True to its nature, New York shops on a grand scale at the world's finest department stores, glossy couture houses along Madison Avenue, fashionable boutiques downtown, and renowned antiques dealers all over the city. NoLita practically steams with chic, its streets full of upstart clothing lines and exotic home-design stores, and hip retailers continue to waft into Chelsea.

No matter which threshold you cross, shopping in New York is an event.The city whets acquisitive appetites with widely varied shopping experiences. For every bursting department store, there's an echoing, minimalist boutique; for every nationally familiar brand, there's a local favorite. The foremost American and international designers stake their flagship stores here; meanwhile, small neighborhood shops guarantee a reservoir of both the down-to-earth and the unexpected. National chains often make their New York stores something special, with unique sales environments and merchandise.

One of Manhattan's biggest shopping lures is the bargain -- a temptation fueled by Loehmann's, H&M, and other discount divas. Hawkers of not-so-real Rolex watches and Kate Spade bags are stationed at street corners, even on Madison Avenue, and Canal Street is lined with counterfeit Gucci logos and Burberry plaid. There are uptown thrift shops where socialites send their castoffs, and downtown spots where the fashion crowd turns in last week's supertrendy must-haves. And of course, thousands of eyes train on the cycles of sales.