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Customized Shopping Tours - Like Mother, Like Daughter: http://ping.fm/tL3Cq

Customized Shopping Tours - Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Last weekend's customized shopping tours were very unique experiences. (It was fun to create new routes and change things up a bit!) I had two mothers book tours to take with their teenaged daugthers but they had some special requests as far as their daughters' styles and interests.

On Friday, the mother of the 12-year-old girl (they were visiting from California) requested that we visit some of the Teen Tour stores but also some boutiques a la the Chic Boutique Tour that were unique to New York. So we picked them up in a towncar at their hotel and headed to Henri Bendel first since they had never been there. I explained to them that even though they had shopped on Fifth Avenue, Bendel's was a must-see since 1.) it's the holiday season and it's decorated beautifully and 2.) it changes weekly with the different designers they invite to showcase on the main floor. They ended up purchasing some of Bendel's signature holiday items (which make the perfect NON-tacky NYC souvenirs--really the ONLY NON-tacky NYC souvenirs!)

After Bendel's, we headed to the Juicy Couture Flagship Store. Even though the gals have Juicy Couture in California, the daughter is such a huge fan that I recommended we visit this shop at least for a few minutes.

From here we hopped back in the towncar and headed to East 12th Street in Greenwich Village. We made a quick stop at Make-up Forever and since all the make-up artists were occupied, I did a quick demonstration of their products on the daughter. A 12-year-old doesn't really need much make-up, of course, but just a little shimmer eye-shadow on her lids with a pale pink "pop of color" (nothing too drastic) followed by some clear, glittery gloss was the perfect palette.

Our next planned stop was Owl's Lab, but to my dismay they have closed their store!!! :-( They are exclusive to the online world right now and have a messenger service that can deliver ordered fashion right to your door.

Next up was Pia, although it was a stop geared more toward the mother. It was a little too sophisticated for a pre-teen. Same with Ibiza--a little too sophisticated, but nonetheless, still a very unique stop.

Since Owl's Lab was eliminated, I added two other last-minute stops to the tour that I thought the gals would enjoy. We hopped back into the towncar and it was off to LaGuardia Place to Helianthus and Purdy Girl. They absolutely LOVED these boutiques and it didn't hurt that both shops had HUGE sales going on! They made a few fun and funky jewelry purchases at Helianthus where they had everything from miniature pig charm necklaces to elegant floral charm bracelets. At Purdy Girl, they bought an adorable plaid peacoat for the tween and a chic cashmere sweater and scarf for the mother. Afterall, everything in the store was 50% OFF!

At this point we were running out of time so we headed to the must-see TopShop. This was a hit for both the mother and the daughter (although it was a little more funky than their preferred style.) Nonetheless, they took a liking to some of their basic tees and their funky accessories.

Before we parted ways, I gave them some suggestions for dinner in the area, which included a Little Italy favorite of mine--Umberto's Clam House! I also made a map of some other boutiques in the area that they might be interested in, including Jump and Keito (since the mother wanted to find shoes) and Olive & Bette's (which I knew the teen would love.)

Saturday's customized shopping tour (although planned for a Sweet 16 Birthday Party) also had some special requests. It was a mother, daughter and her teenaged friend in a limo and they were looking for some unique, funky, vintage/vintage-inspired and consignment boutiques. It was a very exciting itinerary to plan!

The tour began at City Bakery (where I recommended the gals have brunch since it was away from the bustle of their hotel in Times Square.) (Sometimes the disadvantage to a luxury transportation tour can be sitting in traffic for half the tour--especially during this busy holiday season. To avoid holiday traffic, I suggested we make the tour a downtown-only tour.)

First stop after City Bakery was Irregular Choice. The only store in the US is located in the heart of Soho/Nolita and it's like a shoe carnival. You will never find more unique shoes in your life! They had a blast exploring the British-designed shoes, sneakers, boots and handbags. They even had some unique clothing including t-shirts and raincoats.

Next stop was the Young Designers Market in Nolita which is a unique shopper's treasure trove! You can find anything from
jewelry made of geodes to never-before-seen slogan tees. What's great about YOUNG designers?? They're trying to build their business so their prices are EXTREMELY reasonable! The daughter purchased a beautiful purple dress with crocheted detail for just $40.

Following the market (where they spent a good 40 minutes--you almost have to with over 50 vendors), we headed to one of the more contemporary stops on the tour--Necessary Clothing. I knew they would love the prices and since they're from New Jersey and they have a Joyce Leslie, this would make for a nice alternative. The daughter ended up buying a couple cute holiday dresses while her friend purchased a cute pair of $7 earmuffs.

The last stops on the tour were Eye Candy and Zachary's Smile (both on Lafayette Street.) They loved browsing Eye Candy for their unique, vintage accessories and they had even more fun in the "Bargain Basement" at Zachary's Smile where the daughter found a cute holiday blouse for $5!

Since the time with the limo was up, I walked them over to their final destination--Urban Outfitters--the perfect ending for a day of shopping for teens with vintage style.

If you'd like to take a Customized Shopping Tour in New York City, contact us at www.shop-nyctours.com!

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Teen Shopping Tours for the Birthday Girls: http://ping.fm/TqRDb

Teen Shopping Tours for the Birthday Girls!

Last weekend's Teen Shopping Tours, despite the weather, were fun, fun, fun! On Friday, the tour was for a 13-year-old birthday girl, her mom and her grandmother. I picked them up in a limo at 10am and we headed to our usual first stop on the Upper East Side. What made this tour extra special was that we had a stylist meet us at the first stop (the Abercrombie & Fitch Flagship). Kelly Mealia of Kreative Kouture and Ollie & Boo Jewelry had several outfits whipped out in no time and after a whirlwind in the dressing room, we were on our way to Henri Bendel while the mom purchased their favorites.

At Bendel's, we focused mostly on accessories since most of their women's clothing would be too large for the tiny teen. Kelly hand picked several headband options and again, it was a quick show for mom and grandma (who even bought some things for themselves--how could they not at the "Girl's Playground"???).

After the Bendel mini-spree, it was back in the limo and down Fifth Avenue to the Juicy Couture Flagship store where once again, Kelly put several cute pieces together to form some fabulous outfits. And the grandma picked out one of their signature terry-cloth track suits for HER daughter :-)

On the way to Noho/Soho, Kelly rode along with us and showed her beautiful jewelry collection, Ollie & Boo, which had just been seen on The Today Show the previous morning. The teen picked out her favorite earrings and Kelly left us at this point of the tour.

We continued on to Soho, where we stopped for a quick lunch break. While mom and grandma finished up eating, me and the teen headed over to the much-anticipated TopShop! This store was awesome because all 3 of the lovely ladies found clothing that worked for them here. The teen ended up getting an adorable jumper and a sweet bohemian top while the mom bought a stunning black cocktail dress and the grandma a beautiful floral blouse.

