Shopping in NYC: 10 quintessential American brands

New York City takes fashion to another level; you’re just as likely to see someone sporting a bright red tracksuit as an androgynous designer gown. To feel at home among the city’s best and most adventurously dressed, check out these 10 home-grown brands.  

New Balance

New Yorkers love New Balance trainers for their blend of cool, comfort, and durability on the city’s sidewalks. The 125-year-old brand also boasts athletic pedigree: its footwear has been sported by Olympians like Simone Biles, Coco Gauff, and Gabby Thomas. The most enduring model is the New Balance 574 Core, which was released in 1988; the 550 is a celebrity favourite, worn by everyone from Jack Harlow to Taylor Swift.

Where to shop: visit New Balance’s Upper West Side store ; with Central Park just a street away, you’ll be inspired to go for a jog. 

Ralph Lauren 

Ralph Lauren is a brand so synonymous with America that it has designed Team USA’s kit for every Olympic Games since 2008. The polo player emblazoned on Ralph Lauren’s polos and button-down shirts is one of the most recognised fashion emblems in the world. Don one for a classic prep-school look. 

Where to shop: the brand’s flagship store has one of the most regal homes in New York: a French Renaissance Revival mansion on the corner of Madison Avenue and 72nd Street in the city’s chic Upper East Side neighbourhood.

The Row 

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen started their fashion line in 2006 when they were best known for their starring role in 90s sitcom Full House, but today The Row is no joke. Its curated collections of luxury minimalist essentials have sealed the Olsens’ reputations as bonafide fashionistas, and they’ve collaborated with artists like Damien Hirst, and the Noguchi Museum.

Where to shop: their NYC shop is a three-story 20th-century townhouse a street away from Central Park on the Upper East Side – a neighbourhood where The Row’s Margaux bag hangs on many an arm.

Marc Jacobs 

When he started his eponymous line back in 1986, Marc Jacobs was known more for clothes than accessories, but today it’s all about the bags. His best-seller is The Tote Bag, a square tote-style handbag available in four sizes in leather, canvas, or denim, into which New Yorkers tuck everything that’s needed for a day out in the city.

Where to shop: the shelves in Marc Jacobs’ Soho store are filled with the designers’ coveted bags and shoes in a myriad of styles, from Mary Janes to chunky-heeled leather boots.

Calvin Klein 

Calvin Klein started out as a small but chic coat shop in a hotel lobby in NYC in 1968. After making it onto the cover of Vogue the following year, the label soon became the biggest name in undergarments in the US. Its signature look is one of minimalism and subtle sensuality.   

Where to shop: for the widest selection of Calvin Klein goods in NYC, head to Macy’s in Herald Square , the largest department store in the U.S. You’ll find Calvin Klein classics including men's and women's underwear and T-shirts, plus accessories, homewares, and even suitcases. 

Supreme 

New York boasts many independently founded streetwear labels, but it's Supreme, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, that has the biggest cult following. The brand’s blocky red and white logo, inspired by artist Barbara Kruger, is found on everything from nylon pouches to the much-coveted cotton sweatshirts.

Where to shop: queuing at Supreme is something of a rite of passage for streetwear fanatics, and the queues to enter both its Manhattan store in Nolita and Brooklyn outpost in Williamsburg can snake down the street.

Tommy Hilfiger 

Tommy Hilfiger is classic American prep at its finest – think elevated cable knit fisherman’s sweaters, polo tops and cardigans. Launched in New York City in the 80s, the brand epitomises “old money” East Coast style, and its iconic red, white and blue colour scheme has become synonymous with its timeless appeal worldwide. 

Where to shop: while Tommy Hilfiger has shuttered its New York City shops, you can find the brand stocked in large department stores. Head to Bloomingdale’s on Lexington Avenue – a fashion pilgrimage in itself – to pick up one or two items from the latest collection. 

Tom Ford

Having injected some American charisma into Gucci and YSL, designer Tom Ford launched his own eponymous brand in 2005. His collections range from luxury formalwear for men — including gowns and tuxedos — to boxer briefs and T-shirts, not to mention his ultra-popular sunglasses and fragrances.  

Where to shop: you’ll smell Tom Ford’s beauty and clothing flagships before you see them. Located near the southeast corner of Central Park, the air is purposely perfumed with Ford’s signature scents to entice shoppers in – and then keep them there with its vast array of designer goods.  

Proenza Schouler

Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez met in university, and Proenza Schouler — named after their mothers — was born out of their joint senior thesis. The brand quickly became celebrated for its contemporary approach to luxury fashion. Today, designs range from cotton jersey tees to silk boucle dresses, with denim, leather sandals, and sleeveless turtleneck sweaters in between.  

Where to shop: Proenza Schouler’s dresses, handbags, and more fill the shelves of the classic NYC loft that is their Soho flagship store . The bi-level shop has double-height ceilings and the air of a gallery – and indeed many artsy types shop here, popping in after visiting nearby exhibits.

Diane von Furstenberg

Furstenberg’s DVF brand was born in New York, and her dresses, kaftans and tops have adorned well-heeled women for 50 years. So iconic is the designer’s wrap dress, introduced in 1974, that it’s in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. 

Where to shop: the brand’s only store in the US is its Meatpacking neighbourhood flagship , a stone’s throw from Chelsea Market, the High Line, and Little Island.