I (Jo) recently spent four days in NYC and was excited to hit the densely retailed city to visit stores we don’t have in Seattle, or that I’ve only seen online. It was so satisfying to see the merchandise in person, feel the fabrics, and try on clothes and shoes to see about sizing and comfort. It was exhausting (100,000 steps in four days!), but I pushed through tired legs, shopped and ate my way through the city (with a few museums sprinkled in), and have put together a FabList of NYC shopping and dining for you.
Map:
This is a pretty great list, if we do say so ourselves, and is one that should accompany any FabLister visiting NYC who plans to do some shopping. Plus, we’ve created a Google map for you to use on your next trip. Click here, and a map of all the shops, restaurants, and museums will magically appear!
Most of the shopping I did was in Soho because there are so many stores in a few block area.
Fashion Trends:
- Popular clothing colors: orange, red, and green.
- Cherry print is everywhere, along with polka dots and leopard print.
- Tennis shoes are not going away.
- Jeans, jeans, jeans – baggy and light wash.
- Mesh flats are here for summer.
Shopping:
Elizabeth & Prince Streets:
- Still Here: A popular New York denim brand that specializes in everyday dressing. Loved the Cool Jean with drawstring and the Lucky Shirt.
- Toast: This UK brand has come stateside with 4 stores in NYC. Clothing, home goods, and accessories with a boho vibe.
- Sezane: The French brand has been opening stores across the US, featuring its very classic, timeless pieces that embody French-girl style. The Betty cardigan caught my eye.
- Buck Mason: Updated modern American classic clothing. The Poplin Trench is a must.
- Alohas: Known for sneakers, flats, and sandals. They had a great selection of reasonably priced shoes.
- Loeffler Randall (Prince Street): The red crochet ballet flat pairs well with the cherry motif that is all the rage for summer.
- Credo (Prince Street): If you missed Chrissie’s interview with Annie Jackson, the CEO of Credo, read it here. I’m loving all the products I bought based on Annie’s recommendations, specifically the True Botanicals Renew Nourishing Cleanser and the Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator mist.
Core Soho:
- Trinny: Trinny finally has a store in the US. Trinny, the original creator of the book and show What Not To Wear, has a fabulous makeup line that Jo and her sister have been using for years. Favorite products are the BFF cream, a skin perfector for an instant dose of glow, and Miracle Blur, a skin-smoothing, pore-blurring line filler.
- Uniqlo: Always fun to stop in and see what’s new.
- Bloomingdale’s: There is a large Bloomingdale’s on Broadway, as well as their flagship store uptown. They have everything from shoes to clothes to linens, and don’t forget the amazing frozen yogurt at 40 Carrots, their in-house cafe.
- Mango: Cheap chic, great for the younger set.
- & Other Stories: Part of Zara, my daughter loves it, and I love their blouses.
- Alex Mill: Preppy, classic clothing.
- APC: French chic, high-quality basics, I particularly like their jackets.
- Cos: Owned by H&M, known for minimalist, high-quality, wardrobe staples and avant-garde style at affordable prices. Chrissie and I always find something at Cos!
- Staud: Great basics as well as special occasion dresses. I liked these mesh shoes.
- IF: Very avant-garde clothing and unique high-end designers.
- Ganni: Always fun to stop in and see their latest. Ganni is a master of leopard (it’s a neutral), specifically their cropped leopard jeans.
- Freda Salvatore: I’ve been eyeing Freda’s loafers for a while, but never had the opportunity to try them on. I tried them and bought them, in a very dark brown, which is a hard color to find in loafers these days! Size down a half size.
- Apiece Apart: I really liked the clothing in this store. Great dresses and blouses.
- The Frankie Shop: Known for its blazers, I could have bought many of their classic oversized items.
- Me & Em: There are a few Me & Em stores in NYC now, and they are crowded! Seems that everyone is liking their colorful, timeless style.
- Rag & Bone: We’ve been loving their Miramar line of denim, printed on sweatshirt material!
- Essential Antwerp: A favorite store in London, now in NYC.
- Tibi: Minimalist and modern, I love Tibi’s clothing, which offers a lot of wiggle room, much of it being oversized.
Tribeca:
- La Garconne: If you like high-end, more avant-garde fashion, this is the place. Issey Miyake, Sofie D’Hoore, The Row, Dries Van Noten, Sacai, etc . . .
- 180: Similar vibe to La Garconne above.
- Nili Lotan: We love their Shun pants – barrel leg with lots of pockets – and their white jeans are perfect for summer.
- Clic: Started by the woman who created the beachy line, Calypso, this store is full of fun clothing, books, and gifts. There is also one at the Montecito Country Mart in California.
Printemps: This famous French department store recently opened at One Wall Street, and WOW, it is a sight. It’s worth a visit just to admire the interior design. It is highly curated, focusing on luxury fashion, beauty, and accessories. I’m still thinking about the Tampico bags and Coopettebros pants I saw. Hmmmm.
Restaurants:
- Baltazar: Soho. Next door to the restaurant is a take-out with great pastries and sandwiches.
- Gjelina: Soho. Newer to New York (on Abbot Kinney in Los Angeles), we went here for a yummy brunch.
- Lucky’s: Soho. I’ve been eating at Lucky’s in Montecito for years – now in Soho – sat at the bar for a salad and cocktail.
- Odeon: Tribeca. Neon-lit restaurant defined New York in the 80s—classic NY restaurant – good salads and burgers.
- Elios: Upper East Side. Italian classic. Good salads and pasta. Skip the chicken, order the tartufo.
- Sadelles: Soho. So fun, towers of bagels and toppings. We loved the club sandwich platter: no French fries, but $6 tiny Cokes in bottles with excellent ice.
- Hillstone: Park Avenue S. One of the harder reservations to get, even for a chain restaurant. Had a great crispy chicken burger with fries (shoestring, so not great) and their classic grilled chicken salad with peanut sauce.
- Cafe Chelsea: Chelsea. In the recently renovated Hotel Chelsea, which is also worth seeing. The bar/Restaurant is loud, so get a table in the back. The steak frites are good and the chocolate soufflé is even better.
- Ralph’s Coffee: On the Upper East Side in Ralph Lauren, this is an excellent stop for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up when it’s not too crowded.
- Lucia Pizza: I stopped here for a slice and took it next door to their Alimentari for a sit-down. So good.
Museums:
- Morgan Library and Museum: There is a worthwhile exhibit celebrating the centennial of the library and museum as a public institution. And you must see the J. Pierpont Morgan Library and the surrounding buildings.
- Neue Galerie: This museum showcases early 20th-century German and Austrian art, particularly a vast collection of Klimt’s works. The long line in front isn’t for the museum; it is for its cafe, Cafe Sabarsky, which is based on Viennese cafes and apparently serves a mean wiener schnitzel.
- Frick Collection: A tough ticket to get since it reopened after a five-year renovation, and I couldn’t get one. Next time.
