A city famous for its sartorial elegance and Bohemian chic, New York is a shopper’s paradise, hawking everything from the very latest designer fashions to flea market bargains in addition to foods and goods from every corner of the globe. Clothing is not taxed in New York and the bargains have got even better of late, as the US recession has led to widespread discounting on everything from electrical goods to designer fashion.

The smartest shops are located on Madison Avenue, where most top designers have
flagship stores. Nearby, Fifth Avenue is a magnet for the label conscious and
well heeled. Standing at one of the most famous corners in Manhattan, Tiffany and Co, 727 Fifth Avenue, is an icon of the American Dream. The seven-level mall at the new Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle houses a variety of upscale shops including Hugo Boss, Armani, Coach, Cole Hahn and Bose. Famous department stores include Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Herald Square, Bloomingdales, 1000 Third Avenue, at 59th Street, and Barney’s New York, 660 Madison Avenue, at 61st Street, which is the trendiest of this retail crop. Both Macy’s and Bloomingdales now offer free ‘personal shoppers’ on request, to help navigate their huge ranges. The famous Ladies’ Mile, which, a century ago, was the epicenter of uptown fashion, with department stores stretching from 14th Street for a mile along Sixth Avenue, is now a major discount center. However, the spectacular Victorian buildings have been restored and stores such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy Clothing Co, Barnes and Noble and Filene’s Basement have spearheaded a revival of the historic shopping strip.

SoHo is the most European of New York’s neighborhoods, with high-end clothing outlets and shoe stores, make-up and beauty salons, art galleries and antiques shops, as well as modern furniture showrooms. The East Village and the Lower East Side harbor street fashion and cutting-edge young designers, with vintage shops, music stores intermingling with designer boutiques and eclectic outlets. Discount shops selling authentic American goods, such as Levi’s, are located throughout the city, particularly along Broadway, between Houston Street and 14th Street.

There are numerous markets to appeal to bargain hunters. The Annex Flea Market, known as the 26th Street Flea Market, on Sixth Avenue, made famous by Andy Warhol, is open on Saturday and Sunday from dawn to dusk. The best bargains are vintage clothing and fine linens. Along Broadway and around Soho, there are also street vendors that hawk anything from artwork to clothing and knockoffs of famous purse designers such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade. Many ‘green markets’, selling locally grown produce, freshly caught fish, home-made desserts and breads, are located around the city, the most central of which is at Union Square, opening on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 0800-1800.

Shopping hours depend on the neighborhood. Business areas, such as Wall Street, open as early as 0800, while shops in areas such as SoHo and East Village open late at 1100. Many stay open until at least 1900. Department stores are open 1000-1800 and 1200-1700 Sunday.

In New York, everything but life’s most basic necessities is taxable and the sales tax of 8.625% on all consumer goods (apart from clothes under US$110) is one of the highest in the country. Visitors to New York are unable to claim a tax refund for goods purchased.