi, I had recently lived through the WORST retail experience of my life. This is including consideration of the selection & fitting of my prom dress. This experience happened at another hat shop on Newbury– and featured a salesman physically plopping a hat on my head– that I expressly didn’t want to try on. It was traumatizing.
Now, you may be thinking that ANY hat shop would look like a collection of heroic angels in comparison, and you aren’t wrong– but yet again, Salmagundi made everything right in the world.
From the second i walked in the door until i left, hat on head, they were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, super cool-​looking in hats, and warm. Everything you would want in a haberdasher… I mean… they are dressing your head– staring at your face– judging the outcome and making suggestions… that is a pretty intimate experience.
I cannot, cannot, cannot say enough about the staff here. So, I’ll stop blathering on about them.
The hat selection, itself, is very good and you are sure to be a one-​of-​a-​kind, since they are small enough to remember to not repeat the same hats over and over.
also, the staff is great.
yay for Salmagundi, and yay for hats!

There are already tons of reviews, but I just have to get my two cents in!
Statement: we need more places like Salmagundi in Boston. But not too many, because then they’ll say we’re trying to be like Brooklyn or something.
This is such a great shop, I am in love with it! The worst part being that I lived 5 minutes walking-​distance for almost 2 years and never made it a spot. To be honest, I kind of thought it was a store for middle-​aged gay guys. And I mean that in the most flattering way possible. I was totally intimidated!
But lately the hubs and I have been shopping around here and I’ve come to like it more and more. Clearly, they sell hats — and lots of them! And as I came to find out — and as their slogan endorses — for ladies AND gents!
They also sell ties, bow ties, wallet type deals, jewelry, bags, scarves, gloves and even a small selection of jackets and clothing. Including a smattering of seasonally sensational dresses, one of which, I recently spoiled myself with.
The staff are eager and friendly.
They also have this new rewards program that is no-​hitch. It tracks your purchases and saves your preferences (hat size, style, colors, etc.). And when you hit 500 points (1 for every dollar spent) you get a $ 50 store credit. You’d think I worked here the way I just sold that, but I swear I don’t! Just a satisfied, enthusiastic customer is all! And it shouldn’t be hard to do, because «ladies and gents» — the prices are quite the pile of pretty pennies. I warned you!
Love it. Will be back. Already have been.

Back in college, I worked in a hat shop in Faneuil Hall and sold all sorts of designer hats and accessories. Then I became a teacher and forgot all about my love of head adornments. until now…
My bald headed companion and I went in because his dome piece gets cold and he’s always looking for new stuff to keep warm in. Everyone who works there is super friendly and accommodating. Most of the stock is downstairs, so speak up and they will look… I was even inspired to find a headband/​fascinator for a wedding I will attend in October.
Also…they are starting to make their own super-​posh hats and everything is really swank. I’m looking forward to when I have some time to go back and try on the super-​classy dresses they have.

If you are interested in a hat, ever in your life, you will love Salmagundi. This is because the owner Jessen is a man who is probably secretly a hat; when the lights go out at night, he very likely hops up onto the shelf next to the snakeskin Stetson, takes his true form (an ostrich Bowler) and falls fast asleep.
Jessen knows heads, and hats, and social justice. He is passionate about all three of these elements in an intertwined manner that makes for an incredible shopping experience. When I and several other genderfabulous people came in, he showed each of us hats from both sides of the store, enthusiastically, talking about the makers and histories of each selection. This is a LGBTQQIAA-​happy space. It’s also just a happy space. There’s always a bustling crew of shoppers, but it never feels crowded. Hats of many sizes co-​mingle with jewelry, accessories (like business card slash cigarette cases), and probably some other stuff I’m forgetting because: hats. Hats, hats, hats. This place is a hat paradise.
I feel like I would be so very well-​suited (get it? because suits go with… never mind) to show up at Salmagundi in attire from any period where hats feature prominently. I’ve spent hours in this store (in fact, on just one visit, we stayed for two), and never get tired. These are hats for people who appreciate amazing, stylish, well-​made attire, and these unapologetic hats pull no punches. You could easily make one of these hats last for decades.
Get on the email list for secret specials and sales, like I did. Totally worthwhile. Also, see if you can get Jessen to bend your ear as to why Panama hats are graded, and where they come from; it won’t be too hard to persuade this magical haberdasher to make some hat chat or tell you some Goorin gossip.

um, yeah, also, the last time i was there, Patrick Ewing was there. So, suck it! all other hat shops.

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