We were running out of time at this point so we had to head uptown to the MAC store where it was time for a teen makeover in preparation for her photo shoot. While the make-up artist applied some colorful and fresh eyeshadow and lip gloss, the grandma got a "smokey-eye" lesson.

At this point of the tour, it was time for me to leave them as they continued on to the photo shoot on location in the Meatpacking District with Caitlin Greer Photography.

These gals were super sweet and had a wonderful time, as did I! It made me want to take a shopping trip with my mom and grandma....so fun!

On Saturday, the tour was for a Sweet 16 Birthday and the group came into the city for the day from New Jersey. I met them at Penn Station where the limo picked them up. From here we headed uptown to Henri Bendel, where I assured them they would enjoy browsing the "Girl's Playground."

Since they wanted to focus more on unique, NYC shopping, we skipped Abercrombie & Fitch and Juicy Couture and headed downtown to Noho to Joyce Leslie and Necessary Clothing. On the way, they enjoyed their "teeny" cosmos. Since they're from New Jersey they were actually familiar with Joyce Leslie but they definitely loved shopping at Necessary Clothing. They found some amazing clothes, shoes and accessories at this stop but I assured them that they needed to save up some energy for TopShop--and they did!

TopShop was a super-successful stop as the sales going on were absolutely AMAZING! There was something for everyone and they made a lot of their purchases there.

After this stop, we headed to the West Village and they enjoyed their cupcakes along the way. There was a line at the Marc Jacobs Special Items store (as there often is) so I waited in line for them while they browsed Olive & Bettes and Juicy Couture Bleecker Street.

We were running out of time and I had mini-makeovers planned for the teens after the tour at Makeup Forever so we quickly finished up in the West Village. (Their mom told me these teens loved, loved, loved makeup so I knew this would be a nice addition to the tour for them!)

The limo dropped us off at Makeup Forever and while they waited for each teen to get their makeover, I mapped out a quick itinerary for them to eat dinner after, continue discount shopping and end up back at Penn Station. All in all, it was a fun birthday!

For more information about ShopNYC Tours OR to book a tour for YOUR teen's birthday, visit www.shop-nyctours.com!

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ShopNYC Tours Attends Viscera New York's Fashion Show!

The small boutique space on 39th Street was filled with models, photographers and socialites as Viscera New York held

 their Fall Fashion Show featuring their Spring 2010 Collection.  The collection, known as the Mechelle Collection (Mechelle in hebrew translates "to embody God"), projected just that---god-like, ethereal materials with the drape-like goddess shape to match.  The color scheme alone had a certain regal appeal and could make anyone feel sophisticated and chic.  (Rumor has it that Bergdorf Goodman may be interested in the line!)

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ShopNYC Tours attends Aubrey O'Day's Dare to Love Launch Party at Owl's Lab, NYC: http://ping.fm/jFXbp

ShopNYC Tours Attends Aubrey O'Day's Clothing Line Launch Party at Owl's Lab!

Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane and Making the Band 3 has officially launched, Dare to Love, which is the newest line from Heart on My Sleeve.  The launch party was held last night at Owl's Lab, which is featured on ShopNYC Tours' Chic Boutique Tour!  Among Aubrey, some other celebs that joined the party were models Jaslene Gonzalez and Jessica Gomes, Russell Simmons, and actress Samantha Swetra.  Here are few of my pics: 

Teen Fashion and Fun Tours Galore! http://ping.fm/gyOHw

Teen Fashion and Fun Tours Galore!

This past weekend was filled with Teen Fashion and Fun! It started on Friday with 6 women (2 teens and 4 adults) from Michigan. They were ready to shop, shop, shop. They had booked the photo shoot for after the tour and due to time constraints we only had 3 hours to find the teens their outfits. So we were definitely on a mission.

We began the tour at Makeup Forever in Greenwich Village, where Floriane (one of the amazing Makeup Forever sales reps) gave them mini-makeovers and they bought some really cool, brightly colored eye pencils. They didn't want to spend too much time there though. (We already had appointments for them at Mac scheduled for post-tour/pre-photo shoot). So we headed down the street to the first clothing and accessories boutique, Owl's Lab. The teens loved it, not only for the incredible fashion, but because of the fact that many of the pieces worn on Gossip Girl come from this fabulous boutique. They bought some awesome clothes and accessories that were (OMG) very Serena and Jenny.

Next stop was Rugby, which was actually requested by one of the teens. Rugby was her absolute favorite and she bought a few darling-with-an-edge outfits that were very UES prep. The other teen said she was more of a girly-girl so I walked her down the street to Ibiza where I knew she would find some sweet, feminine and bohemian dresses, skirts and blouses.

Following Greenwich Village, we headed to Soho. By this time I had a great feel for each of the teens' personal styles so I knew that we had to hit up TopShop. This was a gold mine for both of them! They found a great mix of edgy, funky fashion along with lacey, frilly and chic pieces. While one of the teens found shoes galore, the other found her perfect outfits for the photo shoot.

After TopShop, it was back in the limo and up to the Mac store on 22nd and Fifth Avenue for their makeovers. While they were getting made-up by the Mac professionals, I headed to Magnolia Bakery (usually a stop on the tour but we ran out of time) and grabbed their cupcakes. Once I got back to the Mac store and handed them their sweets they were ready to hop in a cab and head to the photo shoot on location in Chelsea with professional photographer, Caitlin Greer.



In addition to the above Teen Fashion and Fun experience, I also gave a tour on Saturday for a 16-year-old girl and her father. They opted for the Subway/Walking Tour instead of the Limo Tour. We began the tour on Upper Fifth Avenue, where we visited the usual including the Abercrombie & Fitch Flagship, Henri Bendel and Juicy Couture. Then it was into the subway and we headed downtown to Soho, where the teen wanted to find some back-to-school shoes and dresses. She found a cute pair of much-wanted gladiator sandals at David Z and as far as clothing, Joyce Leslie was definitely her favorite. She found several outfits that she really liked and she was pleased (along with her father) to see the amazingly reasonable prices too.

After the tour, her father sent me an e-mail with this message:

"Thank you very much for the help with shopping with my daughter yesterday! She was thrilled with the whole trip to NYC and the shopping was the highlight for her. We also did well back home - my wife was surprisingly impressed with my daughter's purchases..."

If you'd like to book a Teen Fashion and Fun Tour or Teen Fashion and Fun Tour with a Fashion Photo Shoot, please visit www.shop-nyctours.com/tours for more information. I look forward to shopping with you!

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Teen Fashion and Fun Tour with Fashion Photo Shoot!

Last weekend’s Teen Fashion and Fun Tour didn’t just consist of shopping the hottest teen spots in NYC, but it also allowed the teen birthday girl to show off her new outfits in her very own photo shoot following the tour!

