You don’t have to gamble to be a big spender in Las Vegas. For those who would rather come home with a new pair of shoes than pockets emptied at the slot machines, shopping has become as much a Las Vegas phenomenon as Texas hold ’em, yard-long drinks and the pirate pyrotechnics show at Treasure Island.
The retail scene here rivals Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive, New York’s Fifth Avenue, Paris’ Right and Left Banks . . . shall we go on? And in Vegas, you get free entertainment while browsing for Chanel bags and Armani suits. Malls with interiors replicating ancient Rome and the canals of Venice encourage you to bring along a husband or kid to wait while you peruse the stores.
Yes it’s hokey, and no, we don’t care. The shops are never far from restaurants, bars and casinos, plus they stay open late (often until midnight on the weekends), adding to the convenience.
Even if you don’t spend a dime, you can log miles hiking up and down the Las Vegas Strip to check out the sights and stores.
The sheer amount of top designer merchandise is staggering, particularly given the extended recession. From Gucci to Pucci, Cartier to Harry Winston, if it’s a luxury brand, there’s a tony boutique — or two — devoted to it. What the economic downturn has brought is discreet signs in windows advertising sales, even in the luxury boutiques, something unheard of a few years back.
Vegas shopping is not only for high rollers. You’ll also find mainstream department stores, fast fashion retailers like Forever 21 and H&M, and an outlet mall with such designer brands as Missoni and Etro offering discounted merchandise.
So the task is to figure out how much time you have and where to spend it, given that you can easily while away an afternoon or evening at a single shopping area.
Here are some favorites:
CRYSTALS AT CITYCENTER
The wow factor: Glass and metal jutting from the ground like an immense quartz crystal make this building from Daniel Libeskind Studio the big sister to the Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton building addition. Everywhere you look, there’s another interesting angle. Natural light is abundant and art installations invite inspection. At 500,000 square feet, Crystals is more than three times the size of the museum wing, so retail designers had a lot of space to play.
The goods: Ultra luxury boutiques from such tony labels as Tom Ford, Hermes, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels.
The extras: Ask at the concierge desk for a map of the art at CityCenter and take the self-guided walking tour of works by Henry Moore, Claes Oldenburg, Maya Lin and others.
Tip: Check out the free tram on the third level. It takes you to either the Bellagio Hotel or the Monte Carlo.
Don’t miss: The 20 Halo cylinders with water vortices, and the flower carpet, on the ground floor.
3720 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 702-590-9299, 866-754-2489;
FASHION SHOW MALL
Wow factor: True to its name, it has a fashion runway that emerges from the mall floor and presents live shows on the weekends.
The goods: This is the mother lode, with six anchors (Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s Home) and a variety of mainstream stores as well as high-end specialty boutiques. There’s also an ABC store so you can pick up a bottle of wine or souvenirs with less sticker shock than you find in the hotel shops.
Tip: You’re in luck if you’re driving. This mall has seven valet areas.
Don’t miss: The massive food court, which has fast food offerings as well as restaurants offering nicer fare.
3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 702-784-7000;
THE FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS
The wow factor: A three-story spiral escalator, replicas of Rome’s Trevi and Triton Fountains, festival fountain shows with “talking” statues and a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.
The goods: 160 specialty shops and restaurants. In need of some lingerie? Check out La Perla, Playboy, Victoria’s Secret. Other trendy outposts: Marc Jacobs, Scoop, Y-3 and Chrome Hearts. And one for the kids: Houdini’s Magic Shop.
The extras: The stone statues outside the Forum Shops are a great place for touristy photo ops.
Tip: Take a break from shopping near the Fountain of the Gods at Trevi Italian Restaurant, which has happy hour deals 2-6 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
Don’t miss: Later this year, new merchants opening include H&M, Ugg, True Religion and the first P.J. Clarke’s outside of New York City.
3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-893-4800,
THE GRAND CANAL SHOPPES AT THE VENETIAN
Wow factor: Gondolas and singing gondoliers take passengers on rides through the property.
The goods: The more than 150 stores and restaurants tend to be more affordable than elsewhere in Vegas, with such national retailers as Kenneth Cole, Ann Taylor and Banana Republic among the mix.
The extras: Outside of The Venetian is a Sephora if you need a makeup fix, and at the base of the Palazzo is a Walgreens.
Tip: Make note of where you enter; this place has more little bridges and hidden corners than Venice.
When it’s too hot to be outside, have lunch at one of the restaurants in “St. Mark’s Square” and enjoy the entertainment by singers, actors and musicians that stroll the property. Under that blue sky-and-cloud ceiling, you’ll forget you’re indoors.
Don’t miss: A photo op at the Blue Man Group statues. And fashion lovers will want to walk through to the adjacent Shoppes at the Palazzo, which has Barney’s, Tory Burch, Catherine Malandrino, Polo Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg and other designer boutiques.
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-414-4500; ; and adjacent Shoppes at the Palazzo;
MIRACLE MILE SHOPS IN PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO
The wow factor: Daily, hourly fountain shows with lighted water effects, color-changing fog, bursts of light and music. Visitors can also cool off at the rainstorm shows outside of Merchants Harbor Coffee House: thunder, lightning, fog and pouring rain are part of the hourly (half-hourly on weekends) spectacle.
The goods: Teen shoppers will want to spend the day here, shopping at such stores as American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, Billabong, Benetton and Gap.
The extras: With multiple theaters on the property, there are plenty of entertainment options. Or get inked at Club Tattoo.
Tip: Check out shopping and dining packages at
3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-866-0710;
LAS VEGAS PREMIUM OUTLETS
The wow factor: The sheer number of high-end stores, attractively laid out, offering discounted merchandise.
The goods: One of the better outlet malls you’ll find anywhere. Stores here are from such luxury brands as Stuart Weitzman, Burberry, Lacoste and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Tip: This is an outdoor mall, so you need to watch it if you visit in the heat of a Las Vegas summer.
We spent a whopping $17 on a cab from a hotel on the Strip to get to the discount mall, but figured out how to take a bus back for only $7. What’s the point of going to a discount mall if it costs so much, anyway?
Extras: Go online before you visit to download a coupon for a book of discounts. You can also download selected coupons for favorite stores.
875 S. Grand Central Parkway, 702-474-7500,
One more suggestion: If you’ve managed to get through a Vegas trip without shopping, but find yourself at McCarren Airport with some extra time on your hands and souvenirs to buy, the D concourse has some good options. The ubiquitous and cheap Bijoux Terner is here, with its everything-for-$10 appeal. Brighton fans can shop for purses and jewelry and Erwin Pearl has a store. A newer option is Tags Evolution, selling of-the-moment crystal-studded jewelry and accessories, leather goods, most of it priced at $20, $40, $60, $80 and $100 ().
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
