Last weekend’s Prom Shopping Tour was a success! The mother and daughter came to NYC hoping to find something unique that no one else in Boston would have. We started the tour watching the 2010 Prom Trends video so the teen could show me which dresses (styles and colors) she did and didn't like. After explaining to me that she wanted something long and cream- colored with a low cut back, I decided we should start out downtown at the more unique boutiques (which would be either hit or miss) and then end up in midtown/the Upper East Side for some bigger department stores with more options.
First stop was Unpomela, where they had a limited selection but some really cool dresses. There was one in particular that the teen was going to try on but the price was just slightly above the average prom dress price.
We moved on next to a few of the sample sales where they had some great deals on a few gowns, but nothing that peaked her fancy. Over on West Broadway, we tried New York Look, Ariella and Max Azria. They had some cute short dresses (which is a huge prom trend this year) but not much of a selection for long gowns.
I knew it was time to head uptown to the stores where there would be gowns, gowns, and more gowns. On the way, we took a look at the Prom Hairstyles video. The teen really liked the side sweep hairdo with loose curls, which actually ended up to be the perfect style for the dress she chose.
Uptown, we started in the garment district where they have gowns galore. We came across a few that were similar to what she was looking for, but not the exact style and color that she wanted. We skipped over some of the accessories stores since we hadn’t found the dress yet and headed over to the huge BCBG flagship store on Fifth Avenue. They had some beautiful dresses on the second level, as usual, but nothing that quite fit. Same with Saks Fifth Avenue: beautiful gowns at reasonable prices but nothing exact.
Our last stop was Bloomingdale's and it was a winner! There were several gowns in the color and style that she wanted but she also picked out a completely different color: a beaded aquamarine blue dress. It was really beautiful! In the dressing room, it came down to a cream-colored dress and the blue (both of which had very unique backs.) I gave my two cents and said she should get the blue since it was more youthful and fun. Cream is definitely something you can wear when you get older. Her mother agreed. Dress? Check!
We had a little extra time to shop for shoes after she bought the dress and decided that since the beading had some purple in it, that purple, metallic purple, or dull silver would work best. I was disappointed in Bloomingdale's non-designer shoe selection though. $1500 for prom stilettos is a little steep... They decided they would just get shoes at home. (The teen said that she would be kicking them off early in the night anyway!)
We headed over to the MAC makeup counter where one of the makeup artists applied a beautiful blue and purple smokey eye for the teen. Mom watched very closely so she could recreate the look on the big night! Makeup? Check!
If you're interested in enjoying our NYC Prom Shopping Experience, visit our website for more information at www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours/nyc-prom-shopping-experience. We look forward to prom shopping with you!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Craving Consignment
It was a private limo tour for a group of lovely ladies in their 40s. They left the husbands and kids at home and although they were searching for designer pieces, they had no intentions of paying full price. So we headed to some of the most amazing consignment shops in the city.
At first, they had mentioned shopping for vintage, but when I explained to them the difference between vintage and consignment, they decided that it was more the consignment that they were craving. Vintage, I explained, is from another era, (even though the 80s can be referred to as vintage now).... Yeah--I don't think Madonna and Cindy would be thrilled to hear this...nor is my mother. Consignment, on the other hand, is second-hand as well but it can be from someone's closet just last week. In the case of New York City, many of the consignment shops contain ready-to-wear from recent fashion weeks along with red carpet recently worn by the likes of Chloe Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Our first stop was West Soho--INA. They carry some of the most amazing consignment in the city. Their shoe collection contains names such as Lou Boutin, Choo and Blahnik--enough said. One of the women was looking for a recent Gucci handbag, but she wanted it at a consignment price. That's the one thing about consignment that can be difficult--having one specific thing in mind. Because there is only really ONE of everything when you shop consignment. It's very rare that you'll find two of the same pieces.
The next stop was the street vendors for many along with a bite for lunch at Snack--a stylish Soho cafe. It was a beautiful day so they enjoyed leisurely strolling the streets.
After West Soho, it was back in the limo and time to head to the East Village. I wanted to introduce them to Buffalo Exchange. INA was a little pricey for their liking. There was a small distraction when we headed over to East 11th Street--Viniero's Bakery--a delicious distraction. The ladies loaded up on treats to take back to the hotel for later. They have some of the most amazing pastries in the city.