The day began at Bryant Park as usual, with the soon to be 13-year-old and her mother who were visiting from Louisiana.  Since it was just the two of them, they decided to take the subway/walking version of the tour which provided them with a budget-friendly option and also an opportunity to take the tour at a slightly slower pace.  It also gave the teen birthday girl more time to try on clothes, which was important since she would be going straight to the photo shoot after.  From Bryant Park, we headed up Fifth Avenue and the first stop was the Juicy Couture Flagship store.  The birthday teen was super-excited to visit this store and headed straight upstairs to find some dresses for her photo shoot.  She ended up opting for a very fashionable item—a black velour, tank with long pants jumpsuit.  It was adorable on her and also very now.  While her mom made the purchase, I took the teen over to the doggy corner where she looked at all the cute merchandise and told me about her two Chihuahuas! 

After Juicy, we headed up to Henri Bendel where I told the Louisiana ladies that they could actually see some unique, independent designer jewelry and they could also watch some fabulous 30-minute shoemakers as they cobble their designs.  The birthday teen even bought a pair of these beautifully made sandals.  The process began with the shoemaker choosing a sole that fit her foot, and then the birthday teen had to choose the color straps she wanted (there were about 25 colors to choose from), any gold, silver, or rhinestone ornaments she wanted (such as butterflies, starfish, hearts or stars) and the pattern she wanted the straps to follow.  After all of that was chosen (which took about 25 minutes), the ladies were told to come back in 30 minutes to pick up the shoes.   They still had a lot of shopping to do so the cobblers offered to hold the sandals for them to the end of day.

We continued one more block up Fifth Avenue and headed to the Abercrombie & Fitch flagship, which is ALWAYS a favorite of the teens.  We browsed for some dresses but didn’t have much luck so she decided to go the skirt route.  They had some really cute summer skirts and tees to match.  The only drawback of that store was that we had to spend more time in the check out line than we had spent shopping.  So I offered to wait in the line upstairs while they waited downstairs and that speeded things up a little at least.

After Abercrombie, we walked over to the subway and headed to Soho.  They were really hungry but we were running out of time to shop so I suggested they grab a slice of Two Boots Pizza, which is one of the best in the city.  Yum!

After a quick bite, the teen told me she wanted to look for shoes so I took them to several shoe stores.  She was hoping to find the Converse tennis shoes that lace up to the knee like boots so I took them to a store where they had over 200 styles of Converse.  Unfortunately we found out that they don’t carry those specific shoes anymore.  I also suggested they take a quick look at Joyce Leslie since they carry some shoes that are both stylish and inexpensive.  We stopped for a moment but since we were running out of time they marked it as a place to visit again the next day.  We didn’t have time to head to TopShop or to the Marc Jacobs Special Collection store in the West Village either, but I explained that the maps and addresses of these stores along with all the other stores we visited were in their ShopNYC Tours Printed Shopping Guides that they could refer to after the tour.

We headed back uptown and since I didn’t have time to serve the Teeny Cosmo on the tour, I gave her the glass and the drink in a separate container to use as a prop in her photo shoot.  The birthday teen found her photo shoot outfits while on the tour which is really all that mattered. She went straight to hair and make-up (the make-up artist met her at their hotel) and then hopped in a cab to Chelsea for the photo shoot that was going to be done on location. 

If you'd like to take a Teen Fashion and Fun Tour with your own Fashion Photo Shoot or if you'd like to give an extra special birthday gift to your teen, visit www.shop-nyctours.com for more information!

NEW WEBSITE and NEW Tour-It-Yourself Hotspot Itineraries (for the independent shopper!) http://ping.fm/GMMf6

Teen Shopping Tour and then Photo Shoot after with new outfits! The perfect birthday present :-)

Shopping Tour with Carolina Gal: http://ping.fm/8w50B

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Chic Boutique Tour with Carolina Gal!

I absolutely LOVE North Carolina!  So when I found out I was giving a shopping tour for a woman from Greenville who currently lives in Raleigh, I was really looking forward to some "Carolina bonding."  Afterall, I went to college in Wilmington, and pretty much partied all over the state (in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Greenville) during those days of youth..... ;-)  I have a lot of fond memories of NC.  

This woman was really sweet, early 30s and engaged (her fiance lives in New York.)  She works as an attorney and pretty much comes to New York every weekend to visit.  The shopping tour was a gift from him and since it was just a solo tour, he opted for the subway/walking tour which she actually preferred.  She said she felt like walking and taking the subway was more authentic to NYC.  She also commented how she could see tourists really benefitting from having a tour guide to teach them about the subway system.  

At any rate, the tour stops were all the same as usual.  In Greenwich Village, she particularly liked La Petit Coquette (as did her fiance) for their classy lingerie.  (In fact, I think she pointed out some neglige sets she liked to give him an idea of her taste.)  She also tried on quite a few outfits in Owl's Lab, which seemed to be one of her favorites.  She took a card and made a note that she wanted to go back there after the tour.  She wanted to have some time to think about her purchases before she bought them--smart girl!

She actually made a comment halfway through the tour that even though she lived in New York for almost five years and visits every weekend, she had never been to the stores I was introducing her to.  Like most New Yorkers, she was always too busy to explore the often "hidden gem" boutiques in the city.  

When we got to Soho, she really enjoyed New York Look and tried on a few things there as well.  Instead of sticking to the more commercial stores, after New York Look, I suggested we head to West Soho to visit some of the vintage boutiques.  She really enjoyed Chelsea Girl Couture and Laurel Canyon (where she tried on a pair of their awesome vintage cowboy boots.)  I also mentioned Flying A and she commented that she had been there before and had been meaning to go back.  I told her that this would be a good time, since they offer 15% off vintage items to my tours.  

While in transit to the last stop on the tour, we talked about some of the amazing vintage stores in North Carolina, including Buffalo Exchange (which I told her recently opened a store in NYC) and a lot of the cool vintage shops in Chapel Hill.  We also talked about downtown Raleigh and how it's such a beautiful, quaint town.  I told her I went to school in Wilmington and she told me she had been there within the last month and actually bought the sandals she was wearing while she was there.  (These sandals were adorable and she got SO many compliments on them throughout the tour!)  

Darling, in the West Village/Meatpacking area, was the last stop, which I knew she'd enjoy because by this time, I had a good feel for her personal taste and style.  I also think she was a little overwhelmed by this point since we had been shopping for 3 1/2 hours and she had seen a lot that she really liked and wanted to go back to see after the tour.  She had also been awake since the crack of dawn and had plans to go out with friends that evening so I walked her to the nearest subway and pointed her in the direction of her fiance's.  She was really grateful to me for the tour and said she had a wonderful time.  I had a great time too.  We hugged goodbye.  I'm telling you, it's something about those Carolina connections...... :-)

If you'd like to take one of our subway/walking shopping tours, visit www.zerve.com/ShopNYCTours for more information and to purchase tickets.  I hope to shop with you soon!

