Holiday Shopping, New York City
Yuka Goes Shopping!
By Yuka Hachiuma
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Coach |
Crate and Barre |
FAO Schwarz |
Henri Bendel |
HMV | MoMA Design Store |
Kate's Paperie |
The Store Next Door |
Tiffany & Co. |
Victoria's Secret
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When I was in school, I always found Coach goods to be slightly too
conservative for my taste, but now that I'm in the working world, I'm
starting to realize the value of tradition and all that comes with it.
There are very few leather goods stores that come close in terms of
leather quality and craftsmanship--all of which comes with a life-time
guarantee. I have been eyeing a particular briefcase since
graduation, which by now will most probably become a Christmas gift,
if I'm lucky. Another gift that I would highly recommend are the
leather gloves; the leather is unbelievably soft to the touch, and the
gloves are amazingly warm due to the cashmere lining. Every time I
walk by the Coach store, I always wander in and try on the gloves,
walking away at the point right before I break down and surrender my
credit card at the register. The goods they sell at Coach are
reasonable in terms of price, considering how long they will last you
because of their craftsmanship and timeless quality.
Madison Avenue at 57th Street, (212) 754-0041
Madison Avenue at 44th Street, (212) 599-4777
4th & Broadway, (212) 799-1624
Rockefeller Center, 620 Fifth Avenue, (212) 245-4148
South Street Seaport, 193 Front Street, (212) 425-4350
143 Prince Street, (212) 473-6925
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It's here, it's here, Crate and Barrel is finally in New York! Being
a native of Chicago, I was beside myself with joy when this store from
my hometown opened up on Madison Avenue this summer. Sure there's
Pottery Barn and Pier 1 Imports (both of which I frequent), but when
it comes to household goods, the first place I head to is Crate and
Barrel. Where else could you get a stylish potpourri/candle holder, a
sleek, shiny martini shaker, and glasses with embossed cows, all under
one roof? Not only that, during the holiday season, the store
transforms into a veritable Santa's workshop with an assortment of
ornaments, decorations and stocking stuffers to fill everyone with the
Christmas spirit. Although this list is intended for the holiday
season, Crate and Barrel is also a great place to set up a wedding
registry, for those who are interested.
650 Madison Avenue at 59th Street, (212) 308-0011
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I have to begin with a disclaimer: I have never purchased anything
from FAO Schwarz in my life. So why include it in this list? Because
holiday shopping wouldn't be the same unless you stop by this museum
of nostalgia where every corner you turn, there's a different theme
and something for the child in everyone. On one of my recent shopping
excursions to Fifth Avenue, I spent the majority of my time navigating
through the plethora of playthings offered up for hefty prices, trying
out various toys. The only place I was truly tempted to take out my
wallet was in the "FAO Schweetz" section where you feel like Charlie
in the Chocolate Factory, enclosed in walls filled up to the ceiling
with candy. What deterred me was the incredibly long line at the
register, which is something to get used to now that the holiday
season is in full swing. If crowds irritate and annoy you, I wouldn't
recommend this store, but if you have time, you may want to drop by
and check out the new section where they pay homage to the infamous
blonde babe, Barbie--it's quite a hoot.
Fifth Avenue at 58th Street, (212) 644-9400/9410
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Welcome to the "Women's Paradise," where you will seldom see a man
near any of the beautiful cosmetics counters or their colorful
displays of fragrant bath oils. I don't know where the men go while
the women shop in this most exquisite of department stores, but it's a
peculiarity I have noticed time and time again. So, leave your beau
behind and visit the Mecca of trendy cosmetics (Bobbi Brown, MAC, and
Trish McEvoy are sold here) and walk out with the adorable little
Bendel shopping bags in which they lovingly package your
acquisition--no matter how inexpensive the purchase. Makeup isn't the
only thing they sell here, but you must have a strong heart and a
robust bank account to venture to the upper levels where they sell
clothes by designers to whom fashion magazines need only refer in the
first-person. Last, but not least, if you ever find yourself shopping
on Fifth Avenue and in need of a bathroom, explore the basement level
of this brown and white striped oasis where you'll discover bathrooms
bigger than studios on the Upper West Side and a powder room
immaculate beyond belief.
Fifth Avenue at 56th Street, (212) 247-1100
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I usually try to stay away from music stores because once I step foot
inside one, I can't leave without buying a stack of CDs. Now I spend even
more time whenever I go to HMV because I now have my very own I Card. For
those who don't know what it is, there are "I-Stations" situated throughout
the store that allow you to preview most any CD you wish before purchasing
it. I never would have gambled and bought the Edith Piaf CD I have unless
I hadn't previewed it on the I Station. Now I can't stop listening to it.
This is also where I discovered "The Carpenter's Christmas" which I bought
as a Christmas gift for a friend who was brooding over the fact that he
missed hearing Christmas carols playing in the stores because he was cooped
up in his room completing graduate school applications. There's always
something for everyone at a store with as comprehensive a collection as
HMV.
