Back to School Outfits at Century 21 NYC: The Brands to Know

The back-to-school brands just landed at Century 21, and if you only make one shopping trip before the semester starts, this is the floor to do it on. Think of what follows as a stylist walking you through it: the pieces worth building outfits around, the labels that punch above their price, and how to wear all of it from a warm first day into a cold October.

One thing to know before you go. There is no code and no online cart. Everything here is in store at 22 Cortlandt Street, and the floor turns over constantly, so the good stuff rewards the people who show up.

The brands that just landed

Century 21 is an off-price designer department store, so the names on these tags are the same ones you would pay full price for uptown. The women's floor right now is heavy on the pieces that anchor a fall wardrobe: a real Levi's jean, a Juicy velour set that is back in every group chat, and a Rag & Bone sweatshirt soft enough to live in through finals.

A few picks from the women's floor. Reiss, Ksubi, Von Dutch and FRAME denim are here too.

Start with the denim

If you buy nothing else, buy the jeans. Denim is what a school year is built on, and it is where this drop goes deepest, with premium labels sitting where a mall pair usually does.

The Levi's 501 Curve is the workhorse. Cuff it over sneakers for a warm first week, tuck it into boots when it turns. A Rag & Bone Miramar denim shirt is the layer that makes a plain tee look considered: wear it open over the Juicy set, or buttoned as a light jacket on a September night. If your taste runs more downtown, the Ksubi graphic tee and the Von Dutch Hunter cargo are the Y2K pairing everyone on TikTok is chasing, and both landed under fifty dollars. FRAME is on the wall for the days you want a cleaner, dressed-up jean. Sizes move fast on the denim wall, so it is first-come.

For him: the first-week lineup

The men's floor is built for the same week from the other side. A John Varvatos polo layers under a jacket for a presentation and stands on its own the rest of the day. The Rag & Bone denim shirt does the same light-layer job it does upstairs, and the Ksubi tee keeps the fit young without trying too hard. Reiss tailoring and Ed Hardy are on the floor when the occasion calls for either end of the spectrum.

A few picks from the men's floor. Von Dutch, Ed Hardy and Reiss tailoring are here too.

The kids' floor, for first-day fits

Downstairs, the same labels come in smaller sizes. A Scotch & Soda padded shirt jacket is the transitional layer that handles a cool morning and a warm classroom without a meltdown, around $39.99. For picture day, a Doe a Dear tweed jacket does a lot of work for around $24.99. Both are the kind of first-day pieces that still look good in October.

A couple of picks from the kids' floor, boys and girls.

Shoes and bags to carry it all

Footwear is where a back-to-school haul earns its keep, because it is the part that gets worn every single day. The Adidas Handball Spezial is the everyday sneaker that goes with the denim above and everything else you own. UGG's Ultra Mini Platform is the dorm-and-cold-commute shoe you will reach for from October on. And when campus asks you to dress up, a Hugo Boss Chelsea boot in leather does it without a second thought.

Also on the shoe floor: Puma, Autry, Dolce Vita, Steve Madden, Vince, Brooks Brothers and Aerosoles.

For carrying it, the bag floor has both ends covered. A Guess Jillian mini backpack is the everyday day-bag for someone who packs light, around $54.99. A Calvin Klein Caius tote holds a laptop, a notebook and a change of shoes, around $99.99, and looks like more than it costs.

How designer goods end up this cheap at Century 21

Every first-time visitor asks the same thing: how is a $278 designer shirt on the rack for $109? The short answer is the buying team. Century 21 has been buying designer and brand-name inventory since 1961, and that history and scale let its buyers negotiate deals other stores cannot, then pass the savings to the tag. It is the same label you would find uptown, priced the New York way. Nothing here is a lesser make.

That is what "off-price" means, and it is why generations of New Yorkers have treated Century 21 as the city's original treasure hunt. The one catch: you are not shopping a full size run of every style, so the trip rewards showing up and looking.

Where to shop for back to school in NYC

Downtown Manhattan has a few off-price options. Here is how Century 21 compares.

