New York City was named the world’s Top Fashion Capital in 2018; therefore it is no surprise that approximately 15 miles outside the city that never sleeps lies a very fashion-forward suburb called Bergen County. Bergen County, although still practicing “blue laws,” which is a law that forces all department, mall and retail stores to be closed on Sunday; is a shopping dream for consumers. According to a 2017 article on northjersey.com, Paramus Borough has more square footage of mall space per capita than anywhere else in the country. As a personal stylist and life long resident of Bergen County, I have been shopping across the county for 20+ years and have developed a go-to guide for its residents. THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR MALLS IN BERGEN COUNTY; 4 OF THEM ARE LOCATED IN PARAMUS.
1. Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus.
This mall is the biggest of all the malls and can get the most crowed due to the variety and spectrum of its stores and services offered. Known as “the plaza” to many BC residents, it is open from 10am–9:30pm, Monday–Saturday. If you’re planning on coming to this mall on a Saturday, you might want to make sure you get there as soon as the doors open, as it tends to get very busy and may be difficult to find parking.
DEPARTMENT STORES OFFERED:
JC Penny
Lord & Taylor
Macy's
Neiman Marcus
Nordstrom
The variety of other stores here are countless, and you can find a list of them here.
2. The Shops at Riverside, Hackensack
This is one of my favorite malls to be at. This upscale mall does not tend to get as crowded as the others and offers mostly high-end shops. Also known as The Riverside Square Mall, it is open from 10am–9pm Monday–Saturday. Department Store Offered: Bloomingdale’s
Other major stores to find here that the other malls lack are Hermes, Brooks Brothers, Lee Perla, Pottery Barn, Carolina Herrera, Dommi and Julie, Omega and Williams Sonoma.
3. The Outlets at Bergen Town Center, Paramus “The Bergen Mall” is open from 10am–9: 30 pm Monday– Saturday. If you want a deal, this is your stop! Countless items (many designers) at bargain prices.
MY MAJOR OUTLET PICKS: Last Call Neiman Marcus
Century 21 Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store
Saks 5th Avenue OFF 5th Nike Factory Store
4. Paramus Park, Paramus
Open from 10am–9:30pm Monday–Saturday. This mall tends to be the least crowded. The main attraction here is their one and only department store, Macy’s. Other top picks I have for this mall are Aldo, Brighton Collectibles, Charming Charlie, LL Bean, Soma, Old Navy, and Express.
5. The Fashion Center, Paramus
Open from 9:30am–10pm Monday–Saturday. Offering a limited, yet functional, set of stores are Lord & Taylor, Best Buy, TJ Maxx and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Although you can basically find anything you’re looking for at one of these malls, Bergen County also offers countless other retail stores, boutiques and shopping centers. Because the options are endless, I have listed my top picks by category. You will also see that I have included some stores located in the malls because they are just too good not to name!
ACCESSORIES:
Charmed, Tenafly: Offering an array of unique costume jewelry.
The Jewelry Box, Englewood: Here you will find a large selection of handbags, jewelry, and accessories.
Francesca’s Collections: This store is located at Westfield Garden State Plaza, Shops at Riverside, and Paramus Park as well as at Tice’s Corner in Woodcliff Lake. Francesca’s offers some clothing, but mostly trendy costume jewelry and accessories. Mazza Boutique, Little Ferry: If you’re looking for unique and trendy pieces of costume jewelry this is the store to find it.
BRIDAL AND SPECIAL OCCASION:
Bijou Bridal, Paramus: Full-service bridal and evening wear salon. Houses numerous designer gowns from all over the world including Morilee Julietta, Justin Alexander, Maggie Sottero, Nicole Miller, and Nicole Spose.
Jaehee Bridal Atelier Englewood: Some designers you can find here are Badgley Mischka, Cristiano Lucci, Lazaro, Christina Wu, Jim Hjelm, and L’amour by Calla amongst many, many more.
Something Special Bridals, Wyckoff: This is a family owned boutique specializing in bridal, bridesmaid, and mothers’ gowns.