2081 Broadway at 72nd Street, (212) 721-5900
1280 Lexington Avenue at 86th Street,
(212) 348-0800,
565 5th Avenue at 45th Street,
(212) 681-6700,
57 West 34th Street at 5th Ave,
(212) 629-0900,
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The gift shop connected to the Museum of Modern Art holds its own
with an extensive collection of funky poster frames made of colored
aluminum, but for truly innovative gifts, I recommend going down the
block to MoMA Design Store. There you will find an assortment of
design-conscious objects that manage to be surprisingly functional at
the same time. I have to admit, a lot of the merchandise sold here is
beyond my price range, but there are many small gifts that are
reasonable, even with my shoe-string budget. My prized possession
from the store is a gift my sister gave me when she first visited New
York--a black token holder with a succinct "MoMA" written in white, so
compact yet so chic in its simplicity. Alas, due to the changing of
the size of tokens, I can no longer use it--now I'll have to move to a
place that has tokens that fit my token holder. But seriously, this
museum shop is worth the trip, even if you're not going to see the
exhibits.
44 West 53rd Street btwn 5-6, (212) 767-1050
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I still remember how I discovered this wonderful little stationery
store when I was meandering the streets of SoHo, wracking my brains
for a gift idea for a friend. I wanted to get something unique, so I
walked into the store which, judging from the store window, promised
to have such gifts. For anyone who has an interest in paper, this is
the store to visit--there is every type of paper and paper goods
imaginable. They have absolutely magnificent stationery, as well as
beautiful bound books for whatever purpose you may choose. The store
also has quite an extensive collection of pens, which, for someone who
has a pen fetish, like me, is quite exciting. After literally
spending hours roaming the store, and asking millions of questions to
the knowledgeable staff, I chose an intricately engraved seal and
sticks of wax. Another hour or so went into selecting the wrapping
paper due to the sheer variety of designs from which to choose.
Broadway btwn Prince and Spring, (212) 941-9816
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Perhaps it's because it's right next door to one of my favorite
museums, but I have an inexplicable affinity for The Store Next Door.
I wouldn't be surprised if other people pass by the store thinking
it's rather small and nothing special, but I always find myself
stopping by whenever I'm in the area. I even tried to get a job there
as a cashier one summer, although they didn't want me because I had no
experience working with cash registers. Many of the stained glass
candleholders that are perched on the windowsill in my bedroom were
purchased there, along with countless postcards I've bought intending
on sending them, yet ending up on my walls because I couldn't part
with them. As is the rule with all museum shops, the things they sell
here tend to be on the expensive side, but some things are just worth
the extra dollars. Unlike the museum shop within the Whitney, The
Store Next Door's merchandise doesn't necessarily reflect the special
exhibit that is going on next door, but don't forget to stop by if
you're into decorative doodads.
Madison Avenue at 75th Street, (212) 606-0200,
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Need I go into an explanation as to why this store is on my list of
places to shop for gifts? Tiffany & Co. is where they must have
coined the phrase, "all good things come in small packages." There's
something about that little blue box with the white satin ribbon that
makes my heart skip a beat with anticipation. Whenever I am lost as
to what to buy my mother, a stroll through the aisles of expertly
crafted jewelry inspires me with numerous ideas. Most of these
inspirations are out of reach for me, but there are many sterling
silver pieces that are financially less daunting, yet just as
beautiful. This store is also for dreamers; whenever I get the
catalogue in the mail, I spend endless hours perusing the pages.
Then, I proceed to the store to see the merchandise in all their
glory, carefully protected under the spotless glass of the counter.
This store definitely has the power of making both the act of gift
giving and receiving absolutely magical.
727 Fifth Avenue & 57th Street, (212) 755-8000
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What I find most amusing about shopping at Victoria's Secret is
spotting men wandering helplessly through racks of racy, lacy
lingerie, quickly taken in by the experienced salespeople who walk
them through the process of purchasing lingerie. Sometimes it's just
as difficult for women to attempt to find a gift in this store as
well, for lingerie is something that is extremely personal and
difficult to select for other people. Just ask the numerous women who
have gone to the store to return gifts they felt were not quite right
for them. That's why when I visit this store, I steer clear of the
tricky lingerie and look for things that people normally don't buy for
themselves. Not only does Victoria's Secret have an extensive
selection of lingerie, they also offer many enticing satin pajamas as
well as ultra plush robes. Their fragrance section is rather
comprehensive as well, as evidenced when you step into the boutique
and are greeted by notes of jasmine or lily of the valley. The
holiday season does tend to get hectic at this bastion of lingerie, so
have a rather clear idea of what you plan on buying beforehand.
Madison Avenue at 63rd St, (212) 838-9266
57th Street between Park and Madison, (212) 758-5592