• Century 21, 22 Cortlandt Street. Four floors of designer and brand-name fashion up to 65% off MSRP, and deeper on this drop, in the Financial District across from the World Trade Center. Men's, women's, kids, shoes and handbags all under one roof.
• Saks Off 5th and Nordstrom Rack. Reliable off-price, but the designer depth and the one-trip breadth run thinner than a full Century 21 floor.
• Sample sales and outlets. Worth it when you catch them, but they are pop-up, appointment, or a train ride to Woodbury. Century 21 is open seven days a week, two blocks from the WTC transit hub.

Is Century 21 still open in NYC?

Yes. Century 21 is open at 22 Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan, the original flagship across from the World Trade Center. It reopened and is fully operating, with four floors of men's, women's, kids, shoes and handbags. It is open seven days a week, and the back-to-school brands are on the floor now.

Before you go

• Time it right. Weekday mornings at open are the calmest, and the floor is freshest. Weekends are the busiest.
• Know the layout. Lower level for shoes and kids, first floor for handbags, second for women's, third for men's, with on-site alterations if a fit needs nudging.
• Buy your size when you see it. Because this is off-price, size runs vary by style. There is rarely a second chance on the perfect piece.

The details

Address: 22 Cortlandt Street, New York, NY 10007
Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Phone: (212) 227-1202
Subway: 1 to WTC Cortlandt; 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z to Fulton Street; R, W to Cortlandt Street; E to World Trade Center. PATH to the World Trade Center is a two-minute walk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Century 21 have back to school clothes?

Yes. The back-to-school brands are on the floor now at 22 Cortlandt Street: designer denim, tops, kids, shoes and bags up to 75% off. Names include Levi's, Rag & Bone, Juicy Couture, Ksubi, Von Dutch, UGG, Adidas, Hugo Boss and Scotch & Soda. In store only.

Where can I do back to school shopping in NYC?

Century 21 at 22 Cortlandt Street in the Financial District is a full off-price designer department store: four floors of men's, women's, kids, shoes and handbags under one roof, up to 65% off MSRP and deeper on the back-to-school drop. It sits two blocks from the World Trade Center transit hub.

What should I actually buy first for back to school?

Start with denim, because it anchors everything else. A Levi's 501 pairs with the Adidas Handball Spezial now and tucks into a Hugo Boss Chelsea boot when it turns cold. Add one good layer, like the Rag & Bone denim shirt, and a bag that fits a laptop, and the rest of the semester styles itself.

How much are Levi's jeans at Century 21?

Levi's 501 jeans typically land in the $50 range at Century 21, well below their $100-plus retail. Denim is the deepest part of the back-to-school drop, with FRAME, Ksubi and Von Dutch also on the floor. Prices and sizes change daily, so exact styles are first-come in store.

How does Century 21 sell designer brands so cheap?

Century 21 is an off-price department store that has bought designer and brand-name inventory since 1961. Its buying team's scale and relationships let it negotiate deals other retailers cannot, and that saving goes to the price tag. It is the same designer label, priced lower, not a lesser version.

Is Century 21 cheaper than Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th?

Century 21 runs up to 65% off MSRP, and deeper on the back-to-school drop, in the same off-price tier as Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th. Where it stands apart is designer depth and one-trip breadth: men's, women's, kids, shoes and handbags across four floors in one Financial District location.

Is Century 21 still open in NYC?

Yes. Century 21 is open at its original flagship, 22 Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan, across from the World Trade Center. It operates four floors seven days a week: Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The back-to-school brands are on the floor now.

What are Century 21's hours?

Century 21 at 22 Cortlandt Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For back to school, weekday mornings at open are the calmest time to shop and the floor is freshest. Call (212) 227-1202 to confirm holiday hours.

Can I shop the back to school drop online?

No. The back-to-school drop is in store only at 22 Cortlandt Street. Century 21's inventory is a live, daily-changing designer floor, so the styles and sizes you find are whatever is physically in the store that day. That is also the fun of it: what is here today may be gone next week.

What brands does Century 21 carry for back to school?

The current drop includes Levi's, Rag & Bone, Juicy Couture, Ksubi, Von Dutch, FRAME, Reiss, John Varvatos, Ed Hardy, Scotch & Soda, UGG, Adidas, Puma, Hugo Boss, Guess and Calvin Klein, among others. The floor changes daily, so styles and sizes vary by visit.