The Purple Vintage Space Princess and ShopNYC Tours Meet: http://ping.fm/Xwd6p

Purple Vintage Space Princess

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Mammi-Ama (also known as the Purple Vintage Space Princess!)  I was at the Vbar Cafe (or what I refer to as my office) on Sullivan Street ordering a coffee and she approached me about being on "Tough Love."  We had a short conversation about the show and then she went on to tell me about her music and her passion for vintage fashion.  We exchanged cards in the hopes to network since she is so fond of vintage and I give a Vintage Boutique Tour here in the city.  

When she left Vbar I have to admit I was very intrigued by her name (Purple Vintage Space Princess) so I Googled her.  When her site came up (www.purplevintagespaceprincess.com) I was super impressed to see all that she's accomplished.  Her music is awesome (she was on the Mike & Juliet Show and there's a video of her performing) and her online vintage fashion store is SO unique.  And--and her prices are actually affordable!!  

Within a few days of meeting, we had gotten in touch because she was so impressed with what I do and I was so impressed with what she does that we decided to have a meeting and discuss cross-promoting.  I guess the rest is history......  

I'm going to be adding a link for her online store to my ShopNYC Tours website soon and she's going to do the same for me on her site!  So if you're in the mood for some great music, some online vintage shopping or some inspiration, visit Mammi-Ama's site www.purplevintagespaceprincess.com.

ShopNYC Tours is now offering Walking & Subway Crash Course Shopping Tours: http://ping.fm/OzX9q

Check out the ShopNYC YouTube Channel: http://ping.fm/8uRON

"Uptown Girl": http://ping.fm/kuOi8

Steve Ward, the matchmaker who helped me is hosting a Crash Course in Love in Washington DC: http://ping.fm/POQRR

Check out ShopNYC Episode 2 featuring Pia Boutique: http://ping.fm/MD1vb

Chic Boutique Tour - Bachelorette Party!

Saturday's tour was the first Chic Boutique Tour that I've given in a while.  My Vintage Boutique and Teen Fashion and Fun Tours have been more popular, probably because of the state of the economy.  The Chic Boutique Tour definitely visits boutiques with higher overall price points than the other tours, but you can still find select items that don't cost a fortune, and window shopping is always welcome too.  

The group was a lot of fun.  There were two women from Reno, Nevada and then, of course, the bachelorette party, from Pittsburgh, PA.  Due to the size of the group, we took a limo, which always puts a smile on women's faces--especially when it's a surprise.  

First stop was in Greenwich Village at Make-up Forever.  The bride-to-be got some advice from the sales associates (who are all professional make-up artists) about how to do her makeup for the big day.  A couple other ladies in her party made some purchases too, while the ladies from Reno visited an art gallery across the street.  

Around the corner on University Place was Pia, where all of the ladies took a look at the beautiful handbags.  Bruce, the owner, was friendly, as always.  They all loved the store but the price range wasn't in their budget.  So I suggested, since it was a bachelorette party, that they head across the street to La Petit Coquette to take a look at the cute, feminine and funky lingerie selection.  The ladies from Reno showed a strong interest in gift shops and housewares stores so I pointed them in the direction of William Wayne & Company.  In the last 15 minutes of our stop in Greenwich Village, both groups ended up in Ibiza, which they all seemed to take a strong liking too.  They were all pretty amazed with their beautiful collection of jewelry, their cool hats and their funky handbags.

After Greenwich Village, it was back to the limo and off to Soho.  Since I had a good feel for the group by this point, I decided to take them to the west side of Soho rather than the east side, since the boutiques in that area are more unique than commercial but still reasonable in pricing.  They visited Laurel Canyon Vintage (one of the ladies in the bachelorette party wanted to see their cowboy boot collection after viewing the video), Chelsea Girl Couture (one of the ladies from Reno was interested in the Moon Bags after viewing the video), The Hat Shoppe, Lunessa and DKNY to name a few.  The ladies from Reno also visited Clio (a housewares store.)  This was a perfect area for the combination of groups since there is such a wide range of boutiques.  There was definitely something for everyone.  

After Soho, we got back in the limo and they each enjoyed a glass of champagne as we headed over to the West Village/Meatpacking District.  Next stop was Darling, which is one of my personal favorites.  Darling is awesome because they have a range of contemporary fashion, vintage fashion, vintage-inspired fashion and of course, a lovely dress collection on the lower level.  They also have some amazing accessories like broaches, earrings, necklaces, belts, and hats to name a few.  Darling carries some select handbags and shoes and some scented candles and oils for the home, which gives the entire store the most pleasant smell.  

Everyone enjoyed this store but since the bachelorette party was taking more time than the other women, I suggested they head over to the next block where they could visit Mxyplyzyk, which is one of the coolest gift shops in the city.  I also suggested that they visit Tea & Sympathy across the street where they could find some great gifts as well.  I would normally suggest The Bathroom too but it turns out that they're Greenwich Avenue store closed.  Times are definitely tough.

The West Village/Meatpacking was our last stop and after some successful purchases, the limo picked us up and dropped off each group at their requested location (another advantage of having a small group), which they really appreciated, considering it was raining like crazy all day.  

If you'd like to do something special in NYC for your bride-to-be, visit www.shop-nyctours.com and book one of our tours.  Both public and private groups tours are available.  Hope to shop with you soon!

Teen Fashion and Fun Tour - Teen and Two Adults Had an Equally Awesome Time!

Saturday’s Teen Fashion and Fun Tour was great, not only for the teen, but for the adults too!  There were 3 ladies—one being a young lady of about thirteen.  I can honestly say that all three of them enjoyed the tour immensely.  From Fifth Avenue’s Abercrombie and Bendel’s to Noho’s and Soho’s Joyce Leslie and TopShop, they shopped, shopped, shopped!  They enjoyed the fashion videos I showed them along the way and seemed to gain a lot of knowledge from them.  (They were making comments about info from the videos when they visited some of the stores.) 

It was a rainy day but fortunately, with the spot-to-spot transportation provided, it didn’t really make a difference.  They barely even needed their umbrellas.

As usual, in the West Village, I picked up their cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery while they browsed the Marc Jacobs Special Items Store.  The ladies told me that they had been to the Georgetown Bakery outside of DC and were anxious to compare the cupcakes to Magnolia’s. 

When they finished their shopping, we dropped them off at their final destination, which was Chelsea Piers.  (Sometimes I can drop people off at a place of their choice as long as it’s in Manhattan and time permits.)  On the way to the Piers, they ate their cupcakes and came to the conclusion that Magnolia’s icing was much better but that if they combined it with Georgetown’s cake, you would have the perfect cupcake! 

As the tour came to an end, the ladies said they had a wonderful time and that they would have never found the stores I took them to on their own.  In fact, they were in Soho the day before the tour and said they had no idea about TopShop (which was one of their favorites) and passed it up.  They also absolutely loved having their own transportation around the city.  The commented on how nice it was to not have to walk everywhere.  They also said they would tell all their friends about ShopNYC Tours and that I should consider starting tours in San Francisco (which is where they were from.)  I think I’ll have to stick to NYC for now, but it’s definitely a possibility in the future!

