New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [140]
Discount Shopping
Fodor’s Choice | Century 21.
For many New Yorkers this downtown fixture—right across the street from the former World Trade Center site—remains the mother lode of discount shopping. Four floors are crammed with everything from Marc Jacobs shoes and half-price cashmere sweaters to Donna Karan sheets, though you’ll have to sift through racks and fight the crowds to find the gems. Best bets for men are shoes and designer briefs; the full floor of designer women’s wear can yield some dazzling finds, such as a Calvin Klein leather trench coat for less than $600. Don’t miss the children’s section, either, for brands like Lucky Jeans and Ed Hardy. TIP Since lines for the communal dressing rooms can be prohibitively long, do what the locals do: wear leggings and change discreetly in the aisles. | 22 Cortlandt St., between Broadway and Church St., Lower Manhattan | 10007 | 212/227–9092 | Subway: R to Cortlandt St.
TRIBECA
Children’s Clothing
Aminah et Les Amis.
Trendy downtown moms flock to this shop for stylish American and European fashion for newborns up to age 12. Brands stocked include Petite Bateau, Lola et Moi, and Glug Baby. | 2 World Financial Center, between Vesey and Liberty St., Battery Park | 10280 | 212/227–0117 | Subway: R to Cortlandt St.
Bu and the Duck.
Vintage-inspired children’s clothing, shoes, and toys distinguish this shop. The Italian-made spectator boots might make you wish your own feet were tiny again. | 106 Franklin St., between West Broadway and Church St., TriBeCa | 10013 | 212/431–9226 | Subway: 1 to Franklin St.
Shoofly.
Children’s shoes and accessories imported from all over the world are the name of the game here. Choose from Mary Janes, trendy sneakers, and motorcycle boots along with pom-pom hats, brightly patterned socks, eclectic toys, and jewelry. | 42 Hudson St., between Thomas and Duane Sts., TriBeCa | 10013 | 212/406–3270 | Subway: 1 to Franklin St.
Clothing
Issey Miyake.
This flagship, designed by Frank Gehry, attracts a nonfashion crowd who come just to gawp at his undulating titanium sculpture, The Tornado. Miyake’s signature style offers clothes that are sleek and slim-fitting, and made from polyester or ultra-high-tech textiles. This flagship carries the entire runway collection, as well as Pleats Please and Issey Miyake Fete. | 119 Hudson St., at N. Moore St., TriBeCa | 10013 | 212/226–0100 | Subway: 1 to Franklin St.
J. Crew Men’s Shop at the Liquor Store.
It would be easy to walk right past this place and think it’s a bar rather than an outpost of J.Crew for men, because it’s filled with manly knickknacks like old Jack Kerouac books and vintage photographs. Some of the best finds are accessories: Borsalino hats and Selima Optique sunglasses (both in exclusive designs), and vintage tie bars in addition to limited-edition suits and cashmere sweaters. | 235 West Broadway, at White St., TriBeCa | 10013 | 212/226–5476 | Subway: 1 to Franklin St.
SOHO
Antiques and Collectibles
Jacques Carcanagues, Inc.
Crammed with goods from Japan to India, this SoHo gallery offers an eclectic array of objects, from pillboxes to 18th-century Burmese Buddhas and teak tables. | 21 Greene St., between Grand and Canal Sts., SoHo | 10013 | 212/925–8110 | Subway: 4, 5, 6, R to Canal St.
Beauty
Lafco NY/Santa Maria Novella.
A heavy, iron-barred door leads to a hushed, scented inner sanctum of beauty products. This location is the official retailer of the 600-year-old Santa Maria Novella products from Italy, which include intriguingly archaic colognes, creams, and soaps such as Tooth Cleansing Water and pomegranate soap. Everything is packaged in bottles and jars with antique-style apothecary labels. | 285 Lafayette St., between E. Houston and Prince Sts., SoHo | 10012 | 212/925–0001 | Subway: N, R to Prince St.
Korres.
This all-natural, Greece-based company has a cult following for its