27 Best Luxury Stores in NYC ...

chanel.com
15 East 57th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 355-5050

In addition to being one of the best luxury stores in NYC, Chanel is also one of the most iconic. From marvelous high-end makeup products that last forever (seriously, I will never stop using Chanel mascara) to some of the most incredible ready-to-wear clothing, Chanel has everything. You might decide on earrings with signature interlocking Cs or a new take on Chanel's classic retro suits, indulge in a little luxury.

louisvuitton.com
611 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 940-4635

You don't get more luxurious than Louis Vuitton, appropriately located on 5th Avenue. You might have to remortgage your house to afford a bag or a blouse, but it's kind of worth it, right? Visit the store before summer's over and you'll get a vibrant eyeful of checks and edgy patterns in unexpected colors. The iconic luxe brand is alive with lemon yellow, chartreuse, and glittering metallic. Modern edge meets vintage Vuitton to such an extent that it's well worth the splurge.

dolcegabbana.com
825 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10065
(212) 249-4100

If you're interested in keeping your finger on the pulse of the edgiest fashions, a visit to Madison Avenue is imperative. Dolce & Gabbana is Italian luxury to the core, whether you choose items from the high-end Dolce&Gabbana line or the cool, casual, urban D & G line. A peek in the store window right now reveals stunning colors and ethnic, unbelievable designs, picturesque prints and daring patterns. The silhouettes are a little bit retro and there's not a boring piece in the bunch, whether you're shopping for a full ensemble, a darling handbag, or a classic pair of sunglasses.

versace.com
647 5th Ave
New York
(212) 317-0224

Versace is another 5th Avenue staple, known all the way down to its iconic Medusa emblem – which you'll find all over the shop, on items including clothing, handbags, scarves, or home décor. It's a fundamental fashion house, this season filled to the brim with daring but feminine lace confections, neutral colors given new life, and fabulous flower child nostalgia.

robertocavalli.com
711 Madison Ave
Manhattan, NY 10021
(212) 755-7722

For a taste of Florentine fashion, take yourself back over to Madison and pay a visit to Roberto Cavalli, where the looks are still brand new and avant garde. Remember, this is the house whose founder first brought us sand blasted denim. This season, the luxury store is showing off its softer side, with stunning white ensembles, lots of peach and beige, and incredible shades of green.

kiton.it
4 E 54th St
Manhattan, NY 10022
(212) 813-0272

Kiton brings you the best of Naples, creating luxury even from a simple pair of loafers. For the season, the shop windows are filled with shades of pink, emerald, saffron, and lemon; they're filled with rainbows. And it simply wouldn't do to forget the men, would it? Kiton creates some of the most beautifully cut suits in the entire world. From full-out ensembles to separate pieces, this is where you need to take your man when you want him to turn heads.

etro.com
720 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10065
(212) 317-9096

Etro on Madison Avenue is a go-to luxe store for everything you can possibly imagine, spanning clothing and décor items. But the clothes, oh! Known for its textiles, this fashion house mixes textures beautifully. Linen and silk with soft, lightweight sheer blouses – the pieces are works of art, appropriately enough, and just looking at them, you can feel the depth and inspiration that go into every design. Right now you'll find lots of springtime florals, colors that put you in mind of poppy flowers and clear blue oceans. There are Oriental touches and high fashion sarongs and saris, along with retro silhouettes in unexpected prints.

lanvin.com
815 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10065
(646) 439-0380

If you want a wardrobe with a rich French appeal, you know Lanvin is the only way to go. One of Madison's finest, you'll find marvelous makeup, fabulous footwear, and couture clothing that's ready to wear right off the racks. Jeanne Lanvin was one of the go-to designers in the 1920s and 1930s, and much of that decadence is still found in every design. True to form, a lot of the Spring/Summer line is black: clean lines and classic silhouettes, often offset by stark white pieces. It transitions into jeweled tones, from solid colors to bold combinations where chartreuse meets plum.

laperla.com
434 West Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(212) 219-0999

