Entries Tagged 'ChicIntrigue' ↓

Over the last 2 weeks, P and I have been BUSY!  He’s been recruited for, has interviewed for, and has received offers for two jobs in Chicago…I’ve started and finished my first (and hopefully last) round of injectible fertility meds…whew!

Somewhere in there, I also received my first question for the site from a reader – HOLLER!  (yes, since one of our interns asked me yesterday where I go to school and was shocked that I work here full time, I’ve reverted to my coed days  c. 2002) (also, the incessant playing of the video for Christina Milian’s A.M. to P.M. at my gym has furthered this reversion.  I giggle just thinking of her dependence on a PAGER.).

Katie in Milwaukee asks:

I work with P and he suggested I check out your blog and contact you.  I am going to New York next month with two of my girlfriends and he stated that you would have some shopping suggestions.   Side note –   I did enjoy reading your blog.   Some of the stores you had mentioned I recently found on my own and if I was reading your blog I might have found them sooner.

Thanks, Katie!  Although I didn’t mention it here (yet), P and I did celebrate our first wedding anniversary with a jaunt to New York.  Since Paul is definitely not the shopper that I am, and it was the first time to NYC for both of us, we really focused on squeezing in as many cultural activities as possible.  As far as those go, I can’t recommend the Circle Line Cruise tour of Manhattan, brunch at Norma’s in the Le Parker Meridian Hotel, and seeing as many shows as you can afford, highly enough!

Since shopping was secondary, we didn’t do much of it, but I was happy that we made a point to:

• Visit Century 21 in the financial district – like a MUCH higher end and much more chaotic TJ Maxx, this place was a goldmine!  I scored a $450 cashmere tunic with paillette trim by Graham & Spencer for $90, and tried on a miraculous Malandrino gown (which was so far beyond my shopping budget, but was a masterpiece well worth waiting in the obscene fitting room line).  They definitely have more affordable options as well, and the selection of shoes and dresses was drool-worthy^max.
• Spend a couple hours or a day in SoHo – Kate Spade!  Prada!  Catherine Malandrino!  Bloomingdales!  Searle!  (or was it Scoop?)  Big names = fun browsing, but there are enough staples to do some real damage without breaking the bank.  Although you may be inclined to sidestep bigger chains, remember that the selection offered at the larger NYC locations is often much more interesting.  Budget-conscious options would be Club Monaco, TopShop, and H & M.  Plus, you’re close enough to grab dinner and dessert in Little Italy (try Angelo’s)!
• Madison and Fifth Avenues – Even if you can’t afford it, the storefronts and people watching are well worth visiting all the biggies: Tiffany, Hermes, Chanel…plus, there’s always a deal if you look hard enough at the department stores (Saks, Bergdorfs, and the HUGE Macy’s).
• Vintage!  P and I unfortunately didn’t have enough time for one of my favorite pasttimes, vintage shopping.  New York has some of the best shops, but you’ll have to take the word of the internets as far as recommendations go, or prod P into another trip, so I can give you some tips!

Other miscellaneous tips for first-time NYC-ers:

• People aren’t joking when they recommend comfortable shoes.  I brought a pair of flat motorcycle boots and my Tory Birch Reva flats, both with gel inserts, and my feet ached…Bloomies and P came to my rescue, but not until I caved on the last day:

• Bring your iPhone!  We used the default Maps app and a free subway map app to guide our goings, and didn’t get lost once (which is a FEAT for me!)!

Thanks, again, Katie!

If you have any questions, please, send them my way!