Shopping and the City
Holiday-Season Tips

Holiday 2007
By Faith Hope Consolo

Manhattan is a playground for luxury all year round, but always manages to usher in the holiday season with added élan. As resident shopping divas know, and tourists are quickly discovering, uptown is not the only district laden with lavish gift ideas for everyone. This season, Soho and the financial district will come to the fore as shopping destinations. Make your list and check it twice—the city is open for business and superstar shops are ready to wrap up your every desire.

The new luxury infusion in the financial district means that busy financiers can work on their shopping list during their lunch hour. From sparkling jewelry and opulent accessories to bespoke suiting and high-end luggage, the financial district has finally gotten holiday shopping right.

After months of anticipation, Tiffany & Co. opened on Wall Street amid great fanfare. The impressive location along the most famed street of the financial district is a smart investment for the iconic jeweler.

With Hermès, Canali, Thomas Pink, Brioni, and Tumi already fixtures in the newly ordained retail corridor, other stores are following suit. Bond 09, Kiehl’s, Penhaligon’s, and a host of other prominent designers are circling the area.

Soho’s vast array of spectacular stores makes the neighborhood perfect for shoppers, particularly during the holidays. From moderately priced impulse buys to important gift purchases, Soho has everything a multi-tasking urban warrior could need.

International shops continue to enter Soho’s landscape Topshop will debut at 478 Broadway, just below Broome Street. The U.K.-based brand is expected to occupy more than one level, housing its famed Kate Moss collection, along with special lines by designers Zandra Rhodes, Celia Birtwell, and Sophia Kokosalaki. These styles, as well as its popular Top Man collection, have been on display at Opening Ceremony, 35 Howard Street, for several seasons. The Swedish apparel store boasts a mini-Topshop boutique on its rear mezzanine level.

Though French Connection at 435 West Broadway was devastated by an electrical fire less than a year ago, the flagship has re-emerged with a new interior design.

If you want to gift “green,” visit Greek beauty label Korres at 100 Wooster Street, between Spring and Prince. The environmentally-friendly products at this store appeal to a growing demographic of eco-conscious shoppers. The brand’s first U.S. store is outfitted with gold foil wall coverings, inspired by Greek honey tins. Korres is reportedly eyeing space on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights for its second location.

Of course, our fine department stores are still inimitable shopping meccas. Bergdorf’s, Barneys, Bloomie’s, Bendel’s, Saks, Lord & Taylor, and Macy’s, all offer one-stop shopping for the latest styles and old standbys.

BCBG’s remarkable new flagship at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 40th Street is an expansive three levels. The new location showcases the full range of the brands, including the high-end Runway label.

Nearby retailers include Lacoste, currently undergoing an expansion, United Colors of Benetton, a sprawling Sephora, and Aldo. Ann Taylor and Esprit will be joining the midtown lineup soon.