New York Shopping Guide

This store is full of stunningly unusual specimens that make for excellent bookends and table adornments—chunky rock crystals, fossilized six-inch-long shark teeth, and slabs of petrified wood. There are loads of lovely things to wear, too, like strands of carnelian stones and rare Indian turquoise beads, oversize moonstone rings, and bracelets flecked with chunks of amber.
185 Madison Ave., 212-889-9000

Products: Jewelry, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

Truly an uptown gem; stop in one of these two locations to splurge on the best new designs of the season by our favorite upscale mainstays like Marni, Miu Miu, and Jimmy Choo.
1073 Third Ave., 212-593-9898; 1169 Madison Ave., 212-249-2254

Products: Shoes
Type of Store: Boutique

Roberta Freymann scours the globe for amazing handworked textiles and accessories as well as personally designed color-block tunics and beach bags. It all has a place—along with daybeds and end tables—at her two Manhattan boutiques.
153 E. 70th St., 212-585-3767;
1019 Lexington Ave., 212-772-7200, robertafreyman.com

Products: Women's Clothing, Bags, Decorative/Lighting, Furniture
Type of Store: Boutique

Look past the "I Love New York" postcards and snow globes, and behold a dizzying array of unusual goods gathered from far-flung corners of the planet. Find beaded Masai cuffs, pretty purple Czech glassware, colorful woven baskets from Ethiopia, hammered Moroccan tables, inlaid mother-of-pearl boxes from Egypt, and Native American tapestries.
First Ave. at 46th St., 212-963-7700

Products: Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

There are two Manhattan locations of this ultra-glam French line to choose from, but we prefer the Upper East Side outpost. It's smaller (it doesn't sell menswear), and lots of attention is focused on the things we're most concerned with: namely, bags and shoes.
855 Madison Ave. (at 71st St.), 212-988-3821, yvessaintlaurent.com for more information

Products: Lingerie/Loungewear, Swimwear, Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags, Jewelry, Beauty
Type of Store: Boutique

Its downtown locations seem to get more attention, and that's fine by us: It means the Lexington Avenue shop has less-picked-over merchandise and fewer weekend and after-work shoppers to contend with.
750 Lexington Ave. (at 59th St.), 212-754-1120, zara.com for more information

Products: Denim, Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags, Jewelry
Type of Store: Boutique

With its two levels, stunning Fez-meets-Florence interior, and seemingly endless amounts of antique-influenced clothing, accessories, and housewares, this is Anthro's most ambitious New York City store yet. It even has the chain's first and only in-store art gallery.
50 Rockefeller Plaza (between Fifth and Sixth Aves.), 212-246-0386, anthropologie.com

Products: Denim, Lingerie/Loungewear, Swimwear, Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags, Jewelry, Beauty, Antique, Decorative/Lighting, Furniture, Linens, Outdoor, Tabletop, Books/Stationery, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

If you want more of Banana Republic, the Rockefeller Center flagship won't disappoint. It's done up with art deco details and has three massive floors with everything from bags to dresses.
626 Fifth Ave. (at 51st St.), 212-974-2350, bananarepublic.com

Products: Denim, Swimwear, Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags, Jewelry, Beauty
Type of Store: Boutique

Though highly-regarded as the ultimate department store, they always take a chance on emerging labels, often before even the smallest boutiques do. Its Co-op area—our favorite—focuses on young designers.
660 Madison Ave. (at 61st St.), 212-826-8900, barneys.com