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You Can’t Call Yourself a Fashion Lover if You Haven’t Visited These 9 Places in NYC

Fashion Editor

From iconic retail experiences to the stoop made famous by Sex and the City , these are the New York fashion attractions that define the city’s sophisticated and avant-garde sense of style.

Inclusivity is in vogue when it comes to the New York fashion scene. There are plenty of all-access fashion experiences that anyone can tap into, no velvet rope or influencer status required – after all, New York is one of the world’s fashion capitals . All you need is the right intel on where to go to hone your style IQ. Beyond shopping, labels and trends, this guide offers a tour of the must-visit NYC spots for those who consider themselves fashion lovers.

1. Tiffany and Co.

2. Dover Street Market

Market, Shop

3. Carrie Bradshaw’s stoop

4. The Museum at FIT

Museum, Memorial

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5. M and J Trimming

Located in New York’s famed Garment District, where designers source fabrics and trimmings, M&J Trimming is a DIY crafter’s dream. Find everything from silk flowers to iron-on patches and fur pom-poms at industry prices. Buttons, trimmings and zippers as well as crafting tools like glue guns and sewing machines are also available for purchase. Be on the lookout for your favorite New York designer on the hunt for next season’s must-have embellishment.

6. Mood Fabrics

With three floors of designer fabrics to shop, the Mood Fabrics boutique provides one of New York’s most extensive selections of silks, lace, brocades, wool, velvet, jersey, trimmings, home decor and more. Find designer closeouts as well as on-trend seasonal selections shopped by the creatives behind some of New York’s premier labels. Featured on Project Runway , the store, located in the heart of the Garment District, is often crazy busy. Drop by mid-week for a respite from the crowds.

7. East Broadway Mall

Shopping Mall

Located in the heart of Chinatown, the East Broadway Mall houses mom-and-pop vendors selling everything from home decor to fishnet slippers and Chinese cosmetics. You’ll also find tons of eateries offering Szechuan- and Cantonese-style dishes. From this spot, explore Chinatown’s alleys where you can score silk qipao, embroidered kimonos and pajama sets, as well as silk coin purses, fans, hair combs and Chinese make-up and skincare products.

8. Five Points Tattoo

Beauty Salon

Formerly known as Love Hate Social Club, Five Points NYC is a New York-style tattoo parlor where you can hang out and explore how far you’re willing to go when it comes to adorning the body. Staff artists are accomplished in a variety of styles and techniques including Japanese, flash and fine lines. Walk-ins are encouraged seven days a week.

Bar, Nightclub, Pub Grub

Atop the Standard Hotel in the bustling Meatpacking District you will find Le Bain, which, true to its name, has a Jacuzzi as well as rooftop views. Sip on fabulous cocktails and snack on bites from a small-plate menu. Since this is a favorite spot for the fashion set, dress to impress and take the gold-plated elevators all the way to the top. Expect a line and an expensive cover charge on the weekend.

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How to Dress Like a New Yorker and Not Like a Tourist, According to a Local Fashion Writer

Forget "Sex and the City."

Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

As a fashion editor who’s lived in New York City for 18 years (originally I'm a proud Jersey girl), I know this city’s style in and out. I’ve pulled looks for glossy magazines, styled models and celebrities, and written all about the latest trends. And just in case you couldn’t tell from my quick stride and fast-paced lifestyle, my black attire is a dead giveaway that I’m a New Yorker through and through — yes, it’s true that we wear lots of black. What can I say, it’s the secret to effortless looks that can take us from the office to drinks or errands to brunch.

Since I’m always on the pulse of what’s happening in the New York fashion scene, I get asked a lot: What do New Yorkers actually wear these days? If you want to learn how to blend in with the locals and not stick out like a tourist, you’re in the right place, because I know as much about the latest bag shape (the ultra-mini) as much as I do about the latest must-see Broadway show ( Shucked ). 

If you’re planning a trip to New York or just want to emulate city style on your next vacation (or at home), add these 15 New York styles I always wear from just $13 to your packing list . Whether you’re headed to dinner, the theater, walking around a museum, or just grabbing a cocktail, closet staples like the perfect leather jacket and my go-to ultimate sundress will have you fitting right in.

Travel + Leisure / Gab Porcaro

Reebok Lifestyle Classic Leather Sneakers

New Yorkers love to walk. We choose it over mass transit to get to work, meet up with friends, or head over a bridge to another borough; walking is our main form of cardio. And despite what you may have seen on TV (I’m looking at you, Sex and the City ) New Yorkers aren’t walking around in stilettos. This makes comfortable yet stylish sneakers a must-own. The good news is there is always some form of sneaker trending to make it easy. 

All white with a retro look, this Reebok sneaker fits right in with the dad sneaker style that’s “in” at the moment. They're also super versatile. I've worn them with dresses, crop flare jeans, and leggings to head to Solidcore Pilates. One of the best parts about New York style is that you can keep things casual, as long as the look isn’t sloppy, so you can take these from walking all day straight to an early evening glass of wine at a wine bar. 

Fahsyee Women's Leather Jacket

To get the effortless New York cool girl vibe, you must own a leather (or faux-leather) jacket — a piece that can read edgy rocker or sophisticated hipster. From a concert in Brooklyn to an Upper East Side bistro, it will take you anywhere and keep you warm on chilly nights. While mine has been in my wardrobe for years and has proven to be a worthy investment, you don’t need to spend big bucks. This top-rated faux-leather jacket from Amazon is beloved because of its quality. One positive review says it’s, “so soft and subtle and feels like real leather.” With a black tank, black jeans, and black or white shoes; anyone can blend in as a New Yorker.

Caslon Ruffle Tiered Cotton Maxi Dress

Come spring and summer, New Yorkers get outside for picnics, brunching outdoors, or their morning commutes. So I always add a breathable, flowy maxi dress to my outfit rotation to stay fashionable yet comfy in the city heat. This pretty white tiered style is my new addition. Yes, black dresses are a must (see below), but we New Yorkers like to play with shape and color and femininity with dresses. 

The versatile Caslon maxi dress works for everything from bridal showers to the office to picnics in Central Park’s Sheep Meadow. On ultra-hot days, the billowing skirt will keep the air flow and on chilly nights, a denim or leather jacket will layer on beautifully to have dinner streetside. It also seamlessly pairs with white low-top sneakers, sandals, wedges, or heels. For a similar and less expensive option, this $49 eyelet white maxi dress at Amazon is equally pretty and ready for summer picnics. 

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

Ever since the return of the belt bag a few years back, I have been wearing the athleisure staple across my body every day. Not only is it super convenient, but it also helps relieve back pain and allows for a more minimal, easy-to-carry purse. It also keeps my hands free if I need to schlep multiple bags home after a stop at Trader Joe's. 

Lululemon’s Everywhere belt bag is beloved for its sleekness, water-repellent material, and interior and exterior pockets. It's such a popular and highly sought-after belt bag, the black version sells out often. (But luckily, it’s still in stock right now.) I love that the black bag always matches my look, taking me everywhere from Barry’s class in the morning to a concert over a bomber jacket at night. When warm weather hits, I sometimes switch to an ultra-colorful style, like this hip pack from the Cotopaxi x Hoka collaboration, to get a fresh, fun look.

Birdies The Kiwi Sandal

Here’s a style secret for you: New Yorkers love to keep a spare pair of sandals or flats in their bag to spruce up their outfits; they simply wear comfy sneakers to commute and then swap their shoes once at their destination. When the temperature heats up, I opt for a stylish flat sandal like Birdies’ new buckle-front Kiwi Sandals . Known for their comfy styles, this brand is even loved by celebrities (Meghan Markle has been spotted in the brand).

But what I particularly love about these slides is how sleek and lightweight they are. They easily slip into my bag for the office to change into post commute or to have on hand if heels get too much. I also know they will be awesome to pack for vacation since they will take up little to no space in my luggage and work with dresses, shorts, and any beach look. (Note: If you prefer a closed-toe flat, Birdie's suede loafers are a comfy go-to option). 

Buenos Ninos V-neck Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits and rompers are one-and-done pieces that keep your look streamlined and minimal and make getting dressed a dream. In this jumpsuit, I know I will arrive in Queens for a Greek dinner with my sister and friends looking polished and refined, even though I just walked 15 blocks and was squashed in a hot and crowded subway. This style goes from daytime barbecue on a friend's roof in Brooklyn, paired with my favorite Superga platforms , to dinner for a friend's birthday on the Upper East Side, with the addition of a gold belt, and a swap for bright sandals.

Mejuri Tube Medium Hoops

We New Yorkers lead busy lives. I mean, why live in the city if you aren't going to take advantage of the restaurants, bars, walks, shows, etc? I am always thinking of ways to simplify routines and my look so I can transition from plan to plan with ease. After getting two more piercings on my ear a few years ago, I enacted the golden rule of New York: Keep. It. Simple. and decided to wear only gold huggie earrings. Not only are they simple yet stylish, but they are also more comfortable to work out in and sleep on than post-studs. And seriously, less is more here.

I always turn to Mejuri for jewelry options that are approachable in price and style. Their simple medium hoops are always exactly what I am looking for, as are their twisted rings and personal necklaces. Since I have five piercings on my left ear, I also supplement with more affordable earring options from Amazon, like these yellow-plated huggies . For special occasions, or when I feel like making a statement earring, I swap out the pair for these Alexis Bittar crystal twisted hoops . I find this New York-based designer to make the best modern pieces to mix in with your more personal ones.

Everlane Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee

We all know the beauty of a well-made tee. It's a closet and capsule wardrobe staple that works with a suit for an interview or denim shorts and sandals for an outdoor barbecue. However not all t-shirts are created equal, and I have struggled to find options that complement my body and are not too tight. My favorite tee is the Sno Cone from AYR , a New York-based label. Their tees are my go-to because they hang flatteringly on my body and are made from the softest cotton (Oprah is a fan too). They're a splurge, so I usually wait to buy a new one before a big trip, so I have a fresh tee in all my pictures. 

But equally loved by New Yorkers are Everlane’s excellent, more wallet-friendly T-shirts (this Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee is highly rated) as well as classics from Madewell . I also love Aday’s silky tees because their wrinkle-free fabric is great for running around the city and perfect for travel.  

Madewell Oversized Straight Hem Shirt

Timeless pieces with a twist are classic New York style, and an oversized button-down shirt is a prime example that embraces the menswear trend with a more relaxed feel. I am eager to try this button-down shirt from Amazon with a similar vibe, and I am also drawn to this style from Madewell since it has a very summery feel. Crafted with an eco-friendly linen blend, I know this will look crisp and feel good when the summer humidity starts. You can pair this with any bottom; wide-leg jeans, loose shorts, mini skirt, or even wear it as a beach cover-up on vacation.

Open Edit Oversize Linen Blend Blazer

Another menswear piece that is a year-round staple is the oversized blazer. New Yorkers’ blazers get a lot of use since they’re equally office appropriate and ready for a night out, depending on what you wear underneath. I am eyeing this oversized linen blazer from Nordstrom to add to my spring-summer rotation. Its lightweight linen blend won't cause me to overheat on my commute but will save me from getting chilly while sitting in an air-conditioned office, restaurant, or subway train. The long length offers more coverage, a must for sitting on subway seats with shorter skirts or shorts, and it creates a flattering line. To change your look, try wearing it “editor style” by draping it over your shoulders without putting your arms through the holes. 

To take the look one step further, you can even add a matching short. (I’m not sure if I am a two-piece suit person, but matching sets are heavily trending in the city.) Or for another variation, try snagging a blazer in another bright and playful color.

