Bergdorf Goodman

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This sophisticated midtown mainstay—relocated to the elegant Vanderbilt mansion in 1928—is the ne plus ultra ladies-who-lunch shopping destination, complete with its own restaurant and an accomodating café. The stately building features eight floors of pure designer bliss, including spacious in-store boutiques from couture stars like Narciso Rodriquez, Chloe, and Jean Paul Gaultier on floors two through four—all furnished with swank, well-appointed dressing rooms complete with Central Park views. On five, younger fashion sybarites gravitate toward excellent selections of mid-priced lines like Marc by Marc Jacobs, DKNY, and Theory, and rack after rack of shoes. On the main floor, celebrity divas in dark glasses—and soon-to-be well-coiffed Upper East Side ladies en route to John Barrett's ninth floor salon—browse the extensive accessories department, with buttery leather bag upon bag from designers like Nancy Gonzalez, Chanel, and Prada. — Carolyn Murnick

Key Departments

Bridal Gowns

The atmosphere in this store's Art Deco bridal salon is more modern than frilly (silk-covered walls, zebrawood doors, chrome trim) since the renovation two years ago. They carry gowns from Oscar de la Renta, Ulla Maija, Jenny Lee, and many others. Specialized consultants will help with shoes, tiaras, and undergarments.

Beauty Products & Cosmetics

Remodeled in 1999, Bergdorf's unparalleled Beauty Level is often sweetly-scented cosmetics mayhem, featuring over thirty lines of designer makeup, fragrances and a charming in-store nail salon.

Women's Shoes

Bergdorf's wisely divides its shoe offerings into two floors: Manolos and up-market European brands lie near their accompanying clothing collections on two, while mid-priced lines like Kors and Marc by Marc Jacobs are spread out on five. Come sale time, look here for impressive designer savings.

Bridal Shoes

This store has the city’s most concise collection of sleek, stylish shoes, so it’s no surprise that the bridal salon has just a smattering of the most covetable styles from designers like Christian Louboutin. If you’re into color, the second floor has Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and Rene Caovilla. There’s also a large Manolo Blahnik selection.

Wedding Invitations

The seventh-floor nook has quotidian necessities and deluxe items—engraved or thermographed stationery from companies like Bernard Maisner, William Arthur, and Thornwillow.

Registry

At Bergdorf, classics from Lalique and Cristal Saint-Louis square off with modern works by designers like Ted Muehling.

Related Stories

Best of New York Awards

• Best Party Dresses (2007)
• Classic Shop (2005)
• Best of New York: Shoes for Hers (2004)
• Best of New York: Tableware (2003)

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