The Forum Shops

There are plenty of ways to empty your wallet in Las Vegas – and unlike the craps tables, the city’s many shops let you spend your money on something tangible. From multi-level malls to tucked-away boutiques, discover the endless shopping options in Sin City.
Shopping used to be an afterthought in Las Vegas, as all casinos really needed were a spot to pick up toiletries and souvenirs and a jewelry store for the high rollers to leave a little cash behind. However, as the city branched out and resorts sprawled out, shopping became an attraction. Uncover Sin City’s shopping alternatives with this Culture Trip guide.
A trip to the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets will definitely have you taking home more than you brought with you. Located near Downtown Las Vegas, the outlet has 175 stores, including high-end designers Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as more affordable brands such as Converse, Levi’s and Steve Madden.
The eccentric residents and transient nature of Las Vegas mean that some real treasures can be found in its thrift shops – particularly in the half-dozen Savers locations around the valley. If you love kitsch, there are ornately framed clown portraits and sequinned bustiers. If you seek vintage finds, there are Cal-Neva ashtrays and alpaca cardigans. If you’re just out for a bargain and willing to browse the racks, there’s usually a selection of high-end apparel and designer shoes for less than $10.
One of Las Vegas’s most popular souvenirs shops is at the city’s hippest museum. The gift shop at The Neon Museum is stocked with items celebrating Sin City’s glitzy history, including glossy coffee-table books about Vegas past, Christmas ornaments in the shape of the Silver Slipper sign and purple coffee mugs adorned with Stardust showgirls. The T-shirts with graphics adapted from old motel signage, such as the Dunes or El Rancho, are especially stylish, while the neon alphabet magnets make cheap yet chic gifts for the folks back home.
It makes sense that a city with so many restaurants should also have some special places to shop for groceries. As the name might indicate, the International Marketplace is an enormous, warehouse-like space abundantly stocked with foodstuffs from around the world, such as Irish bacon, Chinese winter melon, Brazilian honey and Swedish cookies. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a large fish and meat market. To top it off, the supermarket stocks a wide range of pots, pans and utensils, so you’ve got no excuse to cook.
There are many shops along the Grand Canal in The Venetian, ranging from places that sell diamond bracelets to stores that offer refrigerator magnets, but the Vegas outpost of Barneys New York is the most dazzling. It’s a spacious, three-story department store full of artful displays that will make the most jaded fashionista salivate; pieces by Balmain, Gucci, Helmut Lang and Stella McCartney are all here on meticulously polished racks.
This article is an updated version of a story created by Lauryn Wilder.