Buffalo Exchange didn't really peak their interest although some of the ladies enjoyed browsing Min K next door and Tokio Joe's (aside from the crowded factor.) I figured we should try out Tokio 7. They carry very similar designer consignment as INA but the pricing is a little more reasonable and the clothing slightly more dated. Nonetheless, they really enjoyed it and some of them even tried on some things.
By this point, since they had decided to incorporate lunch and dessert into the tour, we only had time for one more stop. I figured that Cadillac's Castle would be the best option. This was one of the most successful stops where almost everyone left with something including jewelry, shoes and dresses. Cad's Castle really is a hidden gem and their prices are extremely reasonable for what you can find. All in all, it was a great tour and the ladies had an enjoyable afternoon.
If you'd like to tour some of the most amazing consignment shops in NYC, visit www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours for more information. We look forward to shopping with you!
At first, they had mentioned shopping for vintage, but when I explained to them the difference between vintage and consignment, they decided that it was more the consignment that they were craving. Vintage, I explained, is from another era, (even though the 80s can be referred to as vintage now).... Yeah--I don't think Madonna and Cindy would be thrilled to hear this...nor is my mother. Consignment, on the other hand, is second-hand as well but it can be from someone's closet just last week. In the case of New York City, many of the consignment shops contain ready-to-wear from recent fashion weeks along with red carpet recently worn by the likes of Chloe Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Our first stop was West Soho--INA. They carry some of the most amazing consignment in the city. Their shoe collection contains names such as Lou Boutin, Choo and Blahnik--enough said. One of the women was looking for a recent Gucci handbag, but she wanted it at a consignment price. That's the one thing about consignment that can be difficult--having one specific thing in mind. Because there is only really ONE of everything when you shop consignment. It's very rare that you'll find two of the same pieces.
The next stop was the street vendors for many along with a bite for lunch at Snack--a stylish Soho cafe. It was a beautiful day so they enjoyed leisurely strolling the streets.
After West Soho, it was back in the limo and time to head to the East Village. I wanted to introduce them to Buffalo Exchange. INA was a little pricey for their liking. There was a small distraction when we headed over to East 11th Street--Viniero's Bakery--a delicious distraction. The ladies loaded up on treats to take back to the hotel for later. They have some of the most amazing pastries in the city.
Buffalo Exchange didn't really peak their interest although some of the ladies enjoyed browsing Min K next door and Tokio Joe's (aside from the crowded factor.) I figured we should try out Tokio 7. They carry very similar designer consignment as INA but the pricing is a little more reasonable and the clothing slightly more dated. Nonetheless, they really enjoyed it and some of them even tried on some things.
By this point, since they had decided to incorporate lunch and dessert into the tour, we only had time for one more stop. I figured that Cadillac's Castle would be the best option. This was one of the most successful stops where almost everyone left with something including jewelry, shoes and dresses. Cad's Castle really is a hidden gem and their prices are extremely reasonable for what you can find. All in all, it was a great tour and the ladies had an enjoyable afternoon.
If you'd like to tour some of the most amazing consignment shops in NYC, visit www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours for more information. We look forward to shopping with you!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Customized Family Shopping Tour - Something for Everyone!
It was a nice surprise coming to realize that we could customize a shopping tour perfect for an entire family. The tour was for a lovely family from Berlin, Germany consisting of dad, mom, teenage daugther and a six-year-old little girl. We started the tour at Henri Bendel where the mother was quickly drawn into the beauty department to try a new product. The teenaged daughter perused the signature accessories section in the Gazebo shop while the six-year-old watched her mom get made over in awe. The dad picked out some things to surprise the girls with while they were busy and then joined the teen on the second floor to check out some of their fragrances. On our way out, the mother and teen picked out some signature Bendel accessories to take back home to their friends.
From Bendel's, we headed downtown to the Meatpacking District where they had quickly toured earlier on their trip but didn't have time to experience the shopping. We started out at Tracy Reese, where the mom and the teen had fun trying on some colorful dresses and boho blouses. I knew this would be a great start for the two of them since Tracy's line is both youthful and sophisticated.
