Hey HC Readers!
What comes to your mind when you think of New York City shopping? Most of us immediately think of Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, among other ritzy shopping hotspots. However, to the average New Yorker, these are merely tourist attractions targeted at those rare shoppers who actually have that kind of money to spend.
After a recent trip to visit my brother in the Big Apple and years of regular visits to this wondrous city, I began to realize that sometimes all the touristy shopping spots are not all they are hyped up to be. With long lines, even steeper prices, and brands that many of your friends could easily acquire back home, sifting through the racks of huge NYC department stores may not be your best bet on how to spend time and money.
New York City is my favorite place in the world. No matter how many times you visit, there is always more to discover. Even my older brother, who has lived there for almost a decade, can still wander into new neighborhoods and find fresh places to shop, dine, or just hang out.
So, when deciding where to shop, the obvious choice of Fifth Avenue was not our first destination. Instead, we decided to mosey into cute neighborhoods like Park Slope in Brooklyn. There, we were sure to find tons of adorable boutiques and vintage shops with an abundance of unique items just waiting to be purchased.
One of my first and dearest purchases of the trip was found in small boutique in Brooklyn. I found the perfect little white dress for summertime in a shop called Teddy’s. As an added bonus, the dress with its sheer, flowy material allowed me to appear put-together even when the temperature outside decided to turn unbearably hot. You can check them out Teddy’s their facebook page: www.facebook.com/shopTeddy
If you dream of wearing designer brands, but can’t afford the high-end prices, New York has tons of vintage and consignment clothing shops where all of your favorite brands can be found at a fraction of the price. Just last summer, I was dying to find a great pair of high-waisted Levi jean shorts. I visited NY in July and went home with not one, but three great pairs, at an unbelievably cheap price.
Allow me to fill you in on one of the best places in New York to find both vintage and modern clothing at affordable prices. Beacon’s Closet is a clothing-exchange store that selectively buys vintage clothing and accessories from the public. If you are not one to buy previously worn clothing, have no fear. During each of my NYC excursions, Beacon’s Closet is one of the stores I repeatedly return to and you can trust me when I say that I am no Goodwill girl. The clothing is always quality and lightly worn.
This last time I ventured in to Beacon’s Closet was no disappointment, since I walked out with a pair of Marc by Marc Jacob’s white eyelet shorts. It had always been my dream to be able to walk into a Marc Jacobs shop and buy whatever my heart desired. At less than $20 dollars, I was ecstatic to walk out with the perfect item from my favorite designer.
Should you decide to make a serious shopping trip to the Big Apple, bypass those expensive shops that will only allow you to return home with a few small items. Instead, be sure to explore all different parts of the city and include these vintage shops in your shopping itinerary.