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New York City Shopping

Shopping is a definite must for any fashion hound who visits New York City. With so many great stores to choose from, in various neighborhoods throughout the city, you can easily spend several days of your New York vacation shopping. Many popular stores provide package holding services or allow you to have your purchases shipped home so you can continue shopping throughout the city unencumbered without having to run back to your hotel every time you finish with a store. Although many of the stores New York City offers aren’t exclusive to the big city, they do have many unique items that aren’t yet available in other places since New York is known as a trendsetting locale. If you plan to hit the streets looking for unusual treasures or great buys make sure you wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking. Here are some of New York City’s most popular shopping destinations you won’t want to miss.

Bloomingdales

Located in the quieter lower east side of Manhattan, Bloomindales is a New York City icon that has been around for nearly one hundred years. The once popular women’s hoop skirt was the very first item to be sold at Bloomindales in the early 1900s, but the popular department store has gone on to be a leader in men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, cosmetics, shoes and other popular department store items. In the 1960s, Bloomingdales launched a marketing campaign they are still well known for these days. Their famous “brown bags” come in many different sizes making it easy to spot Bloomingdales shoppers all over the city.

The holidays tend to be particularly busy at Bloomindales as the store is more decorated than even the finest Christmas tree. So if you plan to visit New York City between Thanksgiving and Christmas plan extra time for your trip to Bloomingdales and remember to be patient with other shoppers. On an average weekday at Bloomingdales, the least crowded time to shop there is before the lunch hour rush. The lower floors are always more crowded than the upper floors, so remember that once you work through the initial throng of tourists and travelers it will be easier to shop.

H&M

Established in 1947 in Sweden, H&M became an international icon for fashion at affordable prices. Their tagline “fashion and quality at the best price” is attractive to the many visitors New York City sees per year. Since H&M is known as a hot spot for the trendiest men’s and women’s fashions, it isn’t uncommon for shoppers to have to wait up to 20 minutes for a dressing room. So make sure you thoroughly browse the store before obtaining a dressing room as it won’t be possible to hold your dressing room while you browse for coordinating items. H&M offers three convenient New York City locations: one in Herald Square near Macys, and two in the famed SoHo neighborhood. All three will usually carry the same items, but having so many stores close by almost guarantees that one of them will have that item you absolutely love in your size.

Macys

If you’ve ever watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, then you’ve probably seen the nine story Macy’s building located in Herald Square. Viewable from the Empire State Building observation deck, this Macy’s is a tourist’s dream. Offering special discounts for out of town travelers (if you stop by the Tourist Info kiosk), Macy’s offers plenty of casual and fine dining options, occasional cooking classes and demonstrations and clothing, accessories and home goods of many kinds. Macy’s is also a popular choice since it is known for having frequent sales.

Much like Bloomingdales, Macys is more crowded during the holidays and from lunchtime on during weekdays. The upper floors tend to be less crowded than the lower floors, so plan plenty of time for your visit and plan to be patient with other shoppers.

SoHo

Known for its many designer stores and unique boutiques, the trendy SoHo neighborhood is home to places like D&G, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Kate Spade, Swiss Army and Louis Vuitton. The much more budget conscious traveler won’t be left in the cold in SoHo though, as SoHo’s streets also offer shops like INA SoHo (a secondhand designer store), Olive & Bettes and Rampage where stylish clothes can be found at affordable prices. Those looking to be on the cutting edge of fashion might enjoy shopping at the also affordable Opening Ceremony, where emerging designers feature and sell their new creations. SoHo is also a hot spot for shoes and household items. So it’s worth a visit no matter what you are shopping for.

Madison Avenue

The concept of shopping in New York City is almost synonymous with Madison Avenue and its abundance of stores. Here shoppers will be greeted by classic stores like Ann Taylor, Barney’s New York, Versace, Armani, Polo, Prada, Yves St. Laurent and the famed children’s toy store FAO Schwarz. Located near NBC Studios and Rockefeller Center, these stores are a great place to shop when you are heading back from some of the popular sites.

Tourist Shops

If you are looking for the now famous I heart NY items, other trendy items from places like the M&M or Hershey stores or sports paraphernalia from one of New York’s many teams, make sure you hit the Times Square shopping district as it caters more to those interests.