As the daughter of fashion legend Ralph Lauren, 34-year-old Dylan Lauren learned retail from the master. Add to this knowledge her passion for candy and you get Dylan’s Candy Bar, the world’s largest candy store, featuring more than 4,000 types of candy housed in 15,000 square feet of sugary awesomeness on the Upper East Side. Lauren recently launched Retreat, a line of candy-inspired bath and body products with names such as “Soda Pop Shower Gel” and “Ice Cream Sugar Scrub.” This is her New York.
1) E.A.T. Gifts, 1062 Madison Ave., at 80th Street
“It’s just a fun store where I get inspired. There are a lot of design items and little gifts and knickknacks; just a thousand little items all over the place, whether they’re toys or candy-related products. It’s also nostalgic for me because my mom buys gifts for me from there.”
2) Central Park “I love being in the outdoors, in nature, and I
particularly like it in the springtime under the cherry blossoms. I love going running in the park, and I think it’s important when you’re in the city to get some nature.”
3) Scoop, 1273-1277 Third Ave., between 73rd and 74th streets
“It’s a great store organized for people who want boutique clothes. I love how they color-code the place, with all red items and blue items. It’s really well done.”
4) Ralph Lauren, 867 Madison Ave., at 72nd Street
“Obviously – it’s my dad’s store – but they create these environments where it’s rugged in one store, European in another, and another has the guy kayaking from the ceiling. You don’t see a lot of retail environments that are inspiring.”
5) Tennisport, Borden Avenue and Second Street, Long Island City, Queens A very popular tennis facility. It’s, like, one stop out of Manhattan on the 7 train, but all the New Yorkers who play tennis know of it. It feels like a country club where you see your friends from New York. There’s a fireplace and an outdoor seating area, and a lot of great tennis players play there. When I’m there, I feel like I’m in camp again.”
6) FAO Schwarz, 767 Fifth Ave., at 58th Street “It’s pretty much one of my favorites, although the design is not as fun as it used to be. But I love these retail entertainment environments. It’s like you walk into this animal fantasyland of toys. I also love the high ceilings and the giant trees and designs there.”
7) Dylan’s Candy Bar (right), 1011 Third Ave., at East 60th Streetn”I’m biased, but I love it there. It’s a happy environment for me, to see people smile and feel like a kid again when they walk in.”
8) Tao Restaurant, 42 E. 58th St., between Park and Madison avenues “It’s always packed, which amazes me. It’s very inspiring business-wise. It’s so well decorated; this giant Pan-Asian restaurant with a huge Buddha (inset on map) inside and beautiful tapestries, and a scroll of prayers on the ceiling. And, the food is amazing.”
9) The Maritime Hotel, 363 W. 16th St., at Ninth Avenue
“It feels like LA with the outdoor seating (right) in the springtime, and now that the Meatpacking District has got so much going on, it’s fun to see all the action. It’s kind of like sitting in an outdoor cafe.”
10) MoMA Design Store, 44 W. 53rd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues “I love pop art and colors, so I love the way everything there is very hip and colorful and artistic. I was an art history major, so I’ve always loved design and art, and having utilitarian items in bright colors. It makes the house more decorative.”