Béis Sport Duffle 

Living in the city, I’m always on the go. Between fitness classes, freelance jobs, and after-work plans, I rarely carry just a single bag for all my things, and when I do, I constantly feel like I forgot something. While I have a collection of bags and totes to support my lifestyle, there's currently one bag I have been embracing more than others, the Béis duffel bag . The bag has a spacious interior with zipper pockets that help me keep organized. It can fit my laptop, sweaty activewear, water bottle, Nike cycling shoes, and more. The roomy duffel is currently my travel bag of choice as well. A slip pocket in the back unzips to be a trolley sleeve that sits comfortably on top of my roller carry-on luggage. It’s also the perfect size to fit under the airplane seat and hold all my flight essentials like books, water bottles, and electronics. For anyone visiting New York City, this will be a handy bag to carry any souvenirs while shopping.

Vuori Performance Joggers

Elevated casual is one way I would describe my everyday style, and even the most stylish New Yorkers embrace athleisure, too. A top piece that is always in the mix is refined sweatpants, and the pair I most frequently pull from the drawer is Vuori's Performance Jogger . Not only are they the softest pants I own, but they are also comfortable yet put together. They can take me from a Solidcore Pilates class to the post office; plus, the joggers look equally cute with my running sneakers as they do with my favorite Birkenstocks .

They are also fabulous to sleep in and are always my go-to pair to pack for vacation pajamas since they are also cute and cozy with coverage if you are traveling with friends or family — and bonus: they fold up very thin in your suitcase.

Spanx Flare Jeans 

While I, and other New Yorkers, embraced skinny jeans for years, they’re long gone from the city’s streets. These days, you see wider leg shapes reminiscent of the ’90s or further back. Flare jeans, for example, are heavily embraced. Recently, while walking down Park Avenue en route to an office where I am freelancing, a man passed me and yelled, “What is this, 1969? Are you heading to Woodstock?” That’s a very New York moment — strangers love to share what they think — but the wide-leg jean look I was rocking is everywhere. Spanx has an excellent dark wash flare jean option with hidden shaping technology; I love that this look is super flattering. It is also a zipper-fly style with stretch, so I can comfortably wear it to walk to work, sit all day, and head to happy hour.

Zenni Cat-Eye Sunglasses

After my wallet, phone, and keys, sunglasses are the fourth essential in my bag when I leave the house. Sunglasses are needed year around in the city to keep the sun's glare out of your eyes. Skyscrapers might shade some rays, but they can also reflect them. Shades are also useful for staying incognito from an old coworker or a horrible first date that you would rather avoid. Because although this city is super populated, it becomes small quickly. While I tend to gravitate toward timeless styles like classic aviators or giant oversized shades , I am trying to embrace trendier styles this season. I gravitated towards this cat-eyed style since they felt super summer, with the transparent frames and pink and blue lenses. I also love that the affordable price point allows me to do something out of my comfort zone.

Weaczzy Easy Summer Short Sleeve Casual Dresses V-neck Dress

Little black dresses are far from a secret, but they do become heavy hitters in the spring and summer in New York. Not only do they help us stick to our all-black aesthetic, but their versatility is vast. You can easily dress up a black dress with heels and a leather jacket or down with sneakers and a jean jacket for Saturday brunch with friends. Any black dress with a streamlined silhouette will have you fitting right in, whether in the Williamsbourgh or the West Village.

For an affordable, easy-to-wear option, check out this black dress from Amazon. One five-star review stated, "This dress is very flattering on my body. It hugs my bust, which I love but gently flares out... I feel very feminine and comfortable in this dress." 

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These NYC Hotspots Will Keep You Cozy & Calm During NYFW Week

Where to stay, eat, drink, and just about everything else.

And just like that, New York Fashion Week is upon us yet again, kicking off on February 9. This week, which is followed by fashion month shows held in London, Milan, and Paris, transforms the historic city, filling it with street style photographers, celebrities, fashion insiders, and influencers alike. It also sees a flurry of brand activations, dinners, and pop-ups. In other words, it’s a very chic time to be in town if you enjoy a festive occasion.

If you’ll be here for NYFW and need a few recs for where to eat, sleep, sip, or something in that vein, it’s a good idea to bookmark (and reserve) a few spots ahead of time. To help you prepare, TZR compiled a travel guide to the city, with input from attendees who have memorized all of the best spots to hit in between shows and meetings.

And if you’re here only to learn about the newest, flashiest openings in the city — that’s not what this is. Instead, enjoy the insider’s take on locales both new and tried-and-true. From steak au poivre at an iconic 50-year-old joint in Soho to a chic natural wine bar in the village, there’s a little something for everyone. Let fashion month commence.

Where To Stay

Out-of-towners coming from overseas or elsewhere in the states need a pied-à-terre to return to each night — NYC has plenty of stylish options for that. The Bowery Hotel is a no-brainer place to start (it’s also fashion insider Jenny Walton’ s pick for accommodations in the city). It’s at the East Village intersection of Bowery and 3rd Street and is best described as quintessential New York. You can also book a room at The Ludlow , a New York Fashion Week go-to for Net-a-Porter Market Director Libby Page (think: upscale boutique hotel in Manhattan’s trendy Lower East Side). And speaking of trendy, the new Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York in Tribeca is noteworthy. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the hotel exudes the same magical sensibilities as its Parisian counterpart with room details such as Art Deco–inspired furniture, parquet floors, Instagrammable Toile de Jouy wallpaper, and marble baths.

If you’re setting your sights further uptown, NoMad has a couple of notable spots — The Ned NoMad and The Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad as well as The New York EDITION in nearby Flatiron. Or, if you’re on the hunt for something affordable but equally as stylish as the aforementioned, the Moxy Lower East Side is a smart pick. Beyond that, you can’t go wrong with staples like The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel in lower Manhattan, The Mark in the Upper East Side, The Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo, or The High Line Hotel in Chelsea. And if you prefer a Brooklyn home base, Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg is a boutique property beloved by locals and visitors alike (it was originally a factory that opened in 1901).

Also, offering chic digs is the Ace Hotel in midtown. Set in a turn-of-the-20th-century building, the hip and modern property places you smack dab in the middle of the action and less than 10-minutes away from Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building.

Where To Have Dinner

Fashion week is essentially jolting from one runway venue to the next, praying you’ll make it before the lights dim. By the end of the day, the idea of a hearty dinner sounds downright heavenly. “After a long day of shows, there’s nothing like cozying up in a booth and ordering a martini and steak au poivre at Raoul’s ,” Who What Wear Editor at Large Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour says of the 1970s-era SoHo institution. Also in the neighborhood is Sant Ambroeus , another favorite of Page’s.

In Nolita, freelance fashion writer Aemilia Madden points to Thai Diner as the spot. “No matter where I'm trying to grab a bite during fashion week, I've learned to expect a wait,” she says. “Thai Diner is one of my favorite dinner spots; I usually throw my name down and grab a drink nearby while I wait.” Over in the West Village — beloved for its charming narrow streets and equally pleasant restaurants — classics like I Sodi and Via Corota or always reliable reservations. If you’re in the mood for a pizza and spritz on the sidewalk, head to L’antica Pizzeria da Michele on Bank Street. A few blocks up, recently-opened Cafe Chelsea is a new bistro in the landmark hotel that serves French fare in a Parisian-inspired setting.

If you find yourself on the east side, book a table at Bar Lula for the roasted octopus and extensive mezcal list. Or head to Claud for an unforgettable meal that nods to European dining (kampachi with kumquat and yuzu and seafood sausage with lobster jus are current highlights, but the menu changes). There’s also Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi , a culinary love letter to the chef’s NYC upbringing “rooted in and around the Bronx and the old neighborhood of San Juan Hill.” The menu of egusi dumplings and brown stew branzino draws inspiration from the variety of flavors found in the city, from the Chinese takeout and Italian bakeries to the local bodegas.

For premium Korean cuisine, swing by Atomix , where Chef Park (who just won a Peter Beard award) will delight you with a 10-item tasting menu of delicacies like sardine with marigold rice and sea urchin with steamed sweet corn cake.

A few newcomers of note include l'abeille à côté in Tribeca (sister restaurant to l’abeille) with its 20 seats and chef Mitsunobu Nagae's French-Japanese fare (order the Iberico Jamon Serrano with grilled eggplant ice cream). There’s also Casa Lever on Park Avenue, housed in a historic midtown building and featuring artwork by Damien Hirst, diners can feast upon Milanese-style Italian fare.

If you’re heading to Brooklyn, Walton suggests Rule of Thirds in Greenpoint. “I recently went there and it was great. A nice bar, too, that you don't need a reservation for.” There’s also Fulgurances, Laundromat , a tasting menu restaurant that began in Paris and is now an outpost of its chef residency in Greenpoint where each rotating chef works with New York State’s finest seasonal produce. And if your day ends closer to Williamsburg, a meal at elNico is a must — Mexican fare like caviar sope, clam tostadas, and pink mole can be enjoyed with views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan skyline.

Where To Eat Lunch

If you can manage to carve out an hour to have lunch during fashion week, there are a few spots to seek out (otherwise, pack those protein-heavy snacks). “It’s hard to find a big chunk of time for a sit-down lunch on a busy show day, so I love to grab an açaí bowl from Playa Bowls on Macdougal Street and eat it while responding to emails and keeping up with social media,” Minkoff shares. There’s also Jōji Box for sushi to-go or delivery found within One Vanderbilt and by Chef George Ruan. For Walton, La Mercerie is always the go-to. “They have a great salad and a great vegetarian quiche,” she notes.

If you’re craving something creative and healthy, Madden points to Dimes . “It’s been my go-to lunch spot since it first opened in 2013. The quirky, healthy-ish meals like the big salad, açaí bowl, and pozole all leave me feeling energized.” In the realm of amazing salads, head for American Bar in the West Village (Page is a fan of the chopped salad). If you find yourself with a longer time slot, grab a table at Union Square Cafe and order the gazpacho verde and grilled shrimp basilicata for a fresh, light lunch.

Where To Have A Drink

If you find yourself grabbing a drink with friends (or yourself, really) at the end of a long day of shows, you’ll need a few locales bookmarked across town. For those who end their day uptown, Madden recommends Lodi. “If I end up near Rockefeller Center for a show, I love Lodi for a mezcal negroni or glass of wine,” she says. Further up at The Plaza Hotel near central park, a toast at The Champagne Bar (which has been around since 1907) is always a good idea. If you’re looking for a sip with a side of entertainment, head around the corner to the new Aman New York’s Jazz Club or to Parker’s (named after the late Charlie Parker) where live music is played Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.

Itching for a martini? Newly-opened Madeline’s Martini in the East Village should be on your radar, as should Jac’s On Bond (order the Schwarzwald Wasser martini, you won’t be disappointed). And for a classic fix: Bemelmans Bar has the city’s best classic martini. For those who enjoy their cocktails with a side of views, Le Vaux is a new rooftop spot at Fouquet’s New York and was inspired by the French gardens of Vaux-Le-Vicomte and Versailles. Bar Pisellino is also great for sidewalk views and people watching (the West Village staple is perched on a bustling corner). And when you just need a really great, borderline-whimsical cocktail, head for Double Chicken Please in the Lower East Side (it was named the top bar in North America this year).

Or, if your idea of the perfect wind-down is a wine bar, newly-opened bar56 in Dumbo is steps from the picturesque Brooklyn Bridge and offers 56 wines by the glass. Other staples that you can always count on: The Ten Bells in the Lower East Side, June Wine Bar in Cobble Hill, Ruffian in the East Village, and Moonflower in the West Village.

