Where (not) to shop

Being a "Wanna-Be" New Yorker (I travel here for work for about one week a month), I'm not sure where a good place to go clothes shopping, that is not overrun by tourists. I don't mind spending the money, I'm just sick of buying everything at Old Navy or Ann Taylor. Please HELP!!!

Herald Square Macy's at Christmas, aaah! Photo by Erin Depending on your tastes, the answer to this question could be different, so we can start with places not to shop, such as Herald Square (if you put a roof over 34th street between 5th and 7th, it would look like every mall in Suburbia) or the new Time Warner Center (does anyone actually shop there? Besides the Whole Foods, anyway?) or most of Fifth Avenue for that matter (yeah, Saks, Bergdorf's, Bloomingdales, etc. are all part of the NYC shopping experience, but they are also big tourist attractions).

We'll send you downtown, for starters. Go to the Village and just wander; there are so many little mom n' pop kinds of stores where you can get some good deals on unique clothing. Again, though, where you go may depend on your tastes (those looking for the hipster aesthetic frequent St. Marks and the Lower East Side; if you want something a little more upscale, check out the boutiques in SoHo).

It is with some sadness, though, that we admit corporate chains are starting to take over. Is there really an Old Navy in SoHo, or did we just imagine it last time we walked down Broadway?

Maybe the readers can get in on this too. Where are your favorite places to shop?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Erin O'Brien in Miscellaneous on May 21, 2004 11:10 AM

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Shopaholic

Cool boutiques are Tokyo 7 (on 7th between 1st and 2nd), where you can find gently used designer clothing, shoes, and accessories, and Purdy Girl (on Thompson betweeen Bleeker and W. 3rd), the cutest store ever. I could walk around in there for hours.

The only chain stores I frequent are Zara, H&M, and Mexx. I find that the turnover is so fast, most of the time you're getting something original-ish. Zara is really great if you're tall - it's the only place I can buy pants that aren't stupidly short on me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Zara has really made it around to the rest of the US yet (it's a Spanish chain with lots of stores throughout Europe), so you could pretend like it's a NY phenomenon as long as you don't leave the country.