one morning in NYC for shopping

[chapunso]

I will have next tuesday am in NYC ALONE to buy. I need recommendations for bargain basements in Manhattan, and also for nice upscale mens stores.
thanks

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by chapunso

I will have next tuesday am in NYC ALONE to buy. I need recommendations for bargain basements in Manhattan, and also for nice upscale mens stores.
thanks
It would be a mistake not to visit Bergdorf men's store (if you haven't before).

 

[Will]

Alan Flusser Shop
Domenico Spanno
John Lobb

 

[stevenf]

Century 21 - I was there earlier this week. Notables: Isaia shirts for $100 and ties for $55, socks (Pantherella, Burberry, Versace, etc),
Filenes Basement - Some nice shirts on the discount rack. Decent sportcoats if you can find your size. A few Oxxford suits.
Bergdorf Goodman - The sales are probably over by now, but check. If they're still on, look for shoes.
Saks - Sales are probably over here too, but check. Shoes, also.
Paul Stuart - Sale is over and I don't buy much here, but many seem to like it.
Brooks Brothers.

 

[mr. magoo]

I would look up previous visiting NYC threads.

First, what you ask is pretty huge. It's like saying "I have a day to visit amusement parks in Florida. Where should I go?"

Given you have, say, 3 hours to shop alone, I think you need to decide on a part of Manhattan, probably based on where you'll be already. Generally the city is too large to travel between areas in 3 hours and do basic window shopping.

3 main areas to visit: 1. Downtown (i.e., Soho, Nolita, West Village, Union Square, etc.), 2. Midtown (from about 42nd to 60th St.), 3. Uptown (from about 60th to 85th or so along Madison and Lexington Aves.). Each has a different character, different top level stores and different bargain basements.

Downtown: best stores are Domenico Vacca in Soho, Duncan Quinn and Seize sur Vingt in Nolita, Cucinelli Mark Jacobs in West Village and Paul Smith in Union Square, and Jeffrey in Meat Packing District. Generally the clothing is going to be more "fashion foward" and for the younger (under 50) set. Bargain basements? Filene's and Daffy's in Union Square. Also the main Century 21 down by World Trade Center site.

Midtown: best stores are Bergdorf, Kiton, Paul Stuart, Brooks Bros., Barneys, Saks, Venanzi, Borrelli, Oxxford, etc., etc., etc. Bargain basements -- I can only think of Daffy's on 57th Street. As you can guess, Midtown has a rich plethora of clothing, ranging from jeans to $10,000 suits, but generally is kind of conservative as it's for business people and tourists.

Uptown: best stores are Lobb, Polo, Loro Piana, Lattanzi, Davide Cenci, Peter Elliot, Jay Kos, etc., etc., etc. The only bargain basement that springs to mind is the Peter Elliot sale store. This is more for locals, but is a little more expensive, richer, and targeted towards older and more conservative clientele.

I'm missing many, many great shops, so do yourself a favor and think about priorities and interests as your query is just so broad.

Finally, I don't know about your hours, but a lot of things in NYC don't open until 11 or 12, so I would look up hours to make sure you're not hitting closed stores.

Edit: I should also preface this by saying I dress relatively conservative. If you want, say, high end jeans, my store tips aren't very good. Again, any direction will help posters narrow the options for you.

 

[gerz85]

don't limit yourself.

 

[LARon]

You've already been given wise counsel by guys who know. If I were to offer anything it would be to echo Will, and add in a trip to Bergdorf (the single best menswear store in America).

 

[chapunso]

thank you all; extremely detailed and comprehensive.
I dress very conservatively despite the fact I live in south florida (pal zileri sartoriale, brioni, dolcepunta, etc)

 

[Aaron]

You've been given some great advice already and there are lots of threads on shopping in NYC. My only suggestion is is visit Century 21, I think it has the biggest selection of bargain stuff in one place, plus there is a Brooks Brothers a block away.

Also, if you get a chance visit Vacca and APC in SoHo. You won't be disappointed.

 

[ghulkhan]

places i would go to...
jack spade store
if boutique on grand
camper shoes
margiela on greenwhich st
paul smithi soho
john varvatos in soho
bergdorf
barneys
barker black
blue in green