Where To Get A Quick Mani

While a hearty meal ranks higher on the list of NYFW priorities than a manicure, that doesn’t mean it’s not a worthy consideration. If you forgot to get one pre-travel (or simply need a quick self-care situation), there are a few addresses to have on your radar. “I'm a forever fan of Chillhouse , which started out as a small spot on the LES but now has its flagship in SoHo,” Madden says. For Page, Glosslab ’s many locations make it an easy one to pop into anytime. Jinsoon Tribeca for Walton, and Paintbox for Eshaghpour (“it’s a mani that will last you the full duration of NYFW and beyond”). As for Minkoff, her staple spot for a fast manicure is TenOverTen on Houston Street (“though anyone who has seen my nails knows that it’s impossible for me to get a quick mani — graphic nail art on powder acrylics!”).

Where To Grab Coffee In Between Shows

Ah yes, coffee. The lifeline of NYFW. “There is a coffee shop on almost every block in New York so this shouldn't be a problem and it's hard to go too wrong (anywhere but Starbucks should suffice because c'mon, you're in NYC — support somewhere local),” Walton says. “If in Tribeca, Interlude is great and in the West Village Bar Pisellino is very sweet (especially if you're like me and in a constant state of missing Italy).” If you’re near Union Square, Minkoff points to the matcha and to-go cold cups at Blue Bottle on University Place .

If you’re in LES, Madden’s former stomping grounds, she recommends Ludlow Coffee Supply . “It's casual and has outdoor seating, which is especially nice in summer. I'm generally a cold brew person year round, but when I'm feeling particularly decadent I spring for a cappuccino, which is always perfectly rich and foamy here.” La Cabra in the East Village and The Elk in the West Village are both picks for Jane, and Eshaghpour’s favorite has locations throughout the city. “Whether your show schedule takes you uptown, downtown, or — most likely — all over town, you can never go wrong indulging in a quick coffee and, perhaps, slice of Princess Cake from Sant Ambroeus ."

A couple of other staples that also happen to have delicious pastries to accompany your caffeine include Buvette New York in the West Village and Daily Provisions with locations across the city (side note, the everything croissant will change your life).

Where To Find A Moment of Zen

To the outside observer, the idea of ‘finding zen’ during something as seemingly glamorous as New York Fashion Week might illicit an eye-roll — but don’t be fooled, these attendees are working hard and definitely working overtime. Plus, everyone deserves a moment of calm, especially during such a frenetic, demanding time. “ Urban Asanas is the best-kept secret in New York City for acupuncture, infrared sauna, and yoga,” stylist Rachael Wang shares. “Try an Unwind class with Jyll, the owner.” If your skin needs a little love, book the Sculpt & Chill facial at AMEŌN Skin at EQUINOX Rockefeller Center; founder Alina Mehrle created the company after her journey with breast cancer and chemotherapy in pursuit of healing her damaged skin.

If a massage is more your speed, swing by the Casa Cipriani Spa , where you can customize your experience and select from various modalities and options like chakra balancing, relaxation, muscle melt, mama-to-be, sports rehab, and reflexology.

This article was originally published on Sep. 7, 2022

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How to Dress Like a New Yorker: These Outfits Will Make People Doubt You’re a Tourist

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Traveling to the Big Apple? Find out how to dress like a New Yorker! Take a look at these four outfits to inspire NYC style!

How to Dress Like a New Yorker

Written By: Liz Warren

New York City attracts tourists from all over the world, and while you might be one of them, it doesn’t mean you have to look like it!

When you visit one of the top fashion capitals in the world, your wardrobe needs to be on point. You want to blend in with the stylish locals, but stand out when it matters – and that means packing the perfect mix of trendy, high fashion, and effortless pieces.

Here are a few New York outfits that will make people think you’ve lived there forever:

Keep it Simple

Boyfriend Coat | Printed Shirt | Jeans | Backpack | Shoes | Lippies

Ironically enough, the first rule to blending in with the chic residents of New York is to stop over-thinking your wardrobe. New Yorkers have a way of using the most basic pieces to create a fashion-forward outfit.

As long as you’re choosing the right fit, you can’t go wrong with a t-shirt and jeans combo. Throw on an oversized, structured coat and apply a bright lip color to transform your basics into an effortlessly chic ensemble.

You’ll want to look your best when you travel! Read my travel tips to Pack Light Stylishly ! 

Choose Statement Pieces

Sweater | Boyfriend Jeans | Crossbody Bag | Flats | Hat | Earrings

The best part about keeping clothes simple is being able to spice up basic pieces with bold accessories. New Yorkers take the time to choose the shoes, bag, and jewelry that best matches their mood or destination that day.

So, switch out your diamond studs for a wild pair of earrings and trade in your everyday bag for a funky statement piece. After all, where else but New York can you wear a bright red purse with a gold deer dangling from it?

Use slim packing cubes to save space in your suitcase and travel carry-on only.

Be Fashionable, But Stay Practical

Jacket | Sweater | Jeans | Scarf | Flats | Watch | Makeup

You’ll likely be outside exploring the city for hours on end. And while you may have envisioned yourself strutting down the sidewalks in stilettos like you see in fashion magazines, it’s not practical. In reality, you’ll be moving at a brisk pace to keep up with the flow of pedestrians who were smart enough to wear their walking shoes .

Pack a pair of feminine brogues for the days you spend outdoors, and choose your outfit with that same idea in mind. Think hooded jackets, scarves, and light, loose-fitting sweaters.

Even your makeup should be practical and ready for anything. Opt for a CC cream that moisturizes, evens skin tone, and protects you from the sun’s rays.

Learn how to choose the best shoes for travel !

Pile on the Black

Blouse | Booties | Lipstick | Clutch Bag | Earrings  | iPhone Case

When in doubt, pack black. New Yorkers are notorious for dressing head to toe in the color, and that can seem a little dreary to those used to lighter palettes. But don’t fear the dark side!

There’s an easy trick for making an all-black outfit less Scary Spice and more Posh: just mix up your textures. Try pairing a sheer top with patent-leather heels and grab a velvety clutch to add more dimension to your look.

Whether you’re in Midtown, SoHo, or Brooklyn, your NYC outfit will scream, “I live here”. Now go out and own those sidewalks!

What are your tips on how to dress like a New Yorker? Share and comment below!

For more North America packing tips, please read:

• What to Wear in New York
• What to Pack for New York in Spring
• What to Wear in Las Vegas
• What to Wear in California

Suggested travel resources:

• Lonely Planet USA (Country Guide)
• Lonely Planet New York City (Travel Guide)

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I hope you liked this post on how to dress like a New Yorker. Share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Author Bio:  Liz is a Boston-based writer with a severe case of wanderlust. She loves that her job allows her to combine travel and fashion, and she’s always dreaming up her next trip (and wardrobe to go along with it). Follow her stylish adventures on Instagram  & Twitter .

PS I apologize for my spelling errors. Hadn’t had my coffee yet.

Interesting ideas. Great wats to work with and around. To dress for NYC like these ideas are good in autumns. But a big beware if you’re going to NYC in the winter. And summer is the very opposite. Winters can be very cold, and more than that. They can be raw, with super high biting cold winds whipping through and streets and sidewalks can be so messy. So cute shoes, be careful. Be Practical, wear serious non-slip soled waterproof shoes or boots. Thats a must. If you’re attending some major function then fine for cute shoes, just grab an uber or cab and get dropped off door to door. If your taking walking it, or taking the subway then pack your cute stuff and change out when you arrive. Otherwise your cute shoes will no longer be cute, but a wreck. As could the lower part of any pant worn. Sidewalks and streets can really be a challenging mess of slush and grime in wet, snowy winters. And its no joke to need a seriously warm coat, and a hat that will not get blown off of your head. And a warm scarf, gloves. I wear a very long coat or jacket in the winter, one with a faux trimmed hood to cut off the wind from my face. The sharp freezing winds wind through the streets and the tall buildings making the winds worse. And I’m used to freezing cold winters but only with dressing properly. Wearing black is the easiest way to hide and/or rub off any of the mess from being out on winter days.

Headed to NYC for my birthday in 2 months. This gave me some great ideas!

What about an average 11 year old NYCer?

Hi Esperanza, thank you for reaching out! You may find this article useful: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/surviving-family-travel-with-teens/ To get the best advice and help with your question, I would highly recommend that you join our TFG facebook group and post your question there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirls/ Its a fabulous community of helpful female travelers that love to share their advice and travel tips and I am sure one of our female adventurers might be able to help you. Sorry I could not have been of more help. Have an awesome trip to New York!!

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• New York City Fashion Tours

Fashion is more than just individual pieces of cloth used to cover our bodies for warmth and modesty. Fashion is an expression of the unique self, an outward show of personality, spirit, and intent. What a person chooses to wear shows everyone else how they feel, how they see themselves, and what they want from the world. Outside of Milan and Paris, New York City is the fashion capital of the world, and Manhattan’s Garment District is its centerpiece.

Whether you are an avid quilter or dressmaker, an aspiring designer, a closet enthusiast, or a fashion aficionado with a passion for clothes and accessories, a pilgrimage to Manhattan’s historic and monumental district is a must. Even those who don’t particularly follow fashion trends or icons can find interest in the history and evolution of the fashion culture based in the Big Apple. Designing greats including Diane Von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, and Donna Karen earned their start here and maintain offices, facilities, and/or showrooms in the Garment District.

Within its small, contained borders between 5th Avenue and 9th Avenue, the Garment District has the highest concentration of fashion related businesses, offices, showrooms, events, and talent in the world. There is not a single aspect of the fashion industry missing or underrepresented in the Fashion District from designing and production, to sales and/or showcasing.

The Garment District knows and revels in the allure of its fashion magnetism for the general and interested public. For fashion-centric tours of New York City, begin or end your trip with a shopping tour of the famed 5th Avenue . Break the bank or simply window shop among the labels including Versace, Prada, Tiffany’s, Armani/5th Avenue, and for something a little unexpected for fashion finders, FAO Schwarz toy store. Visit New York City iconic destinations such as Rockefeller Center , the Plaza Hotel, Trump Tower, and the department store giants like Saks and Bergdorf Goodman.

Break in those new shoes and walk two blocks up to 38th Street where you will find the Fashion Center , the visitor’s center and neighborhood preservation facility of the Garment District. Sign up for a walking tour, either public or private, to get an inside look into the fashion industry with landmarks along the Fashion Walk of Fame, visit Project Runway locations, and learn about the history of fashion and the evolution of stores like Macy’s Herald Square. Tours are led by licensed professionals who have worked for years as designers in the Garment District and have utilized the resources and shopping centers in the area. Private Garment District tours may be customized to feature interests such as dressmaking, quilting, or designing with special stops at stores that cater to those interests. Learn about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, look into showrooms and find out more about the design process, or spend more time in the Fabric District and stop by M&J Trimming to peruse the racks upon racks of beads, trimming, fabrics, and more. Garment Center tours are good for even young children, tweens and teens heading to fashion camp, and it is especially advantageous for anyone considering a career in fashion.

For tours specifically focused on shopping or learning about the design and production process, look to Urban Oasis Shopping/Education tours . With five different tours, Urban Oasis is designed to give the public an exclusive look into the industry. The three hour Garment District Education and Shopping tour itinerary is personalized based on a questionnaire and includes visits to one to two designer showrooms and allows group members to shop up to 75% off retail prices. Other tours focus exclusively on education or on shopping depending on your interests. If you are looking elsewhere in New York City for fashion centered tours, Urban Oasis offers a shopping tour of the nearly 500 businesses in SoHo and North of Little Italy (NOLIta) with a similarly personalized itinerary based on a client questionnaire.

