The other street: Princeton fall shopping guide

Princeton has been the recognized home of great education, intellectual giants and important historical landmarks for centuries, but in the past few years it has become something more: a style and shopping destination for tourists, locals and students seeking something chic. The landscape has changed rapidly, so don't trust your memories of years past or your prefrosh weekend — read on for an updated guide to fall shopping in Princeton.

Beginning on Nassau Street, just across from Firestone and the Humanities Center, are two athletic shops, Foot Locker and The Princeton Running Company. Foot Locker is a national chain that carries standard athletic apparel, including team jerseys and major sneaker brands. The Princeton Running Company is a locally-owned store that offers highly personalized service for finding sneakers and athletic apparel, both for serious athletes and light or recreational exercisers. The Running Company offers a 10 percent student discount with a Princeton University ID, as well as $5 off sneakers with a donation of an old pair of shoes for the homeless. Additionally, the Running Company organizes running groups that meet, conveniently for students, at the Nassau Street store at a range of times.

Turning off Nassau onto Witherspoon Street, you will hit an old preppy favorite, J. McLaughlin. Be sure to stop here if you plan to buy into the full "Ivy League Look" — they carry all the classics, from men's pastel and embroidered corduroys to ribbon belts and monogrammed women's handbags. Though J. McLaughlin is rather expensive and does not offer a student discount, there are sales throughout the year, and some more affordable items can be found. The $32 ribbon belts can add a dash of prep to any outfit (and can be monogrammed, along with quilted handbags and other items, for an additional $15), and they carry soft suede handbags in two sizes for $85 and $145. Their men's khakis and corduroys are $155 per pair, and a beautiful men's cashmere zip-up sweater is $255. While their prices are high, so is their quality, so if you're looking to splurge on a clothing investment, J. McLaughlin is a great place to buy that first pair of job interview-worthy dress pants or a perfectly thick cashmere sweater.

Across the street from J. McLaughlin is Rouge, an independently owned and operated boutique that generally carries new and hip designers in sportswear, lingerie and accessories, as well as popular lines of specialty cosmetics. Prices range from $5 for lip gloss to around $2,000 for limited-edition Frye cowboy boots, with most of the clothing in the $50 to $200 range. Rouge also has a great clearance rack and plenty of special sales throughout the year, often on weekends. Their fall offerings include Calypso cable knit cashmere sweaters in a rainbow of colors, Paige Denim and James Jeans, Frye boots and rain boots from the revered Scottish brand Hunter. For going out, Rouge carries a wide selection of novelty tops and bottoms by Vivienne Tam, Wendi Hill and others. Rouge can be accessed on the web at myrougegirl.com, and will be opening a new, larger store next to the public library in roughly two weeks.

Just a few doors down on Witherspoon is Mandalay, which offers a small but diverse collection of bohemian clothing, jewelry and gifts in a more student-friendly price range. Long velvet skirts sell for $45, embellished cotton skirts for around $50, and Edwardian-style velvet jackets are priced at $60. Mandalay also carries an extensive collection of reasonably priced gifts such as frames, candles, decorative sculptures, glassware and china.

If you turn from Witherspoon onto Hulfish Street, you will find the popular local boutique Zoë. Zoë carries many major upscale designers, with a well-edited assortment of clothes from labels like Diane Von Furstenburg, Marc Jacobs, Theory, Milly, Pucci, Burberry, Prada and Miu Miu. They also have a large selection of designer denim from Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Paper Denim & Cloth, Joe's Jeans, Yanuk and True Religion, among others. The long racks of clothes carry many campus favorites such as Juicy Couture, James Perse, C & C California, Vince, Lacoste and Petit Bateau. Zoë's accessories collection is also very impressive, with handbags from designers including Marc Jacobs, Hervé Chapelier, Juicy Couture and Miu Miu, and shoes from labels including Jimmy Choo, Sigerson Morrison and Marc Jacobs. While prices are on the high side, between approximately $50 and $1,000, Zoë's sale section often has excellent discounts on designer favorites, especially in sizes other than 2 and 4. Additionally, Zoë is having a tenth anniversary sale this Friday, with refreshments between 5 and 9 p.m. and 20 percent off any purchase.

A Kate Spade boutique will open soon (most likely by next spring) across the street from Zoë, carrying the famous accessory designer's handbags, shoes, sunglasses and paper collection.

Farther down Hulfish and on the other side of the street from Zoë is bluemercury, a spa and cosmetics shop. In addition to spa offerings, bluemercury carries many high-end cosmetic lines such as Kiehl's, fresh, Benefit, Trish McEvoy and Nars. Prices at bluemercury range from $5 to $500, and it is an excellent place to pick up a gift for a friend or to splurge for yourself.

Across the street from bluemercury is Coach, a well-known American accessories and leather goods company. The Princeton Coach store offers many of the current season's novelty items, as well as basics like plain leather and fabric wristlets, wallets, watches and belts.

Just past Coach is the Cotton Company, which is the only Lilly Pulitzer retailer in Princeton and thus a great place to pick up a sundress before lawn parties or to find a few preppy items in any season. Cotton Company prices range from $20 to $300, with Lilly clothing ranging from $50 to $200. The Cotton Company also gives a 10 percent discount to students with a Princeton University ID.

The next stop on the walk back up Palmer Square is Honey West, a relatively recent addition to Princeton offering many hip young designers such as beau & eros, Velvet, Miss Sixty and L. A. M. B., as well as numerous rising stars, generally with a West Coast vibe. Honey West's prices range from approximately $20 to $300, and many of their offerings can also be found online at shophoneywest.com.

Princeton is also home to two preppy standbys, J. Crew and Ralph Lauren, both of which are at the top of Palmer Square, close to campus. J. Crew offers a 10 percent discount for Princeton students with ID, and has a great sale section. While they generally have a very student-oriented selection of offerings, if they don't have your favorites from the catalog or website, you can order from the store to get free shipping and the student discount.

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Ralph Lauren has a very good selection of campus favorites for men, with a broad range of colors and patterns in their classic polos, oxfords, pants and accessories. For women, the store's offerings appear to be aimed more at an older shopper and include many of Ralph Lauren's high-end items, though there is a reasonable selection of simple wool and cotton sweaters, corduroys, polos and oxfords. The Princeton location carries a lot of the women's Black Label collection and cashmere, so it's a great stop if you're looking for an upscale outfit or a gorgeous present for a girlfriend or sibling.

While many of these stores are high-priced, be sure to look for discounts and sales. As one Princeton sophomore explains, "Shopping in Princeton? Terrible. Shopping clearance in Princeton? Fantastic." Also, don't forget about Princeton's other large chain stores such as Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Origins and Nine West. Finally, be sure to stop by traditionally Princetonian shops like Landau's for woolens and The Princeton Record Exchange for music. Above all, enjoy the town and all its offerings; there's nothing like fall fashion on one of Princeton's perfect fall days.