From Tracy Reese, we stopped quickly next door at Elizabeth Charles, where there were some beautiful New Zealand designs along with some Australian designs, although nothing that really suited the ladies' taste. And since I started to get a feel for their style by this point, I suggested that we head over to Scoop. (I also knew that there would be something for the dad at Scoop Men and for the youngest daughter at Scoop Kids--although to my dismay, the kids' store has closed and they discontinued the line.)
Scoop, however, was definitely successful for the mom, and the teen tried on some things as well. The teen was specifically searching for a handbag and I knew that they would have a cool selection. Also, while the dad shopped at Scoop Men, I suggested the mom and teen cross the street to the Diane Von Furstenberg flagship to check out her famous wrap dresses and her handbags.
By this point, the youngest daughter, who had been on her best behavior was slightly restless, so we headed over to the West Village so I could get their cupcakes at the Magnolia Bakery. It was here that I also introduced them to the Marc Jacobs Special Items Store where I helped the six-year-old pick out a small NYC necklace with a heart and a statue of liberty charm. I suggested that the dad head over to Jack Spade, where he found a few things, and I sent the mom and teen to the Mulberry store to search for handbags since the teen hadn't found what she was looking for yet. They also checked out Olive & Bette's which is always a great option for the chic shopper.
Since the six-year-old had been so patient, her dad took her to the Little Marc Jacobs store where he bought her a beautiful wool-knit poncho. Her eyes just lit up when she put it on, so he couldn't say no :-)
We headed back to the limo and since we had time for one more stop, I suggested TopShop. I knew that they could all find something there (even the six-year-old could fit in their 00 Petite sizes!) They enjoyed their cupcakes on the way and I gave them a quick run-down of the store layout so they could find their way around more easily. Afterall, it is a HUGE store!
At this point we were out of time with the limo and they decided to stay at TopShop to continue shopping. Before I left them, they asked me about a place for dinner so I suggested the new Scott Conant restaurant in the East Village, Faustina. They absolutely loved it and they sent me this e-mail on their way back to Berlin:
Dear Natasha,
Now we're on our way back home to Berlin. We're still i
Pressed of the tour we had with you. We all want to thank you again for your assistence, your charme and helpful tips. Even the Faustino was à great event and we enjoyed the meal and the very sympathic waitresses. Thank's for all.
Best regards
Gudrun, Mara, Jo and Marco
If you'd like to take a customized shopping tour of NYC, visit our website at www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours. We look forward to shopping with you!
From Bendel's, we headed downtown to the Meatpacking District where they had quickly toured earlier on their trip but didn't have time to experience the shopping. We started out at Tracy Reese, where the mom and the teen had fun trying on some colorful dresses and boho blouses. I knew this would be a great start for the two of them since Tracy's line is both youthful and sophisticated.
From Tracy Reese, we stopped quickly next door at Elizabeth Charles, where there were some beautiful New Zealand designs along with some Australian designs, although nothing that really suited the ladies' taste. And since I started to get a feel for their style by this point, I suggested that we head over to Scoop. (I also knew that there would be something for the dad at Scoop Men and for the youngest daughter at Scoop Kids--although to my dismay, the kids' store has closed and they discontinued the line.)
Scoop, however, was definitely successful for the mom, and the teen tried on some things as well. The teen was specifically searching for a handbag and I knew that they would have a cool selection. Also, while the dad shopped at Scoop Men, I suggested the mom and teen cross the street to the Diane Von Furstenberg flagship to check out her famous wrap dresses and her handbags.
By this point, the youngest daughter, who had been on her best behavior was slightly restless, so we headed over to the West Village so I could get their cupcakes at the Magnolia Bakery. It was here that I also introduced them to the Marc Jacobs Special Items Store where I helped the six-year-old pick out a small NYC necklace with a heart and a statue of liberty charm. I suggested that the dad head over to Jack Spade, where he found a few things, and I sent the mom and teen to the Mulberry store to search for handbags since the teen hadn't found what she was looking for yet. They also checked out Olive & Bette's which is always a great option for the chic shopper.
