Earlier in the day, we had already gone to Aritzia (their first location outside of Canada!), where I bought a Wilfred black shawl cardigan and a Wilfred tan leopard-print sheer wool scarf. Their retail prices are the same as in Canada, but did you know that all clothing items under $110 is tax-free in New York? Umm, what?! I'm so used to paying 13% tax on everything, I just couldn't resist. We had also stopped by Uniqlo after lunch (my first time there), where I bought a few Lulu Guinness shirts (on promotion for $9.90 from $19.90!), plus a couple black cardigans, two pairs of black leggings, and some black denim leggings for work. No item was more than $25! How have I been missing out for this long?! So, after our macaron adventure, my mom and I decided to walk around the Upper East Side. And by "walk around," I really mean "shop some more." We walked down the street from Ladurée and right into Tory Burch, where we each picked up a pair of shoes:
This box wouldn't get lost in a closet
Tory Burch Caroline ballet flats
Tory Burch Caroline ballet flats
Guys, I don't think I have ever spent this much on shoes before, much less flats, but wow, once I put my feet into them, it's like I'm walking on clouds. I'd been looking for a good pair of flats, and because I have wide feet, it's really hard to get a pair that is comfortable and looks good. All the pairs I've had are either really comfortable and hideous (and really poorly made, like the $10 flats I used to buy at Ardene that would break within a month), or really cute but cut into my feet. I'd never thought much of Tory Burch's flats (and everyone seems to have a pair), but the Caroline ballet flats are made of super-soft leather and have an elastic around the edges, so they stretch with your feet. And they're super-cute. I bought mine in black so I would be able to wear them at work, but if I had the money, I would definitely consider getting another pair; they come in a gorgeous metallic olive cracked leather that is totally calling my name.
Aritzia
524 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-2188
Uniqlo
666 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10103
(877) 486-4756
Tory Burch
11 W 19th St # 7
New York, NY 10011
(212) 683-2323
Comfy black flats can't ever lose. This is like the flats version of your wallet, Denise! lol
ReplyDeleteTory Burch now has a flag ship store in Yorkdale apparently. But who wants to buy the inflated price here with the tax?
LOL, THEY TOTALLY ARE! I didn't realize, haha. I like what I like, eh? :P
DeleteAnd yeah, I heard that Tory Burch is at Yorkdale (or is coming to Yorkdale?). Totally agree on the inflated price. But I guess if you're not going to make a trip to the US any time soon, you would just buy them here. In the end, the inflated price will reflect the gas/air ticket money you spend to get to the States. :P
Couldn't help but comment - a friend of mine who is a big Tory Burch consumer told me that you can purchase their products at US prices, but you just have to request it when you're paying (as per the Yorkdale location employees anyway). Guess it wouldn't hurt to try!
DeleteBTW, love your photo heavy blog. Linked here from Sydney's blog roll!
Howdy! Thanks for taking the time to visit and comment. :)
DeleteThank you for the great tip re: Tory Burch. I will definitely try this next time I am thinking of purchasing something from there! I didn't even realize the Yorkdale store was already open, so I'm really excited to go there now!
And thanks so much. :D
Those flats look gorgeous! Regular leather flats here cost about the same price, and they aren't really branded either. I always resist trying out these shoes when I travel because I'm afraid I'll like them then there's no turning back. I know, I'm weird like that :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a wee bit jealous you got Uniqlo clothing. I've never managed to find anything there that fit me :( The prices are amazing and I have a feeling the quality is good, but the fit is just not for me :(
Lol, well, I maybe wouldn't splurge on ridiculously expensive shoes that are also impractical. (Like women who have too much money and buy $900 Louboutins that they'll wear once and then stare at in their closets for the rest of their lives.) But these are really great everyday shoes and the cost per wear will be so low! You should try these on!!! I swear, they are ridiculously comfy and super cute, and you won't regret it. :)
DeleteI'm jealous you have access to a Uniqlo! To be fair, I tried on a few tops and even a few dresses, and they looked really bad on me -- not the sizes, really, but just the fit of the style, so I get what you mean. But they are great for basics, for sure -- I basically live in those denim leggings that I bought, and now I wish I had gotten another five pairs. :P The quality is really, really amazing, especially for the prices. It's like H&M, except Japanese and well-made.
I don't have a Uniqlo nearby, it's just that I go to London sometimes and there's a huge branch there. They've also opened a new store in KL where I'm originally from.
