Hello

Can someone please recommend a good area to shop in New York. We are mostly looking for shoes and clothes. Not so much the high end stuff... is there 1 major street to go down?

Thank you in advance.

Hi Dot. There's not really one place. A lot depends on what sort of styles you want. For more middle of the road stuff, I guess Fifth Ave. between 39th (Lord & Taylor) and 50th (Saks Fifth Ave.) would be a good stretch. It also includes stores like Ann Taylor, H & M and Mexx. I got some stylish, inexpensive sandals last year at a shoe place across from Lord & Taylor. Then between 50th and 59th you find more expensive places like Henri Bendel (a small women's dept. store) and Bergdorf Goodman.

For bargains, Daffy's is a discount place with a number of locations. Their store at 57th and Lexington seems to have a large selection (clothes and shoes) and is right near Bloomingdales. Syms on 54th just off Park Ave. is another discount store that has some decent things.

There is a stretch on 6th ave. (also known as Avenue of the Americas on street signs) in the teens and low 20's that has a lot of discount shops. Century 21 which is all the way downtown is a mecca for discount shopping.

Soho used to be the place for trendier shops but now has a lot of the chain stores like Gap etc. Bloomingdales also opened a branch down there.

Also, Macy's (Seventh Ave & 34th St.) For shoes: Harry's (Broadway & 83rd)and/or Tip Top (72nd St. between Amsterdam & Columbus).

Thanks so much Mclaurie and Spring 212.
That helps a lot!

For reasonably priced clothes & shoes, walk up or down Broadway from Canal to Bleecker. Dozens of opportunities on one stretch of Broadway.

Have we discussed Madison Avenue?

Maybe not just for actual buying but lovely for looking..sooo many wonderful stores. ~sigh~
Scarlett the shopping deprived

If you want a discount store, hit Filene's Basement. There are two locations in Manhattan.

Thanks enjoylife.. where about's is Filene's basement?

Century 21 is also a great discount store-designer stuff for cheap and other non-designer stuff too. It's across from the WTC site. It's literally a department store with everything discounted.

I personally hated Century 21. Had to fight through a nasty crowd of women to find anything, the store is huge and therefore difficult to find specific items and the fitting rooms (or lack thereof) were terrible. I found the whole experience there to be frustrating and exhausting, as did my other travelling companions. I guess it all depends on what type of shopping you want to do. Maybe some people enjoy the frenetic energy of a store like this. For me, it should be a pleasurable experience which Century 21 was not.

Atilla, I agree that Century 21 can be harrowing, however, last time we got there when it first opened at there were few people to deal with and got some great deals.

Filene's basement has 2 locations, UWS at Broadway and 79th (near Museum of Natural History) and downtown on that stretch of 6th ave. I mentioned at 18th. I personally wouldn't go out of my way to go to Filene's but if in the neighborhood...Near the downtown Filenes is Loehmann's at 7th ave and 16th which I prefer.

Lucky you swalter518! I think we were there at the wrong time of day, it was around 1:00 pm and you could hardly move inside the store. I guess the secret is to get there early, so take heed dotwest.
Happy shopping!

Like Atilla I didn't care for Century 21. WAy too crowded and some of the prices just weren't bargains. H&M was much better for finding inexpensive Tshirts, and my favorite pink hooded sweatshirt for only $14.99!

You did not mention how long you will be in NYC (and when), but it might be worth your visit to take a daytrip up to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/brands/index.asp

This place is mind-blowing! Very easy to get to via the Shortline Bus at Port Authority bus terminal - 41st St. and 8th Ave. 50 minute trip. Trust me, you will have a fantastic time. I usually spend close to 6+ hours visiting every shop. Plenty of decent places to grab a bite. Tons of sitting areas as well as very clean restrooms.

I love C21 but I don't think it's what you are looking for. I love it because you can make amazing finds there of European designer clothes at less than 1/4 of their prices, and because it's good for things like stockings and underwear at great prices.

It is crowded when people who have jobs are available to shop - weekends (tho last hour of Fri and Sat is not bad) and lunchtimes.

If you're under 30-ish, I second the idea of Broadway between Canal and Bleecker. You could also walk west on 8th Street from Broadway to 6th Avenue to see a huge number of shoe shops and "club kids" shops with "dresses" and the like. ("dresses" because most of them are like bikini-loincloth ensembles, with a feather here and there.)

And I am always impressed again by the range of selection, and the number of bargains, in Macy's. There is always some kind of sale going on.

6th Avenue & vicinity: Filene's Basement, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Loehmanns

the Village: 8th Street (start at 6th Avenue and walk down 8th Street) - plenty of shoe stores and clothing, then take a right and walk down Broadway all the way down the Canal Street for more shoes and clothes.

34th Street Herald Square - if you don't mind the crowds, you have Macy's, Daffy's, H&M, and an array other clothing stores.

Happy Shopping!

Saks has a beautiful Christmas display. Stand in Rockefeller center and watch on the hour and half hour. Even a bunch of jaded NYers were impressed!