I LOVE to shop, but this habit of mine comes with some unfortunate side effects.
In the past, I’ve hit up an outlet spot like DSW, thinking I’m getting a deal on some pair of Aldo boots or something that still comes out to like, 100 freaking dollars, and then 6 months later the zipper breaks and the heel pops off. Or there’s the time I spent $60 on some dress at Topshop, since that’s apparently the going rate nowadays for something that cost $2 to make, only to have the seam inexplicably unravel and leave me half-naked in line at some Duane Reade NOT within walking distance from my house.
F that.
I don’t know about you guys, but these betrayals, which always occur after I justify a higher-than-normal purchase price, are what caused me to look into other cheaper outlets to do all my shopping. And let me tell you, Brooklyn’s very own Fulton Mall is the place to Get. Shit. Done. The amount of times I’ve spent more than $30 on a single item are zero, and I’m still rocking things bought from years past. Here’s a little guide to help you save in your wallet and amp up your wardrobe, minus the morning after guilt.
What: Feel Beauty Salon
Where: 370 Fulton Street
What to buy: Nail polish
Price: $1.49 and up
Essie is known to be the muse of nail polish. I mean, how many times have you said/heard something like “I love this color, it’s Adore-A-Ball by Essie!” And while I wholeheartedly admit the colors are dope, it’s like, $7 a bottle. I also find that by day two of my at-home manicure, all nail polish chips like a bad paint job on a subway platform. So instead, I now shop from Feel Beauty’s nail polish selection, which includes more bright & bold options than a Lisa Frank notebook.
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What: Conway
Where: 427 Fulton Street
What to buy: Basics
How much: $2.88
Ahhh, Conway. A staple go-to for all of your cheap shopping needs! The best thing to do at Conway is visit once or twice a year, and while there stock up on packs of socks, tank tops, and leggings, all of which cost a nifty $2.88.
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What: Dr. Jays
Where: 479 Fulton Street
What to buy: Bathing suits
How much: $16.99
Bathing suits are really flippin expensive given the fact that they’re basically a few cloth triangles stitched together, and you know that’s the damn truth. It’s especially daunting to drop $70 on one when you live in a place like New York and you really only make it to the beach a few times a year anyway. At this point I don’t even bother with a place as “cheap” as H&M, where bikinis run $30 and leave me naked in the ocean the second a 5-foot wave comes rollin in the deep. Even if you do have the budget for a $60 suit, buy a cheap one from Dr. Jays instead. You can then donate what you saved to organizations like Occupy Sandy. Volunteering is always in style!
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What: Fulton Island
Where: 489 Fulton Street
What to buy: Perfume
How much: About $20 cheaper than anywhere else
Smelling good is important, especially in this grimy city. I dunno about you, but I feel like I’m doing everyone a favor on a crowded-ass subway by spritzing up in advance. Fulton Island has legit discounted fragrances. If you’re not sure what to buy, hop on over to Macy’s across the street to test some scents out, then head back over to the Island to actually buy that shit on a budget.
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What: Rainbow
Where: 493 Fulton Street
What to buy: Dresses that can be worn literally anywhere
How much: $12.99 and up
Sometimes you have a Friday where you go to work, then meet your boyfriend’s parents for a steak dinner at their favorite restaurant for the past 15 years, and then top the evening off with a concert at some crusty BK venue. That’s a lot of events that you need a single outfit for, one that won’t make you feel awkward at some point in the day or that you’ll have to change out of. Fret not–this is what Rainbow is for! Check out this leopard dress I picked up the other week. It was only $16.97, transversable, and fly as hell.
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What: Quick Strike
Where: 515 Fulton Street
What to buy: Fitted caps
How much: $30
A lot of ladies support a New York team and like to show said support by incorporating a fitted cap into their outfits. Problem is, legit fitteds are never a deal since they’re always a fresh thing to have on your hat rack and ALWAYS in demand by fly dudes who coordinate their caps with their wardrobe. At a known place like Lids, they’re usually around $35. Instead, go to Quick Strike and save the five bucks for makeup remover and a lipstick from the beauty supply store next door.
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What: Brooklyn U.S.A.
Where: 249 Duffield Street, Corner of Fulton Street and Duffield St
What to buy: Camo-print stuff
How much: $24.99 and LESS
Not only is camo in once more, it’s never really out. As far as I’m concerned, you can never go wrong with this bad-ass classic print in your wardrobe. Brooklyn U.S.A. is a pretty dope spot overall (they have THE COOLEST comic and British-flag printed leggings), but their camo section is just outta control. Check out this ridiculously awesome cat-suit I found there. I’m gonna go back and buy this bad boy to rock around the urban jungle.
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What: Danice
Where: 534 Fulton Street
What to buy: Shoes
How much: $3.99 and up
Like I said, I’m done with DSW, Aldo, and basically any chain place that claims to have a shoe sale. While the merchandising at Danice is a little overwhelming, it’s well worth it when you realize you just got a hot new pair of heels, flats, AND work shoes for less than fifty bucks. Danice blows those chains out of the Hudson and into the Gowanus Canal.
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What: Delancey Leather
Where: 536 Fulton Street, right next to Danice
What to buy: 1 leather jacket, so you can get 2 leather jackets for FREE
How much: $69.99 and up
Need a leather jacket? No. You don’t. You need 3 fucking leather jackets, because obviously. Seriously, at Delancey Leather, YOU GET TWO LEATHER JACKETS FREE IF YOU BUY ONE. It’s essential for anyone who’s ever left their jacket at a bar after a lil’ too much whiskey & whatnot, which is a lot of people.
Fulton Mall runs on Fulton Street, between Adams St. and Flatbush Ave. It’s serviced by the A,C, N, R and F train to MetroTech, the 4,5 train to Borough Hall, the 2,3 train to Hoyt St and the G to Hoyt, Schermerhorn.
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I grew up in “downtown” Brooklyn and me and my mother, sisters always shopped on Fulton Street…it wasn’t called a mall back then…in my years they still had the buses going down the street and the Dime bank and McCrory’s was still there…yes get your shopping done here…best prices – Rainbow is one of my favorite stores…
damn, this gurl knows her shopz. makes me wish i was a lady so i could save on looking fly.
yo Rainbow is the shit. I grew up in the suburbs shopping at stores like this so I <3 this stuff. love it.
also I got a really rad white rayon wrap cardigan thing last week at Rainbow for $7.99, PERFECT FOR THOSE BREEZY SUMMER NIGHTS!
yeth!
Great article. Do more guides like this!
Welcome to my world. True story: I got my prom dress for $30 and matching shoes (silver) on the cheap on this strip years ago.
P.S. Now there’s a Gap factory store on Fulton Mall too.
P.P.S. Some more deals can be found in stores off of Fulton Street too…like the side streets and in the Goodwill on Livingston, one block away.
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Delancy leather sells fake leather jackets! They lied to me and said it is genuine leather. Also it is written in the jacket that it is ” genuine leather” . I paid 200 dollar for a jacket which is not 100 worth. I cannot reach them by phone, neither by email. They are very friendly, asked me where I am from and if they heard germany, they sold me fake. They are not honest people! You are warnedd
Conway store is not open anymore so this site needs to be updated to reflect the current stories