• 5F, Bergdorf Goodman

  754 Fifth Ave., 212-558-1855

  It seems a little obvious to direct smart shoppers toward a department store, but Bergdorf’s fifth floor has an excellent selection of pretty dresses from well-knowns like Diane Von Furstenberg, M.Missoni, and Vera Wang, as well as smaller labels like Nanette Lepore, Milly, and Iisli (there’s also vintage from What Goes Around Comes Around). Most of it is under $400; right now, there’s a jungle-green cotton eyelet dress from Tracy Reese ($275), a black-and-gray bubble dress from Cynthia Steffe ($330), and a gauzy ballet pink-and-black tulle slip dress from Jill Stuart ($299).

From the 2007 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine