If you ever find yourself in Manhattan, looking for something unique and different to wear for Spring-Summer 2012, stop into Etro right off of Madison Avenue. Probably the most interesting clothing store you'll find yourself in with their colorful, visually daring dresses. If you really want to stand out in a crowd, this would be the perfect place to go. From formal attire with a beautiful Italian twist to almost spunky men's accessories, they have a grand selection. You truly have to have a need to stand out if you shop here. The employees mirror the interesting and colorful style of the store, some of them dressing in bright red corduroy trousers with rainbow striped shirts. Don't let their colorful clothing scare you off, however. The employees are some of the most friendly and are exceptionally helpful. The store holds a great reputation as a fashion destination for jet-setters and celebrities alike. If you feel as though you're getting lost in a sea of colors and bold patterns, worry not. The colorful and trendy accessories will lead you all the way up to the register and leave you wanting to come back again and again.

Liz Claiborne is a Belgian-born fashion designer. She immigrated to the United States in 1939, and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended St. Timothy's, a boarding school then in Catonsville, Maryland. Rather than finishing high school, she went to Europe to study art. In 1949, she won the Jacques Heim National Design Contest, and then moved to New York City where she worked as a sketch artist at the sportswear house Tina Leser. She worked as a designer for Dan Keller and Youth Group Inc., before starting her own design company, Liz Claiborne Inc., in 1976. The firm grew from its origins designing affordable active sportswear for women and is now a multi billion-dollar enterprise. Source

Lacoste is a French apparel company founded in 1912 that sells high-end clothing, footwear, perfume, leather goods, watches, eyewear, and most famously, tennis shirts. The company can be recognized by its green nan crocodile logo. Lacoste has the reputation of being culturally preppy, especially in the United States.
René Lacoste was a famous French tennis player who achieved fame in two areas: tennis and fashion. While winning the 1926 U.S. Open championship, Rene Lacoste of France wore something that he himself had created: a white, short-sleeve shirt made exclusively of a light knitted fabric called ‘jersey petit piqué’ that served to wick away moisture due to heat, the very first version of performance clothing in sports. The shirt was a radical departure from tennis fashion of the day, which called for stiff, woven, long-sleeve oxfords. In 1927 during the Davis Cup, the American press nicknamed Lacoste "the Alligator" because of a bet made about an alligator-skin suitcase. With no cognate in his native tongue, the nickname was changed to le crocodile in French. The nickname stuck due to his tenacious behavior on the courts, never giving up his prey. Lacoste’s friend, Robert Georges, drew him a crocodile which Lacoste then embroidered on the blazer he wore on the courts. Source

A|X Armani Exchange makes statements, in more ways than one. It's the voice of urban youth, a fashion conscience, an incubator for Giorgio Armani's new ideas and the street barometer of his fashion directions. Armani Exchange is a translation of Mr. Armani's pure sense of design to an innovative, interchangeable mix of edgy separates for men and women. A|X doesn't just capture a new generation, it creates one.

agnès b. is a keen observer of life from which she draws inspiration as the sole designer for her collections for women, men, children, sport b., and Voyage, as well as a cosmetics line. She has often taken inspiration for her collections from everyday life, believing that the clothes are 'less important' than the person wearing them, and she has created a trademark style that is modern and pure, elegant but not conventional, and that has seduced people all around the world.

From simple beginnings as a shoe retailer to becoming one of the most upscale department stores in the world, Manhattan’s Nordstrom’s has revolutionized the industry and continues to be one of the foremost department stores in the world. Originally started as a little shoe store in Seattle, Nordstrom’s now provides one of the hottest quality shopping experiences in the world. The staff are superb – hand-picked and superiorly trained to help you make your selection from the top quality clothing, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics and home furnishings, it’s no wonder Nordstrom’s has continued to thrive over its hundred and ten year store existence. For some of the best service, best quality in uptown apparel, and best New York City shopping, you need to make a visit to Nordstrom’s. By having great shoes, fashionable clothes and trendy wares for the entire family, they have won many awards and even now appear in Fortune’s Top 100 list. As it has grown, it also acquired several other brands under the Nordstrom banner including HauteLook, Jeffrey and Treasure & Bond. Implementing wellness programs to ensure quality service, is just another of the many accolades for this New York City department store.

