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DEPARTMENT STORES
Barney's 600 Madison Ave (at 61st St) tel 212/826-8900. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm.
Though a proper department store, Barney's actually concentrates on clothes, particularly men's, with the emphasis on high-flying, up-to-the-minute designer garments and women's wear.
Bergdorf Goodman 754 5th Ave (at 57th St) tel 212/753-7300. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm.
Come if only to ogle the windows, which approach high art with their rhinestone-encrusted diaphanous dress displays. Everything about Bergdorf's speaks of its attempt to be New York City's most elegant and wealth-oriented department store. The men's store is across 5th Ave.
Bloomingdale's 1000 3rd Ave (at 59th St) tel 212/705-2000. Mon-Fri 10am-8.30pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-7pm.
It has the atmosphere of a large, bustling bazaar, packed with concessionaires offering perfumes and designer clothes.
Henri Bendel 712 5th Ave (between 55th and 56th sts) tel 212/247-1100. Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-7pm, Thurs 10am-8pm, Sun noon-6pm.
This store, more gentle in its approach than the biggies - its refinement thanks in part to its classy reuse of the Coty perfume building, with windows by Rene Lalique - has a name for exclusivity and top modern designers.
Lord & Taylor 424 5th Ave (at 39th St) tel 212/391-3344. Mon, Tues & Sat 10am-7pm, Wed & Fri 10am-8.30pm, Thurs 9am-8.30pm, Sun 11am-7pm.
The most venerable of the New York specialty stores, in business since 1826 and to some extent the most pleasant, has a more traditional feel than Macy's or Bloomingdale's. Still good for classic designer fashions, petites, winter coats, household goods and accessories and the more basic items.
Macy's 151 W 34th St (on Broadway at Herald Square) tel 212/695-4400 or 1-800-289-6229. Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm.
Quite simply, the largest department store in the world with two buildings, two million square feet of floor space and ten floors (four for women's garments alone). Unfortunately, most merchandise is of mediocre quality, although real fashion is steadily returning.
Saks 5th Avenue 611 5th Ave (at 50th St) tel 212/753-4000. Sun-Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-6.30pm, Thurs 10am-8pm.
The name is virtually synonymous with style, and, although Saks has retained its name for quality, it has also updated itself to carry the merchandise of all the big designers. The first floor is lovely when decorated with sparkling white branches at Christmas time.
Takashimaya 693 5th Ave (between 54th and 55th sts) tel 212/350-0100. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun noon-5pm.
This beautiful Japanese department store offers a scaled-down assortment of expensive merchandise, simply displayed, and exquisitely wrapped purchases. The café, The Tea Box , on the lower level, has an assortment of teapots and loose tea.
SHOPPING MALLS
South Street Seaport 12 Fulton St tel 212/732-7678. Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm.
The barn-like building and its historic surroundings of ships, docks and old warehouses are fascinating and fun, the river views from the deck are lovely, and The Sharper Image stocks some terrifying and ingenious toys for adults.
Trump Tower 725 5th Ave (between 56th and 57th sts) tel 212/832-2000. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-5pm.
Donald Trump's retail triumph was constructed in his own image. This gaudy caterer to the wealthy offers a range of exclusive boutiques set around a deep, marbled atrium with a several-story goldtone waterfall - a tourist attraction in itself.
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