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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.
Once known primarily for its furs, Fendi is now synonymous with decadent handbags, and its Madison Avenue flagship is a temple for them. The purses are beaded, embroidered, and fantastically embellished. You can also buy leather goods, women's wear, menswear, shoes, watches, and other accessories.
Elegance and restraint typify these designs for both women and men, from handbags and footwear to fragrances, ready-to-wear, and leather goods—all well represented at this multilevel flagship. The company has reworked some of its women's styles from previous decades, like the comfy Audrey (as in Hepburn, for whom the style was designed) ballet flat, released seasonally in various styles and colors.
Named for its mission to “pass the torch of good taste from one generation to the next,” this upscale, locally owned boutique is the ultimate hat shopping experience. Specializing in headwear for all genders, the shop is known for its well-crafted, conversation-starting fedoras with a signature turtle and torch logo. Hat lovers and newcomers alike can expect an array of sophisticated hats made with wool, firm paper straw, or leather, and a warm and knowledgeable staff that will ensure you leave with the hat(s) best fit for you.
In this warehouse-turned-glasswork studio, artisans bend glass for custom lighting fixtures and other pieces of glassware. While most items are made to order for delivery in a couple of weeks, there are some items—cuff links, jewelry, and some tableware—that are available for off-the-shelf retail.
Frequent flyers can one-stop shop at this travel-themed store, which puts a creative spin on everyday accessories. Look for bright luggage tags, passport holders, satin sleep masks, and innovative storage for everything from shoes to toiletries.
Flying Solo is anything but. That's because this SoHo shop is actually an assemblage of designers who have come together to cooperate with each other, instead of compete. The industrial-chic, 7,000-square-foot-space features about 70 or so brands, each one displaying jewelry, handbags, shoes, beauty products, housewares, and ample amounts of fashionable, this-season clothing. Think of it as a smaller, but very hip department store for all your fashion needs and desires.
This fashionable shop curates trendy yet approachable apparel, plus other well-chosen odds 'n' ends, including fine Moroccan slippers, Japanese ceramics and glassware, and bold-looking jewelry. They've outgrown this original space and have expanded to an outpost just a few doors down.
There's an old western feel at this 6,000-square-foot mecca for boots, thanks to the exposed brick walls and reclaimed barn doors. In addition to a huge variety of Frye's famed boots, the store sells flats, oxfords, clogs, and mules.
Indie record shops were once a big part of the American indie-pop culture landscape. At this shop, you can pretend it's the '80s or '90s again by shopping for CDs and vinyl. While Generation Records stocks many genres of music, its forte is punk and metal, so if you're looking for Celtic Frost or the Dead Kennedys on vinyl, this is the place.
If you love pens, notepads, and sketchbooks you'll immediately want to acquire one of everything from this well-stocked boutique from the team behind McNally Jackson bookstore in nearby SoHo. Desk accessories and items to decorate the study round out the stock, which all make for great gifts.
Originally launched by a group of parents as a yard sale to raise funds for their children’s schools around 1979, this curated weekly market (held every Sunday, year-round) is now NYC's largest and oldest flea market and features the works of local artisans and independent vintage dealers. Dozens of vendors offer everything from 1950s rhinestone jewelry, vintage clothing, and posters to current items by local and international artisans. There are some food vendors, too, since browsing for bargains can make you hungry. If you need encouragement to shop, you might appreciate that 100% of the market's profits still benefit four public schools.
The longtime SoHo men's fashion boutique Seize sur Vingt has evolved to incorporate three different in-house design brands and an art gallery, touting itself as an "integrated fashion collective." You can still splurge on Seize sur Vingt's exquisitely tailored shirts and suits, both off the rack or created bespoke from a mind-boggling array of fabrics (linen, broadcloth oxford, flannel), but now there are more moderately priced options as well, with sweaters, sneakers, women's wear, and more.
