NEW YORK STORES
1.Macy’s
What can you say about the city’s largest store? From food to futons, the selection is vast. And Macy’s is a major part of the New York scene, from the spring flower show to Tap-O-Mania, when thousands of tap dancers converge on Herald Square (for further details see Macy’s).
Macy’s department store
2.Bloomingdale’s
1000 Lexington Ave at 59th St After Macy’s, this is New York’s best-known department store, renowned for high fashion for men and women. The main floor, with cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories, is a mob scene, but don’t be discouraged; the upper floors are more manageable.
Shoes at Bloomingdale’s
3.5th Avenue Department Stores
Bergdorf Goodman: 754 5th Ave at 57th St • Saks Fifth Avenue: 611 5th Ave at 50th St • Lord & Taylor: 424 5th Ave at 38th StBergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord & Taylor have a full range of well-known brand clothing for men, women, and children, as well as an upscale selection of home accessories. All of these stores have ultra-stylish seasonal window displays that are worth checking out.
4.Barneys New York
660 Madison Ave at 61st St If you have the wherewithal, this is the place to find the latest designer labels to please a well-heeled, young and trendy clientele. The semi-annual clearance sales are legendary and draw hordes of shoppers on the hunt for chic on the cheap.
5.Henri Bendel
712 5th Ave at 55th St Set up like a series of boutiques, Bendel’s displays innovative women’s fashion for glamorous shoppers. The signature brown and white shopping bag is such a status symbol that the pattern is used for accessories.
6.Century 21
22 Cortlandt St Savvy uptown shoppers know it is worth the trek downtown to Century 21 to sift through racks full of designer labels at ridiculously cheap prices. You will even see celebrities toting its distinctive red bags. As well as fashion and sportswear, the store is also especially good for cosmetics and ladies’ accessories.
Century 21
7.H&M
640 5th Ave at 51st St; 34th St and Herald Square; 558 BroadwayHennes & Mauritz, a Swedish retailer, was a smash success when the 5th Avenue store opened in New York in 2000. What’s the secret? Kicky, young designs for men, women, and children sold at rock bottom prices, but creating a look that belies the price tag.
8.Madison Avenue Designers
Giorgio Armani: 760 Madison Ave • Yves Saint Laurent: 855–859 Madison AveThe epicenter of designer boutiques in New York used to be 57th Street between 5th and Madison Avenues, where shops like Burberry are still found. But as stores like Nike and Levi’s have invaded this territory, the designers, from Giorgio Armani to Yves Saint Laurent, have moved to Madison Avenue.
9.SoHo Boutiques
Anna Sui: 113 Greene St • A.P.C.: 131 Mercer St • Miu Miu: 100 Prince St • Cynthia Rowley: 376 Bleecker St • Portico: 139 Spring St • Armani Casa: 97 Greene StSoHo is home to trendy boutiques such as Anna Sui, A.P.C., Miu Miu, and Cynthia Rowley. The stores are between Thompson Street and Broadway and between Prince and Greene Streets, though any block in this area may yield a special find. This is also prime hunting ground for home furnishings at stores such as Portico and Armani Casa.
Cynthia Rowley’s SoHo boutique
10.Union Square and 6th Avenue
Whole Foods Market: 4 Union Square SouthUnion Square is ringed by various stores and places to refuel, including a massive Whole Foods Market. Nearby, around 18th Street, is the shopping mecca of 6th Avenue, lined with historic buildings now housing homeware and clothing stores.
