From time to time we get stuck in a rut. A fashion rut, a hair rut, an activities rut, an apartment rut. Things just fall flat. Inspiration goes stale.
Diana Vreeland writes: "The Eye Has To Travel". And I 've always believed so, but now I had the opportunity to travel to New York in the middle of the semester I find it truer than ever.
Sometimes you have to shake things up and breathe new air for a while.
Even if it's a weekend trip to the beach or an 80-days-around-the-world-type adventure, traveling is one of the main sources of inspiration you'll ever find (Hermés' last collection is evidence of it!). And after a trip you'll always come home refreshed and yes, maybe tired, but still renewed in many ways.
New York is such a refreshing city. It's the city of endless possibilities and there's way too much to see, not only inside it's numerous museums and exhibitions, but in the streets. There are endless things to do, enjoy, taste, smell, you name it. The Art Deco buildings, the Flower District, the smell of the sea around the docks, the immense variety of food, the colorful and luminous Times Square or the people watching (no better runway than the streets!). It's so much that's impossible to take it all in!
So, I've put together a small guide of the spots and secrets I have discovered (or people have shared with me) during my trips to NYC. I'm no Zagat guide, but this is my take on The City, from shopping, to dining. And hopefully, this guide will keep growing.
I'll publish the guide in sections so keep tuned for the upcoming parts.
First: Shopping!
Forget huge strip malls. Shopping in new york is all about enjoying the city while you shop. Discovering small cute boutiques, but visiting the big stores too. And maybe, stopping for a cupcake and coffee on your way. These are some of the places I like or have discovered, besides of the obvious and usual (like H+M or F21).
Henri Bendel
@ 5th Avenue
I know what you're thinking...look at those prices?! I know. But just look at the façade! It's so pretty. Bendel's not really in the affordable section, at least not everything they sell, but it's worth going in at least for some serious window shopping.
Hell's Kitchen Flea Market.
@ 9th st. between 9th + 10th Ave.
Hell's Kitchen
Sat + Sun 9 am - 6 pm
You'll find just about anything here. From useless trinkets to vintage designer items. I wanted to buy everything to decorate my apartment. It's really so much fun to go and it's a great inspiration source (Some seriously interesting people-watching here).
Meat Packing's Sephora
@ 21 9th Ave
Meat Packing District.
This is one of the coolest Sephora's I've ever been to. It's not crowded and the decoration is super chic and stylish. Sleekier and fancier than the rest Sephora's I've seen. And you have to check the lash bar, it's crazy.
Marc by Marc Jacobs
403 Bleeker St.
West Village
While Marc Jacobs is pricey, at Marc by Marc Jacobs you'll find cute and very cheap accessories. My sister even stacked on some pretty rings for $1 each.
Bookmarc
400 Bleeker St.
West village
Just across Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Great art and design books.
Urban Outfitters
526 6th Ave
Greenwich Village
A long time favorite. Even though this time I visited the Broadway store in Soho and I was kinda disappointed. I'm still listing it because they always have cool stuff, and because I hope it's just the Broadway store and not the whole brand. Hope it picks up again.
Anthropologie
@ Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave.
Chelsea
Greath clothing pieces. And the home decor stuff is jaaaamazing. Their window displays are always, always beautiful. It's a little pricey but if you can't afford it, this place is a huge inspiration for home DIY's.
Uniqlo
5th Avenue
The store itself is impressive. Great for finding basics.
Topshop
478 Boradway between Laguardia Pl. + Prince St.
Soho
About 4 floors full of TopShop. Need I say more?
Blick Store
1-5 Bond Street between Broadway + Lafayette
I learned about this place from one of my favorite illustrators, Paper Fashion. So I used this opportunity of going to nyc to get some stuff I wanted and that you can't find that easily here in Mexico. If you're an artist, designer or crafts nut you'll have to agree with me this place is nirvana. Every supply you can imagine, every color of paint, any kind of pen, any type of brush, any size of canvas. NIRVANA!!!
Mood Fabrics
225 W 37th St. 3rd floor.
Garment Distric
In the middle of the Garment Distric, you go inside this building and press the button for the elevator. Then there's a ding! and you'll enter this charming elevator, you know, those with those sliding see-through doors (funny old dude operator included!). You get off the elevator on the third floor and voila! Another nirvana...seriously this place is like a textile museum. And yes, this is the fabric store from Project Runway!
Purl
459 Broome St.
Soho
For the kinitting nuts. A cute store filled with every color of yarn you can imagine. And many other pretty things.
Don't forget the window shopping around the 5th, Soho and the MeatPacking districts.
You'll discover your own fashion spots.
Have you ever been to NYC? Or do you live in NYC?
What are your favorite shopping spots?
