This was my first time in New York and I had two goals for the year. See the city and buy my first vintage bag. I managed both, and my feet felt every one of the thousands of steps we clocked each day (as you do in NYC).
We stayed at PUBLIC Hotel in SoHo, which was the ideal location for all the great restaurants, cafes and shops. Being right in the middle of it all meant we could walk almost everywhere, and a lot of my shopping happened simply because we wandered past something I had to pop into.
Vintage stores were top of mind, so that naturally came first. Rebelonging in SoHo has the most incredible selection of bags and I was in heaven. My partner, not so much, but they had a comfy boyfriend chair for him while he waited. I left with a 90s Chanel who is classic, timeless and now goes by the name Nelly. If you’re hunting too, Old The Best Vintage and The RealReal are both fantastic additions to the route.
The West Village is next on the list. It’s the neighbourhood in NYC where one boutique leads straight into another. Frankie’s Bikinis, DÔEN, Ganni, Alohas and With Jéan are all worth a visit, so give yourself a good chunk of the afternoon.
The Meatpacking District is another must, ideal for browsing with plenty of good food along the way. Pastis was the perfect pitstop between shops, and it served the best burger I’ve ever had. The YSL store was one of the most beautiful boutiques I’ve ever seen. I bought a pair of open toe heels I had my eye on forever, they were the missing piece in my wardrobe, and gained bonus points for comfort.
Like all good pilates princesses do, I did damage in Alo. The stores are huge and the options are endless, so pop in even if you’re only passing. Skims on Fifth Avenue is also worth the detour. I don’t own much, but I’m a total convert after visiting, and if you don’t have a bra from there, I’d suggest changing that.
For the print lovers, Casa Magazines is a mag girl’s paradise. Bookmarc, the Marc Jacobs book shop, is gorgeous too, with so many coffee table books to choose from.
Lace up your most trusted shoes, clear some room in your luggage and get ready to be completely smitten with the Big Apple.
Words & imagery: Sophie de Renzy.