If you’d like to have a ShopNYC Tours experience, visit www.shop-nyctours.com to book a tour.  

My "Tough Love" Journey - http://ping.fm/ykGpO

Teen Fashion and Fun Tour (with Pictures!)

Last Saturday's Teen Fashion and Fun Tour was aweseome!  There were two teens from Charlotte, NC with their moms and one teen from Texas with her mom.  They were such a sweet group.  They (teens and moms) were really excited to find out that since another group cancelled last minute they were all going in a limo!  Their faces just lit up.

We started at the usual first stop--the Abercrombie & Fitch Flagship which they LOVED!  They all took pictures with the hot male model in the front of the store (including the moms) and they shopped for quite a while.  They all came out with purchases so it was definitely a successful stop.

Next up was Henri Bendel.  The moms loved this store.  They got some mini-makeovers in Bendel's AMAZING beauty department where they have brands such as NARS, MAC and Chanel just to name a few.  

Juicy Couture was up next and we took some cute pictures!  Take a look:

After Juicy, it was back into the limo and time for the "Teeny" Cosmos.  Before they guzzled them down, I had a chance to take a quick pic:

They all kept their glasses as a souvenir :-)

Next we headed downtown to Noho to Joyce Leslie, which the teens ALWAYS love.  The price is definitely right!  

After they made their purchases it was time for Topshop in Soho.  The ladies from Charlotte had been in Soho the day before but said that they walked right past Topshop, not knowing what it was.  I showed them videos about Topshop in the limo on the way downtown and it got them really excited to see it.  It is the FIRST Topshop in the US afterall.  People love the fact that Kate Moss has a line there.  They also love the fact that you can find trendy, good quality clothing, shoes and accessories that won't break your budget!

Last stop for the Teen Tour was the West Village at Marc Jacobs Special Collections.  Again, both the teens and the moms loved the concept of Marc Jacobs for a fraction of the price.  Who wouldn't?  They also headed over to Olive & Bette's, which is a favorite of mine.  And they took a walk down to Magnolia Bakery to see the scrumptious cupcakes they would soon be eating!  

On the way back uptown the teens enjoyed their cupcakes while their moms enjoyed relaxing in the limo.  Anyone would enjoy it after all that power shopping!  

If you'd like to spend an afternoon shopping NYC with your teen (or your mom), visit www.shop-nyctours.com to book a tour.  I hope to shop with you soon!

Also, join ShopNYC Tours on June 25th for an amazing event to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure!  To buy tickets to the event or (if you're out of the NYC area) to make an online donation, visit: www.philanthropiceventssponsorspage.com/natasha

  

Teen Fashion and Fun Tour Birthday Party!

Last Saturday's Teen Fashion and Fun Tour was a really great time.  There were three teenage girls and one of them was the birthday girl!  She was visiting from Chicago and her uncle was treating her.  (He came along too!)  As for the other girls, one was from the city and the other was from Queens.  So they were a really cute, diverse and interesting group.

When the limo pulled up, they were super-excited.  I can't imagine being in NYC when I was 13-years-old and riding in a limo with friends.....  So though I never experienced it myself, I could kind of guess what they were feeling!

First stop, as usual, was the Abercrombie & Fitch Flagship.  They absolutely LOVED it!   From the male models, to the strong aroma of A&F cologne, they totally enjoyed the whole experience.  After they shopped, they took pictures with the model at the front of the store.  They were SO excited!  One of the girls even said, "Wait til I show my mom!"  

Next stop was Henri Bendel, but they weren't that crazy about it.  I mean, it's not exactly in the teen budget, but they had fun browsing for a minute.  

Following Bendel's they saw the Disney Store, which isn't normally a stop on the tour, but since we were ahead of schedule, I told them we had time to take a look. 

The last store we had time to stop in on the UES was the Juicy Couture Flagship, which is always a teen favorite!  They had fun browsing there for over 20 minutes (which is quite a long attention span for teens, of course!)  

Next it was back in the limo and time for the "teeny" cosmos which they enjoyed very much.  (They especially had fun taking pictures with them.)  We were headed to the West Village to the Marc Jacobs Special Collections Store, but I realized we had about 30 minutes before they opened.  So I suggested we stop at Joyce Leslie in Noho first.  All the girls loved it here because the prices are 100% absolutely "teeny."  I'm sure the uncle (who was treating the birthday girl) appreciated them too though.  Who wouldn't?  Cute t-shirts under $10 and cute dresses not more than $20.  Heck, I'm a HUGE fan!

Last destination was the West Village.  I knew they would LOVE the Marc Jacobs Special Collections Store.  There was also a street fair on the same block, which was fun to browse.  Although, as expected, they spent most of their time in MJ.  This store is raved about all around the world.  People don't understand how things are sold for a small fraction of the regular MJ price.  I don't really understand it either.  All I know is that it's awesome for people who like labels.  You can still get the MJ label without paying a fortune.  The birthday girl absolutely adored this store and she came out with quite a few gifts from her uncle.  The other girls made some small purchases too.

When we got back into the limo to return to the starting point of the tour, I pulled out their special treats.  Magnolia Bakery is on the same block as the MJ Special Collections store and what's a birthday party without a delicious cupcake?!?  So on the way back uptown, the teens took some cute cupcake pictures and left not one crumb behind.  All in all, the tour was a success!

If you'd like to plan a tour for a birthday party, a bachelorette party, or any other special occasion, visit the Contact page of www.shop-nyctours.com and inquire about our private group tours.  Hope to shop with you soon!

Private, Customized Tour for Two Lovely Ladies

As I walked into The Plaza Hotel with my ShopNYC Tours tote, I must say that I felt a little anxious about the palace-like decor and what it conveyed.  Were my customers staying here and, if so, were they going to be friendly or a bit prude?  I wasn't sure what to expect.  Maybe they were just exploring and touring The Plaza and staying somewhere a little more "low-key" like The New Yorker?  I quickly found out.  Just as I entered, they were conveniently standing in front of me, saw my tote and we introduced ourselves.  

There were 2 ladies and a gentleman who quickly explained that he wasn't going on the tour, but rather just seeing them off.  We walked out to the car and he took a photo of them getting in.  Then he smiled and waved goodbye.  The ladies were somewhat quiet when we first got into the car and even up until we neared the first stop.  

When we arrived at East 11th Street, I think they were a little apprehensive about the neighborhood.  They asked if it was more of a local area and I told them that it was but assured them that the most interesting boutiques are located in "local" neighborhoods.  I wasn't really sure what they were going to think about the boutiques on 11th Street but figured I would find out!  The boutiques in this area are mostly bargain/consignment boutiques, which can turn some people off.  Within a few minutes though, one of the ladies was trying on a pair of shoes in Tokyo Joe's so I knew they were liking it!

Next up was O Mistress Mine, which they loved!  One of the ladies bought a black patent-leather handbag with red, satin lining and the other almost bought one of their vintage hats. They had a great time exploring O Mistress Mine, as people usually do.

