5 posts tagged “clothing”
As a plus sized woman who likes to be fairly fashionable, I am always on the hunt for new shops that may be able to meet the needs of my style and shape. New York Magazine has a great little shop directory on line and I found a few new places to test out.
#1 - Off Broadway Boutique
139 W. 72nd St. New York NY 10023
between Broadway and Columbus Ave.
212 724 6713
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Broadway divas, opera stars, and grande dames of a certain age flock to this Upper West Side institution—a destination since1970—for their fix of bold clothing and vibrant accessories with a strong sense of drama. Owner Lynn Dell scours up-and-coming designer markets in far-off countries like Japan, Denmark and Morocco to compile an eclectic mix of theatrical pieces, most of which are cut in generous, flowing proportions. Up front lie crinkled silks, Issey Miyake-inspired evening suits by Ivan Grundhal and ruched metallic ponchos fit for descending a grand staircase. Two steps down in the back of the room is an in-store consignment shop called Reruns with campy, vintage looks like leopard-print Dior jeans that attract a younger clientele. And since no diva worth her diamonds can forego accessories, there are plenty of options near the entryway; find rhinestone drop earrings, chunky plastic beads, and tiki-inspired necklaces.
#2 - Off-Broadway Boutique & Re-Runs Consignment
139 W. 72nd St., New York, NY 10023
nr. Columbus Ave.
212 724 6713
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Opera singers, cross-dressers, and vintage fiends alike swear by these shops for dramatic looks. Stop by the consignment area for a large selection of Chanel or a leather Versace suit. Then visit the boutique, where you can find decorative hats, ornate jewelry, and loads of other accessories.
#3 - Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10022
at 50th St.
212-753-4000
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Occupying an entire city block directly across from Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue has been one of the city's preeminent high-end department stores since it opened in 1924. The ten-floor luxury behemoth buzzes with a well-heeled hum at the ground level, where cosmetics salespeople stand at attention and perfume spritzers beckon at every turn. Retail extravaganzas can be overwhelming; stop off at the information booth on the 50th street side before ascending to the upper sales floors.
Women's Plus-Size
Saks’ designer plus-size department, Salon Z, features a diverse array of European and US-made designer clothing from names like Dana Buchman and Marina Rinaldi in sizes 14 through 24; along with intimate apparel and hosiery.
#4 - Giselle
143 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002
nr. Rivington St.
212 673 1900
877 447 3553
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A Lower East Side fixture since 1979, Giselle hearkens back to an era when Orchard Street was a historic wholesale dry-goods enclave. Situated among bargain furriers and leather, shoe, and formalwear shops, the mini department store maintains an Old World charm and remains the go-to retailer for neighborhood ladies in search of hefty bargains on traditional—albeit higher-end—looks from designers like Escada, Les Copains, and Laurel. Catering primarily to demure women-of-a-certain-age, Giselle is a neatly organized, four-floor emporium where suits, knitwear, and sportswear are always at least 20 percent less than at larger department stores, and are often marked up to 50 percent off the regular retail price. Although you might see an enthusiastic shopper forgo the dressing room to change in an aisle, Century 21 it is not: All the garments here are impeccably displayed in a range of sizes (4 to 20), and some of the sales staff speak both English and Hebrew to assist the large Hasidic clientele.
#5 - Bloomingdale's
1000 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022
at 59th St.
212 705 2000
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This Eastside art-deco landmark has been serving sophisticated New York shoppers since 1886. One of the city's earliest high-end department stores, Bloomingdale's has since evolved into a more democratic institution where mid-priced products and designers share ample retail turf. Though big-ticket women's collections can still be found, the store now seems geared more toward business people on lunch breaks and the ubiquitous tourists rather than ladies who lunch. Bloomingdale's Soho, which opened in 2004, furthers this trend, eschewing home furnishings and conservative labels in favor of wallet-friendly downtown designers like Ted Baker and Miss Sixty. In the midtown store, enter underground from the 4, 5 train straight into the plus-sized department and 40 Carrots, Bloomingdale’s cafeteria-style restaurant. On the black and white tile-checkered ground level, brave a phalanx of perfume-wielding clerks to browse copious cosmetics and accessories; stylish, affordable lines like Burberry, Michael by Michael Kors, and Kenneth Cole occupy the bulk of shelf space in the notable watch department. In men's wear, visit elegant in-store boutiques for fashion-conscious sportswear labels like John Varvatos and Armani Collezioni. And gentlemen can get comfortable on the women's levels as well—in the well-upholstered lounge chairs strategically placed throughout the selling floor.
Location:
351 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10013
near Broome St.
Phone: 212-343-9303
Specialties:
Menswear, Shoes: Men, Shoes: Women, Vintage Clothing, Women's Wear
Profile:
When you’re ready to leave the ranks of the merely hard-core vintage hounds and join those of the professional vintage fiends (editors, stylists, and film costumers), this 7,000-square-foot showroom (and its retail offshoot) stocked with over 60,000 pieces awaits. The enormous collection is meticulously organized by theme, such as Military, Collegiate, and Victorian, and since the showroom (unlike the West Broadway store) does not change stock by season, finding a fur in July is hardly a problem. Comb through the racks for beaded sweaters, a forties Adrian gown, or one-of-a-kind cowboy boots. Note: Anyone can shop here, but appointments are limited, so make sure you’ve got a flexible schedule before calling.
Location Details: The showroom is in Tribeca; the retail space is in Soho.
Ahh - Vera Wang, wedding gown goddess & evening wear guru. From her lower priced Lavender line, this gown (?) is today's favorite! Get it on Net-a-Porter.
In the spirit of consolidation, I have decided to move my Stylehive items here. Watch for my shopping desires to gradually start appearing in the coming days.
