It goes without saying that if you love to shop, New York is the place for you. The city has such a wide variety of shops and pretty much anything that you could want, they have it! From the more high end brands of Macy's and Bloomingdales to the outlet malls where you are bound to pick up a bargain, New York really has something for everyone. When it comes to shopping, I'm more of an online kinda gal. I don't care for spending hours trawling around shops and when I do go shopping, I usually have some idea of what I want so I can try to get in and out as soon as possible!
Before travelling to New York, I had a list of a few things that I wanted to pick up while I was there. These were mainly makeup products from Sephora but, while walking around in the city, a few other things managed to catch my eye. I am not rich, by any means, and I don't want this post to come across as bragging. A lot of hard work and saving went into this holiday so I was able to treat myself more than I normally would...or probably ever will again!
Sephora
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette
This was a product that I was unsure of for quite a while. Although it was hyped up so much in the beauty community, I was worried that all those red shades combined with my lack of makeup skills would lead to me creating a look that embodied the symptoms of conjunctivitis. However when I saw it in the store, I really liked the look of it. The palette contains a variety of warm shades which are extremely pigmented and complimentary to all skin tones. This palette cost $42 and I definitely think that it's worth the money as the quality is excellent and you can create so many looks, for day or night, using these shades. (Even though I mostly end up wearing the same look every day!)
Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/modern-renaissance-eye-shadow-palette-P409118?skuId=1820406&icid2=products
Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade
This is a product that I had wanted to try for ages as my friends had been raving about it. In Ireland, Anastasia Beverly Hills is only available to buy online and I was unsure what shade to go for judging by the colour samples provided. There were so many different ones and I knew that if I chose one myself I'd probably end up looking like Groucho Marx. I decided to wait until I was in Sephora so I could try out the tester shades and get advice from one of the makeup artists. In the end, I went for the shade 'soft brown' as my natural eyebrows are quite dark so I didn't want anything too harsh. I've been using this every day since I bought it and I'm really liking it so far. It has a lovely creamy consistency and is very easy to apply. When it comes to this product, a little goes a long way and you only need to use a small amount when filling in your brows. This cost $18 and, I've been told, it takes a long time to use up so it's well worth the money!
Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/dipbrow-pomade-P384060
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation
This is another product which I had been wanting to try for a long time. Recently, Kat Von D's makeup line became available to buy online from Debenhams in Ireland but I was unsure what shade to go for as there are so many to choose from. This foundation is $35 which is on the pricey side so I wanted to be sure that I was getting the right colour before buying it. One of the makeup artists in Sephora tested a few shades on me and in the end I went for '44 Cool'. I've used this foundation a few times since I bought it and it's definitely one of the best foundations I've used. It matches really well with my natural skin tone and gives excellent coverage without feeling too cakey. I've been wearing this with the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder which works really well and makes my makeup last a lot longer than it normally would.
Check out both products here: http://www.sephora.com/lock-it-tattoo-foundation-P311138
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
One of the cult products from the Kat Von D range, this liner is well worth the hype. I bought this eyeliner for the first time back in September and it's still going strong. While I was in New York, I picked up another one as I accidently (conveniently) forgot to pack old one. I am the absolute worst when it comes to applying eyeliner but this is very easy to use and gives a really neat, precise line. For some unknown reason, my left eye always gets really watery and my eyeliner usually starts to smudge as soon as I leave the house. However, this liner really has stood the test of time when it comes to my leaky eye! At $20, its not the cheapest on the market but I would highly recommend this for anyone who struggles with eyeliner and wants a long lasting, easy to use product.
Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/tattoo-liner-P245205
Benefit CORALista Blush
This was another product that I was re-purchasing for the second time. It's a cult classic from Benefit and the subtle coral shade looks great on so many different skin tones. In this world of extreme contouring, blush is something that is often forgotten or deemed a bit grannyish. I'll admit that there was a long period of time where I wasn't bothered about wearing blush at all but I'm very glad that I bought this again. It comes with a handy brush and by sweeping a small amount across the apples of your cheeks, gives the skin a healthy boost of colour.
Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/coralista-box-o-powder-blush-P229206
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Check it out here: http://www.sephora.com/better-than-sex-mascara-P381000
Mac
Velvet Teddy & Brave
I had not intended to shop at Mac while in New York as, unlike Sephora, the same products are available in Ireland for basically the same price. However, there was a Mac shop right next door to our hotel so it would have been rude not to go in for a look! Even though I had swore I wasn't going to buy anything, I did end up picking up two of my old reliable favourites, Velvet Teddy (left) and Brave (right). Velvet Teddy was bought as a gift for my sister but I got Brave for myself as I was literally trying to scrape the last bit out of my old one. Brave is a lovely, wearable nude which is moisturising on the lips and great for everyday wear (hence why it looks so grubby in the photo). These lipsticks cost $17 each as well as a $3 tax.
Check them out here: http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13854/310/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/lipstick#/shade/Velvet_Teddy
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13854/310/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/lipstick#/shade/Brave
Tiffany & Co
This was one of my most expensive purchases in New York. I had always admired Tiffany jewellery and really wanted a nice keepsake from New York. Including tax, this necklace cost about $170 (I can't remember the exact amount and I think I deliberately 'lost' the receipt so I wouldn't have to remember my shame). Its a really nice, simple piece which I keep trying to justify by telling myself that it will go with everything!
