Before you go to New York, sign up for the VIP newsletter for advance notice on sales, offers and discounts at Century 21, the most famous designer-discount outlet in New York.
At 22 Cortland Street, Manhattan, there is a legendary discount designer outlet store which has survived everything from the 9/11 attacks (it was scarily close) to more than one recession. It’s Century 21 and the best way to ‘do’ this store is to sign up for their VIP newsletter, free, well in advance of your holiday. Follow the store on Twitter and Facebook too, during the trip. This is where discount vouchers are posted, along with designer label shipment news.
If you are a dedicated designer bargainista you’ll want to compare prices on Gucci in particular at The Outnet and Top Brands Cheaper too. www.theoutnet.com and www.topbrandscheaper.com.
Yet, everyone has a bargainista story to share from a day-trip to Century 21. The rack of Gucci shirts at 75% discount. The Donna Karan bag that was the price of a good lunch. The piles of hip, suede Hush Puppies for men. (Our secret shopaholic purchased two pairs, one for her husband and one for her never-mind).
Alongside those big global name brands you will find floors of luggage, electronics, children’s clothing, bed-linen, gifts and more with labels you’ve never heard of but at satisfyingly low prices.
Century 21 is seriously crowded, but easily accessed on the subway. Find it between Church Street and Broadway at 22 Cortlandt Street, downtown, at the Wall Street end of Manhattan. Take the E Train to World Trade Centre.
Century 21 has been around since the 1960s and now has other branch stores in New York. So if you don’t find what you want at the Manhattan branch, look at Century 21 elsewhere in Brooklyn or Queens.
Our other tip – pay for up to six bags of merchandise (!) to be hotel-delivered for US$20. We really have seen women schlepping six bags’ worth of shoes, coats, bags and bedlinen too at the infamous sales. If you pay for low-cost shipping from your hotel, you’ll have fitted out a house/your wardrobe/your best friend’s wardrobe in designer threads for hundreds less.
Website – http://www.c21stores.com
