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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.
Family-owned since 1925, Argosy is a charmingly old-fashioned place to browse for both bargain and priceless books. The shop keeps a scholarly stock of rare books and autographs. It's also a great place to find good-value maps and prints for gifts.
The success of this Canadian fashion brand and retailer is reflected in having two NYC flagship stores, one in Hudson Yards, and this two-story, 12,000-square-foot emporium beside Rockefeller Center. Expect to find Aritzia's own collections of denim, active, trendy, and everyday apparel, plus a curated selection of women's clothing, shoes, and accessories from new and familiar labels.
In keeping with the Armani aesthetic, the minimalist furniture and housewares here have a subdued color scheme (gold, gray, cream, and black). Big-ticket items include luxuriously upholstered sofas and sleek coffee tables. The desk accessories and throw pillows are equally understated.
The luxury retailer's claim to fame is jewelry; its own eponymous diamond cut has A-shape facets, but the British brand caters to all tastes. Everything including leather goods such as wallets and handbags, fine china coffee and tea sets, rare books, polo equipment, and scarves is available. Service is impeccable.
Sure you can shop online for sex toys for maximum anonymity, but if you want to see and touch the goodies IRL before you purchase, this is the place to go. The staff is friendly and helpful, but not in a way that’ll make you uncomfortable, and there are plenty of lubes and dress-up clothes as well.
If you want to channel your inner princess, you can't go wrong with the ladylike pumps and high-heeled boots here. The mostly leather accessories and clothing are equally tasteful.
Over five decades after Pierre Balmain opened his first New York boutique on Madison Ave., the French luxury fashion house under Creative Director Olivier Rousteing brought the brand's signature French flair back to New York with a massive store-cum-gallery-space that opened brazenly and optimistically in the height of the Pandemic. The all-black, New-York-cool, gleaming reflective interiors showcase the brand's iconic expertly-crafted ready-to-wear, bags, and accessories. Look for Rousteing’s collaboration with luxury candle brand Cire Trudon.
Although there are plenty of Banana Republic stores around the city, come to this 5th Avenue flagship for the biggest selection of the brand's classic clothing for men and women. Don't miss the Heritage collection or the big clearance racks.
The signature look here is the British company's waxed-cotton and quilted jackets, available for men and women. The tweeds, moleskin pants, lamb's-wool sweaters, and tattersall shirts also invariably call up images of country rambles.
The brand's first four letters are short for "bon chic, bon genre," which means stylish sportswear and embellished, embroidered evening dresses for women here. The collection ranges from leather pants to maxi dresses.
Exquisite hand-crafted furniture, fixtures, and ceramics, made in master-craftsman Tyler Hays' Philadelphia studio, are showcased in this airy, skylit space. The heirloom-quality pieces blend minimalist, organic lines, often with warm-wood or leather finishes. Even if your budget is limited, BDDW is worth a visit for inspiration.
A simple space, the Manhattan outpost of this long-standing Brooklyn-based icon has a wide selection of gently used modern and vintage clothes. Comb through the racks, and you might find pieces from Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, or AllSaints, as well as stylish items from under-the-radar labels.
This is not your ordinary bead store. The semiprecious stones and baubles are sourced from around the world—say, silver from Bali or ancient glass beads from China. There's also has a wide range of worldly trinkets like Thai Buddha figurines, Mexican Madonna candles, and Indian Ganesha-printed hangings.
The ultimate shopping destination, this luxury department store is one of the city's iconic stops for designer clothes and impeccable service. The shoe department is stellar, and the range of products in the beauty department is unparalleled. Complete your look with highlights at the in-house Salon at BG. Refuel with a bite at the seventh-floor BG Restaurant, which has Central Park views, or a quick bite at the beauty-level Palette. Cross 5th Avenue to shop at Goodman's Men's Store, with fine selections of menswear and accessories, as well as the posh, second-floor Goodman's Bar.
The ethos at Bond No. 9 is unique, with scents intended to evoke places and social values. Hence "The Scent of Peace" as well as a line that matches key NYC neighborhoods: "Central Park," traditionally a men's fragrance, is woodsy and "green," while "Park Avenue" is discreet but not too sweet. There's "Greenwich Village" and "Off-Broadway," just to name a few others. This flagship also carries candles and body creams.
Author Emma Straub opened this spacious and well-stocked bookstore after neighborhood landmark BookCourt closed, and she even used her predecessor's tall wooden bookshelves in creating the new space. Books Are Magic hosts author events—many with celebrated writers who happen to live in Brooklyn—several days a week. Don't miss the excellent kids' area in the back.
The signature crosshatch weave graces leather handbags, slouchy satchels, and shoes; the especially satisfying brown shades extend from fawn to deep chocolate. The stylish men's and women's ready-to-wear collection is also sold here.
At the NYC outpost of this L.A. favorite, owner Laura Freedman sells a well-edited selection of jewelry from designers including Anita Ko and David Webb. Expect delicate and whimsical pieces, from diamond-encrusted ear cuffs to geometric rings.
Once called the Winter Garden, this expanded mall and event destination in the World Financial Center stands out for its towering palm trees, New York Harbor and WTC plaza views, and luxury stores, including downtown outlets for Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, not to mention more down-to-earth shopping at J.Crew, Bonobos, and Lululemon. More interesting might be the dining options, including the best food court downtown, Hudson Eats (which has Black Seed Bagel, Dos Toros Taqueria, and Ani Ramen), among many other offerings. On the ground floor is Le District, a kind of Eataly for French cuisine. Outside in summer is an outdoor dining area with food stands (and a bar); in winter it becomes an ice-skating rink. Look out for events both during the week and on weekends year-round.
If you can't crack a smile in this store—where all proceeds from superhero costumes, gear, and secret identity kits benefit 826NYC's writing and tutoring programs for kids—step immediately into its Cape Tester, or take the cure-all Vow of Heroism oath. Afterward, browse the inventory of superpowers like telekinesis, chutzpah, and gumption, which are sold in plastic jugs and fake paint cans. The clever labels listing “ingredients” and “warnings” are worth the cost for every ounce of the tongue-in-cheek products.
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