For any young business woman, Akris, located in Manhattan right off of Madison Avenue, is a stylish new twist on business attire. They have business ensembles with clean lines, gorgeous knit wear and double closure jackets, plus bright jackets and dresses. This New York City fashion boutique has absolutely gorgeous apparel and is perfect for any woman in the business world. You've never seen such elegant clothing gathered into one store. The store is very clean and proper, organized perfectly. The employees are sweet and helpful, very smart and they add to the professional atmosphere of the store. Even if you aren't a business woman, it is a great store for any classy party or gathering you may be going to. Swiss designer Albert Kriemler, designs for the woman’s personality to eclipse her apparel. The styles are mature and elegant representing perhaps the newest trends that will be touching down Spring-Summer 2012. If you feel the need to dress classy, with the small pop of color, and look more professional and smart, look no further. You'll look and feel very business-like and yet for those after hour affairs, you will certainly turn heads.

Casual sophistication birthed out of traveling around the world, Custo and David Dalmau seized the psychedelic beach style of Southern California and created a lifestyle from their own bohemian Barcelona roots. Surfing in Spain was popular, but clothing was unremarkable until the advent of the two Spanish brothers to the global fashion scene. If you think you can just go online and shop for Spanish surf inspired clothing, you will be sadly mistaken. Custo and David sank their souls into the development of innovative graphics and color treatments that simply cannot be experienced virtually. Their Manhattan boutique is a simple journey to Greenwich Village, so if you were already planning on stepping out for a bite to eat, take a little more time and shop at their New York City store. The colors are divine – fuchsias, turquoise and magenta hues for women and graphite blues for men, casual chic is well represented in their full line of t-shirts, skirts, dresses, jackets, tops, and pants for men, women and kids. Wear the Custo Barcelona brand and you will be initiated into the lifestyle of sun, wind, water and long beaches of fun.

Starting out as Daffy Dan’s Bargaintown, the new Daffy’s has revolutionized quality clothing stores by giving you the opportunity to wear the best designer collections while not breaking the bank to do so. Daffy’s became famous as the first fashion clothing store by making Madison Avenue and European designer brands available to all consumers. With their location in the heart of Madison Avenue, Daffy’s has been recognized as one of Manhattan’s premier clothing stores and is a must visit for anyone looking to do some serious shopping. With extensive selections of dresses, sweatsuits, sportswear and even houseware, Daffy’s is sure to have a little bit of something for everyone. Daffy’s fashion clothing store maintains the highest of quality control and makes a promise to its consumers to maintain these values. A family run business, Daffy’s allows its customers a chance to relax and feel at home with some of the best customer service available in New York City. Evolving from a single New Jersey store specializing in samples and irregulars to a 19 store corporation carrying the finest apparel available, Daffy’s has firmly established itself as one of the best New York clothing stores at bargain prices.

Belgian born Diane von Furstenberg made fashion history with her signature jersey wrap dresses upon her arrival in New York City in 1972. Presently, the internationally-recognized DVF brand encompasses fashion, fine jewelry, accessories, cosmetics and fragrance. DVF, the collection, is sold in the most exclusive retail stores in over 50 countries including in the freestanding Diane von Furstenberg the Shop in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Antwerp. Her headquarters in New York City’s meatpacking district also include a theater space which has become a center for creativity and a launch pad for young artists.

Benetton Group S.p.A. (NYSE: BNG) is a global upmarket clothing brand, based in Treviso, Italy. The name comes from four members of the Benetton family who founded the company in 1965. Benetton Group is listed on the Borsa Italiana, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Its core business is clothing with the casual line marketed as the "United Colors of Benetton", a fashion-oriented "Sisley" division, "Playlife" leisurewear, and "Killer Loop" streetwear brands. Their products include womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and underwear and they have recently expanded into toiletries, perfumes, exclusive watches and items for the home such as kitchen accessories and baby products. Source

Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business. Although the company began producing denim overalls in the 1870s, modern jeans were not produced until the 1920s. The company briefly experimented (in the 1970s) with employee ownership and a public stock listing, but remains owned and controlled by descendants and relatives of Levi Strauss' four nephews. Source