If you're looking for lavish, luxe lingerie, you know La Perla is the only place to shop, right? Specializing in swimwear, as well, La Perla lends West Broadway all kinds of sex appeal. A peek in the windows for spring and summer of 2013 reveals mustard and mint and silky, sexy peachy pinks, along with amazing corsets and swimsuits.

maxmara.com
813 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10065
(212) 879-6100

Although unquestionably luxurious, The House of Max Mara is well-known for its fabulous ready-to-wear lines, so another visit to Madison Avenue is in order if you want your pieces perfect right off the rack. This season sees a lot of funky, office-ready apparel, with a stylish nod to the tailored, masculine trends of the year. There are bold patterns in plaids and animal prints, and muted shades with stunning pops of color.

donnakaran.com
819 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10065
(212) 861-1001

Whether you're into sleek resort wear or the edgier appeal of DKNY, no walk down Madison is complete without a stop at Donna Karan. The woman has outdone herself this year, especially with her dresses. There are fabulous tailored frocks, adorable retro cocktail dresses, and sleek, femme fatale items in the most amazing patterns. You'll find hot pink, peach, and a remarkable smoky slate, along with floor length gowns in black, white, and jeweled tones.

missoni.com
1009 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10075
(212) 517-9339

Missoni is the only hot spot for fun, funky knitwear items in the boldest patterns possible. The founding family suffered a tragedy earlier this year, with Vittorio Missoni and his family going missing mysteriously. It gives you cause to think when taking in the vibrancy of the spring collection, which relies heavily on the ombre trend, along with lots of checks and the daring designs for which the fashion house is so well-known.

armani.com
760 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) 988-9191

Does it get more classic than Armani? The master of Madison Avenue continues drawing tourists and hardcore fashionistas alike, all of whom are ready to sell their left foot as long as they can get a stunning shoe for the remaining right one. The Spring/Summer line blossoms with understated colors given bold, stunning touches. There's lots of blue and emerald with definite metallic accents, so much so that the show windows sparkle, beckoning passersby.

ysl.com
3 East 57th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 980-2970

YSL stays true to the founder's iconic and influential status by remaining one of the most luxurious brands in the world. With French flair to spare, both the store and the clothing line have opulence and decadence without ever going overboard. YSL is known far and wide, not just for high quality clothing but also for luxe makeup and accessories. As far as the fashion goes, you get another nod to feminine/masculine androgyny with tailored suits and separates in dark, dramatic hues. There's a beguiling, witchy vibe to the spring lines, and an awful lot of hats.

balenciaga.com
138 Wooster St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 206-0872

Balenciaga ain't just all about the bags, although those waiting lists never get any shorter. The sensual Spanish decadence seen in every piece, from bags to shoes to clothing, shows up in sharp lines and geometric shapes. Colors transcend from neutral blacks, whites, browns, and blues, then blossoms into mix-and-match surprises that mix prints and patterns like nobody's business.

alexandermcqueen.com
417 W 14th St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 645-1797

Fashion's bad boy house owns 14th Street, lending the same hard rock appeal that brings the fashion world to its knees every season. If you're a fashionista in New York City and you skip a visit, you'll probably get your club card revoked. If you've thus far avoided the store, now's the time to stop resisting temptation, because you've never seen such drama in your life. There's lots of tulle and tight silhouettes, full skirts, scintillating polka dots, corset tops – in some cases it's like Scarlett O'Hara invaded NYC, but only after a makeover and, perhaps, an acid trip.

coach.com
595 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 754-0041

No one in the world does luxe leather like Coach, which is still one of the most popular choices for handbag addicts. If you're a die hard fan of accessories, you can't pass up a trip to the Madison Avenue store, where you'll find fantastic footwear as well as wallets and designer phone cases. The handbags are the real draw, though, and this season finds bold colors, color blocking patterns, and shades of hot pink, dramatic orange, turquoise blue, and golden mustard.

calvinklein.com
654 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) 292-9000

For that classic, understated, but fundamentally fab preppy appeal, a visit to Calvin Klein is a must – you can stop in after a visit to Coach, Armani, or Missoni! You'll find all of your favorite collections, among clean lines and fresh colors. This season, there's lots of peplum pieces and tailored looks, along with vintage inspired pieces with fantastic 1950s silhouettes. It's like Mad Men up in there, with flattering shapes in classic colors.

