Manhattan [1]’s two main thoroughfares for shoes are Broadway between Houston and Canal Streets in SoHo [2] and West 34th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues near Herald Square. The former caters to young fashion mavens with money, the latter to office workers looking for bargains.
New York’s largest and oldest hat store is the J.J. Hat Center (310 5th Ave., at 32nd St., 212/239-4368). Established in 1911, J.J.’s stocks over 15,000 men’s hats, including fedoras, Stetsons, homburgs, and caps.
For imaginative handmade women’s hats, check out the Hat Shop (120 Thompson St., between Prince and Spring Sts., 212/219-1445). The modern men’s ware and hat shop, Still Life (77 Orchard St. 212/575 9704), will make custom hats as well as find you the perfect pair of sunglasses.
Most of the Garment District [3] shops are wholesale only. Some of the stores that sell retail are Margola (48 W. 37th St., between 5th and 6th Aves., 212/695-1115), offering glass beads, rhinestones, and trinkets; Manny’s Millinery Supply (26 W. 38th St., 212/840-2235), selling hats and notions; and M&J Trimming (1008 6th Ave., 212/391-6200), offering beads, buttons, lace, and feathers.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/soho
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/chelsea-and-the-garment-district/the-garment-district