The 46,000-square-foot flagship with floor-to-ceiling glass windows is the largest Gucci store in the world, selling goods for women, men, and kids. The latter is a specialty in this location, which also has store-exclusive goods and a special "heritage" department. The clothing is edgy and sexy. Many of the store's accessories, like blingy shades or snakeskin shoes, have Gucci's signature horse-bit detailing.
This new two-story, 9,000-square-foot Gucci store has its own unique character, setting it apart from the brand's other locations around the city: the Meatpacking outlet focuses more on accessories and has a pleasing vintage-meets-industrial vibe. You'll find handbags, luggage, and jewelry on the ground floor and men's and women's ready-to-wear couture on the upper floor. Even if you're not ready to whip out your wallet here, the Gucci store is still a spectacle to see with your own eyes.
Of-the-moment trends are packaged for the mass market at this affordable Swedish clothing chain for men, women, and kids. The 57,000-square-foot flagship is one of the brand's largest stores, though there are numerous others around the city. H&M has collaborated with many designers, including Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, and Isabel Marant.
Specializing in vintage clothing from the 1940s to the '90s, this colorful and fun shop is loaded with racks of retro duds that dazzle. Maybe you didn't realize you needed a bright-orange sweater vest from the '70s or a black leather jacket with sleeve fringes from the '80s, but you never know.
Home goods, accessories, and ready-to-wear fashions—from shoes to jackets—for men and women are handsomely displayed in the former home of civil rights leader Malcolm X. The bespoke boutique is owned and operated by celebrity tailor Guy Wood Sr. (also known for 5001 Flavors, his custom clothing company) and his wife, Sharene. The main inspiration comes from the style of the Harlem Renaissance in a modernized spin. Harlem Haberdashery has expanded, launching a spirits collection known as HH Bespoke Spirits (served at a variety of neighborhood bars and restaurants).
Fancy a cup of tea? Harney & Sons produces more than 250 varieties, which can be sampled at the 24-foot-long tasting bar, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling shelves stocked with various blends. There are classic brews like English breakfast and oolong, along with interesting herbals (ginger and licorice or mint verbena). There's also a tea salon where you can enjoy a cup with a scone or other light fare.
Known as "the Jeweler to the Stars," Harry Winston is best known for adorning celebs at the Oscars with dazzling gems, and you need an A-list bank account to shop here. The ice-clear diamonds are of impeccable quality and are set in everything from emerald-cut solitaire rings to wreath necklaces resembling strings of flowers. No wonder why this preeminent jeweler was immortalized in the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
Master milliner Mr. Bunn caters to a fashion-forward clientele. The former shoemaker's coveted handcrafted caps, fedoras, derbies, bowlers, and sun hats for men and women are suited to any occasion—from Easter Sunday to supper club—and come in a variety of colors and materials for all ages. If you're looking for something specific to suit your individual style, he also does custom work.
The legendary French retailer is best known for its iconic handbags, the Kelly and the Birkin—named for Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin—as well as its silk scarves and neckties. True to its roots, Hermès still stocks saddles and other equestrian items in addition to a line of beautifully simple separates and jewelry for men and women, many with the recognizable logo. Even Apple watches for Hermès are available. This store has a fifth-floor atelier for alterations and repairs, and customer service includes butlers who can deliver cocktails or champagne; or shoppers can visit bars within the store. There are Hermès outposts in the Meatpacking District and Financial District but this palatial, garden-topped flagship store—which spans three buildings and is one of the brand's largest stores in the world—is the one to visit.
Opened in spring 2019, this Hermès location raised eyebrows simply because it was rubbing proverbial elbows with plebeian shops and restaurants. But have no fear, you can still get that crocodile skin handbag here for the price of a small Parisian apartment. The two-floor, 5,330-square-foot space also has a nice waiting area where you can sip coffee and even charge your phone while your shopping companion maxes out the credit card.
The Japanese-style, origami-influenced bags here marry form and function. Totes and messenger bags come in durable leather and nylon; popular styles include lots of pockets.
