wanderer

This weekend I treked off to our new local H&M store, since it was one I had circled to visit during my trip to NYC in Dec., and one everyone seems to rave about.

Maybe NYC is far different, but I was not impressed. Maybe if I was 20 (I am 46), or maybe if I wasn't so "stuffy", I would have liked it, but it seemed like cheap teeny-bopper clothes to me.

Now I am wondering about other places I had looked at to visit in NYC like Century 21. Would I be better off at the department stores (as one poster suggested earlier), or are there other "discount" places that cater to older, more conservative people like me? (Ann Taylor is more my style, as boring as that is to some people....)

uhoh_busted

I've not seen Century 21, so I can't comment. I agree with your opinion of H&M. My 25-yr old daughter has had good luck there. But to be honest -- the retail business has been so bad the last few years, there seem to nearly ALWAYS be sales. I love Bloomies, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Ave. Also, one of the best places for me, has consistently been Liz Claiborne. One of the discount places I like to try in NYC is Daisey's -- but to be honest, I can find great deals at the outlets closer to home, so if I'm in New York, I'm looking for something "right now" (or usually for the coming season) in style and I enjoy shopping in the big dept stores. But you can also find stunning things in boutiques in Soho, and some of the other "neighborhoods." Even they have sales but sometimes you'll find something so unique and so YOU (younique?) that you get it no matter what the price. If you are that crazy about it, chances are you're going to wear it so much you'll get your money's worth from it. And you'll always know you got something you probably couldn't have found at home.

uhoh_busted

ooops...that was DAFFY's not Daisey's

GoTravel

At 38, I've always found tons of things at H&M.

If you are more the Talbots look, you will like Bloomies and Macys much better.

If you have more cash, Barneys, Jeffries, BG, and Saks.

arjay

H & M????????????

missjanna

I'm 29 and went to 3 different H&M's yesterday while clothes shopping with a friend. We each only found 1 potential item we could wear. While we both love the store, I believe it has more to do with the current fashion trends than the store itself.

We also wandered into Charlotte Russe and Strawberry in the Manhattan Mall, Urban Outfitters in the village, and a myriad of stores up Broadway in Soho, and all we saw was the same 80's style fashions that we wore back in elementary school and didn't feel up to wearing it again! LOL (pink with black polka dot ruffled skirts??? ugh! Let the teenagers wear them, I already did when I was 12!)

I find Daffy's to be better lately, as well as NY & Co.

hilaryg

arjay - H&M is a Swedish clothing company that is sort of the Ikea of clothing. Yes, very very youthful and trendy.

Century 21 is excellent, not too "trendy" or "young" at all. REAL designer clothes (everything from D&G to Armani to Prada, etc., etc.) for rock bottom prices. I bought an Anna Suit silk dress there last time I was in NYC for $100!

mclaurie

If Ann Taylor is more your style you might prefer Sym's (54th st & Park Ave.) or Daffy's for discount shopping. You may in fact find things at Century 21 but unless you're going to be in that area anyway, it's a long trip for maybe stuff that's too trendy. What Century 21 has that no one else (to my knowledge) has in abundance is good discounted shoes but check Saks too for sales.

The dept stores may be having sales too. I like Saks & sometimes Lord & Taylor for separates (they usually have good value on sweaters before Christmas).

Merilee_Tucker

Hey wanderer, if you're still reading responses to your original post I have a shopping suggestion for you. If you have the time to spare take the #111 bus from Port Authority to Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth. You'll be there within 30 minutes. Some of the stores there are Ann Taylor Loft, BCBG, Casual Corner, Charlotte Russe, Bebe, Jones New York, Kasper, Filene's Basement, Marshall's Megastore, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, Gap, Brooks Brothers, Old Navy, jewelry and accessory shops, and a KayBee Toy Store. You can also get burgers at Johnny Rockets, hot dogs at Nathan's (great fries there, too), Sbarro for pizza Ranch 1 for chicken and Haagen Dazs for ice cream. It's an enclosed mall so you don't have to worry about the weather either.

Leona

If you have time, take the bus up to Woodbury Commons. Wonderful off price designer outlets, including Ralph Lauren; Coach; Burberry; Dansk and so many more. Definitely worth the trip!

puddy

I agree... Woodbury Commons, while a little farther away, is much better than jersey Gardens. Do a google search to find the list of stores.

Elizabeth

I don't find anything I like in H&M either. But this has nothing to do with whether or not you'll find naything at Century 21. H&M sells its own line of clothes, which represent a range of styles favored by International Youth.

C21 is a giant discount department store that sucks up clothes from all over the world and marks them way way down. There are things in there for all tastes. If you want to make additions to your wardbrobe on the order of "Ann Taylor but better," you can do it there. (i.e.the designer classic basics on which AT bases their stuff).

I also agree that Daffy's is good lately, especially for coats for some reason.

And -- quite wide of the mark -- for discount/knockoff shopping I DO like Topshop in London. They sell their own clothes which are often copies of designer things; though there is plenty to appeal to young girls dressing for fun, there is also a lot that I like, and it's affordable even tho London (e.g. nice coat, 60 pounds).