EYE WEAR:
Oakland Vision and Hearing, Oakland: I love this family-owned and -operated vision boutique. Very accommodating and offers a variety of designer eyeglasses and sunglasses.
Sunglass Hut, Garden State Plaza, Shops at Riverside, Paramus Park: This store carries the broadest selection of designers.
KIDS WEAR:
Pampillon Bambino, Westwood: Adorable a large selection of baby and toddler apparel.
Little Nikki’s, Hohokus: Luxury apparel for kids. Quality service and hospitality.
Eat Your Spinach, Ridgewood: Always packed with the latest trends for babies and toddlers.
LuLu Belle, Closter: High-end fashion for kids.
DISCOUNT/OUTLET STORES:
FIND at Lord & Taylor, Paramus: This free-standing outlet destination always offers a bargain. Offering an array of discounted merchandise for men, women, kids, and home fashion.
TJ Maxx, Edgewater: Although there are more TJ Maxx stores in Bergen County than we can count, this location is by far my favorite. Catering to the designer conscious consumer, you will find pristine merchandise at a fraction of the retail price.
DSW, Ramsey: This is my favorite DSW in Bergen County. The selection is wide, the prices are low, and the crowds and lines at the register are at a minimum.
Last Call Neiman Marcus, Outlets at the Bergen Mall: Sales on sales on sales. I always find the best deals on high-end items here. This store carries designer bags, coats, shoes, dresses, casual wear and accessories, and always has a clearance rack with items at an even bigger discount for the price savvy consumer.
MATERNITY:
A Pea in the Pod, Paramus: Large selection of maternity apparel from evening dresses, to jeans and casual knit tops, to active wear. Some of my favorite designers at this store are Rachel Pally, Pietro Brunelli, and Jessica Simpson.
MEN’S SUITS AND TAILORED CLOTHING:
BeSpoke: Dapper Concepts, Westwood. Providing excellent service in consultations and custom design. This store is wedding-focused, helping the groom and groomsmen find the perfect fit and style to match their needs.
Sal Lauretta, Midland Park: Offering designer mens- wear apparel and excellence in men’s tailoring. The array of apparel spans from casual clothing and shoes to men’s suits and suit accessories.
Vero Uomo, Englewood: Family-owned and-operated, this boutique offers fine Italian clothing imported directly from Italy and custom tailoring. Some designers to find here are Canali, Stefano Ricci and Belvest.
SHOES:
Shoe Inn, Englewood and Ridgewood: Carrying a selection for women of high-end designer shoes such as Stuart Weitzman, Marc Fisher, Vince, Pascucci and Ugg, you will surely find a pair you like, and then some!
Nordstrom Men, Women and Kid Shoe Departments, Westfield Garden State Plaza: In my opinion, here you will find the greatest selection of shoes. With a wide price range and designer brands ranging from Valentino to Nike, you will find shoes for the entire family.
Sneaker Lounge, Westwood: If you’re a “sneakerhead,” this is the store to shop at. Sneaker Lounge offers the newest sneakers on the market. Some brands you can find here are Air Jordan, Converse, Nike and Timberland.
WOMEN’S CLOTHING:
Hartly, Westwood: This store caters to almost any fashion preference. Trendy, classic, conservative, formal, doesn’t matter, they have it! Great service to help choose what’s best for you.
Posche, Allendale: If you want to be a trendsetter, then look no further. Posche offers all the latest and hottest items for women.
South Moon Under, Tices Corner, Woodcliff Lake: Offers a variety of contemporary clothing, jewelry and accessories.
Dor L’Dor, Englewood: This boutique offers trendy clothing, accessories and shoes while not breaking the bank!
VINTAGE:
Savvy Chic, Ridgewood: This is a hidden gem in Bergen County. This store carries all high-end consignment merchandise for women such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and so many more. Savvy Chic also authenticates on-site for complete satisfaction and peace of mind when purchasing a high-end designer item.