Savvy Shoppers’ Survey

Cashmere-Cashmere
965 Madison Ave. (75th & 76th Sts.)/212-988-5252
Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun noon–5pm.

The Edge: Quality and colors. § Classic to high-fashion (to 10-ply) cashmere clothing and accessories in a range of excellent colors. Find blankets, dresses, robes, socks, sweatsuits, and sweaters. Prices start at $195. Great size range. Guests at the Four Seasons Hotel get a 10% discount. Deluxe. § “Soft as butter.”

Clothing & accessories
Sweaters
quality style service value: 45 40 41 33

Best of Scotland
581 5th Ave. (47 & 48th Sts.)/212-644-0415
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm.

The Edge: Classics, somewhat less expensive than the best-known spots. § Sweaters, cashmere capes, and stoles are priced from $190 to $350. Hundreds of colors. 20% off. § “Limited old-fashioned styles. A bit disappointing.”

Clothing & accessories
Sweaters
quality style service value: 37 33 27 33

Berk of Burlington Arcade London
781 Madison Ave. (66th St.)/212-570-0285
Weekdays 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5pm.

The Edge: Top classic cashmeres. § Up to six-ply cashmere items in a wide range of colors. Priced from $l99 to $900. Capes and wonderful velvet slippers in deep autumn colors (slippers $l85 to $200). Deluxe. § “Staff attitude needs improvement.”

Clothing & accessories
Sweaters
quality style service value: 45 40 40 33

Rochester Big & Tall
67 Wall St. 952-8500 / 1301 6th Ave. (52nd St.) 247-7500
Mon–Wed and Fri 9:30am–6:30pm, Thurs 9:30am–8pm, Sat 9:30am–6pm.

The Edge: Enormous selection of hard-to-find large sizes. § Stock includes suits, shoes, shirts, and more from Canali, Docker, Gant, Hickey Freeman, Levi, Oxxford, Zegna, and others. Sizes from 48 regular to 60 extra-long.

Clothing & accessories
Special sizes
quality style service value: 44 42 33 42

Forgotten Woman
Manhattan: 60 W. 49th St. (5th & 6th Aves.) 247-8888 / 888 Lexington Ave. (66th St.) 535-8848 / Long Island: Manhasset 516-627-6888
Mon–Wed and Fri–Sat 10am–6pm, Thurs 10am–7:30pm, Sun noon–5pm (closed Sun June- –Aug).

The Edge: Favored source for larger clothing sizes. § Two locations. Carries a full range of quality clothing for women sizes 14 to 24—casual clothing to formal wear with everything in between. Name designers like Ellen Tracy, as well as some exclusive house designers. Moderate to expensive, with coats from $100 to $2,500. The Lexington Avenue shop is down the street from Ashanti. § “A real find in the days when I was a plus size.”

Clothing & accessories
Special sizes
quality style service value: 40 35 45 25

Ashanti
872 Lexington Ave. (65th & 66th Sts.)/212-535-0740
Mon–Wed and Fri–Sat 10am–6pm, Thurs 10am–8pm, Sun 11am–5pm (closed Sun July– -Sept 14).

The Edge: Good clothing for the larger woman. § Clothing and accessories for the larger woman. Much of the clothing is Ashanti’s own design. Off-the- rack clothing to size 28, custom clothing in larger sizes. Down the block from Forgotten Woman (another larger-size store).

Clothing & accessories
Special sizes
quality style service value: 39 39 41 38

Yaska Shoes
1088 Madison Ave. (82nd St.)/212-734-0818
Weekdays 10am–7pm, Sat 11am–6pm.

The Edge: Great sales on cutting-edge young shoes and classic work shoes with oomph. § Wonderful European-style shoes, from classic pumps and flats to more trendy styles. Designers include Gritti, Visconto, and Pensato. Expensive at $95 to $450, with most $150 to $200, but the twice-yearly sales are great, particularly after the second markdown. For those seeking conservative, look past the very hip styles, since there’s much to find. Sizes 6 to 12, with an extensive stock of larger sizes. § “Great selection in large plus 10 sizes.”

Clothing & accessories
Shoes, socks & stockings
quality style service value: 42 44 40 40

Wolford Boutique
Manhattan: 619 Madison Ave. (58th St.) 688-4850 / Long Island: Manhasset 516-869-6900 / New Jersey: Short Hills 973-379-3666
Mon–Sat 10am–6pm.

The Edge: Enormously expensive—but long-lasting, extremely durable legwear. § Very silky sensuous legwear which features a mixture of nylon, Lycra, and cotton in varying weights, which offers control and longer-lasting hose—given the high prices, these stockings have to earn their keep. Hose from $28 to $70, with bodysuits from $160. A. W. Kaufman on the Lower East Side discounts Wolford 20%, and Century 21 sometimes has heavily discounted discontinued lines from the prior season’s hose. § “The best hosiery.” “Sometimes too pricey.” “Two pairs of Satin Touch hose ripped immediately and the company did nothing when I sent them back. Unbelievable at those prices ($30 a pair)—and yet I’m still buying the brand (but not that line).”

Clothing & accessories
Shoes, socks & stockings
quality style service value: 50 50 44 38

Walter Steiger
739 Madison Ave. (64th & 65th Sts.) 570-1212 / 417 Park Ave. (55th St.) 826-7171
Mon–Sat 10am–6pm.

The Edge: Trendy, gorgeous French shoes and, believe it or not, stunning golf shoes. § Sexy, high-heeled designer evening shoes, casual shoes, and absolutely stunning two-tone golf shoes. Makes you want to go to the course! Very expensive, priced from $245 to $295. Some shoes custom-made- –they’re much more expensive and take six to eight weeks for delivery. Deluxe. § “Worth the price.” “Great style, but not that comfortable.”

Clothing & accessories
Shoes, socks & stockings
quality style service value: 47 49 43 39

Vamps
1420 2nd Ave. (74th St.) 734-3967 / 1412 3rd Ave. (80th St.) 737-7122
Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun noon–6pm.

The Edge: Very affordable style. § Features casual to bridal shoes from Anne Klein, DKNY, Via Spiga, and Aerosole—slightly discounted. A great source for styles from hush puppies and boots to evening and bridal shoes. Dyes evening shoes within 24 hours. Prices range from $39 to $150. Now a second store and more sizes, including above-average widths. No delivery. § “Good prices, excellent styles.” “First stop for evening shoes.”

Clothing & accessories
Shoes, socks & stockings
quality style service value: 40 42 31 40