SoHo [1] abounds with chic designer stores. Among them are Anna Sui (113 Greene St., between Prince and Spring Sts., 212/941-8406), Marc Jacobs (163 Mercer St., between Houston and Prince Sts., 212/343-1490), and Prada (575 Broadway at Prince St., 212/334-8888).
Some more affordable shops include French Connection (435 W. Broadway, at Prince St., 212/219-1197) and Phat Farm (129 Prince St., 212/533-7428), selling the hip-hop couture of impresario Richard Simmons.
Broadway between Houston and Grand Streets abounds with shopping including chains like Old Navy (503 Broadway, 212/226-0838) and H&M (58 Broadway, 212/343-2722), as well stores like Uniqlo (546 Broadway, 917/237-8811) the Japanese casual-ware company with stacks of color and Yellow Rat Bastard (483 Broadway, 877/935-5728) for street ware.
The Meatpacking District is packed with high end designers like the celebrated Stella McCartney (429 W 14th St., 212/255-1556) and Diane von Furstenberg (874 Washington St., 646/486-4800) of 1970s wrap-dress fame, but once again a style icon, appearing on magazine covers and shows like The City and Project Runway.
Look for the popular denim label Earnest Sewn (71 Gansevoort St., 212/675-0553) at its flagship store, where you can get your jeans custom-made.
Along 5th Avenue between 23rd and 14th Streets, you’ll find Anthropologie (85 5th Ave., 212/627-5885), offering an interesting mix of ethnic-influenced urban wear, and Bebe (100 5th Ave., at 15th St., 212/675-2323), offering hip urban styles, some sleek, some frilly.
Emporio Armani (110 5th Ave., at 16th St., 212/727-3240) is an expensive designer showroom, while Daffy’s (3 East 18th St. off 5th Ave., 212/529-4477) sells discounted designer fashions. Reminiscence (50 W. 23rd St., near 6th Ave., 212/243-2292) is the place to go for reasonably priced retrowear.
Along 34th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues are shops, shops, and more shops, most selling clothing and shoes. Some are branches of national stores such as The Gap and Benetton. Others are discount emporiums.
Among the many upscale clothing stores you’ll find on Madison Avenue are Polo Ralph Lauren (650 Madison, at 60th St., 212/318-7000), Yves St. Laurent (855 Madison, near 71st St., 212/988-3821), and Issey Miyake (802 Madison, near 68th St., 212/439-7822).
On the Upper West Side [2], Columbus Avenue includes boutiques like Theory (230 Columbus Ave.,and other locations 212/362-3676) women’s ware as well as. Malia Mills (220 Columbus Ave.,and other locations 212/874-7200) with her beautiful brand of bathing suits picked for you by attentive staff.
SoHo [1]’s, What Comes Around Goes Around (351 W. Broadway, near Broome St., 212/343-1225) houses over 60,000 vintage designer items, as well as denim and military threads. Stella Dallas (218 Thompson St., between Prince and Houston Sts., 212/674-0447) specializes in the 1940s look. Patina (451 Broome St., 212/625-3375) has 1930–60 vintage in this cute pink shop.
In Greenwich Village [3] Star Struck (47 Greenwich Ave., near W. 10th St., 212/691-5357) carries a good selection of old coats.
On the East side, Screaming Mimi’s (382 Lafayette St., near E. 4th St., 212/677-6464) is known for 1950s-, 1960s-, and 1970s-era duds. Stock Vintage (143 E. 13th St., 212/505-2505) is one of the few vintage stores that specializes in men’s ware. In Some Odd Rubies (151 Ludlow St., 212/353-1736) their “vintage custom couture” is reworked vintage clothing, which can be tailored to you.
One of New York City [4]’s largest and oldest discount clothing stores is Century 21 (22 Cortlandt St., near Broadway, 212/227-9092). This giant has everything from men’s suits to children’s shoes.
Another famed discount institution is Loehmann’s, once a Bronx [5] institution, but now located in Chelsea [6] (101 7th Ave., at 16th St., and on the Upper West Side [2] at 2101 Broadway, 212/352-0856). Smaller stores featuring both discounted designer and casual-wear include Daffy’s, Bolton’s and Filene’s Basement, which all have multiple outlets in the city.
The Second Chance Consignment Shop (1109 Lexington Ave., 2nd Fl., 212/744-6041) is the place to go for secondhand couture. Off Broadway (139 W. 72nd St., off Broadway, 212/724-6713) sells secondhand clothes once worn by stars.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/soho
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/upper-west-side
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/greenwich-village
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/discover-new-york-city
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/the-bronx
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/chelsea-and-the-garment-district