in NYC…great shopping tips…tried and tested! Part 1!

As with any shopping trip, you need to plan your wish list before you go, otherwise you’ll waste time and energy buying stuff you don’t need. I adore shopping and love accessories in particular but I’m not great with planning outfits or combining. That’s where my buddy comes in…..it’s what she does best!

On this trip, she suggested the planning involve a stock take of my existing wardrobe, a list of basic but essential new additions (white shirts/decent jeans/cropped leather jacket/wrap dress/knee-high boots, etc) and a wish list for some of this seasons trends (Oct 07: Black patent, purple, midnight blue, Mary-Janes, A-line skirts, opagues).

There are two shops you need to visit every time you’re in New York! I’ve been there many times (used to work as cabin crew) and each time I return, I swear I won’t go to Macy’s again…..but alas, I can’t resist a bargain!
Things to remember with Macy’s

• Visit the loo before you get to the store. The queue’s are notorious and you could waste over 30 mins in there!
• Go straight to the Mezzanine level on the ground floor to the visitor centre and get a visitor card. You’ll need ID so bring a passport. This entitles you to an additional 11% off any item even in the sales.
• Macy’s have a “Wednesday” sale where almost everything in the store is reduced in price by up to 75%. (Other than cosmetics and perfumes!). However when you get there on Wednesday’s…..the good stuff’s gone…..here’s the thing, they reduce the stock, the day before the sale or sometimes after 6pm on the Monday before the sale!!! On the Monday of our stay I had spotted a pair of knee high (part fabric/part leather) boots in Kenneth Cole for 425 dollars and promised them I’d return to purchase them if my Visa card didn’t bounce it’s way out of Macy’s. That evening in Macy’s I bought 2 pairs for 450 dollars!!! I loved the brown but simply had to take the black….such a BARGAIN! They were half price with my visitors card and the Wednesday sale discount.
  
• The MAC products are almost the same figure as Ireland, just in dollars, so it’s worth while to stock up. Eye-shadows were over 14 euros the last time I bought one in BT’s and are 14 dollars in Macy’s – just remember to take a list of what you already have at home. Prep and Prime was 22 dollars and 25 euros in Ireland. We also met Mac’s top make-up artist/trainer while at the counter, who happens to be a fabulous Irish guy living in New York. He gave us plenty of tips and a little extra discount. The Macy’s visitor card doesn’t give discounts on make-up or perfume but you’re still saving.
• Go for a size down from your “Irish” size…..a 14 here is a size 10 in the US but is still bigger than a 14 so enjoy the thrill of saying you’re a size 8……6…..00!!! I don’t know why I thought I was actually thinner when asking for a size 8 or 10 over there…….I’m just another overweight 30 something year old to the staff in Macy’s. Great giggle though!
  
• Try not to get bogged down by the Tommy Hilfiger section. It’s full of Irish tourists and Customs are known to stop the Tommy Jackets……particularly the puffa jackets with fur-trimmed hoods. The jeans though are comfortably high-waisted (for post-baby tummies) and perfect for day wear.
• Have something to eat while you’re there. It’s such a huge space to navigate you could spend a full day there so leaving to go elsewhere for lunch is nuts….unless it’s back to your hotel to drop off some major purchases! There’s a Starbucks on the mezzanine level of the ground floor (opposite side to the visitor centre) and there’s a nice pizza outlet on the 2nd shoe floor (near to all the juicy tracksuits!).
• When trying/buying in the shoe section, be careful to stick to the same assistant. They get very bitchy about commission even if you’ve innocently asked someone passing to get your size in a totally different shoe.
• The escalators are faster than the lifts when the store is busy!

I never understood the fascination with Century 21 until my most recent trip. Each time I’d go there, I’d think I was back home in Michael Guiney’s and leave with just a few wallets to bring home to the grannies! This time, I got it! After receiving some advice from a true New Yorker, it was obvious that there are some serious bargains to be had here….you just need to….yes…plan ahead! The best bargains are definitely the leather goods, accessories, most shoes, some handbags and hosiery.

Let “Survival of the Fittest” be your motto and get there just in time for the doors to open! Start in the basement for the shoes. You’ll find great quality in Anne Klein or Martinez Valero. I wore Martinez Valero for my wedding day….they cost 240 Irish pounds in 2002. The Valero black velvet, peep-toe Mary Janes (with gold trim) I bought in Century 21 cost 39 dollars and are to die for! I also bought a pair of Anne Klein purple pumps for 39 dollars. At that price. it doesn’t matter if purple isn’t back in fashion for 5 years! The great thing about any of the 4 pairs I bought here (for 160 dollars) is the comfort. No blisters! Do bear in mind though that your feet will be slightly swollen from traveling so stick to your size and allow a little forgiveness!

Move from there to the handbags at ground level. The jewelery isn’t great and you can get bogged down in all the tacky bags but keep searching particularly in the cabinets around the till points for what you need! I found the wallets in Macy’s were better quality but the selection of clutches/evening bags in Century 21 is incredible! Every colour you could imagine. From there we went to the accessories floor. Just think….4 year old in sweet shop with 50 quid……..I went nuts. Every colour pashmina you’ve ever seen on one stand. Hundreds of hats in trendy styles and colours (18 dollars for a Kangol). Designer belts from 12 dollars. I even picked up a deep purple Versace silk scarf for 29 dollars. These are authentic designer items too as Century 21 doesn’t sell fakes. I also got my hands on some incredible opaques for 5 dollars a pair. They’re pitched at the same level as Wolford but are American made so they sell much cheaper. We found the Wolford brand was the same price as home.

When you get to ladies wear, make sure you know what you want as there’s so much rubbish here you really have to have your wits about you. I wanted a leather jacket and went straight for that section. I ended up buying 2 amazing jackets. Calvin Klein (short black bomber style) & Kenneth Cole (short, fitted, high-neck, tan colour) for 380 dollars for the 2!

Century 21, 22 Cortlandt St., between Church St. and Broadway; 212-227-9092, c21stores.com

Brooks brothers is next to Century 21 (right across from ground zero) and is worth a look. The clothes here are beautifully made but for the most part a little “settled” or too traditional. I did buy a beautiful black leather satchel here and my buddy purchased a fabulous camel coloured leather skirt. Neither was cheap but the quality is hard to beat.

Part 2 on the way so keep an eye out!

Happy Shopping!

Mimi

xxxxx