New York City is seen as one of the world's most fashionable places -- its designers and citizens setting and spreading trends across the globe. From Battery Park to the Bronx, the city's seemingly infinite number of shops hold strong appeal for tourists who visit the island with the sole purpose of returning home with stylish apparel of their own. Even if your wallet is thin, you can find inspiration in some of New York's famous (and not-so-famous) storefront windows.
SoHo
- Located in lower Manhattan south of Houston Street, east of Sixth Avenue, west of Lafayette Street and north of Canal Street, SoHo has become a shopping mecca where you will find quality goods -- from shoes and skirts to toys and magic tricks -- with moderate to expensive prices tags. This comprehensive shopping district is home to the North American flagship stores for computer giant, Apple; Japanese clothing store, Uniqlo; and Burton Snowboards. Other storefronts sharing the streets include everything from Chanel, H&M, Steve Madden and Forever 21 to lesser-known independent stores full of one-of-a-kind merchandise.
Lexington Avenue
- If you're looking for a shopping excursion reminiscent of decades past, Lexington Avenue is the place. Take a stroll on the street referred to by locals simply as "Lex," between 69th Street and 82nd Street, and browse shops selling a bit of history -- such as antique English vases or 16th-century engravings -- at a price, of course. If antiques aren't your thing, visit stores offering high-priced and high-quality modern clothing, jewelry and vanity items reflecting a timeless style.
Chinatown
- Once known for its secret street trading of impressive designer knock-offs, lower Manhattan's Chinatown district is a must-stop for those seeking NYC souvenirs or cheap, kitschy goods plastered with pop culture phrases and icons. It's also a great place to find inexpensive produce and fish; markets and fruit stands spill out onto the busy sidewalks. Canal Street also hosts myriad shoe and jewelry stores, while Broadway is home to famous Pearl River Mart, an Asian everything mart.
Diamond District
- With nearly 90 percent of the diamonds filtering through the United States finding their way to New York's Diamond District, there seems no better place to shop for jewelry. Squeezed between Fifth and Sixth Avenues on West 47th Street, the Diamond District (and its surrounding streets) boasts more than 2,600 independent businesses -- almost all exclusively selling jewelry. Storefront windows glitter and shine in the sunlight as you pass, and a small step inside reveals case upon case of gold, silver and platinum accessories set with colorful gems and, of course, diamonds.
Fifth Avenue
- Mega shopping legend Fifth Avenue, which claims such iconic shops as Tiffany & Co., stretches from about 48th Street and dramatically ends at 57th Street with the enormous flagship store for Louis Vuitton -- with prestigious designer goods from Chanel, Versace, Cartier and others seductively dangling in the windows along the way. In addition to these high-priced designer boutiques, you will also find classic high-end department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue and a handful or two of mainstream retail stores like Gap.
Other Options
- Many shoppers prefer the excitement of vintage shops. New York's East Village is home to a healthy number of vintage shops that re-sell high-end, mint condition designer goods and recycled vintage or secondhand clothing. Shopping experiences at these establishments may include browsing well-organized racks or digging through discount bins. Sizing is sometimes frustrating, so keep in mind that you can always have it altered.