New York City is never short of fashion centered attractions, being part of the fashion world’s “Big 4” along with London, Paris, and Milan. Every year designers, businesses, labels, critics, and enthusiasts flock to Manhattan for various events and exhibitions including the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, MADE Fashion Week, and the New York Fashion Week. Tickets are available for the public to attend the proceedings every February and September. Sit up close to the runway to see new creations of the global fashion icons make the circuit along with other designers, celebrities, and critics. Special shows and showcases are regularly shown in New York City including interviews and talks with designers, Free Fashion on the Hudson, museum fashion centered exhibitions, and the Madison Avenue Watch Week which showcases unique and limited edition timepieces.

Explore the little island that has earned the title of “ Fashion Capital of the United States .” Let yourself be guided through the showrooms usually open only to those in the trade, run your fingers over the textured fabrics and smooth silks going to the runways of Milan and Paris. Shop in specialty stores and scan the shelves of Swarovski crystals and rhinestones, bury your hands in barrels of buttons, racks of ribbons, and folds of fabrics. Dressmakers, quilters, sewing enthusiasts, aspiring designers, and fashionistas find their place among the hundreds of showrooms and shops, among the sparkling talent of New York City.

Click here for more information about New York City Fashion Tours

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top 5 fashion places to see in new york city

Kait Murray | April 25, 2022

photo: kait murray

If you’re interested in fashion and find yourself in New York City, here’s your guide to the best places to visit and shop. New York City is a must-see for many tourists, but the city can be overwhelming, so here’s places to visit from experienced New Yorkers of can’t-miss shops and museums.

1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art  

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Location: Fifth Avenue, on the edge of Central Park.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, is open to the public every day except on Wednesdays, holidays and the first Monday in May. Every year on the first Monday in May, the Metropolitan Museum holds the star-studded Met Gala. This is a celebrity event that presents a brand-new fashion exhibit and serves as a fundraiser for the museum. This year’s theme is “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” This exhibit will be open to the public from May 7 through Sept. 9. Tickets are $25 for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for students. 

The Met is Lauren Copeland’s favorite place to visit in New York City. Copeland is an assistant professor at Kent State University’s School of Fashion and teaches fashion fundamentals and other fashion lectures. 

“I would say the Met would be a great place to visit,” Copeland said. “It explores American fashion from the 19th century through the mid-late 20th century.” 

2. Down Fifth Avenue

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fifth Avenue | NYC (@fifthavenue)

Fifth Avenue remains a popular shopping site with many high-end stores. It includes Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Bulgari, Gucci, Armani and Dior. 

“I know it’s a well-known spot, but it’s a staple,” junior fashion merchandising major Janelle Sessoms said.

“It’s a great area to window shop and admire the visual merchandising,” Megan Silinsky, a senior fashion merchandising major said. Silinsky has been living in New York City since January and she appreciates the city and fashion now more than ever.

3. Chelsea Flea Market

Location: West 25th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

The Chelsea Flea opens every Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it is a completely outdoor flea market. It includes about 50 vendors selling jewelry, clothing and many other antique items. 

According to Ann Walter, the director of the New York City studio, the Chelsea Flea is very popular among students. Walter has been living in New York for about 25 years and she enjoys the access the city provides for her, allowing her to know the best places to visit while in the city.

4. Fashion Institute of Technology Museum

Location: Seventh Avenue and 27 Street

Open until May 15, the FIT Museum’ s current exhibit is “Head to Toe.” This exhibit displays approximately 200 years of women’s clothing and accessories from 1800 to the 21st century. Art and fashion go hand in hand and visiting museums such as FIT is a good opportunity for people in the fashion industry. It’s open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission into this museum is free, so it’s a great place to visit in the city while on a budget.  

5. Dover Street Market

Location: 160 Lexington Avenue

The Dover Street Market is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Walter describes it as a “high-end fashion boutique.” It showcases emerging and popular brands including Converse, Nike, Balenciaga and Supreme. 

“Dover Street Market has mini collections of a bunch of different high fashion designers, and their displays are amazing,” Silinsky said. 

New York City is known as one of the fashion capitals of the world, therefore it attracts many tourists interested in the fashion industry. No matter your budget, or what type of fashion you enjoy, the city is destined to have something for you to enjoy.

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A Professional Stylist's Best Outfit Advice To Blend In On A Trip To New York City

N ew York City is one of the world's top fashion destinations, and whether you're there for NYFW or just visiting the Statue of Liberty , fitting in with the style elite is part of the fun. However, that might mean ditching your standard T-shirt-and-backpack combo for something a little more put together. Otherwise, you'll likely stick out as a tourist among the city's locals.

To find out how to blend in during a trip to New York, Explore exclusively tapped Liz Teich , a fashion stylist and the founder of The New York Stylist and the Closet Refresh®, for advice. The first point to note: New Yorkers are known to be creative with their outfits, and "anything goes" in the East Coast city, says Teich. With this in mind, a trip to the Big Apple is the perfect opportunity to step outside of your style comfort zone. "If you want to blend in, then don't dress like everyone else!" the fashion expert shared. "If you're shopping at a mall or popular stores, then you're likely to look more like someone who isn't in the know. We can always spot tourists when they're wearing NYC paraphernalia and flaunting lots of logos as well."

Read more: The Complete Guide To Packing Light

Practical Outfits Can Still Be Chic

NYC may be the perfect place to show off a quirky pair of shoes or your most daring top, but Liz Teich warns against impractical outfits. First, don't underestimate how much walking you'll do when visiting New York City . "Avoid wearing uncomfortable shoes or on the other end of the spectrum, don't wear your running sneakers or even Crocs," the pro stylist suggested. "New Yorkers opt for sensible shoes with all the walking we do, but we don't sacrifice style." Think a comfortable flat, loafer, or stylish pair of designer sneakers.

Teich also noted the importance of packing garments that can be layered and removed as needed, such as sweaters and jackets. "It can be chilly in the mornings/evenings and then like 20 degrees warmer in mid day, not to mention that shops and restaurants blast AC in the summer and heat in the winter," she shared. If you plan to use the New York City subway system , it's also a good idea to bring layers, as the trains and platforms can get extremely hot and cold, the stylist told Explore.

How To Shop For Clothes Like A New Yorker

When visiting New York, you may want to supplement your travel capsule wardrobe with a few unique items bought during your trip. For the best finds, Liz Teich says to stick to small boutiques, independent designer shops, and vintage stores and skip the chains and fast-fashion spots. "The Artists & Fleas market in Williamsburg and Chelsea is always a great place to browse and even bring home gifts," she recommended. "Some other favorite places to shop are Sezane, Reformation, ME+EM, and MMLaFleur. Catbird is the best place to shop affordable fine jewelry and you can schedule an appointment to get 'Zapped' with a permanent bracelet to remember your trip."

Teich admitted that shopping in New York City can be expensive, but there are deals available if you know where to look. For instance, the stylist is a big fan of browsing sample sales to save money. "That's the best shopping here and the best deals," she explained. To find sample sales happening during your trip, Teich says to search upcoming events on the website 260samplesale and plan your itinerary accordingly.

Read the original article on Explore .

New York City   Travel Guide

34 Best Things to Do in NYC

There are countless reasons to be mesmerized by New York, from its skyscrapers and monuments to its vibrant art, food, fashion and nightlife. Across the city, fresh perspectives are yours to be found; go for a stroll in Central Park or along the High

• All Things To Do
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Central Park Central Park free

This part-park, part-museum, part-concert hall swallows central Manhattan, and many of the city's most notable attractions are situated next to it or within its limits ( the Guggenheim , the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History , to name a few). But travelers insist that you shouldn't just pass through Central Park on your way to another place. This 843-acre green space is a favorite of New Yorkers and tourists; you can come here to exercise, dine, go to the zoo and more.

Almost everyone has a positive impression of the park, but no one has quite the same experience or recommends that you do quite the same thing. There's an almost impossible amount of sights to see here (hidden treasures, indeed), including more than 20 playgrounds, 48 fountains, monuments or sculptures, and 30 bridges. Here's a shortlist:

National September 11 Memorial & Museum National September 11 Memorial & Museum

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum serves as the primary tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks, as well as the six lost in the 1993 bombing. The memorial's twin reflecting pools and human-made waterfalls rest as eerie footprints where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood. The 1-acre pools are enclosed in bronze panels on which the names of every victim are inscribed. The museum spans across 110,000 square feet and relays the narrative of the attacks through a series of multimedia displays, real-time recordings, authentic artifacts and interactive technology.

Recent visitors cited the overall atmosphere of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as sobering and moving. Many travelers say they were impressed with the site as a whole, noting its respectful and informational displays. Reviewers say you won't want to rush your time here, with some recommending that you budget three to four hours to see all of the exhibits.

Empire State Building Empire State Building

U.S. News Insider Tip: Watch out for "sunset peak" pricing, which adds an extra $10 per ticket for two hours around sunset each evening. But on a clear day, it just might be worth it. – Elizabeth Von Tersch, Senior Editor

New York City Tourist 101 dictates that you must swing by this landmark structure in midtown Manhattan. And despite the hefty admission fees, the crowds and the long lines, recent visitors insist that you won't be sorry. In fact, taking a trip to the top of the Empire State Building is either the perfect way to begin or end your Big Apple excursion – on a clear day you'll be able to the see the city's major highlights some 1,250 feet beneath you. 

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Metropolitan Museum of Art Metropolitan Museum of Art

U.S. News Insider Tip: Come for the art, stay for the rooftop cocktails. A seasonal rooftop garden bar offers views over Central Park, which is especially coveted at sunset. The roof garden stays open into the evening on Friday and Saturday. – Jessica Colley Clarke

No museum in the United States is as celebrated as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Spilling over with masterpieces from all over the world, including notable collections from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity, "the Met" is an art experience unlike any other, and like much in New York, it's impossible to see all the museum has to offer in one day (or even two days, for that matter). 

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Statue of Liberty is at the top of many travelers’ must-see lists. A feat of 19th-century technical engineering and a beacon for immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, the statue can be admired from several different vantage points around Manhattan, including Battery Park and the High Line . But to truly appreciate its size and significance, you’ll want to visit the statue and Ellis Island while on your NYC vacation.

The only way to access the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is by using the official National Park Service ferry operator, Statue City Cruises. If you’re departing from the New York side, you’ll hop on a ferry at Battery Park in lower Manhattan. If you’re departing from the New Jersey side, you’ll depart from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The ferry ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Bridge free

One of many signature landmarks of New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge is also one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country and a National Historic Landmark. Its six lanes (and one pedestrian and bicycle walkway) span the East River, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. Walking across the bridge remains a tourist pastime.

Some visitors decide to skip the bridge in favor of other attractions, but if you're short on money, this truly is one of the best ways to experience the city and to get a unique view of either borough at no cost. Several reviewers warn that since there is no shade along the bridge, it can get quite hot in the summertime (though there are vendors selling bottles of water). Many also warned that it can get quite crowded, and advised visiting in the morning before 9 a.m. if you don't want to maneuver around crowds.

