It was a gloomy day, with drizzle and overcast skies, but anyone entering the bright, brand new, National Jean Company store at 1375 Third Avenue (between 78th and 79th Streets) on Manhattan’s chic, Upper East Side could easily forget the world outside for a while.
The first thing you’ll sense when you enter this space in the company’s first Manhattan store, is that it is quite spacious. Cleverly designed to emulate a woman’s dream closet, your eyes immediately want to scan the loft-like space atomosphere, divided into sections so you can shop logically. At the front of the store, you’ll see a riot of color, contemporary tops and dresses and novelty denim items. The more casual clothes and jeans are in the back. Even thought it’s the busy, crowded, Upper East Side, you’ll feel like you’re enjoying a leisurly shopping trip in Soho. There is plenty of room between the racks,, and groupings that make it easy to figure out where to start browsing. I loved the modern, sily, brightly-printed tunics, and the more elegant (and pricey) tops in silk, cashmere, and sparkly materials. Any of these, plus one of the many cute, cropped jackets on sale, will take you through the holidays with style and ease. 
The back portion of the store is a casual girl’s dream, a mecca of jeans, jeans, jeans and more jeans, plus casual T-shirts, turtlenecks, and hoodie-type items. In fact, there are up to 3,000 pairs of jeans at any given time in the store. This photo shows less than a third of the shelves lining the back wall, and there are also tables stacked high with high end jeans from high waisted, to skinny, to classic. Coveted designer jeans aficionados will know at a glance. With so many types to choose from, you might just find yourself falling for something new, or blowing your budget on more than two.
If you’re not familiar with National Jeans Company, be prepared to save up because you’ll want everything you see, and it’s not a “bargain store.” This Manhattan store is located in an area where “modern moms,” and young professionals, proliferate. Most of the jeans are modestly priced by high end designer standards, but paln to spend a couple of hundred dollars. You do get something special for your money, however. Attentive service, and an incredibly appealing mix of wearable and hip styles from tons of great designers means you’ll get something special. There really is something for just about every personality and body type. . For me, trying on jeans is like trying on swimsuits-something to be avoided, but at least you can see your fashion hits and misses in comfortable, private dressing rooms with interior mirrors, located in the back on the side of the jeans areaNational Jean Company has four stores on Long Island, a store in Brooklyn New York, and stores in Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio and Indiana. More are planned to open in West Hartford Ct. and Wellesley Mass before years’ end.