Check it out here: http://www.tiffany.com/gifts/gifts-for-her/return-to-tiffany-heart-tag-pendant-GRP01461
Kate Spade
Kate Spade was not a designer that I had heard much about before but when I was in Macys, I completely fell in love with her designs. Her range of jewellery and accessories offers a quirky take on classic pieces which really stood out to me. This watch was part of a 25% off offer that day but it still worked out at about $160 which certainly isn't a bargain. I had originally planned on getting a Fitbit watch but, as usual, I chose style over sense!
Check it out here: https://www.katespade.com/products/leading-lady-metro-watch/KSW1210.html
Alex and Ani
Another impulse buy, as we just happened to stumble across an Alex and Ani shop one day when we got lost! This Frog Prince charm bracelet is part of their Valentine's Day collection and I just thought it was so cute. This is definitely one of my favourite things that I picked up in New York and I've been wearing it ever since. This little guy cost about $38 and is a nice addition to any Alex and Ani collection.
Check it out here: http://www.alexandani.com/frog-prince-charm-bangle.html
Alex and Ani also have a new range called the Liberty Copper Collection which, they claim, contains genuine copper from the Statue of Liberty. I saw some of these pieces while in New York and wasn't really mad about the design but they may be of interest to those looking for a nice gift or keepsake from New York.
Check it out here: http://www.alexandani.com/collections/liberty-copper.html
Pandora
This charm was bought as a gift for my mother to add to her Pandora bracelet as something special from 'The Big Apple'. This is actually Snow White's apple from the Disney Collection but there are a range of charms which are exclusive to New York City and available in all Pandora stores in New York. Including tax, this worked out at about $72 ,which is frankly a ridiculous amount of money to pay for something the size of a toenail, but it is a really pretty piece for Pandora collectors.
Check it out here: http://www.pandora.net/en-au/products/charms/791572en73
Urban Outfitters
I bought this in Urban Outfitters, completely unaware that it was a Stone Cold Steve Austin t-shirt. I know very little about wrestling and, despite the dead giveaways, I just thought it was a t-shirt with a cool skull design! This is from the brand Junk Food and it was $39. (A ridiculous price to pay considering they probably sold these t-shirts in the market for about a fiver in 1999!)
Check it out here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=41530114&category=BRANDS
Although it's one of my most boring buys from New York, this belt is probably one of my favourites. I had wanted a Western style belt for so long and genuinely just never got around to buying one. This belt was $28 and I have gotten so much wear out of it since I bought it. It looks great with jeans, dresses and adds a nice detail to any outfit that's a bit plain or boring.
Check it out here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5772316701002&category=WOMENS-BELTS-EU
Sketchers
Definitely something that's not for everyone. I know that some people refuse to wear Sketchers because they think they're ugly but, trust me, you are missing out on the joy of sheer comfort and bliss. For a long time, I had considered getting a pair of Sketchers to wear to work as I spend the day on my feet and I genuinely have the knees of an 85 year old. I had somehow always put off buying a pair as I thought they were very expensive but while I was in New York I decided that I may as well invest in a decent pair of shoes considering I'd already spent an extortionate amount on makeup and jewellery. These were $65, which is expensive, but they are worth every penny as they are so lightweight and comfortable.
Check them out here: https://www.skechers.com/en-us/style/14901/skechers-gowalk-4-all-day-comfort/bkgy
The Disney Store
If you are visiting Times Square, the Disney Store is a must-see. The store is absolutely fantastic, for young and old, and offers a wide range of toys, clothes and other Disney memorabilia. One of the most popular collections in the Disney Store is the Tsum Tsum collection. This design is of Japanese origin and interprets traditional Disney characters as cute, cylindrical shaped blobs (that's the best description I could come up with). My boyfriend bought this medium sized Minnie Mouse Statue of Liberty plush as a gift for his sister and it worked out at about $25. There are three different sizes, small medium and large, and this particular Tsum Tsum is available exclusively at the Times Square Disney Store.
Check it out here: http://disneytsumtsum.com/i-love-new-york-mickey-and-statue-of-liberty-minnie-tsum-tsums-released-online/
While we were there, there was also a deal running on the Tsum Tsum plush toys where you could buy one and get a selected one for $5. Unfortuntely, the New York Tsum Tsums were not included in this deal but there were many others which would make a nice gift for any Disney lover in your life.
Of course, it would be physically impossible for me to leave the Disney Store without getting something for myself. After much deliberation, and I mean about an hour inspecting every Tsum Tsum and plush toy in the place, I eventually decided on this little angel, Flower the skunk from Bambi. Although I will probably end up on 'Extreme Hoarders' some day, consumed by a pile of Disney toys, I just couldn't resist!
Check it out here: https://www.disneystore.com/plush-toys-flower-plush-bambi-small-9-12/mp/1421543/1000267/
Souvenirs
I love a good tacky souvenir and New York is full to the brim of all the cheesy shops that you could possibly need. No holiday would be complete without some fridge magnets and key rings to take home and these are just a few of what I have left as I have already given some as gifts to family and friends. One thing I will say is that souvenirs can be an absolute rip off so it's often better to purchase them from shops outside of the centre of Times Square as these are usually the most expensive. I made the mistake of buying key rings from one of the larger souvenir shops, which cost me about 3.99 each but then came across the same ones for 99c in a smaller shop down the street!
And of course, I couldn't come home without a present for Chilli. This NYPD vest was $14.99, an expensive price to pay for a dog outfit but worth every penny just to see how bloody cute he looked!
No comments:
Post a Comment