Almost anything from around the globe can be found in New York's higher-end
boutiques, jewelry stores, department stores and designer shops. From the latest
trendy items to luxury collections and world brands, New
York City prides itself on unique shopping areas that surpass all expectations.
There are even districts devoted to speciality stores and malls such as the
Fashion
Center. Simply put, shopping in New York is irresistible. The abundance,
diversity and distinctiveness of retailers can tempt shoppers for many days
as they try to juggle visiting as many shops as possible. Visiting all the shopping
areas in a huge city like New York is an almost impossible mission; for that,
plan on visiting two or three shopping areas at most each day.
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A
Summer Garden at New York's Fashion Center1 |
CRYSTAL & JEWELRY STORES
The Crystal
District is a stretch of five blocks along Madison
Avenue between 58th and 63rd Streets, encompassing a rich concentration
of crystal and jewelry shops. The French crystal boutique Baccarat
Crystal is one of the area's highlights, boasting gold, silver and precious
stones with showcases devoted to dazzling chandeliers, vases, stemware and china.
Swarovski
is another high-end store located in the same area. The jewelry collection varies
from rhodium-plated brooches in black and white enamels to necklaces with various
pastel shades and drop-pierced earrings with colored crystal beads. Swarovski's
collection also extends to home décor crystals inspired by nature's flora and
fauna.
The whole area at 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues is the Diamond
District, providing an opportunity for visitors to explore a diamond
haven where anything can be custom made. One cannot miss the classics and the
sparkling treasures of Tiffany
& Co., featuring Swiss watches and diamond rings for all occasions and
anniversaries. Tiffany was founded in 1837 when Charles Lewis Tiffany opened
a store in downtown Manhattan.
Today, more than 100 Tiffany & Co. stores and boutiques are located in both
the United States and international
markets. Tiffany in New York is one of the biggest and most popular stores in
the chain.
Established in 1878 and located on Fifth
Avenue and 55th Street, Wempe
is home to traditional watches and jewelry. The refined German and Swiss watches,
classic Akoya pearls, malleable and shiny silver and Santa-Maria-Africana—a
particularly fine quality of aquamarine with a deep blue color—are all found
in Wempe's collections. Another must see store is Fortunoff,
offering diamond chandelier earrings, freshwater-cultured pearls and pear-shaped
amethysts. Fortunoff is conveniently located at Fifth Avenue and 54th street
near the Diamond District.
For more information on New York City jewelry stores visit:
Manhattan
Jewelry Shops | Bronx
Jewelry Shops
DEPARTMENT STORES
New York's department stores are another world to discover and explore. There
is an irresistible variety of products in these stores, some of which date back
to the late 1800s and have been associated with American culture, symbols and
landmarks.
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| Macy's
in Herald Square, New York2 |
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Macy's
Founded in 1851 by Rowland Hussey Macy, Macy's
flagship store is located in Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway. Famous
for its mid-range prices, visitors flock to this store to shop its 10 floors of
merchandise. Holding two floors, Macy's shoe department is huge on its own, providing
a wide variety of designer shoes and sports footwear. Beauty products, men's and
women's fashion and designer dresses are also found in the store's trendy boutiques.
Every November for over 75 years, Macy's has maintained a true New York experience,
Macy's Thanksgiving
Day Parade, a tradition celebrating America that also prepares shoppers
for Christmas. In the 1920s, most employees at Macy's were first generation immigrants
who wanted to celebrate their adopted American culture and keep European traditions
in a European-like festival. Macy's enthusiasts and employees dress as clowns,
cowboys, knights and sheikhs and march from 145 Street down to 34th Street. In
this event, viewers can also enjoy professional bands and live animals borrowed
from the Central Park Zoo.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Established in 1924, Saks
Fifth Avenue is one of the most lively retail stores in New York. Out
of 61 branches, the largest and most popular Saks Fifth is located in the heart
of Manhattan at Fifth Avenue and 50th Street, covering almost the entire block
across from Rockefeller Center. The 10-floor building is vast with its retail
extravaganzas, but an information booth is available for assistance on the 50th
Street side. Each floor includes a department with different specialties such
as the 8th floor, where gowns for brides, bridesmaids and flower girls from
world brands are found. At the ground floor, guests cannot miss feeling the
energy of the salespeople in the cosmetics and perfume departments. Other floors
contain a line of genteel and elegant boutiques from Escada,
Chanel
and other designers.
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Bloomingdale's
in New York3 |
Barney's and Bergdorf Goodman
Barneys
and Bergdorf
Goodman are two luxury department stores located on Fifth Avenue at 60th
and 57th streets respectively. Barneys is often called the younger version of
Bergdorf Goodman, however both have similar elegance and class. Barneys has gained
more fame since actress Sarah Jessica Parker expressed her obsession with this
store. Fashion fanatics shop at these stores for almost anything. Clothing brands
for women and men run from Ralph
Lauren to DKNY
and Earl Jean.
Bloomingdale's
Another Manhattan department store is Bloomingdale's.
Affectionately nicknamed Bloomie's, this retail store offers a wide selection
of women's clothing, including fashionable denim and dresses, designer shoes
and handbags, bridal collections and swimsuits. Located on Third Avenue between
59th and 60th Streets, Bloomie's include a men's department with all types of
suits, from the trendy to conservative, as well as designer brands and Bloomingdale's
own label. The children's department has upscale brands and the toy section
includes Bloomie's Barbie, made exclusively by Mattel for Bloomingdale's. This
store also has extras such as a fur salon, a bridal and baby registry, a foreign
currency exchange and an interior design department.
For information on New York department stores visit:
Manhattan
Department Stores | Brooklyn
Department Stores
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Model at a Betsey Johnson
Fashion Show4 |
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DESIGNER SHOPS
Almost every prominent world designer has a store or a tie to New York. In
many cases, designer boutiques are found in shops and upscale department stores
such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Barneys. Shoppers who want one-to-one fashion
or cosmetics consultation and prefer exclusively-made cocktail dresses, wedding
and evening gowns can visit the upscale designer stores situated along Madison
Avenue. Brand-name fans can also find exclusive shoes, accessories, cosmetics,
fragrances and jewelry in these designer shops. Designer from Gucci to Calvin
Klein, Chanel to Christian Dior, Betsey Johnson to Valentino and Versace are
located in New York's upscale department stores and boutiques.
For more information on fashion designer boutiques in New York
City visit:
Manahttan
Designer Shops | Manhattan
Boutiques
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Fashion Center; A Summer Garden at New York's Fashion Center; New York,
NY, USA
- Federated Department Stores; Macy's in Herald Square, New York; New York,
NY, USA
- Federated Department Stores; Bloomingdale's in New York; New York, NY,
USA
- People Daily Online; Model at a Betsey Johnson Fashion Show; New York,
NY, USA