tomford.com
845 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10021
(212) 359-0300

Once the darling of Gucci and YSL, Tom Ford proved he had the chops to create a fashion revolution, and the Madison Avenue luxury store proves that time and time again. You'll find stunning, unique clothing and accessories, along with all kinds of retro chic apparel that reminds you why he was such a success behind the lens of A Single Man. There's lots of solid ensembles this season, like head to toe beige with peach undertones that looks anything but boring. Sleek, black tailored looks transition into black and white color block, and pops of electric blue and metallic suggestions round out the season's standout looks.

burberry.com
9 East 57th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 407-7100

Burberry brings 1970s London to 57th Street this season. You'll be able to see the sparkle and sizzle from six blocks away. Forget about the iconic checks and focus instead on unexpected orange, pink, green, and blue ombre pieces with plenty of metallic shine. Beige, brown, olive, and dark blue leave the whole idea of “neutral” behind in the dust, so on your next visit to the city, this is where you need to go for your big Brit fix.

dereklam.com
10 Crosby St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 929-1338

If you're looking for a little bit of groovy, fresh San Francisco joy on your next visit to NYC, then shopping at Derek Lam is essential. With Michael Kors as a mentor, you know his cuts are flattering but still luxurious; since moving out on his own, he's really come into his own as well. This is where you go when you want a fresh but feminine aesthetic that relishes in girly, pretty fashions. This season, for instance, subdued plaid patterns get a feminine edge and bold, eye-catching patterns rule the room.

annefontaine.com
93 Greene St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 343-3154

Anne Fontaine takes luxury to a whole new level. This is where to be when you want drama, decadence, opulence, and lace. If you want to be the belle of the ball with a naughty girl twist, take it to Green Street. Come for fitted silhouettes and dramatic embellishments. Come when you don't want to look like anyone else in the room.

domenicovacca.com
781 5th Ave
Manhattan, NY 10022
(212) 759-6333

Domenico Vacca specializes in the kind of luxury rarely seen anymore. This 5th Avenue fashion mecca is filled with items for everyone. There's couture, ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and numerous accessories as well. If you enjoy shopping as a couple, make this a stop and revel in the quality of the clothing and craftsmanship.

hugoboss.com
10 Columbus Cir #106
New York, NY 10019
(212) 485-1900

A paragon of luxury for both men and women, Hugo Boss evokes a daring German decadence with a clean cut kind of preppy charm. A visit to the NYC store reveals high-end clothing and accessories that work day-to-day and on special occasions. From casual ensembles to stunning suits and sleek dresses, these luxe looks span the whole style spectrum.

jmendel.com
723 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10065
(212) 832-5830

From stunning wedding couture to stunning every day dresses and on to vivacious formal frocks, J. Mendel is a Madison Avenue maverick. The celebration of color, style, and vibrant fashion dazzles the eye, so that window shopping is almost impossible – you're just drawn in. right now you'll find floating chiffon dresses that show off lots of leg, unexpected and colorful patterns that take your breath away, fun and flirty accessory pieces, and fitted silhouettes with a sexy retro vibe.

jilsander.com
30 Howard St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-2345

Jil Sander is the go-to spot for marvelous minimalist looks. If you're into strong lines, clean silhouettes, and wonderful color play, there's nowhere else to shop in NYC. Bold, bright primary colors mesh with classic neutral tones, and girlish silhouettes mix harmoniously with quality tailored pieces.

loropiana.com
748 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) 980-7961

Last but most certainly not least, Loro Piana is the height of luxury when it comes to cashmere confections. In keeping with high-quality textures and textiles, you'll also find luxe leather and linen, sumptuous woolen knits, and much more. It's chic casual, not quite resort wear but endlessly rich, with color palettes that mix classic neutrals with bright primary hues.

From bridal couture to pretty preppy charm, the hottest luxury stores in NYC have something for everyone, although you'll often have to pay for the privilege. When it comes to fashion, however, the occasional splurge is well worth it, if only for the gorgeous quality. What's your favorite luxe shop? Let me know if you love the high-end designers, the charming boutiques, or the more affordable retailers.