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The Big Apple is one of the best shopping destinations in the world, rivaled perhaps only by London, Paris, and Tokyo. Its compact size, convenient subway system, and plentiful cabs (or Uber or Lyft rides) make it easy to navigate with plenty of bags in tow. But what it really comes down to is the staggering number and variety of stores. If you can't find it in New York, it probably doesn't exist.
If you like elegant flagships and money is no object, head to Midtown, where you'll find international megabrands like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gucci, as well as famed department stores Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys. Nearby Madison Avenue has couture from Carolina Herrera and Vera Wang, and 5th Avenue is lined with famous jewelry stores such as Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston. This is also the neighborhood to indulge in bespoke goods, such as handmade shoes from John Lobb. If you like designer pieces but can't afford them, don't despair—there are plenty of upscale consignment shops around the city where you can find last season's Chanel suit or a vintage YSL jacket.
The small, independent shops that once lined SoHo have largely been displaced by the likes of J.Crew and UNIQLO, but if you want to hit the chains, this is a great place to do it, because the neighborhood also provides high-quality people-watching and superb lunches. Poke around on the side streets and in nearby NoLIta for outposts of smaller local and foreign designers and, if you're craving some of old SoHo's artistic spirit, don't discount the street vendors' stalls, which sell handmade jewelry and simple cotton dresses.
The East Village and Lower East Side are hotbeds of creativity and quirky coolness, with little boutiques selling everything from retro furniture to industrial-inspired jewelry. They're tucked among bars and old tenement buildings. The Meatpacking District is another great shopping destination to find chic designer stores like Diane von Furstenberg and rag & bone along with independently owned boutiques. And if you jaunt over to Brooklyn, you'll discover that some of the city's hippest designers are hanging out at boutiques just across the East River.
Readers young and old delight in Manhattan's oldest and largest independent children's bookstore. The friendly, knowledgeable staff can help select gifts for all reading levels. Don't miss the extensive Oz section, plus the collection of old, rare, and collectible children's books and original children's book art.
The designs in this swoopy, gold-adorned space consistently push the fashion envelope with brash patterns, unlikely juxtapositions (tulle and neoprene), and cuts that are meant to be thought-provoking, not flattering. Architecture students come just for the interior design.
This men's clothes shop traffics in a mishmash of garb, harkening back to the days when the neighborhood was filled with shops like this that catered mostly to gay men. The racks are loaded with everything from designer jackets to cardigans to party shorts to sexy jockstraps.
If you're seeking rare or out-of-print jazz recordings, this is your one-stop shop. Long-lost Ellingtons and other rare pressings come to light here; the jazz-record specialist also stocks books, collectibles, DVDs, posters, CDs, and LPs.
Housed in an historic town house, this boutique peddles in European-style housewares and home accessories. Whether you might like to walk out with some lavender soap from Provence, a set of gourmet cheese knives, or a couple of plush decorative pillows, this boho-chic spot is worth at least a browse.
With a focus on antique furniture, vintage knickknacks, and 20th-century art, this two-level shop is fun to visit, even if you don't plan on buying anything. Then again, one sight of those Christian Dior candlesticks, that 1940s French cocktail shaker with an engraved pin-up girl on it, or the chic Italian-made pepper mill in the form of a vintage rocket, and you may be pulling out that credit card anyway.
Stylists to the stars, TV costumers, and the deep-pocketed descend on this boutique to browse racks of prime vintage clothing. Everything is high-end, so don't expect any bargains. Take your pick from Yves Saint Laurent, Madame Grès, and Thierry Mugler items. There's a good selection of handbags and stilettos, too.
Come here for the outstanding selection of contemporary and classic books across genres. Don't miss the cheeky and serious high-quality greeting cards. Look for a second location at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown West.
Come to this family-owned bookshop for the outstanding selection of contemporary and classic books across genres. Don't miss the cheeky and serious high-quality greeting cards.
Fans of streamlined, mid-century modern furniture ascend to heaven here. This location—set in a landmark 1902 building that was once the warehouse of the Siegel-Cooper Company—is stocked with sleek sofas, beds, and children's furniture as well as accessories like rugs and lamps, 90% of which are made in America. Design aficionados can choose from iconic pieces like seating cubes from Frank Gehry and Eames molded plywood chairs, as well as items from up-and-coming designers.
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