Even though Boston somehow failed to make the Top 50 world's most expensive cities to live in list (although this survey is of arguable accuracy.) God knows it's nice to find a deal in our "in-what-world-is-Boston
-cheaper-than-Chicago-which
-ranked-38-on-the-list" little city. One thing we can always count on in Boston is Filene's Basement, a little chunk of discounted-retail heaven on earth.

The Basement is stocked right now…If you're a medium or above. Smaller sizes are still there, but good pieces are slim-pickings. So be prepared to stretch the limits of good taste…

Boston summers are hot in that sticky, please-don't-touch kind of way. But staying cool and looking hot (in that look-hot-enough-to-touch-but-still-please-don't kind of way) can be done. The answer: high-end T-shirts, or better put, T-shirt couture.

"LOOK AT ME" ITEMS: First, go straight to the Ben Sherman rack. While there unfortunately weren't any Ben Sherman skinny pants from this British brand, there was an all-right selection of T-shirts, offering slim, long fits. One in particular jumped out: A muted turquoise column shirt with a fudge-brown swirly (but not psychedelic) print for $35.99. Take note: There was only one remaining and it was size medium. There was also a horde of cap-sleeve T-shirts ($19.99) with" Ben Sherman" printed over a woman's profile with either metallic-gold or silver stars printed around it depending on the color. All sizes were available as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The British style-house French Connection rack also had a nice selection of T-shirt couture. The best was a striped number ($39.99) with a keyhole neckline and a button-closure at the neck. The bottom came to a slight point in the front and back. However, the size selection, once again, was very limited: two mediums left.

The last good rack for T-shirt couture was the Ted Baker (yet, another British brand) rack. The Ted Baker shirts at the Basement are unusual-looking (don't worry, in a good way), often with tie or buckle details. The colors vary from basic black to muted greens and purples. They're all well priced at (mostly) under $20.

"LAUGH AT ME" ITEMS: The Vault, which is where all the high-end designer pieces are kept, was a disaster. Usually, it's easy to spend a good hour in this room finding things most of us can't afford, but today, a walk-through took no more than 20 minute. Honestly, it looked like something from Sesame Street skipped in and yarfed all over the designer brands. The Basement usually does justice to Marc Jacobs, but yesterday, all it offered was a bastardized imitation-Chanel-type suit in day-glo colors and a lone knee-length sweater-jacket (as if that weren't bad enough) weaved in orange and yellow yarn by what must have been a Muppet. Both were in standard sample sizes, but if you see someone wearing those, please punch her in the face. (Sorry Marc, but someone's got to do something. See photo.)

Take heart, though. There were two highlights in The Vault: a Barney's collection pencil skirt in light pink and maroon brocade (a true size 6, meaning SMALL) for only $69.99 and a pint-size Bill Blass strapless evening gown with a poofy bottom in black taffetta (yes, you heard right – TAFFETTA!) and lace for (*gulp*) $1,199.

Next time: Shoes and Accessories.

Post contributed by Marissa Payne. Muppet sweatshop photo is anonymous - save Kermie!