The High Line The High Line free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Visit early in the morning or on a weekday to avoid crowds. If you walk from north to south, add on a visit to The Standard Biergarten or the vibrant Chelsea Market for great people-watching, food and drink. – Erin Evans, Managing Editor

Set on an abandoned rail track on Manhattan's West Side, this sprawling, nearly 1½-mile-long landscaped park stretches over three of the city's most lively neighborhoods: the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen. Standing 30 feet above street level, the High Line offers sweeping views of the Hudson River and Manhattan's cityscape. But the vista isn't the only reason visitors and Manhattanites flock to this manicured green space. Here, you'll find continually changing public art installations, a handful of food vendors and a sprawling picnic and sunbathing area (known as the 23rd Street Lawn).

NYC Food Tours NYC Food Tours

Known for everything from cheap eats to authentic international fare to Michelin-starred restaurants, New York City is a culinary hot spot and undoubtedly one of the best foodie cities in America . However, chances are you won't have time to experience everything the city has to offer in just one trip. One way to get a taste of New York's excellent cuisine across a variety of neighborhoods is to take a food tour.

Whether you want to explore a particular borough or neighborhood, or even a specific cuisine or dish, you'll find a tour to appease your taste buds. Relying on traveler reviews and expert analysis, U.S. News rounded up the best food tours in New York City . Though tours vary in length and price, they all receive rave reviews from past travelers, who applauded the variety of food and the expert knowledge of the guides.

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Washington Square Park Washington Square Park free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Finding an empty bench in Washington Square Park after visiting one of the neighborhood's independent bookstores – from The Strand to Three Lives & Company to Left Bank Books – is a true lower Manhattan pleasure. – Jessica Colley Clarke

The central gathering place of Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park, an almost 10-acre green space known for its downtown buzz. Here, kids splash in the fountain, musicians perform to a crowd, artists sell sketches or photographs, and chess enthusiasts gather to challenge each other to a game. What was historically a cemetery and later a bohemian hot spot is now a neighborhood institution that draws locals and visitors alike with its kids' playground, sizable dog run and ample shady space for picnics. An arch dedicated to George Washington is the dominant architectural feature of the park. 

Broadway Broadway

U.S. News Insider Tip: Start your day with a stop at the TKTS booth in Times Square or at the Lincoln Center location to snag discounted same-day tickets for an array of Broadway and off-Broadway shows. – Catriona Kendall, Associate Editor

Some out-of-towners spend their entire New York trip at one show or another on the Broadway circuit. And if you like plays and musicals, this is where you should be: "The Great White Way" represents the heart and soul of American theater. Considering that nearby Times Square is a dizzying maze of sights and sounds with no real starting point, some visitors suggest you can see all you need to of that neighborhood just by trundling back and forth between shows. 

One World Observatory One World Observatory

Formerly known as Freedom Tower, One World Trade Center is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in lower Manhattan. This observatory sits atop the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the highest point in the city. You'll find it adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial . At more than 125,000 square feet, the three-level observatory is located on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of this office skyscraper. Travelers enjoy the panoramic, 360-degree views, up to 45 miles in every direction on clear days. 

Visitors reach the observatory by direct express elevators known as SkyPods. The trip upward includes a visual presentation showing how New York has changed over the decades, from open land to smaller buildings to skyscrapers. The trip takes less than a minute. Expect a multimedia presentation at the top before stunning views are revealed. A restaurant and bar on the 101st floor are open to guests who have purchased tickets to the observatory. 

Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal free

At this beautiful train station, you can eat some lunch or shop till you drop, but recent travelers most enjoyed just taking in the scenery. Before you enter, be sure to snap a few shots of the exterior's ornate beaux-arts neoclassical architecture. Inside the celebrated main concourse, you're treated to glimmering marble floors, gold and nickel-plated chandeliers and a sky-themed ceiling. Other must-sees include the Information Booth clock, the Whispering Gallery and Grand Central Market, a European-style food market that sells produce, gourmet ingredients and treats. Food options range from the upscale (Cipriani Dolci and The Campbell Bar) to the legendary (the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant) to the fast and easy (Shake Shack). As mentioned, there are also plenty of shopping options, though most travelers suggest you leave most of Grand Central's pricey merchandise in the store. If you want a train-themed souvenir, visit The New York Transit Museum Store in the shuttle passage.

Travelers call the train station "iconic" and say it's a beautiful space to walk through or to grab a meal and people-watch.

Bryant Park Bryant Park free

U.S. News Insider Tip: This Midtown park draws crowds for two seasonal events: summer movie nights under the stars and a holiday market complete with ice skating. For summer picnics or winter shopping sprees, Bryant Park delivers year-round. – Jessica Colley Clarke

Sprawling across nearly 10 acres, Bryant Park sits just south of Times Square – though it feels a world away. Though its lush green space has existed for more than 150 years, Bryant Park was a revitalization project of the 1990s that made it a sanctuary for locals and tourists alike. This is the preferred place for midtown Manhattan professionals to eat lunch, for fashionistas to strut during fashion week and for performers to showcase their talents during annual events like Broadway in Bryant Park and Piano in Bryant Park. If you're interested in learning more about the park's history, consider joining one of its free tours. Tours, which last 45 minutes, are free and offered every Wednesday, year-round. 

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Staten Island Ferry Staten Island Ferry free

Perhaps the most famous ferry service in the United States, the Staten Island Ferry runs daily between the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan and St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. The city has been operating the ferry service since 1905 and transports some 70,000 passengers across New York Harbor every day. It’s one of the last remaining vestiges of an entire ferry system that served New York City residents before the construction of any bridges.  

But the Staten Island Ferry is more than a transportation service; it’s an attraction, drawing tens of thousands of out-of-town visitors a year for a free ride across the harbor (that’s right, no charge; the service is provided by the City of New York). The 5-mile ride lasts about 25 minutes. Passengers must disembark and then reboard to make the return trip to Manhattan. Travelers remark about the views of the Statue of Liberty , Ellis Island, Manhattan skyscrapers and the bridges of lower Manhattan. 

Museum of Modern Art Museum of Modern Art

You don't have to be an art lover to appreciate the Museum of Modern Art; this airy midtown gallery also doubles as a shrine of pop culture and 20th century history.

Some of the most significant contemporary pieces hang on its walls, including Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans," Van Gogh's "Starry Night," Dalí's "The Persistence of Memory," Monet's "Water Lilies," and the list goes on and on. In October 2019, the museum reopened after completing an expansion project that added more than 40,000 square feet of gallery space, as well as a performance studio that features live programming.

New York Public Library New York Public Library free

U.S. News Insider Tip:  If you love all things book-related, consider visiting The Morgan Library & Museum nearby, which features J.P. Morgan's stunning 1906 library. The museum offers free admisson (and live jazz music) on Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. – Elizabeth Von Tersch, Senior Editor

This main library branch, officially called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, attracts plenty of book lovers, history junkies and architecture aficionados. Most people swing by the Bryant Park landmark to say hello to Patience and Fortitude (the famous marble lions guarding the entrance) and to admire the lovely beaux-arts design.

American Museum of Natural History American Museum of Natural History

Visitors love the American Museum of Natural History off Central Park West. Whether you're exploring the interactive exhibits on the land, the sea or outer space; user reviews take on a common theme. This museum is incredible. Even the cafeteria and gift shop are worth your notice.

There are more than 34 million artifacts inside, spread across four city blocks, 26 buildings and through 45 exhibition halls, so don't plan on seeing everything in one day. The Rose Center for Earth and Space is a particular favorite, but you should also plan on visiting the dinosaurs, the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Hall of the Universe and the Butterfly Conservatory (accessible November through May), which houses nearly 500 butterflies. Local experts say the institution is one of the city's can't-miss museums , especially for families.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Wander along Brooklyn's Washington Avenue, and you can't avoid stumbling upon this verdant 52-acre park.

A main highlight here is the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, punctuated by wooden bridges and Japanese maples. And if you arrive at the end of April, you can't miss the Cherry Esplanade ( Sakura Matsuri ) when rosy cherry blossoms burst into bloom. Another standout: the Shakespeare Garden, which contains more than 80 plants described in the playwright's works.

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Brooklyn Bridge Park Brooklyn Bridge Park free

Located on the Brooklyn side of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre oasis at the foot of the famous bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. The park stretches 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s waterfront, connecting Columbia Heights and Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, an eclectic neighborhood of boutiques, trendy cafes and restaurants. Travelers rave about the views of the lower Manhattan skyline, the New York Harbor and the bridge.

Among the city’s newest parks, Brooklyn Bridge Park was once an industrial district and home to a transportation terminal that served as an entry point for immigrants. Today, the park features rolling hills, promenades, playgrounds, basketball courts, sports fields, a roller skating rink, gardens, and more among six piers and the riverfront. What’s more, the park is home to more than 12,000 species of plants and wildlife. It also hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year, such as sunset yoga and stargazing.

The Guggenheim The Guggenheim

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, or simply, "The Guggenheim," is one of the most well-known art museums in the country, and it's just as renowned for its cutting-edge design as it is for its pieces. The coiled building (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) stands out on Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. Inside, the halls are chock full of works from the likes of Picasso, Cézanne, Degas, Manet and Van Gogh, among others.

Visitors loved the building's design and architecture, but offered more mixed reviews for the art on display. Some raved about the permanent collection and the special exhibitions, while others felt the cost of entrance tickets was overpriced for the amount of art displayed. Reviewers recommended the Museum of Modern Art over the Guggenheim if you're short on time. 

Off-Broadway Shows Off-Broadway Shows

Off-Broadway may not have the glitter of the Great White Way , but these smaller theaters and their productions are often innovative and are no less engaging. Unlike Broadway, these theaters are not centered around Times Square , but scattered all over Manhattan and generally seat fewer people (between 100 to 499 audience members). Smaller venues provide a more intimate experience for plays, musicals and revues. Many of New York’s most famous productions found their start off-Broadway, such as “Hair,” “Rent” and “In the Heights.”

Tickets also are more affordable, generally between $20 and $75 per person. Look for innovative productions at places like the Public Theater, Cherry Lane Theatre or Playwrights Horizons. The Signature Theatre showcases revivals and new plays.

Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock Observation Deck Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock Observation Deck

This iconic plaza has it all – beautiful sculptures, an enormous skating rink, a fishbowl view of NBC Studios, plus a plethora of stores and restaurants. Though undoubtedly there will be intense crowds, this is an experience that's worth having at least once. During the wintertime holidays, the plaza sparkles with an illuminated Christmas tree and skaters gliding across the ice rink. But don't fret if your New York adventure doesn't take place during the cold months. There's plenty to do year-round. If you plan ahead, you can spend a morning watching a taping of the "Today" show, an afternoon admiring the city from the Top of the Rock Observation Deck and an evening catching a performance at Radio City Music Hall .

Travelers say the Top of the Rock offers some of the best views of Manhattan and say the experience is worth every penny. Visitors recommend booking the Rock Pass ticket that includes a tour of the building and observation deck access.

Little Island Little Island free

New Yorkers have long needed to get creative to maximize space on the island of Manhattan, where space is limited. But with the opening of Little Island in 2021, that creativity stretched beyond the island's borders and into the water. Little Island is an artificial island located on the west side of Manhattan in the Hudson River.

This public park, which is free to visit, offers a new space for locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in nature, art, free events like concerts and one of the most memorable locations in New York City to catch the sunset.

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St. Patrick's Cathedral St. Patrick's Cathedral free

This sprawling cathedral sits amid the hustle and distinctively secular bustle of Rockefeller Center . But that doesn't take away from its otherworldly vibe. Whether you're religious or just making an architectural pilgrimage, you can't help but be impressed by St. Patrick's.