Since the six-year-old had been so patient, her dad took her to the Little Marc Jacobs store where he bought her a beautiful wool-knit poncho. Her eyes just lit up when she put it on, so he couldn't say no :-)
We headed back to the limo and since we had time for one more stop, I suggested TopShop. I knew that they could all find something there (even the six-year-old could fit in their 00 Petite sizes!) They enjoyed their cupcakes on the way and I gave them a quick run-down of the store layout so they could find their way around more easily. Afterall, it is a HUGE store!
At this point we were out of time with the limo and they decided to stay at TopShop to continue shopping. Before I left them, they asked me about a place for dinner so I suggested the new Scott Conant restaurant in the East Village, Faustina. They absolutely loved it and they sent me this e-mail on their way back to Berlin:
Dear Natasha,
Now we're on our way back home to Berlin. We're still i
Pressed of the tour we had with you. We all want to thank you again for your assistence, your charme and helpful tips. Even the Faustino was à great event and we enjoyed the meal and the very sympathic waitresses. Thank's for all.
Best regards
Gudrun, Mara, Jo and Marco
If you'd like to take a customized shopping tour of NYC, visit our website at www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours. We look forward to shopping with you!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
All-in-One Unique NYC Shopping Tour
ShopNYC Tours wanted to provide our shoppers with a shopping tour that offers VARIETY like no other! Why??? Well, most people come to NYC with a packed itinerary and reserve just a small window of time (usually 2-3 hours) for each activity that they want to do.
So let's say a group has just a few hours set aside for shopping and the group consists of people with different preferences, styles, needs, budgets, etc. For example, a family comes to NYC and the mother wants to look for clothing, the grandmother wants to look for housewares, the father wants to look for a souvenir t-shirt and the teenaged daughter wants to look for accessories. In another case scenario, there's a group of friends: one wants to buy a $300 handbag, one wants to buy a $75 pair of shoes and the other wants to find second-hand clothing for 10 bucks. With our All-in-One Unique NYC Shopping Tour you will have access to ALL of these things over the course of the 3-hour tour. There will be boutiques with women's clothing and accessories, home decor items, unique gifts, beauty products, teen clothing and accessories, and men's clothing. The prices will range from $5 per item up to $500 per item. The shops will offer a variety of high fashion, vintage fashion, bargain shopping and consignment.
The other thing that's unique about this tour is that even though you'll be shopping with a group, you'll have the opportunity to shop in the stores that appeal most to YOU. There will be clusters of shops and each person will be given a map. The tour guide will give you a certain amount of free time and then you can follow the map and decide which shops you want to visit first, second, and third, or you can just spend the entire time in your favorite shop!
Our All-in-One Unique NYC Shopping Tour is offered every Saturday from 11am-2pm for just $34. It's a guided, walking tour and departs at the Southeast corner of 14th Street and Fifth Avenue. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours. We look forward to shopping with you!
So let's say a group has just a few hours set aside for shopping and the group consists of people with different preferences, styles, needs, budgets, etc. For example, a family comes to NYC and the mother wants to look for clothing, the grandmother wants to look for housewares, the father wants to look for a souvenir t-shirt and the teenaged daughter wants to look for accessories. In another case scenario, there's a group of friends: one wants to buy a $300 handbag, one wants to buy a $75 pair of shoes and the other wants to find second-hand clothing for 10 bucks. With our All-in-One Unique NYC Shopping Tour you will have access to ALL of these things over the course of the 3-hour tour. There will be boutiques with women's clothing and accessories, home decor items, unique gifts, beauty products, teen clothing and accessories, and men's clothing. The prices will range from $5 per item up to $500 per item. The shops will offer a variety of high fashion, vintage fashion, bargain shopping and consignment.
The other thing that's unique about this tour is that even though you'll be shopping with a group, you'll have the opportunity to shop in the stores that appeal most to YOU. There will be clusters of shops and each person will be given a map. The tour guide will give you a certain amount of free time and then you can follow the map and decide which shops you want to visit first, second, and third, or you can just spend the entire time in your favorite shop!
Our All-in-One Unique NYC Shopping Tour is offered every Saturday from 11am-2pm for just $34. It's a guided, walking tour and departs at the Southeast corner of 14th Street and Fifth Avenue. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.shop-nyctours.com/guidedtours. We look forward to shopping with you!
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