the new neiman marcus hudson yards is not to be missed

Hudson Yards in New York City is open for business. And it includes many luxury shopping experiences that are not to be missed. Here’s our inside guide to Neiman Marcus: the store and its restaurants and special services. We’re sharing photos and observations from our first two visits. It’s everything you need to know about this latest luxury arrival in the city.

neiman marcus opens a new store in hudson yards

It’s the first time that Neiman Marcus has had a store in New York City. The new space provides the luxury brand with a platform for innovation and experimentation. And they’re making the most of the opportunity, with whimsical elements, unusual pop-ups and a spirit of discovery.

What can we learn about the future of luxury from this latest entry on the scene? Well dear reader, it’s all about experiences. And fun. Personal services and bespoke items. Live events and surprises. And beauty all around.

a grand entrance

Fittingly, the entrance to the new Neiman Marcus celebrates Gotham with the installation of jaunty yellow cab filled with flowers, and a swanky photo montage of moments from the city’s storied past. It sets the mood for a space that’s part Old New York, and part something entirely new.

Of course, this vignette is also a great spot for a selfie or a glamour shot. So is the balcony overlooking the atrium for The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, just outside the front door of the store.

fresh flowers

Among the first services that visitors encounter is the in-store florist, Pop-Up Florist by Kelsie Hayes. Fresh hand-tied bouquets can be made to order while you shop.

a sophisticated crowd

If the opening days and nights are any indication, you can count on both the clientele and the staff here to be spirited and impossibly chic. It’s a cool mash-up of Upper East Side and downtown, and everyone seems to be making it their own.

On both of our visits, we felt a spirit of playfulness and discovery that’s infectious. Part of the fun of shopping any great store is the people-watching, and here it’s first-rate.

contemporary art

One of the most noteworthy elements of the new Neiman Marcus is the contemporary art on display throughout the space.

We were especially touched by a wall of photos taken by the late great Bill Cunningham. Nice touch, that.

designer apparel

In terms of choice, the number of designers in the store is almost overwhelming. There are spacious dedicated boutiques for Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

There are also exquisite little shops for other leading luxury brands, like Tom Ford.

One of the elements about which we’re most excited, though, is the number of New York-based brands that have their collections in Neiman Marcus for the first time.

For example, on opening night we met a New York designer named Emily Burnett, lead designer for the eponymous label Burnett New York. She was the lead designer at Dennis Basso before striking out on her own. Her co-founder is Sterling McDavid, who was once an analyst at Goldman Sachs and now runs the business side of the company. The brand’s fur collection is now exclusively carried at Neiman Marcus in New York.

We confess, we fell in love with their feminine, fitted and chic fur jackets. They’re fluid, versatile and modern – “very Aspen,” we all agreed. Not in any way your grandma’s fur coat. Although she’d probably love one of these, too. We have our eyes on you, Burnett New York.

handbags and shoes

Not surprisingly, there are two large shoe departments (entry floor for women, and one floor up for men). There are handbags galore, making it very easy to play and to dream.

menswear

The men’s department is sizable, and includes one of the largest footwear departments we’ve seen for men in a luxury department store. From oxfords to sneakers, they have it covered.

home

There’s a lovely intimate curated area for home and tabletop items. We noted that on opening night, the refreshments were a perfect match for the home decor on offer. Coincidence? We doubt it.

food and drink

Part of the fun of a luxury department store is the ability to shop, then eat, then shop some more. Neiman’s at Hudson Yards has three different ways to satisfy your hunger.

the zodiac room

The Zodiac Room is the flagship restaurant. It serves the iconic popovers and strawberry butter that you’ll find at every Neiman Marcus. Plus salads, light bites, and bubbly.

bar stanley

Bar Stanley is adjacent to the menswear department, and its clearly been designed with gentlemen in mind. It’s named after Stanley Marcus, the founder of the brand.

In his honor, the vibe here is that of a very well-designed prototypical Man Cave. There’s a full bar, with snacks, and a great view of the public art sculpture The Vessel. But the killer app is that when there’s a big game (or any game, really) the curtains are drawn and a massive video screen descends. 

So while partners are shopping, their companions can watch sports. And drink craft beer. Or whisky. Plus, there’s a working foosball table. For reluctant shoppers, suddenly, an afternoon at the mall may not seem so bad.

a gourmet food hall

In addition to the restaurants, there’s an expansive gourmet food hall called Cook & Merchants.

Within, guests will find a chocolate shop, a coffee bar, an actual bar, and lots of luxury food gifts and cookbooks.

On a different floor, there’s also a Sugarfina cart filled with sweet treats.

No one will leave hungry.

luxury services

Where this new store really shines in its vast array of services. There’s a deep commitment to bespoke items, unique experiences, and convenience. And interestingly, lots of vintage products. Which is a great way to shop sustainable fashion.

These pop-ups and exclusive offerings will be continually updated and refined to ensure that the store is a place that we’ll keep coming back to for new experiences and discoveries. Here are some of the special services in-store right now. 

the custom hat shop

Satya Twena’s 5th-floor boutique provides custom hats for all occasions. On opening night, the designer herself was in the house, along with a team member doing hand embroidery for a bespoke client order right in the store.

In addition to custom hats, one can purchase bespoke cowboy boots at the Lucchese Boot Shop. After all, Neiman Marcus is headquartered in Dallas, and sometimes even urban cowboys need a new pair of boots.

personalization

If you’re happy with an item that has already been designed and manufactured, but want to add the special touches that will make it your own, there are also numerous personalization services available. That will come in really handy at gift-giving time.

For example, at Atelier Notify, you can choose emblems, patches and monograms for tote bags, jean jackets, custom jewelry and more. Louis Vuitton has an extensive in-store customization capability. There’s also a personalized chocolate shop on the 6th floor.

beauty and wellness services

The Beauty area employs technology like smart mirrors to help you find your ideal products.

In addition, there’s a full-service beauty salon that includes an eyebrow bar, hair and nail salon and skincare and massage services. Among the cult-beauty names providing services are DreamDry, Valley, Pucker, and Spruce & Bond.

There’s a boutique for body piercings that’s led by celebrity piercing artist Brian Keith Thompson.

Restoration and healing brand Vie Healing, known for auricular acupuncture and facial cupping, has a dedicated area selling teas and supplements based on traditional Chinese medicine to address mood, stress and detoxification.

On a different floor, you’ll find a shave bar featuring Bevel razors that are specially designed for use by men with curly natural hair. Pop-ups from C.O. Bigelow for gentleman’s facial refreshers and personalized custom cosmetics by Giella are also in the mix.

live events

The store has a multi-purpose auditorium that will also foster a sense of discovery and immediacy. On opening night, Liza Minnelli sang here, in a tribute to Manhattan. A few days later, we attended an intimate event with designer Zac Posen in the same space.

vintage fashion

Located just outside the Zodiac Room restaurant, Resurrection Vintage sells certified and meticulously-maintained vintage designer ready-t0-wear from names like Marc Jacobs.

One level down, you can also purchase vintage eyeglass frames.

welcome to new york!

Wow. Kudos to Ken Downing, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus. He’s the brains behind the operation, and we suspect that he’s also responsible for the joie de vivre and palpable excitement that permeates this new space. We ran into him at the Grand Opening party, and you can feel his spirit and see his taste throughout the store.

We’ll be back, for sure. How about you – what do you think? And what’s your first stop at this new luxury playground going to be?

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