Even in the sweltering heat, Davis Square's Pluto, like its celestial namesake, is just plain cool.
A lot of words could be used to describe the quaint restaurants and bars that dot the Square - "fun," "functional," and "cheap" come to mind. But classy? Cutting-edge? Urban? In Somerville? Not likely.
Think again.
Pluto's personality hits you full force as soon as you enter. Torrents of aqua, yellow, orange, neon pink, and soft green comprise an explosion of color. A multitude of surfaces and textures, from mirrors to lacquer to wispy chiffon, add to the atmosphere. Dangling rhinestones and swinging pendulums hang from every available surface.
Pluto looks and smells like that friend's house that not only has it all together, but has it all together in impeccable style. It's a home store, a bath and body store, a clothing store, and a "chotchkies" shop in one. Take the best of Ikea, mingle it with Urban Outfitters' style, sprinkle in the wittiest trinkets from the best of novelty stores, and the most unique scents and soaps of Pier 1 Imports. Pluto is all of these, but its charm comes from its small-town feel. The store's original home is in Jamaica Plain on Centre Street, where it still sits today. Due to its great success, however, its owners looked to the up-and-coming Davis Square to expand the business. "It seemed like a similar sort of atmosphere," said Jill Mancini, an employee.
The result has injected a little bit of the big city into Somerville, from the industrial music blaring from its speakers to the furry aqua tank tops hanging on it racks. "We like to think of it as the ultimate gift store," Mancini said. "You can come here and buy a present for anyone. Men come here to buy their wives presents all the time."
Here's a small taste of what's Pluto's best:
Bath and Body
Among Pluto's best-selling offerings is its collection of quirky scents and bath products. Like most other bath stores, you can leave smelling like patchouli or jasmine. But Pluto can also help you out if you want to smell like Martini, Popcorn, Tomato, or Birthday Cake. How about Dirt, Gingerale, Rubber, or Golden Delicious? Demeter Fragrances, scents that concentrate on the subtle notes of everyday life, dot Pluto's shelves, keeping an array of translucent soaps, massage oils, and vinyl shower curtains company.
Clothes
"Most people don't realize that we have this clothing section back here," explains Mancini. "It's a great indie kind of store other than, say, Urban Outfitters. Here it's unique, and for less money. And there's not 50 other people wearing it."Pluto differs from its national competitors in that it doesn't carry racks upon racks of its favorite pieces - rather, only one or two of each item. This gives customers the feel they are investing in a fashion that will belong to them and only them.
Funky colors, cuts, and patterns dominate the racks, with lots of sheer sleeves, flouncy ruffle, and flowing skirts that comprise an urban-yet-pretty feel.
Melissa Ford, the store's manager, is in charge of the featured wares, which she purchases mostly at gift and clothing expos in New York City. The collection includes a mix of designers from the Spain-based Custo to men's Ben Sherman.
Shoppers can top of their new looks with a myriad of accessories ranging from plaid floppy hats and pleather carrying totes to rhinestone jewelry and leopard print stockings.
Moms and dads can even start babies off early by heading to Pluto's rear. Here is the store's baby section, with various selections for the 21st-century child. Parents can choose from geometric, pattered bodysuits, bibs (like the one embroidered with the word "drool"), and sparkly pink leopard print tops, among much more.
Home
Customers can pick and choose their favorite home accessories from the walls and floors of Pluto. Clocks and mirrors dot every available inch of wall space, martini glasses climb the shelves, and candles of all scents and shapes give the store its pleasing aroma.Light plate switches, sheer paper lanterns, and lampshades lacquered with black and white photographs illuminate the store, along with neon fish and flamingoes. Set your wine in black metal racks, and pick from an array of many-textured coasters that can hold your drinks.
Novelties
For the weary shopper in search of an easy, quick gift, Pluto has placed near the exit shelves of grab-and-go novelties sure to please almost any personality. Choose from an array of emblazoned address books (i.e., "My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions"), holiday flip books, furry and leathery diaries, 'I Love My Penis' magnets, and hand painted pet bowls ("The cat from hell," "Fat, Dumb, and Happy"), to name a few.
Finishing touches
According to Mancini, many shoppers come looking for Pluto's gift cards. Pluto prides itself on being an ultimate gift store, and states this philosophy in its front window, touting the importance of the gift card as much as the gift. A poster titled "Card as Art/Art as Card" offers some of the following insights: "Art does fit into an envelope." "There is no difference between opening a card (as art) and going to an art exhibit (as art)."
And yes, Pluto does have artful, classy greeting notes for every occasion, or even "just because."
Stuff your carefully chosen gift and its written counterpart into a package wrapped with designer, striped or polka dotted paper, or place it in one of the chic gift bags available, and your Pluto experience is over.
Pluto is the class of the square - a place that the fashionistas of Somerville can claim as their very own. Over the past three years it has found success as locals discover they don't have to board the T to join the ranks of cutting-edge style. Or maybe Somervillians are just excited to have a store at which they can buy perfume that smells like Gin and Tonic.