Even though they were loving the vintage and consignment, I decided to take them down to East 9th Street where they could find a nice mix of vintage and trendy fashion boutiques.  It's a beautiful block and it was a little difficult to see that since they were filming Step Up 3.  But I guess they thought it was interesting that they were filming there.  We visited a fairly new place that I hadn't been in before called DejaVu, which is both a boutique and tailor service.  I was extremely impressed with it.  They had a beautiful collection of dresses (some made in France) that were actually pretty affordable.  They also had some beautiful, unique handbags in the back.

Some other places we visited on East 9th were Local Clothing, Fialka and Meg.  We were going to head to East 7th Street but were running out of time allotted for the East Village so we decided to head over to Soho.  

I knew that they would absolutely love Chelsea Girl (I could tell by their reactions from the videos) and I figured that they might like Laurel Canyon as well.  I was also sure to point out INA since they took a liking to some of the designer consignment in the East Village.

At Chelsea Girl, one of the ladies tried on several vintage dresses but didn't have any luck with the sizes.  At INA they did more browsing and then headed across the street to the jewelry store, Lunessa, where they made a few purchases.  Last stop in Soho was Sacco and this is where they made quite a few purchases.  One of the ladies fell in love with their headbands which consisted of unique feathers, flowers and bows (a la Gossip Girl) while the other found a comfortable and stylish pair of shoes.  

Next up was their requested stop--Lulu Guiness.  This was something they told me they wanted to do when they first booked the tour.  Since Lulu Guiness is located in the West Village, I wanted to allow time for more than just one stop because I knew they would absolutely love the neighborhood.  

When one of the ladies stepped into Lulu Guiness, you'd have thought she stepped into her personal heaven.  She quickly scoured through every little, unique handbag with glee!  They didn't have the one that she wanted in the correct color, which was disappointing, but the disappointment quickly went away when I pointed them in the direction of the Magnolia Bakery, where they bought two cupcakes.  On the way to the West Village, I had shown them the video of Darling, so they decided that in the remaining time they wanted to shop there.  So we hopped in the car and headed that direction while they finished their delish cupcakes. 

They really adored everything at Darling.  They both ended up purchasing a lovely pair of earrings.  And one of the women bought a belt as well.  So the tour ended on a good note for both of them!

On the way back to The Plaza, the ladies said they had a wonderful time.  They said that they thought 4 hours of shopping would be too much, but that it went by so quickly.  They also commented that they would have never found the boutiques that I introduced them to if it weren't for the planned shopping tour itinerary and transportation.  I was really glad to hear it. That's what I'm trying to provide people:  a relaxing, unique, comfortable NYC experience that you just can't have when you're on your own in the Big Apple.  

If you'd like to have one of these NYC experiences, visit my website for more info at www.shop-nyctours.com.  Thanks for reading and I hope to shop with you soon!

Vintage Boutique Tour for Browsers

Yesterday's tour was unique.  It consisted of 2 women: one from Vermont and one from California.  They were on a short weekend getaway.  I could tell from the beginning that they weren't going to be big shoppers, which was completely fine.  I think what some people don't realize is that my tours are meant for shopping, but even if you're not a shopper, you'll have a wonderful time just experiencing the neighborhoods and browsing the boutiques.  On my tours, you can have an AMAZING experience even if you don't buy on thing.  

We began, of course, in Soho--but on the west side of Soho.  I always explain to people that the east side of Soho is where they have the more commercial stores (Old Navy, H&M, Victoria's Secret) and high-end designer stores (Prada, Chanel.)  I focus on west Soho on my tours because it's a quaint, clean, quiet area of Soho where there are a lot of individually owned, smaller boutiques.  In fact, there's actually something called "S3" (which stands for Shop Small Stores) that smaller, locally-owned boutiques have created to promote shopping in their boutiques.  At any rate, the ladies really seemed to enjoy the neighborhood immensely.  They weren't spending a lot of time in any of the stores because they were just browsing--not shopping but it still allowed them to enjoy themselves.  One of the ladies commented on how it was fun just simply exploring.

After Soho, we headed to the East Village and they really enjoyed Buffalo Exchange on East 11th Street.  They spent quite some time browsing but didn't end up buying anything.  It was the same with O Mistress Mine.  They loved looking through Wanda's (the owner's) collection but they didn't make any purchases.  Again--they were just having a nice time strolling through the stores and exploring.

On our way to East 9th Street something very exciting happened!  We saw Leonardo DiCaprio!!!  Yes--even though I'm a local, I admit, I was very excited.  We weren't sure if it was him so one of the ladies said she wanted to go back to the cafe where he was sitting to get a drink.  She didn't really buy a drink, of course.  It was just to confirm that it was him.  And it definitely was!  I couldn't believe how grungy he looked.  You know, he's one of those Hollywood stars that dresses very chic and sophisticated for the most part.  He looks very polished on the red carpet whereas someone like Johnny Depp tends to look a little more grungy.  But to my surprise Leo looked like a regular East Villager.  I do think, however, that he had to TRY to look this way.  He was TRYING not to stand out which was cool, I guess.

Anyway, on East 9th Street, they explored Fabulous Fanny's and Cadillac's Castle for a bit.  They were also excited to see AuH2O so we headed to East 7th Street immediately after that.  One of the ladies bought a pair of Obama earrings for her mom and the other tried on a top but didn't make a purchase because it didn't fit.  They definitely had a really strong interest in Kate's boutique though.  

We had a little time left after East 7th Street so I decided to take them to St. Mark's Place.  I figured they might enjoy seeing an area that was still a little "off the beaten path" but also a little more touristy and with shops that have some lower prices and some souvenirs.  (I knew they had teenagers they might want to buy for.)  So we strolled along St. Mark's.  I told them that was one of the perks to it just being the two of them.  I was able to show them something that wasn't part of the usual itinerary.

Following St. Mark's, I asked if they'd like to visit the West Village since we still had an hour left with the car service, but they decided to head back to the hotel.  They said that they had a wonderful time already and they were anxious to change clothes and have dinner before their show.  One of the ladies was actually waiting for her lost luggage to arrive at their hotel so she also wanted to get back to check on it.

I think the tour started out a little rocky but as time went on, the ladies realized that there was no pressure to shop.  I was happy just showing them around and they were happy just exploring.  

If you'd like to browse with ShopNYC Tours, visit www.shop-nyctours.com for more information about us!  I hope to shop--or browse with you soon!

Vintage Boutique Tour, Chic Boutique Tour and Teen Fashion & Fun Tour

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Vintage Boutique Tour - Erin Go Bragh!

Friday’s Vintage Boutique Tour was really a lot of fun.  I knew the tourists were going to be from Ireland but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  It ended up being three ladies on a girlfriend getaway for the weekend.  One of them currently lives in Seattle, Washington, so she met the other two, who still reside in Ireland, “halfway” in NYC.

