New York City will always be our first love, but here are some stores across America that have knocked us off our Jimmy Choos…

1.  Pangea (Nashville, TN; www.pangeanashville.com)  Located alongside the Vanderbilt University campus, this eclectic shop is a feast for the eye as well as the pocketbook.  Shoppers will find temptation around every corner, from indie-label rompers to kitsch folk art to a variety of naughty cards and buttons.  Expect a sniff or two from one of the store owner’s adorable dogs while killing time in the best way possible.

2.  Candy Baron (Laguna Beach, CA; www.thecandybaron.com)  This sunny beach town is home to a candy store that brings out the kid in all of us.  Check your self-control at the door and indulge in barrel after barrel of classic penny candies that remind you of summer days at camp.    Their selection includes sugar-free, international and hard-to-find concoctions meant to satisfy your sweet tooth for days to come.

3.  Hey Daisy (Appleton, WI; www.heydaisy.com)  This unexpected gem of a boutique breathes life onto East College Avenue in Appleton.  The shopper who ducks into Hey Daisy will find a well-edited selection of jeans, tee shirts and dresses at terrific prices.  The last-minute “impulse” buys located next to the cash register are particularly tempting.

4.  American Rag (Newport Beach, CA; amrag.com) American Rag’s “classidelic” look has a loyal following on the West Coast.   Their vintage-inspired men and womenswear manages to be both timeless and boundary-pushing all at the same time.  Make time for lunch, as their in-store café offers the best salad selection west of Paris.  Then walk out with bags full of head-turning and envy-inspiring fashion.  You won’t regret it.

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Although the New York subway has come a long, long way in recent decades, it’s still full of busy New Yorkers in a rush to get where they need to be. For this reason, don’t stop or stall in the subway! Figure out your trip ahead of time, which is made easy by fantastic resources such as www.hopstop.com , which will give you step-by-step instructions for the trip between your starting point and final destination.

We took one of our Garment Center tour groups this week to the multi-designer sample sale at Clothing Line. The guide b-lined to the Milly and Isli racks, knowing these would be the most coveted items at the sale and and as they also happen to be among her favorite designers. She claims there were darn good items to be had. This season’s Milly geometric dresses & mini skirts as well as bright -colored Madmen circa 1960’s shapes, could be had for as little as $65.  Well stocked Isli dresses and tops, many one-of-a-kind samples were $50 and above. Even the best store sales cannot touch these prices.

Shop Gotham’s guests toted home lots of bags. The guide’s enthusiasm must have been contageous. Sale ends today, May 9, 2009