That's a Wrap

One of the greatest conveniences about living in New York is the surplus of street corner vendors (and their bargain prices). On the 7 minute walk between my apartment and closest subway stop, I routinely pass several fruit stands, a handful of pastry and coffee carts, one "designer" handbag display, and a man selling the ideal outfit-coordinating essential: the Pashmina scarf.

Authentic Pashmina scarves can be fairly expensive. They are coveted for their soft feel and warmth, a result of their fine wool fibers of pashmina goat hair woven together with silk. The threads in a NYC Pashmina street shawl may be a mystery, but what's not to love? They're clean, colorful, warm, and yours for only $5.00 a piece. They're also offered in a variety of patterns, but you may have to shell out $10-15 for a more intricate design.

Best location in Manhattan to purchase a bargain Pashmina of your very own? Outside the New York Public Library on the corner of 40th Street and 5th Avenue. There is usually a vendor stationed there in the Fall who offers the largest color and pattern selection of Pashminas I've ever encountered.

Tip: Pashmina vendors usually have all available scarves hanging on display. It's much more polite to refer to these when making your selection, rather than pawing through his or her carefully organized and color-coordinated pile.

Happy hunting!