Looking for Far Rockaway clothing and accessories? Then ride, drive or run right over to Forever 21. Nestled in the heart of Queens, Forever 21 is more than just another NYC clothing store; it is a New York City shopping fashion culture experience. Heralded by many fashion conscious and trend setting shoppers, Forever 21 has taken the philosophy of looking great for less and realized it to its full potential. This Queens clothing fashion store has grown quickly, featuring new and exciting in-store environments that offer a constant flow of fun that makes normally mundane shopping a truly delightful experience. Designer of several brands, including Forever 21, Heritage 1981, Love 21 Contemporary, and 21 Mens, this Far Rockaway clothier has something for everybody and sells it at the best possible pricing. Forever 21 has become a marvel in the fashion world, providing shoppers with an unprecedented selection of today's fashions that is forever changing and always in style. So if you are looking for a good Queens clothing store and are eager to experience something new in fashion, chart your course to Forever 21. You and your wallet will be well pleased.

Every elegant woman, whether residing in or visiting New York, deserves to shop at this exclusive clothing store. For fashion that doesn’t stop at the door, go to the astounding Anne Fontaine fashion empire located in beautiful Manhattan. Anne Fontaine has reinvented everything that is considered simple and designed some of the most valued and exquisite blouses in all of the acclaimed fashion world. Using creatively innovative techniques, Anne Fontaine has taken the mundane white shirt and developed a literal cornucopia of designs and styles not seen anywhere else in the fashion designer world. Once you visit this Manhattan clothing, store you will also see the design and quality craftsmanship that goes beyond the shirts and lends itself to the variety of other jewelry, clothing and accessories now available for purchase in their stores. Anne Fontaine has over 70 locations world-wide including stores in Paris, Tokyo, Chicago and London and has quickly established itself as a worldwide leader in shirt design. With a friendly staff, a well-maintained quality location and the desire to help make you look fabulous, Manhattan’s Anne Fontaine is a must stop New York Clothing shop for anyone to visit.

After 20 years in the surf, skate and snowboard business, founder Chip Wilson took the first commercial yoga class offered in Vancouver and found the result exhilarating. The post yoga feeling was so close to surfing and snowboarding that it seemed obvious that yoga was an ideology whose time had come (again).

New York clothing stores come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Strawberry is happy to let everyone know that they give the best bargain for the highest quality merchandise. Professional shoppers and amateur bargain hunters mark their maps with a big red strawberry to make sure they visit this bastion of bargains. The Strawberry Store located in the heart of Manhattan is no exception. With their extensive collections of jewelry, accessories and more, Strawberry is one of New York's leading retailers of fashion clothing, specializing in popular priced junior, junior plus and misses clothing. Strawberry prides themselves on being able to offer “Up-to-the Minute” fashions on a daily basis with brand names selling at a fraction of the department store prices. Come downtown to Manhattan often because each day, this mega bargain fashion clothing store boasts clearance pricing on a variety of top flight merchandise which gives the consumers an opportunity to look great for less. For a great deal, a fantastic atmosphere and a wonderful shopping experience, stop in at the Strawberry Store and see why it is one of Manhattan’s premier clothing outlets.

A high-end high street clothing retailer with more than 69 stores in North America. It is owned by Polo Ralph Lauren. An international men’s and women’s lifestyle brand with a distinctly urban casual point of view, best defined as a play of opposites: mining vintage with new, hard with soft and eclecticism with minimalism. Each season, Club Monaco offers customers must have fashion and key pieces that together are the foundation of a modern wardrobe.

In case you aren't in the mood for overly colorful clothes, and getting bored with funky, spunky, and bright colors, fear not. Dr.Jays in Queens will help you out. While most fashion these days uses color to sell their product, Dr. Jays uses quality and more muted styles; perfect for any of those boys or tom-boys out there that don't want to attract too much attention to themselves when they're just trying to walk down the road. Dr. Jays' style seems to really blend in better with the younger people of the nation with their almost hip-hop like clothes. They have an extensive collection for both the men and women that want to try something a little different from everyone for Summer 2012. They even feature a kids section for the little tots that want to be in fashion this year. Employees are extremely helpful and not afraid to help steer you in the direction of something they believe will suit you better, which is very helpful for those wandering in, unsure of what they should be purchasing. Not to mention the hat selection! What a perfect store to go to for those fun summer parties, or even just your everyday wardrobe.