When I arrived at the pick-up location I was happy to see three ladies.  I don’t mind having men on my tours (especially the Vintage Boutique Tour since there’s a pretty big selection for men in most of the boutiques) but I knew that if my customers were ladies, they were more likely to be there by choice. 

I knew this was going to be a good tour because when I started the tour videos of the Soho stores, they were super-excited about what they saw and they couldn’t wait to shop. 

First stop was Flying A and they started shopping immediately when they walked in the door.  They were picking up items to try on in the dressing rooms, trying on accessories, etc.  I was glad to have them stay at their first stop for 30 minutes because I knew that they had a true interest in what I was showing them.  Sometimes when people aren’t shopping, I wonder if they aren’t liking the tour, if they were expecting something different, etc.  I think the case lately for non-shoppers is simply that they enjoy browsing and they want a unique experience of the city.  Also-with the suffering economy, it’s definitely understandable when people don’t want to buy.  If the economy were booming, I would expect pretty much all of my customers to spend money on my tours.  But in this difficult time, I (along with the boutique owners, sales associates) completely understand and expect it.

So after Flying A, we headed over to Chelsea Girl Couture where they tried on some truly amazing vintage dresses.  This store never ceases to amaze me with their absolutely stunning collection.  David, the store manager, is also a gem when it comes to selling vintage.  He has an amazing knowledge of the business and really enhances my vintage tours both in the videos and in person. The ladies had a ball trying on several dresses each.  One of the ladies made a purchase and despite a slight misunderstanding about the discount, left the store very pleased.

So following Chelsea Girl we, of course, visited their other store, Laurel Canyon Vintage.  Laurel Canyon is geared toward more of a college customer, but still, they have some really great 60s and 70s apparel that can appeal to appeal to all ages.  After a quick stop, the ladies decided they were ready to head to the East Village. 

Once again, on the way, watching the store videos got them excited about what was coming up next (especially AuH20.)  First stop was East 11^th Street, as usual.  They took a strong liking to Tokyo Joe’s, which is really well known for their amazing collection of designer consignment such as YSL, Prada, Fendi, Ferragamo, and Louis Vuitton, to name a few.  When I saw that they were loving these consignment items, I knew that they would absolutely love Tokio 7.  So I let them know in advance about it so they didn’t spend all their money in one place.  Again, that’s one great thing about a small group.  I can actually cater to their preferences. 

We made a quick stop at O Mistress Mine since they loved the video of it and I spoke so highly of the owner, Wanda.  They didn’t make any purchases here but were still highly impressed with the collection.  I knew they had their heart set on the designer consignment so I suggested we head to Tokio 7 next and they strongly agreed. 

We stopped along the way on East 9^th Street at Mudd Coffee for a bathroom break and a pick-me-up.  Mudd Coffee is amazing at giving a late afternoon boost.  The Irish ladies even said so themselves. 

When we arrived at Tokio 7, I waited outside with their coffees (it was a beautiful day) while they browsed around consignment “heaven.”  Almost 45 minutes later, they walked out with items like a beautiful Chloe handbag and an elegant pair of Chloe dress pants among several other items.

Last stop was AuH20.  After seeing the video of it, they were very excited to visit Kate’s unique boutique.  They tried on quite a few vintage and recycled items and made several purchases.  Kate, being her sweet self, was very happy to have them.  And it was great seeing her new space (she moved to the boutique next door from where she was originally.)  I also had the pleasure of meeting the owner of the new boutique next door who carries some amazing handbags that are made in New York.  I may end up working with her too! 

After the East Village, they asked if I could drop them off on 46^th Street at Bourbon Street, where their other friends were having drinks.  I was happy to do it since it was just the three of them.

I think they had a lovely time.  They gave me a lot of compliments and they were very curious as to how I started my business, when I came to NY, where in the city I lived, etc.  So it was another success, I hope.  As usual, I’ll patiently await the reviews! 

For more info about my shopping tours and my upcoming web series, visit www.shop-nyctours.com.  Hopefully I’ll be shopping with you soon!

 

 

ShopNYC Tours' Favorite Trends for Spring/Summer 2009

Geometric Shapes : Printed clothing, shapely accessories, and clunky shoes.  Just cuz you didn’t like class doesn’t mean you have to fail this season.

The Goddess :  Feel like Athena, Venus and Aphrodite with this flowy, drape-like look.

Jungle Safari : Think Troop Beverly Hills and feel like a Girl Scout again (except you don’t have to sell the cookies.)

Marrakech Fantasy : Gold embellished slippers and shimmery jumpsuits make you feel like a genie in a bottle.

Vaudeville : Perform your own show with corsets, lace, beads and sequins.

Depression Chic : Dress like it’s 1929 – flapper frocks, sack dresses and for the country gal - prairie home companion.

Sporty Spice : Running pants, hoodies and bodysuits aren’t just for the gym this season.

Private Shopping Tour for "New to the City" Local

Saturday's tour was definitely a nice surprise.  I'm so accustomed to giving tours for people from other parts of the country and especially other parts of the world that when I asked my customers where they were from (a cute, 20-something couple), I expected to hear the same.  But I didn't.  I was shocked when the girlfriend said she lived on the Upper East Side.  I always thought my tours would be great for locals, but it was cool to have a local finally attend one of  my shopping tours.  It made much more sense, however, when she told me that she had just moved to NYC and didn't know where to go for shopping, dinner and nightlife.  So "New to the City" is a customer base that I've now experienced.  It was definitely different, but also relatively easy and fun.

Even though the girlfriend lives in NYC, and her boyfriend visits her from Philly every weekend and they explore together, the couple needed some guidance about where to shop, go to dinner, go out, etc.  They knew about some of the obvious places, of course, but seemed really impressed with my extensive knowledge about the more "local" side of the city.  They asked how it was that I knew so much and I explained that having lived in the city for five years and having given tours for four of those five years, definitely helped.   

We started the tour in Greenwich Village on University Place.  Some of the girlfriend's favorites included Pia and La Petite Coquette.  Well, at least that's where she made her purchases.  Her boyfriend seemed to enjoy La Petite Coquette too, of course.  I mean, what guy doesn't enjoy shopping for lingerie for his lovely lady?  They were looking for some coffee along the way and I told them about one of my favorites - Grey Dogs: great coffee, great sandwiches and a great chill, downtown atmosphere.  

Next up was Soho, and what was great about the tour being private for just the two of them, was that I could cater to their taste and their needs.  Rather than taking them to the more commercial stores in Soho that I usually take customers to on the Chic Boutique Tour like BCBG, Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui, I decided that they'd like something a little more unique.  So I added some vintage and consignment shops that my Vintage Boutique Tour visits in West Soho.  They really liked INA (well, at least the girlfriend did) and the boyfriend seemed to enjoy the selections in Flying A.  I thought they would have a little more interest in Laurel Canyon Vintage but it wasn't one of their favorites.  

After shopping, I pointed out 60 Thompson as a great spot for happy hour and/or dinner.  I raved about their rooftop bar which I've never been to personally, but have heard amazing things about.