Opened in 1879, the neo-Gothic cathedral spans the length of an entire city block and features 330-foot spires. Its interior is just as impressive thanks to its numerous altars, stained-glass windows, organs and imposing 9,000-pound bronze doors. The church welcomes more than 5 million visitors annually.  

Little Italy Little Italy free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Taste the best of Little Italy at C. Di Palo Wine Bar. With connections to the fine foods store serving this neighborhood for more than a century, this wine bar serves Italian cheeses, meats and wines in a comfortable, modern environment. – Jessica Colley Clarke

Once a thriving enclave of Italian immigrants, Little Italy is now a popular tourist destination (though remnants of the past remain).

Times Square Times Square free

Some say that Times Square is like a five-block metaphor for New York City itself – it's exciting, colorful and always jumping. Others describe this area of midtown Manhattan as artless, overpriced and congested. Perhaps this commercial stretch from West 42nd to West 47th streets is a little of both, and though locals would advise you to avoid it, you should at least catch a glimpse of its neon lights.

Most travelers recommend visiting the area after dark to see the marquee displays. Many add checking out Times Square before or after a Broadway show is the perfect time to fit it into your schedule. However, if you're not a fan of crowds, reviewers suggest you avoid this area altogether.

Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue free

It's fitting that St. Patrick's Cathedral would be on the same street as stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels. That's because for many people, shopping is a religious experience, and here between 34th and 59th streets you'll find the holy grail. 

Even if you're not planning to put your credit card to work at high-end stores, travelers say a stroll along Fifth Avenue is a must. It's one of the top places to shop in the city, according to local experts. Plus, during the winter holidays, the street is decked out in festive decor.

Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo

According to travelers, these 265 acres sheltering more than 10,000 animals should be near the top of every young family's itinerary in New York. And if you're an older visitor, the Bronx Zoo could be a great way to escape the nonstop activity in Manhattan. This zoo's claim to fame is that it's one of the largest metropolitan animal parks in the country. It's also one of the best zoos in the U.S . Originally opened at 1899, the zoo also houses several famous landmarks, including the Rainey Memorial Gates, the Rockefeller Fountain and the historic Zoo Center, which was constructed to look like a palace.

Among the zoo's popular exhibits is JungleWorld, which aims to recreate the jungles of Asia with animals like white-cheeked gibbons, gharials, tapirs, fruit bats and more. There's also the Wild Asia Monorail, a seasonal outdoor monorail that allows visitors to observe animals like rhinos, tigers and red pandas roaming freely in the outdoor habitat. Other star attractions include the Congo Gorilla Forest, the seasonal butterfly garden, Tiger Mountain and the Children's Zoo. Along with the animals, there are also several rides and experiences, such as a carousel and sea lion feedings.

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Apollo Theater Apollo Theater

U.S. News Insider Tip: Go to BLVD Bistro on 116th St. before or after your visit to the Apollo. They serve breakfast all day and literally have the best grits and pancakes I have ever had in my life. It is also Black-owned! – Lawrence Phillips, founder and CEO of Green Book Global

One of the most famous music halls in the United States, "the Apollo" started as a burlesque theater in 1914. By the 1930s, it transformed into a concert hall that helped launch the career of several black musicians. A then-unknown Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson (with the Jackson 5) and Stevie Wonder all performed on the Apollo stage during an Amateur Night competition. If you're in Harlem on a Wednesday you can still go to Amateur Night, an experience some previous travelers highly recommend.

Metropolitan Opera House Metropolitan Opera House

Stroll through the courtyard of the Metropolitan Opera House even if you're not going inside for a performance. Every element of this opulent building – from the limestone architecture, to the lobby's glittering chandelier, to the acoustics in the concert hall – is gorgeous. Travelers call this opera house a feast for the eyes and ears. Tickets are notoriously expensive (as much as several hundred dollars for the best seats), but the sticker shock evaporates quickly if you're into performing arts. You can try to score a same-day ticket at a discounted rate, plus there are discounts for senior citizens.

The Metropolitan Opera House features spring performances by the American Ballet Theatre and fall and winter performances by the Met Opera Company. Showtimes and ticket prices vary by performance and seating, so check the Met Opera's website for additional details. You'll find the opera house at Lincoln Center Plaza on Manhattan's Upper West Side – take the 1 train to 66th Street.

Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall

It's where Ella Fitzgerald pined for the man she loved, the Rolling Stones couldn't get no satisfaction and Lady Gaga had a "Bad Romance." Among performers, there's no New York concert venue that's quite like Radio City Music Hall. Not only is it the largest indoor theater in the world, its marquee spans a full city block. Opened in 1932, the theater is a New York City Landmark. Today, the theater welcomes musical performers like Ben Platt and Lil Nas X, as well as comedians like Chris Rock.

If you're in town any dates between November and January, consider attending the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which stars the Rockettes. According to recent visitors who attended a show, there's not a bad seat in the house.

The Battery The Battery free

The Battery is a 25-ace park that sits at the very southern tip of Manhattan Island and offers a green respite from the steel and concrete of lower Manhattan. The park, named after artillery batteries that protected the settlement in the 17th century, is popular with visitors because of its views of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty . 

The park is home to perennial gardens, bike paths, grand lawns, an urban farm and a unique carousel, known as the SeaGlass Carousel. On the carousel, riders sit within iridescent fish and glide through a 360-degree aquatic adventure. The carousel’s bioluminescent design honors the waterfront site as well as another landmark, the Castle Clinton, one of the country’s earliest aquariums. 

Coney Island Coney Island

Known as the "the People's Playground," this famous amusement area in Brooklyn has an illustrious past. In the early 1900s, Coney Island enticed New Yorkers to visit with its bathing pavilions, seaside resorts and amusement park. The Great Depression took its toll on the fun-loving spot, causing many attractions to close. But after years of economic instability, Coney Island has reclaimed its place on the Brooklyn map, with a fresh roster of eateries and entertainment (including a July Fourth hot dog-eating contest and an annual Mermaid Parade ) found along the boardwalk. Coney Island now features several separate amusement parks, as well as a museum, which hosts a variety of exhibits and shows.

According to recent visitors, Coney Island is a worthwhile trip in the summer if you have the time and are traveling with young kids who would enjoy the rides. If you're not up for indulging your inner thrill-seeker, you can also walk along the beach, which spans nearly 3 miles and features several sports courts, as well as playgrounds. A walk along the iconic Riegelmann Boardwalk is just as memorable, according to recent visitors.

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Chrysler Building Chrysler Building free

Technically, the Chrysler Building is an office building open Monday through Friday, but you don't need to go inside to appreciate its aesthetic appeal. Recent visitors praised the building's unique architectural style (though a few wished you could still go inside to admire its intricate lobby and elevators).

Built in 1930, the Chrysler had a short-lived run as the tallest building in the city, before it was usurped of its title by the Empire State Building . Nevertheless, this 1,046-foot-high skyscraper remains a favorite among New Yorkers for its classic art deco style. And unlike the Empire State, at this site you won't need an expensive entry ticket, a strong stomach to stand soaring heights or patience for long lines to see what all the fuss is about. You can behold the building's menacing gargoyles and triangular openings from many spots in Manhattan. Though the lobby is currently closed to visitors, there have been talks of building an observation deck, though none is available at this time.

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By Mark Eglon

One fashion capital down. Three to go. That’s a wrap on New York Fashion Week, and we’re only just coming up for air after digesting what the designers who show their wares within The Big Apple have delivered us for the Spring 2024 season. It was Stuart Vevers who kick-started the festivities, commemorating his first decade as Coach creative director and reflected back on his early days in New York for inspiration for his collection. Peter Do was soon making his highly-anticipated debut as creative director of Helmut Lang, followed by Ralph Lauren’s grand return to the NYFW schedule which had us stepping into a world of romance and artistry and full of signature Ralph Lauren aesthetics – from wild western Americana to dazzling evening wear. At Proenza Schouler, a new monogram was introduced ever-so-subtly on embossed belt bags and sweaters during a show which oozed minimalism. Catherine Holstein created a collection that was sharp and ferocious at Khaite, with oversized blazers, cinched-waist dressed and color-block accessories. Dion Lee took us to work (on a construction site) for his Spring 2024 collection, with garments sporting utility details, tool-belt pockets and heavy-duty boots. Ulla Johnson presented a vibrant collection featuring painterly printed by artist Shara Hughes while apocalyptic chic was on the agenda at Jason Wu. We got florals galore at Michael Kors, set against the picturesque backdrop of NYC’s East River as models like Vittoria Ceretti and Natasha Poly helped showcase Kors’ 60s-inspired collection grounded in white and tan with gold and blush accents. Form-fitting fabrics, naked dresses and high-shine ruled the LaQuan Smith runway while Tory Burch took us to infinity and beyond, with shimmering metallics and space-age silhouettes. Need we go on? Therefore, without further adieu, here are theFashionSpot’s hits and misses of New York Fashion Week Spring 2024, all in accordance with our unfiltered forum members.

HIT | Ralph Lauren

“A very confident and current show from Mr. Lauren. I am here for this!” [ reese06 ] “Great collection indeed. He is a league of his own. I love the denim work. This seems to be more fashion, edgy than usual which is always a welcome.” [ TaylorBinque ] “My highlight of NYFW, without a shadow of a doubt. I was beyond excited for Ralph Lauren to return to the schedule, and Lord knows the calendar needs him. What a truly gorgeous collection, the most perfect blend of signature RL signatures but with an updated touch. I’m in awe… loved it!” [ vogue28 ] See all the looks from the Ralph Lauren Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Altuzarra

“Prada/MiuMiu and Simone Rocha had a child…” [ Lola701 ] “When he used to copy Tom Ford I had high hopes that he would develop a signature along that aesthetic. But all he ended up developing were his copying skills. Yikes. This is so derivative.” [ GoldenPetals ] “I guess Raf Simons’ take on Prada is inspiring the kids!” [ fenty ] See all the looks from the Altuzarra Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Prabal Gurung

“Pretty damn good. Fine dressmaking elevates even the most challenging looks. That gold plissé one-shoulder number with the coffee crystalline skirt is a vision.” [ Nimsay ] “Love a lot the fabric choices in all of this. They’re rich, textural, play with taste in an interesting way and still look luxe.” [ Cocteau Stone ] “I absolutely love the textural diversity here and his SA roots are clearly being celebrated.” [ LANZO_358 ] See all the looks from the Prabal Gurung Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Collina Strada

“Available soon in the dumpsters near you.” [ avonlea002 ] “I feel like this brand is here to troll the industry.” [ Urban Stylin ] “Barely stitched together nothing clothes. Ghastly silhouettes.” [ Nimsay ] See all the looks from the Collina Strada Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Jason Wu Collection

“Look 9 is begging me to be part of my wardrobe! So chic! This is so far the best collection of NYFW. It’s very easy to wear while having the right touch of risks that his client would want.” [ Lola701 ] “Actually a very precise, great collection from him. I think at the beginning he grew too fast. Seems like stepping back has done good to him creatively. I like the styling as well, which really elevate the clothes.” [ TaylorBinque ] “One of the best collections to come from NYFW, without a shadow of a doubt. Always been a fan of Jason Wu in all honesty, and think this collection is rather beautiful from start to finish. I just love love LOVE the flow and cohesion of the collection. Very much a fan of this!” [ vogue28 ] See all the looks from the Jason Wu Collection Spring 2024 collection . MISS | LaQuan Smith