Returning after a season's maternity leave, Phoebe sent out a collection with crisp new shapes, proportions and vigour. A line dresses and stiffer couture fabrics were used with flares from the shoulder, and swinging skirts with models on great chunky platform shoes. Sixties ruffled skirts (so popular this season) were intricately worked in crunchy embroidery, organza applique and frills. Lots of new accessories like handbags were seen this season. Source

For sweeping lines and a classic designer look, seek out Yohji Yamamoto’s exclusive boutique on Manhattan’s edgy Canal Street. Japanese fashion has always presented strong lines and striking styles, but this Japanese fashion designer has interwoven the strength of the Japanese culture with the spirit of the West, pioneering traditional Imperial Japanese structure, phenomenally successful Japanese animated art and the individual spirit of those of us who live in America. His Spring Summer 2012 collection, Noir, for men and women is as pleasurable to the eye as it is comfortable to wear. His flowing styles enhance the human form with grace and elegance, transporting us away from down and dirty jeans and steel and glass Wall St. executive sterile suits. If you are looking for quality clothing you can wear everywhere, the opening of a new night club, the announcement of your promotion at your marketing company or just because you love to wear clothes that make you look and feel good, then head on down to Yohji Yamamoto’s one-of-a-kind designer New York City boutique. With three collections to choose from, Yohji Yamamoto Femme, Homme, Noir and Y’s, you have every opportunity to dress in the height of fashion.

Video: New York Fashion Week 2007 - DKNY Fall Runway Show

Simply stated, DKNY is the energy and spirit of New York. International, eclectic, fun, fast and real. DKNY addresses the real-life needs of people everywhere, from work to weekend, jeans to evening. Both fashionable and friendly, DKNY consistently delivers its unique mix of style around the world.

From the cutest dresses to their patented overalls, OshKosh B-Gosh is an American institution and the number one store for fashionable children’s apparel. Shopping in time Square? Well, resting in the heart of New York’s famous 5th Avenue, OshKosh offers a wide variety of merchandise for children of all ages. Originally founded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1895, OshKosh B-Gosh was primarily an adult work clothes manufacturer that developed a set of bibbed overalls for children to look like their fathers. As time went on, OshKosh began to sell their wares through department stores and filled in a gap by bringing a sense of fashion not readily available to children’s clothing. With now over one hundred outlet stores available in the United States, this New York city clothing storehas become synonymous with quality children’s ware and continues to lead the world in their innovative designs and family friendly methods. With their groundbreaking clothing for babies and extensive selections of shirts, pants, sweaters and jeans and shoes, it is easy to see why OskKosh B-Gosh is such a popular Manhattan clothing store, ideal for all parents to visit.

When shopping for the finest New York City clothing and fashions, one has to take the time to visit one of Manhattan’s most unique and culturally significant apparel stores; Fendi. Originally founded in Rome in 1925, Fendi has undergone a change from a regional fur and leather shop to one of the most sought after clothing and accessories stores in the world. Headlined by creative director Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi has branched into many different forms of fashion and personal wellbeing products, including an extensive line of perfumes and fragrances considered to be illustrious and delectable. While visiting this Manhattan fashion store, make sure you ogle the world famous Fendi baguette, which has been considered one of the finest made handbags throughout the world and is the staple for which Fendi has been founded. With celebrities such as Rihanna, Solange and Kerry Washington wearing this fab label, it is no wonder Fendi’s popularity has continued to grow, attracting thousands of fashion shoppers worldwide. Without a shadow of a doubt, Fendi’s Manhattan clothing emporium is one of the greatest fashion attractions in the world today and is worth every moment and dollar you spend.

The Louis Vuitton Company is a luxury French fashion and leather goods brand and company, headquartered in Paris, France. It is a division of the French holding company, LVMH Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy S.A. The company is named after its founder Louis Vuitton, who designed and manufactured luggage, as a Malletier during the second half of the nineteenth century.
The company manufactures and markets luxury leather goods, fashion accessories, prêt-à-porter, and jewelry. Many of the company’s products utilize the signature gray Damier and Monogram Canvas materials, both of which were first used in the late 19th century. All of the company’s products utilize the eponymous LV initials. Source