DeleteI'd never buy a Louboutin because I can never justify the price. It's kind of the same thing with Mulberry bags. I'd love one but it just costs about the price of a flight ticket :)
I know what you mean about buying something on travel and then going home and loving it and then feeling crappy that you can't have more of it. I always have that with jeans. I bought a pair of Levi's Demi Curve Straight when I was in Indonesia on vacation last year and for some reason it fits way better than any other Demi Curve Straights I have tried in Europe. Luckily enough I stumbled upon the same type in India and hauled like 2 pairs - both in the same color as that's the only shade they had it in :)
You know, if I had the money, I would seriously consider a Mulberry bag 'cause they're beautifully made and look really classic -- I know I would use that bag for life. But the Louboutins? Definitely not, especially given how rough I treat my shoes, lol.
DeleteYou know, I have never tried a pair of Levi's, ever! I feel like I need to change that. And, I don't think clothing fits the same way all over the world. When I was in HK, for example, all of the clothes were for teeny-tiny, super-skinny little girls -- you have even a bit of a curve, and none of the clothes will fit. :P I guess they alter clothes by region...?
Yes :( And they automatically assume everybody is reed thin. Man, in Malaysia, if you have a bit of curves like moi, you're automatically relegated to the Large and Extra Large sizes though in the US I wear Medium or even Small sometimes.
DeleteThey should just standardize all the sizing already..would make online shopping so much easier. Levi's aren't *that* great, but I'm a big fan as I wear jeans to work everyday and they handle cold weather better than other brands. The denim is just thicker for some reason. They also last a few years.
Haha, I have clothes anywhere from Small to Large! It really does depend by brand. And yeah, online shopping can be a bitch, for sure. That's why I'll only buy clothes from brands I've tried on in real life, like jeans, for example. I bought three Miss Sixty winter coats last year and was like, "Ummmm, large should fit..." because it's always better to go bigger than smaller (and I figure winter coats need a little room, anyway, you know?). It was a risk, but they ended up fitting perfectly, with room for layers underneath. :) Hit or miss, for sure.
DeleteI barely ever wear regular jeans anymore, actually. I mostly wear denim leggings, if anything, lol. They're just so much comfier. :P
Dammit, Denise! If I had known you were going to New York, I totally would've begged you to pick up something at Uniqlo for me. I've been to the store many times but never actually bought anything. This past trip was the first time I realized they had a lower level (hah.) I bought their Leggings Pants - are they the ones you have?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uniqlo.com/us/CPaGoods/itemcode=070724
Did you know they do free hemming at the store? Takes only 3 hours! I got them hemmed, and they are now my FAVOURITE PANTS EVER. I soooo regret not getting more pairs, and now I've been throwing myself at anyone I know going to New York soon. Unfortunately, most of them are not going to be going by SoHo so I'm outta luck.
P.S. Cute shoes! I'm always on the lookout for the perfect black ballet flats. I've never shelled out more than $100 for a pair of flats, though!
Whoooops I was so excited to comment about Uniqlo, I totally breezed past your last paragraph. I think you've sold me. I have wide feet too, and like you have previously owned cheap and poorly made flats. I'm definitely interested in Tory Burch flats, but I wonder if they have ones that don't have the logo on the top?
DeleteSorry!!! Had I known you wanted stuff from Uniqlo, I would have offered. ;)
DeleteThe ones I have are the Easy Denim Leggings Pants (http://www.uniqlo.com/us/CPaGoods/itemcode=071538). These ones have an elasticized waist -- AMAZING FOR BUFFETS!!! :D
I wish I had picked up like, six more pairs. They're fantastic.
There are a few locations in NYC -- the one I went to was in midtown, at 5th and 53rd. :)
Mmm, I think this style of flats only comes with the big logo on top. The ones without the big logo aren't elasticized around the edges. :(
Hahaha your enthusiasm kills me! I just hope they still carry them by the time I go on my next NYC trip! It's not planned, but preferably after the June 1st shopping limits change. :D
DeleteWhoa, whoa, whoa. What shopping limits change???
DeleteWhaaaaaat! I can't be the first person telling you about this, considering you cross-border shop about 10x more than I do! Then again, I don't pay much attention to this kind of stuff, but shopping limit increase? Say again?
DeleteNew cross-border shopping limits, effective June 1st, 2012:
24 hours: $200 (was: $50)
48 hours: $800 (was: $400)
7 days: $800 (was: $750)
Source: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/29/budget-raises-duty-free-limit-for-cross-border-travellers/
I'm sorry, that came off as so rude! Trust me, I never would've heard of this either if not for friends telling me. Friends that don't pay attention to federal budgets except ding-ding-ding, SHOPPING LIMITS INCREASE, well, their ears perked up. Lol.
DeleteLOL, don't worry, I didn't think you came off as rude at all. :) I didn't know about the shopping limit increases, but I'm SUPER HAPPY about them!!! I guess they realized that people buy way too many designer items, lol. Thanks for letting me know!!!
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