“Such a waste of leather. Nothing really fits right, even if he is going for the p*rno-chic kind of look.” [ Cocteau Stone ] “Had the fit and construction been on point, this collection would’ve been an actual genuine slay . *gag*” [ Lady Junon ] “Listen, nobody loves a flash and gloss more than me, but if you’re gonna go for the Versace crown you better bring some damn good ideas or you’re gonna be TOO all-style-no-substance.” [ GoldenPetals ] See all the looks from the LaQuan Smith Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Tory Burch

“This is surprisingly good. Doesn’t feel like Tory, which is what’s confusing about it, even though it feels a little derivative. But still, actually some pieces I’d covet.” [ Joromana ] “Love it, I can see myself wearing a lot from this.” [ liberty33r1b ] “I do love that semi-sheer black coat with a flower pattern on it, the construction of the collar is a neat touch.” [ YohjiAddict ] See all the looks from the Tory Burch Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Dion Lee

“There was no need for an Alexander Wang 2.0.” [ yslforever ] “His mind is totally in the gym. The more buffed he is, the more uninteresting his collections are.” [ jeanclaude ] “Dion Lee thinks he ate. This 2017 Mugler/Balmain stuff is really tired and dated. A touch of Versace too.” [ Nimsay ] See all the looks from the Dion Lee Spring 2024 collection . HIT | 3.1 Phillip Lim

“It’s very New York. Practical and pleasant.” [ GoldenPetals ] “Such a fabulous show. Color, movement, texture. A little something for everyone but not so much so it feels unfocused. The Lim-isms with his use of military/parka cottons, I love it!” [ TianCouture ] “I quite enjoy this. Love the last few looks. He always make khaki work.” [ TaylorBinque ] See all the looks from the 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Proenza Schouler

“It’s a snoozefest. There is nothing special about this.” [ Bugsy ] “This is pure nonsense. This brand is pure nonsense. No identity at all. Anonymous clothes nobody remembers that could have been designed by anybody. 20 years of blending in the background of fashion.” [ Lola701 ] “Would it KILL New York designers to try something unique? There’s great potential in this kind of minimalism, but their seeming TERROR at trying anything new is precisely why I’ve always thought this brand was little more than hype.” [ GoldenPetals ] See all the looks from the Proenza Schouler Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Christian Siriano

“Burn it all.” [ WAVES ] “Everything looks so cheap and unflattering.” [ thatsfierce ] “Cheap with really sloppy cuts. Horrible. He survives on personality and should not be offering any advice on Project Runway .” [ Bugsy ] See all the looks from the Christian Siriano Spring 2024 collection .

HIT | Brandon Maxwell

“Strangely, I kind of like this collection.” [ LadyJunon ] “Another firm highlight of NYFW for me. I thought the belt detailing was fabulous, love the silhouette of just about every single look and the sheer fabrics. To me, this feels far more elevated than what else has been on display this week. The opening dress is stunning!” [ vogue28 ] “It’s certainly beautiful and looks well made.” [ GoldenPetals ] See all the looks from the Brandon Maxwell Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Tibi

“In a different setting, mood and tone, this could have really worked.” [ TaylorBinque ] “The runway location isn’t appealing, makes everything look so minute in presence and also so washed out.” [ Cocteau Stone ] “With collections as bland as this I might as well just look at my window and watch the weeds slowly grow in my garden.” [ YohjiAddict ] See all the looks from the Tibi Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Khaite

“This is stunning actually. And YES there is something very Alber Elbaz/Lanvin about it. It’s that cinematic starkness. The fabrics really are the star of the show. Best thing in NYFW! [ GoldenPetals ] “Finally a NYFW designer who isn’t afraid to work with and spend on luxe fabric.” [ Fulton St Critique ] “I didn’t know Catherine Holstein have it in them to show like this. Quite enjoying it actually. A departure from typical NY shows. The clothes themselves are very Lanvin by Alber. I don’t think it’s a bad thing perse. Definitely love the luxe fabric selection.” [ TaylorBinque ] See all the looks from the Khaite Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Rodarte

“Glorified mall clothes. What on earth happened to this label?” [ GoldenPetals ] “Sorry girls, but the vacancy for Giambattista Valli is already taken…” [ jeanclaude ] “Just because they show this crap during fashion week, does not make it fashion.” [ 90sFan ] See all the looks from the Rodarte Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Coach

“This is such an underwhelming collection to celebrate your tenth anniversary at the brand. Everything looks so ill-fitting. I know it’s Coach but still, elevate it.” [ THD96 ] “Some looks have left me completely traumatized.” [ Ruito ] “A giant bore, once upon a time Stuart Vevers actually made some effort to bring some much needed luxury to this tacky brand but by now it’s clear that he’s just happy to wallow in the blandness and dumpiness of this household of the outlet world.” [ YohjiAddict ] See all the looks from the Coach Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Ulla Johnson

“Her collections are always so enjoyable to look at.” [ LadyJunon ] “I always enjoy Ulla Johnson’s collections. Very chic, feminine and non-fussy, shes like the second coming of Diane von Furstenberg.” [ Urban Stylin ] “Such a cute collection, in a really good way! The fabrics are insanely lush, the silhouettes are also pretty gorgeous and seem very comfortable. I still believe this is how Chloé should look like.” [ perhydrol ] See all the looks from the Ulla Johnson Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Anna Sui

“Just no. No.” [ sanssoleil ] “Yet another messy and redundant Sui collection. Amazed she’s still in the game, who wears her?” [ zoom ] “Never been a fan. I feel like she never really evolved into anything more than ‘playful’ and ‘whimsy’ dresses. Developing a signature aesthetic takes more than repetition.” [ GoldenPetals ] See all the looks from the Anna Sui Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Carolina Herrera

“My favorite New York collection!” [ liberty33r1b ] “It’s all just so classy, ladylike and glamorous that I cannot help but to instantly drawn to Wes Gordon’s Carolina Herrera collections each and every season. Very much a fan!” [ vogue28 ] “I can’t bring myself to dislike this because it’s just so professionally made and beautiful.” [ GoldenPetals ] See all the looks from the Carolina Herrera Spring 2024 collection .

MISS | Gabriela Hearst

“The construction of these garments are screaming for help.” [ dancv ] “A strange feat being able to make something look not only so slouchy, but incredibly stiff and boxy at the same time. Props to yah Gabriela.” [ Cocteau Stone ] “Thanks God she’s no longer at Chloé.” [ Koibito ] See all the looks from the Gabriela Hearst Spring 2024 collection . HIT | Michael Kors Collection

“Oh it will sell like hot cakes.” [ GivenchyAddict ] “Michael Kors is like clockwork. Another perfectly tailored collection with perfect fabric choices and perfect colors. Not a single stitch out of place. This sort of megalithic hyper-refinement. MK may be the greatest to do it since Ralph Lauren.” [ Nimsay ] “Michael Kors is just so much of a NYFW staple that I am automatically programmed to adore each and every collection of his. This season is certainly no different, as it’s just all so easy on the eye, 100% wearable and executed to perfection. The colour palette, as always, is fabulous.” [ vogue28 ] See all the looks from the Michael Kors Collection Spring 2024 collection . MISS | Helmut Lang

“Pretentious and forgettable, he won’t stay there for long.” [ avonlea002 ] “It doesn’t look good at all. The yellow and magenta are fighting for dominance and the cuts looked so matronly and sexless. No sophistication or sensuality at all.” [ LadyJunon ] “RIP Helmut Lang. Will be seeing this on the discount rack in no time. What a disappointment.” [ RMDV ] See all the looks from the Helmut Lang Spring 2024 collection .

Mark Eglon is theFashionSpot's Editor-in-Chief. After starting as a freelance writer, Mark has over 3000 published articles to his name. A magazine enthusiastic since circa 2005, Mark enjoys collecting both current and past issues and partaking in discussions on theFashionSpot's forums. Anything with models Gisele Bündchen, Kate Moss or Natasha Poly and he's sold - immediately.

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Should You Hug a Sloth?

Spurred by social media, attractions where visitors interact with animals have surged. Advocates are sounding alarms.

An employee woke up a two-toed sloth with a green bean in its enclosure in the SeaQuest in Trumbull, Conn. It has since closed after several U.S.D.A. violations. Credit... Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

Supported by

By Melena Ryzik

• July 9, 2024

Cats may be the reigning queens of the internet, but sloths are not far behind.

With a visage that appears to be smiling and a physiological need to cling, the slow-moving mammal, native to Central and South America, has been frequently memed and made into beloved animated characters . But lately sloths have been proliferating IRL, far outside their arboreal habitats. They can be fed, cuddled and photographed at animal parks and pet shops, often despite unclear provenance and lax adherence to safety and health rules.

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

Sloths join big-eared fennec foxes and baby-faced kinkajous as star attractions in the growing range of venues where interactions with animals — the more exotic and up-close the better — underpin the business model. The number of those U.S.D.A.-licensed exhibitors almost doubled from 2019 to 2021, with over 1,000 sloths inspected annually in the last two years. According to federal data, the risk of animal deaths and disease outbreaks has increased. So have human injuries — and the concerns of experts and state agencies.

“The desire for proximity — to touch, to feel the immediate presence of animals — is very old,” said Nigel Rothfels, a historian who studies zoos. “Perhaps we are hard-wired for it. But the access and demand have increased.”

Whether it’s at an iffy roadside stand (think “Tiger King”) or a well-established institution’s “backstage tour,” the encounters often wind up, by design, on social media. That visibility normalizes hugging critters — but many animal experts say it shouldn’t.

Research shows that depicting interactions can mislead the public into thinking the animals could be pets, or question whether they’re really endangered. “Put simply, viewing animals in contact with people has the potential to influence negative beliefs about wildlife and conservation,” said Sally Sherwen, the director of wildlife conservation and science at Zoos Victoria , a conservation-oriented network in Australia.

One company that has attracted outsize attention from regulators and animal advocates is SeaQuest, a national chain of interactive aquariums. It has seven locations, from Folsom, Calif., to Woodbridge, N.J., most of which exhibit sloths. And for an extra fee, visitors can handle flying squirrels, snorkel with stingrays or cavort with otters and wallabies. Whether the animals want that kind of communion is another question.

In a video interview, Vince Covino, who founded SeaQuest in Boise, Idaho, in 2015, said that the animals SeaQuest displays enjoy human contact, and that the traditional “look but don’t touch” model was outdated. “There has been a longtime stigma — don’t touch the animals; don’t feed the animals. ‘Shh, they’re sleeping; they don’t want to interact with human beings,’” he said. “I just didn’t buy it.”

But wild animals are not primed for close encounters, say some zoologists and many animal advocates, no matter how cute #slothsoftiktok is. A Michigan teenager learned that firsthand when she was bitten by a sloth in 2023 at an exotic pet store that offered weekly interactions. “There were two puncture wounds and blood running down her arm,” her mother told local media .

Sloths “have extremely powerful jaws,” said Sam Trull, a zoologist and director of the Sloth Institute , a nonprofit refuge in Costa Rica. “They can break bones with their teeth. The only way to even have a chance of them not being aggressive to people is to rip them away from their mothers at a very young age,” to acclimate them to human contact.

CERTAIN ANIMALS may enjoy the diversion of human activity, especially in an otherwise controlled environment — like the playful primates in a zoo. But even then, it depends on the individual creature, said Jenny Gray, the chief executive of Zoos Victoria and a former president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Forcing an animal in an enclosure into a photo op is exploitative, she and other experts said.

