No shopping corridor boasts more opulence and élan than Madison Avenue. A favorite of well-heeled divas, its roster of premium retailers continues to grow with sought-after designers and joailliers.  Join me on a tour of this most lavish of thoroughfares.

Madison Avenue has long been home to some of the world’s most sought-after boutiques, including Gucci, Hermes, Prada, Chanel, Chloe, Armani, Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, J. Press, Paul Stuart, Vera Wang, Betsey Johnson, Juicy Couture, Miu Miu, Jimmy Choo, Christian Dior, Bulgari, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Donna Karan, Luca Luca, Ralph Lauren, Etro, and Givenchy, among many others.

Over the last few months, Madison Avenue has welcomed a host of glistening jewelry boutiques, offering everything from estate jewelry to contemporary lines.  The ultimate destination for diamonds, Graff, will have a four-level shop at 63rd Street and Madison, in the former home of Givenchy.  Extraordinary diamonds are also featured by Leviev, whose first U.S. location will be at 698 Madison Avenue.  Kwiat will finally grace number 725, the former home of Chopard, who moved to more expansive space on the southeast corner of 63rd Street at 709 Madison. Antique jeweler extraordinaire, Kentshire, is at 62nd Street.  Asprey of London opened at 855 Madison Avenue, as Pomellato debuted at 741 Madison Avenue. Mauboussin, the oldest Parisian luxury jeweler, will have a new US flagship will be at 714 Madison Avenue. Di Modolo will move up the block to 703 Madison Avenue. The Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry store is open at number 683.  Stephen Russell is preparing to unveil his 962 Madison Avenue boutique.

Other new entries include menswear designer Sarar at 375 Madison Avenue, just down the road from Italian La Camiceria at 509 Madison Avenue. Chloe has unveiled a new boutique at 850 Madison Avenue.  J. Crew Collection premium brand will launch at 1035 Madison Avenue.  Jil Sander has a duplex shop at 1042 Madison Avenue. The 5th Avenue Chocolatiere boasts a fourth Manhattan location at 11 Madison Avenue and Vosges Haut-Chocolat is a world of decadent chocolate, number 1108 at 83rd Street.  Men’s dress shirts and women’s blouses abound at German shirt maker Van Laack’s first U.S. store, 340 Madison Avenue.  Bonbon designer MarieBelle is at 762 Madison Avenue, while a new spa is at the N.V. Perricone M.D. flagship, 791 Madison Avenue.  Christian Louboutin enhances the Avenue at number 965 and fellow shoe guru Giuseppe Zanotti expanded his shop at 806 Madison Avenue. Caesar Paciotti, 833 Madison Avenue, has closed for grand renovations and we eagerly await its reopening.  Sigerson Morrison’s uptown post in the Carlyle Hotel, 987 Madison, is simply delightful.  Tumi’s first stand-alone women’s handbag shop is now at 1100 Madison.  Alessi home designs now has a second store at 60th Street.

Upper Madison Avenue is famous for more than haute couture; the neighborhood also boasts fine dining, luxury hotels and services, as well as museums and private schools.  Hotels such as the Carlyle, Mark, Surrey, Lowell, Plaza Athenee and Helmsley Carlton House add to the area’s exclusivity, while the Whitney Museum enhances the Avenue’s artistic flavor.