Best Department Store (2017)

According to our shopping expert Taryn Scher, Neiman Marcus is "where any girl should go to dream about the life she wants." Ruta Fox adds that the luxury department store headquartered in Dallas with 41 locations around the USA represents "fashion at its most sophisticated."
Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

The flagship location of Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue has seen countless American designers make their debuts in the iconic windows, such as Bonnie Cashin, Norell, Pauline Trigere, Claire McCardle and Vera Maxwell. Besides offering a wide selection of reasonably priced fashion brands, the retailer has a lot of firsts under its belt, including being the first to open on Fifth Avenue, the first to open a branch store and the first to offer personal shopping services.
Photo courtesy of Richard Cadan

Each of Nordstrom's 122 locations across 40 states offer customers upscale fashions and exceptional customer service–some of the best in the industry–since the department store first debuted in 1901.
Photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Macy's, one of the largest American department stores by retail sales, operates more than 700 locations in 45 states. The iconic flagship on Broadway and 34th alone has more than 1 million square feet of retail space, so shoppers find a bit of everything. 
Photo courtesy of Macy's

New York's classic style mecca is often a first stop for shopaholics in the Big Apple. The duo of department stores on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan have been a landmark in the city since 1901, featuring boutiques for Gucci, Versace, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.
Photo courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

Since Kohl's was founded in Wisconsin in 1962, it's expanded to more than 1,000 locations across 49 states. Return shoppers come for the good value on brands like Simply Vera by Vera Wang, Marc Anthony, Lauren Conrad, Juicy Couture and Jennifer Lopez. It's one of the largest department store chains by retail sales and number of locations in the nation.
Photo courtesy of Kohl's

Featuring brands like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Eileen Fisher and Armani Exchange, Dillard's offers mid-priced, affordable fashions in its 300 locations spanning 30 states. The chain is headquartered in Little Rock with flagships in Dallas and Norfolk, Va.
Photo courtesy of Dillard's

JCPenney, a line of more than a thousand mid-range department stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, sells an assortment of national, private and exclusive brands at a variety of price points, including brand names like Sephora, Liz Claiborne, Nicole by Nicole Miller and even a pop-up collection from Project Runway.
Photo courtesy of JCPenney

Since Target was founded in Minneapolis in 1902, the department store has become one of the largest discount retailers in the nation. At the 1,700-plus stores across the country, shoppers tend to walk away with a cart full of items they didn't know they needed. Designer collaboration launches are an extra treat. 
Photo courtesy of Target

Our shopping experts agree that Bloomingdale's is great for its selection of trending labels and popular brands. What began as a Ladies' Notions Shop in New York in 1861 has since expanded to include 53 upscale department stores and Bloomingdale's Outlets across the nation. Their brown shopping bags are icons by themselves.
Photo courtesy of Bloomingdale's