Accredited zoos increasingly do not allow keepers to even be photographed with their charges, lest the public perceive it as a good pet. Last year, the U.S.D.A. sought to strengthen regulations around the display and care of wild animals, and the Humane Society of the United States has advocated that encounters be curtailed altogether because they “subject wild animals to a lifetime of trauma, fear and chronic stress,” said Laura Hagen, its director of captive wildlife.

When public zoos came into vogue more than a century ago, exhibitors allowed all sorts of connection between human and nonhuman. Animals were later walled off for safety, before the pendulum swung back to permit contact in the last few decades, said Dr. Rothfels , author of “Savages and Beasts: The Birth of the Modern Zoo.” Some zoos are now refocusing how those encounters are staged, thinking of them from the perspective of the furry and feathered.

“Our priority is that the animal has what we call ‘choice and control,’” said Dan Ashe, president of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, a U.S. accrediting body. It has updated its guidelines, asking members to address not only animals’ health, but also what Mr. Ashe called “their social, psychological well-being” — to answer the question, “ Are the animals happy? ”

To hear animal rights activists tell it, those at SeaQuest are not. The for-profit company is not accredited by any zoo organization. It has at times run afoul of the U.S.D.A., which governs only some of the fauna on display. Last summer, the four-year-old SeaQuest in Trumbull, Conn., closed after several U.S.D.A. citations , including one when a child was bitten by a sugar glider. (The facility was written up for insufficient supervision.) Another in Colorado closed this year after numerous state and federal citations.

The company has drawn near-constant protests from former employees and groups like PETA, which filed complaints over what it called SeaQuest’s cruelty, neglect and exploitation . According to state records obtained by The New York Times, nearly 100 animals, including two sloths, died at the Woodbridge location between 2019, when it opened, and 2023.

Late last month, the fish and wildlife division of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection sent the company a 32-page notice of violations, listing dozens of animals that were diseased, injured or mistreated, including territorial reptiles that were fighting so aggressively they drew blood, which spilled around their enclosure. An otter and a porcupine escaped, recorded by security cameras but unnoticed by staff. A stressed scarlet macaw plucked out its feathers. Authorities told SeaQuest it must immediately change its practices, and pay a nominal penalty by July 10, or risk substantial fines and the revocation of its permits and animals.

Asked for comment after the violations were filed, a SeaQuest spokeswoman​ pointed The Times to the FAQ section of the company’s website . In a response to an earlier ABC News investigation, the company had posted, “Between 2021 and 2022, SeaQuest Woodbridge acquired hundreds of rescue animals, many of whom were in very poor health.” Executives didn’t respond to questions about specific incidents.

Two sloths have also died at the Las Vegas SeaQuest. Like all the others, it is located in an indoor shopping center, where natural light, humidity, vegetation and diggable floors — the environmental setting in which many animals thrive — are in short supply.

Mr. Covino said that animals were still more content there than in the wild — because the temperature is controlled, they’re fed on a schedule and they don’t have to deal with environmental hazards.

Acidification in the oceans threatens millions of living things, he said. “We have that happening right now all over our planet, but not inside SeaQuest. So when people come to understand that, then they realize, ‘Oh, I see why they do better in malls.’”

At traditional zoos, interactions make up a fraction of the revenue. At SeaQuest, where tickets start at $13.99, employees promote pricier “premium interactions,” like petting flying squirrels.

Its outpost at Woodbridge Mall received many stern letters from the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department. In January, the agency notified SeaQuest that a mycobacteria outbreak in a turtle tank could potentially spread to other animals. “These mycobacteria are very contagious and deadly,” the agency wrote, adding that it “strongly urges” SeaQuest to stop animal interactions until late May. But SeaQuest did not stop.

OVER MULTIPLE VISITS this year and last year to the Woodbridge SeaQuest, the roster of animals changed, but the approach to the public handling them did not.

On Memorial Day — during the state’s recommended hiatus period — flying squirrels were roused multiple times in just over an hour from their sleeping perches to nibble snacks in children’s cupped palms, disrupting their natural nocturnal schedule.

And one afternoon last winter, an Asian water monitor, a prehistoric-looking lizard that can grow upward of six feet long, was being walked on a leash.

This was Wild Hour, when reptiles, birds and mammals were paraded around, sometimes a snout’s length away from their natural prey. To school groups and other guests, employees proffered a ball python, which slithered into its handler’s hair, or a skittish duck, which kept trying to fly away. (Not long after, both of SeaQuest’s water monitors were euthanized, following a veterinarian’s guidance, when they developed various maladies.) Wild Hour remains on the schedule. But according to the state’s violations report, SeaQuest was never permitted to walk any regulated animal on a leash.

Mr. Covino, SeaQuest’s chief executive, has no formal training in animal husbandry, biology or zoology; he was a securities broker who left that field after his license was temporarily suspended by regulators for fiscal improprieties. He and his brother, Ammon Covino, first had an aquarium in Boise, but Ammon was convicted in 2013 of animal trafficking, as he tried to move sea creatures from Florida to Idaho. He was sentenced to a year in federal prison and barred from participating in the marine life industry but was imprisoned again — twice — in 2016 for violating parole after he helped his family open more facilities. (Ammon’s wife, Crystal Covino, owns an aquarium in Austin, Texas, which also came under scrutiny from the U.S.D.A. and Texas authorities.)

Asked in the video interview last year if there was anybody on SeaQuest’s staff who dealt with animal ethics, Vince Covino responded: “Would you define animal ethics? I’m not sure I’m familiar with that.”

A SeaQuest executive who was sitting in read out an online definition.

SeaQuest does not employ anyone with that focus, Mr. Covino said, though its frontline staff does look out for issues. “When you have 200 people that have a combined a thousand years, maybe, in the animal behavior industry, you just get some tribal knowledge,” he said. “Between those 200 people, probably every zoo and aquarium in the country has been visited.”

Asked about other choices that critics say are harmful, like waking sloths and other nocturnal beings for interactions, the executives said that SeaQuest’s team had trained the animals, using red lights, to reverse their natural circadian rhythms and be awake at times that are better for people.

THE SLOTH TRADE is not federally regulated, and animals are accessible via breeders although, according to federal data, many are still captured from the wild. Because some states do not have guidelines on sloths in captivity, it’s impossible to say how many might be exhibited nationwide, but activists say that over the last few years, there has been an uptick — possibly because of “Tiger King.”

After that hit Netflix documentary series helped draw attention to the seedy industry of tiger cub petting, a federal “big cat” law was passed, prohibiting most private possession and interaction with the public. The response by animal exhibitors, conservationists say, was to pivot to smaller, less regulated creatures — “otters, sloths, other primates,” said Michelle Sinnott, a lawyer and the director of captive animal law enforcement at PETA. “We’re seeing more and more facilities, roadside attractions, that are just popping up out of people’s houses.”

On Long Island, a man named Larry Wallach, who once ran a tiger cub business, has repeatedly been cited by the U.S.D.A. for unsafe conditions for animals, including a wallaby and a sloth. When the town of Islip, N.Y., sought to block his storefront in 2022 for operating without proper approvals, he advertised that he would bring sloths , including babies, into customers’ houses instead. In March, a judge shuttered the shop, where investigators had previously found a kangaroo, capybaras, chinchillas and sugar gliders, along with seven sloths. Wallach is still promoting “home invasions” with animals on social media. In an interview, he said his animals were always well-cared for, adding that he planned to reopen in a town with more favorable zoning. “As long as everything is captive-bred, I don’t see a problem,” he said. “All my sloths are handleable.”

Beyond provenance, some animal ethicists also argue that there is no way for undomesticated creatures to communicate consent to being touched. Does a stingray really want to be patted by a preschooler?

Zoos and other institutions depend on human involvement to protect their flocks and to understand the grave need for conservation. But Dr. Gray, the Australian zoo chief, said, “You don’t have to touch every animal to feel in love with animals.”

Sarah Bahr and Kirsten Luce contributed reporting.

Kirsten Noyes contributed research.

Read by Melena Ryzik

Audio produced by Tally Abecassis .

Melena Ryzik is a roving culture reporter at The Times, covering the personalities, projects and ideas that drive the creative world. More about Melena Ryzik

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Parent item expand the sub menu, unpacking essilorluxottica’s surprise $1.5 billion deal for supreme, bulgari promotes laura burdese to deputy ceo, dior, armani respond to probe into supply chain, london-based cos will return to the nyfw runway in september.

This is the third time that Cos will participate in NYFW.

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Cos, the London-based fashion brand, is returning to the New York runways on Sept. 10. The show takes place at 1 p.m. and will be live-streamed on cos.com.

Cos, which is part of H&M, initially started showing during New York Fashion Week in September 2022. This marks the brand’s third runway show in New York.

The company will show its autumn 2024 mainline and Atelier collections on the runway.

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Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the CFDA , added, “The CFDA is delighted to welcome Cos back to the Official NYFW Schedule. The brand’s international presence strengthens the overall week for our designers, and their commitment to making New York City the home for their collection showcases over the years is a testament to the power and appeal of our city as a global stage for creativity and business.”

As reported, this summer, Cos partnered for the first time with a Japanese artisan, Kyoto-based Kazuki Tabata, an expert at binding, folding and dyeing cloth, for a limited-edition summer capsule collection. The process uses shibori, a resist-dyeing craft that is at risk of dying out, with Tabata billed as one of the last traditional practitioners.

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Fairfield by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square

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Welcome to Fairfield by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square

Experience the vibes of new york from our manhattan hotel.

Fitness Center

Equipment Available

Cardiovascular Equipment

Exercise Bike(s)

Free Weights

Strength Equipment

Treadmill(s)

Catch an award-winning performance in one of the theatres along NYC's famous Broadway Learn More Stay steps away from NYC hot spots, like FAO Schwartz, Central Park and 5th Avenue retailers Learn More Learn about famous designers with a stroll along the Fashion Walk of Fame in the Fashion District Learn More See More Create an unforgettable moment with a view from the Edge, tallest observation deck in our hemisphere See Less

Nearby Things To Do

Area Sightseeing

Gray Line New York Sightseeing Tours

OnBoard New York City Tours

Circle Line Sightseeing

Manhattan Carriage Company

Big Onion Walking Tours

Family & Children's Activities

American Girl Place

Much more than a store, it's a place for magical experiences and memories she'll cherish forever.

Central Park Zoo

Enjoy a scenic and educational stroll through Manhattan's famous zoo.

Children's Museum of Manhattan

Inspiring children and families to learn about themselves and our culturally diverse world.

265 acres of wildlife habitats and attractions in the Bronx, New York.

Dyker Beach Golf Course

Clearview Park Golf Course

Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course

Oasis Day Spa

New York's highly recommended Oasis Day Spa, for men and women, founded in 1998 by husband and wife, Bruce and Marti Schoenberg provides two luxury Manhattan spa destinations, with easy access to public transportation, parking and taxi service.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa

Elizabeth Arden offers a diverse and comprehensive menu of salon and spa services, from signature skincare, massage and body treatments to nail care, hair design, makeup artistry and more.

Jones Beach

Local Attractions

American Museum of Natural History

More Activities and Local Partners

Chelsea Piers

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Fairfield by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square has a fitness center on-site for hotel guests.

No, Fairfield by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square does not have a pool on-site for hotel guests.

Jacob Javits Conv. Center , Madison Square Garden , Empire State Building , Statue Of Liberty , Broadway Times Square and more are nearby Fairfield by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square.

Unlock your stay with the Marriott Bonvoy™ App

FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT® NEW YORK MANHATTAN/TIMES SQUARE

330 West 40th Street,

New York, New York, USA, 10018

Fax: +1 212-967-3977

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