By Anne Levin

Shop till you drop: [defn.] to go hard and nonstop with any task no matter how much rejection, fatigue, or obstacles you may face. Urban Dictionary

When it comes to shopping—purposeful or just browsing —there is nowhere like New York. The city has long been one of the world’s most coveted shopping destinations, both for bargains and high-end fashions and accessories. From Brooklyn to Harlem, there are countless boutiques, shops, and department stores to choose from. Here is a selection of some of the most popular, up-to-the-minute locations for discovering unique merchandise.

BROOKLYN

Brooklyn is a shopping mecca in its own right, with neighborhoods like Park Slope, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens, and DUMBO offering a variety of choices for browsing.

Brooklyn is a shopping mecca in its own right, with neighborhoods like Park Slope, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens, and DUMBO offering a variety of choices for browsing.

Bird has stores in Cobble Hill, Williamsburg, and Park Slope. The 15-year-old fashion destination puts an emphasis on sustainability, and its Williamsburg store is even LEED-certified. Look for clothing collections by Alasdair, Alexander Wang, Ligne 6, and Rag & Bone, just to name a few. The stores also carry jewelry from Adina Mills, Blanca Monros Gomez, Melissa Joy Manning, Pamela Love and several accessory designers. Visit www.shopbird.com for locations.

Shoppers in search of unique jewelry have been flocking to Catbird for nearly a decade. Known for all things sparkly, the shop is big on non-traditional wedding rings, stacking rings and a wide range of gifts. The address is 219 Bedford Avenue. 718.599.3457 or www.catbirdnyc.com.

In God We Trust has shops in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, with another store in Manhattan’s garment district. Founded in 2005, the business makes its own apparel and jewelry and also sells pieces by other designers that fit with their own aesthetic. The store recently won a rave in Vogue magazine for its “fun, printed crop tops and girly rompers.” Visit www.ingodwetrustnyc.com for locations.

French Garment Cleaners Co. in Fort Greene is named after the neon sign that has graced its building since the 1960s, when it was a dry cleaning shop. This high-end store offers upscale, casual clothing by independent designers, including cuff-links, handbags, jewelry, lingerie, hats, and shoes. The address is 85 Lafayette Avenue. 718.797.0011 or www. frenchgarmentcleaners.com.

SOHO

A few decades ago, SOHO’s neighborhood of cast iron facades and cobblestone streets was home to artists and out-of-the-way galleries. The elegant buildings still stand, but these days the streets are clogged with shoppers frequenting the big-box stores and trendy restaurants that have moved in. Still, there are a number of interesting, one-of-a-kind boutiques that make a visit to the area worth battling the crowds.

Looking for a hat to wear to a wedding, or maybe the Kentucky Derby? Check out The Hat Shop, which provides custom-made headwear for men and women. It’s hard to resist a store that includes “Races,” “Nomad,” and “Evening” among its categories. The shop has been a fi xture in Soho since 1995 at 120 Thompson Street. 212.219.1445 or www.thehatshopnyc.com.

The colorful, Barcelona-based Desigual specializes in bright colors and innovatively mismatched patterns, silk screens, and patches. Look for men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as shoes and accessories. The address is 594 Broadway (also Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th streets. 212.343.8206.

Karen Millen has been designing for chic British women for years. We’re not talking here about tweeds or twin-sets. This is finely detailed wear for weekdays and parties, featuring updated, flattering styles that even allow for some curves. The shop, opened in 2007, has mirrored walls and an atmospheric, corrugated tin ceiling. The address is 112 Prince Street. 212.334.8492 or us.karenmillen.com.

Kirna Zabete stocks big names like Balenciaga, Chloe and Lanvin on its two levels, but also includes clothes by younger up-and-comers such as Alexander Wang. Despite the high-level merchandise, the space is simple and the atmosphere is laid back. You'll find art books and gifts as well as clothing. The address is 477 Broome Street. 212.941.9656 or www. kirnazabete.com.

MIDTOWN

MIDTOWN Manhattan is the territory for those who prefer big retailers to small boutiques. Here is where you'll find Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, Henri Bendel, Tiffany, H&M, Louis Vuitton and FAO Schwartz. Even if you can’t afford the prices of Bergdorf Goodman, the store is definitely worth a visit. Be sure to stroll the seventh floor, where a selection of books, china, chocolates, children’s clothing, gorgeous linens, and one of the most sumptuous collections of Christmas ornaments, in season, are divided into precious little individual shops. The address is Fifth Avenue at 57th Street. www.BergdorfGoodman.com.

Midtown’s big stores have recently been joined by Uniqlo, the multi-level flagship of the Japanbased chain selling stylish clothes—lots of black and white—for budget prices. The address is 666 Fifth Avenue. www.uniqlo.com.

UPPER EAST SIDE

The UPPER EAST SIDE is all about Madison Avenue, where 57th to 79th streets boast some of the priciest real estate in the world. Barneys New York anchors the lower end, and the Ralph Lauren store, in a renovated mansion at 72nd Street, is worth seeing just for the architecture alone. Chanel, Chloe, Hermes, Christian Louboutin, and Tory Burch are just a sampling of what’s located along the way. And don’t forget the French crystalier Lalique, which is at 609 Madison Avenue.

UPPER WEST SIDE

Not to be outdone but distinctly different is the UPPER WEST SIDE. There is more variety on this side of Central Park, where all sorts of shopping awaits. Small stores cater to the yuppie residents of the neighborhood, where there are plenty of families with young children. Columbus Avenue is the best shopping street, from Lincoln Center at 66th street to about 86th street.

At 305 Columbus Avenue, stock up on jeans at Adriano Goldschmied, where women will find stylish looks from ultra-skinny to maternity, and men can find pants in a variety of fabrics and styles. www.agjeans.com.

BOC at 410 Columbus Avenue is stocked with clothing, bags, shoes and accessories by a whole list of designers including Derek Lam, Helmut Lang, Ella Moss and Franco Ferrari. www.bocnyc.com.

Further south, the Shops at Columbus Circle, in the massive Time Warner complex, include Eileen Fisher, Coach, Hugo Boss, Thomas Pink, Sisley, and a 59,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market for when you need some nourishment. The view east from the second level’s huge windows is awesome. www.shopsatcolumbuscircle.com.

So, put on your comfortable shoes and get down to the serious business of shopping in New York. The options are limitless and each neighborhood boasts its own flavor. If you can't find what you're looking for here, it is safe to assume, you probably can't find it anywhere!