I insisted after the Soho stop that we visit Darling in the West Village/Meatpacking area.  I had gotten a sense of the girlfriend's style and knew she would absolutely love it.  So they enjoyed their champagne en route in the comfortable towncar and I took a cute photo of them.  I also showed the video of Darling, but I'm not sure if they really got the point of it--or the point of any of the tour videos for that matter.  We'll see what they have to say in their review, I guess.

When we arrived at Darling, the girlfriend tried on about 10 different items.  Her boyfriend sneaked one to the register to surprise her for the next day, which I thought was sweet.  The boyfriend, who was from Naples, said they wanted wood-fired brick oven pizza, so I dropped them off at Napoli on Carmine Street at the end of the tour so that they could have an amazing pizza dinner.  

I'm anxious to hear what this couple thought of the tour.  They were trendy, young and hip so they could end up being a very difficult customer to please.  I'm hoping they decide to write a  review so I can post it.  I'd love to get their feedback.  In my experience, locals can be tough.  But I guess I'll just wait and see.....  Thanks for reading.  Don't forget to visit my website http://www.shop-nyctours.com and stay tuned for the new ShopNYC Web Series coming soon!

Vintage Boutique Tour Review

I was happy to find out that my "Last Weekend's Vintage and Teen Tours Were a Success" statement was true.  Here's a review from one of my customers that attended the Vintage Boutique Tour:

The tour was better than expected. Our guide was very personable, informative, and accommodating. She provided interesting facts about the neighborhoods along the way as well as the shops we visited, and showed us introductory videos of some. The store keepers were friendly, and we never felt rushed or pressured. There was a good mix of clothing styles, price ranges, and aesthetic presentations to hold our interest. My thirteen year-old granddaughter said it was one of her favorite parts of our NYC trip. We had a great time on the tour and got an insider view of some of the city's most famous neighborhoods that we would not otherwise have had.

Last Weekend's Vintage and Teen Tours were a Success!

ShopNYC Tours is starting to pick up with the season!  Last Friday I gave a Vintage Boutique Tour for a grandmother and her granddaughter and last Saturday, I gave a tour for two eager teenagers.  Both groups were a lot of fun and came from totally different backgrounds.

The Vintage Boutique gals were from San Diego.  It was the granddaughter's first time to the Big Apple and she was researching design schools since she wants to be a fashion designer.  They were very in-the-know about the fashion world, which helped the tour along nicely.  They were really pleased to have transportation provided with the tour since they were exhausted from running around the city for a week!  They also enjoyed watching the tour videos.  (I show 1-2 minutes videos with interviews of store managers/owners/sales associates highlighting the latest items and best sellers.)  The first stop was Soho.  They were super excited to visit INA since I mentioned that some of the apparel worn in "Sex and the City" was sent there and sold for consignment prices, which is usually a third of what these items normally cost.  Still, although these are consignment pieces, they are mostly designer consignment, which ends up being costly, but at the same time, will last forever!  If you spend $500 on a coat at INA or $300 on a handbag, these are items that you will keep forever.  They also immensely enjoyed Chelsea Girl Couture, which is filled with feminine frocks including never-been-worn Diane Von Furstenburg and their best-selling Moon Bags.  Laurel Canyon Vintage and Flying A are a little more casual, which wasn't really their style, but they still visited and enjoyed browsing.

After Soho, I took them to the East Village where they had a great time visiting O Mistress Mine, where they bought some amazing vintage jewelry and a timeless vintage sweater.  The granddaughter also enjoyed Buffalo Exchange where she found some super-discounted tops and a dress.  As a teenager on a tight budget, Buffalo Exchange was definitely one of her favorites.  While watching the tour videos on the way to the East Village, they were really excited to visit Fabulous Fanny's to see all of the vintage eyewear.  They thought it was so interesting and probably spent the most time browsing there.   They were enamored with the hundreds and hundreds of eyeglasses.  They made a brief stop at Cadillac's Castle, but they were anxiously awaiting going to East 7th Street, where they wanted to visit AuH2O.  Wanting to be a fashion designer, the granddaughter thought that Kate Goldwater (who designs and sews all of her own stuff) was a genius!  The grandmother was very impressed with Kate's skills as well.  When I told them that she was on CNN's "How They Got Started" they weren't surprised at all.  

I dropped them off for dinner in Greenwich Village after the tour and they couldn't thank me enough.  They both had a wonderful time, which is what's so cool about the Vintage Boutique Tour.  No matter what age you are, you can appreciate vintage.

On Saturday morning, my Teen Fashion & Fun Tour goers were super excited to shop NYC!  (I think they were also excited to get away from their parents for awhile!)  I started off by playing the videos showcasing the Abercrombie & Fitch Flagship, Henri Bendel's and Juicy Couture.  I think the videos got them in the mood to shop and got them excited about what they were going to experience.  They had a really fun time seeing the sights of Fifth Avenue, and although they didn't buy much, they still enjoyed the atmosphere.  They also requested a stop at the Disney Store which is pretty much a given destination for tourists.  One of the teens commented that the Disney Store in her hometown in North Carolina had closed.  I assured her that the Fifth Avenue Disney store was THE Disney Store and the stores in the mall couldn't compare.  

After romping around on Upper Fifth, we got back in the car and headed for the West Village Marc Jacobs Special Items store.  I knew that they were a little overwhelmed from Fifth Avenue, so gave them their Teeny Cosmos on the way, which they seemed to enjoy.  I took a picture for them so they could feel very "Gossip Girl"--or maybe even "Sex and the City."  At any rate, teens who love labels but are on a tight budget die and go to heaven every time they set foot in the Marc Jacobs Special Items Store on Bleecker Street.  I mean, to buy something with a Marc Jacobs logo for two or three dollars is unheard of.  So they absolutely LOVED it and actually made their first purchases there.  Since everything else in that area on Bleecker is a little pricey, we hopped back in the car and headed for Noho/Soho.

On the way, I told them about the Magnolia Bakery (which I had even pointed out to them on our way to MJ) and told them I would be giving them some of the famous cupcakes en route to the next stop.  More sugar was just what they needed!  They enjoyed the cupcakes, but thought they were a little too sweet, so I told them to save them for mom.  

When we went to our first stop in Noho, Joyce Leslie, they officially started their shopping spree.  They were really impressed with the store, and more importantly, their prices.  Joyce Leslie is like a Forever 21 or H&M but they don't have locations across the US, which made this a special treat.  They spent most of their money at Joyce Leslie, which made sense because it was there that they got the most "bang for their buck."  They also visited David Z across the street to make some shoe purchases and the street market around the corner to get some dirt cheap (but cute) jewelry.  

It's hard to read teens, but I think Noho/Soho was their secret haven on the tour.  They enjoyed seeing the other stores and neighborhoods, but when they could actually start spending their money was what excited them most.  But I guess that excites us all, doesn't it?