Neiman Marcus vs. Bergdorf Goodman: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Neiman Marcus offers a broader, more accessible range of luxury goods from countless high-end designers, while Bergdorf Goodman provides an ultra-exclusive, runway-focused experience centered on its iconic New York City flagship. The primary difference lies in scale and audience, Neiman Marcus caters to a wider luxury market across the country, whereas Bergdorf Goodman targets a clientele seeking the pinnacle of haute couture and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Let's compare these two titans of luxury retail to help you decide where to direct your shopping attention.

Neiman Marcus: The Curated Luxury Emporium

Neiman Marcus is a renowned U.S. luxury department store chain that provides a curated selection of designer fashion, accessories, beauty, and home decor. Since 1907, it has served an affluent customer base looking for premium brands and personalized service. Its strength lies in offering a sophisticated, yet accessible, entry point into the luxury world with a significant national presence and a robust online store.

• Product mix: A vast assortment of high-end brands spanning women's and men's apparel, shoes, handbags, fine jewelry, cosmetics, and home goods. You’ll find collections from leading designers like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Prada.
• Price point: Firmly in the luxury category. Designer handbags typically start around $1,000 and can exceed $5,000, with ready-to-wear apparel following a similar premium pricing structure.
• Quality: The selection emphasizes established designers known for high-quality materials and craftsmanship, ensuring value and durability.
• Sales: Holds promotional events and seasonal sales, providing opportunities to purchase designer items at a discount, which is less common in the ultra-luxury tier.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally consistent and true to brand standards, supported by detailed online size guides and in-store associates for assistance.
• Style &, Aesthetic: The aesthetic is polished and sophisticated, balancing timeless, classic pieces with modern, trend-forward styles to appeal to a diverse customer base.

Neiman Marcus is ideal for the luxury shopper who desires variety, reputable designer names, and a seamless shopping experience both online and in-store.

Shop Neiman Marcus: neimanmarcus.com

Bergdorf Goodman: The Icon of Ultra-Luxury

Bergdorf Goodman is a single-location New York City landmark that represents the zenith of fashion and luxury retail. It is known for its opulent atmosphere and a highly curated selection of the world's most prestigious designers, often featuring haute couture and exclusive runway pieces. Bergdorf's serves a discerning clientele of fashion connoisseurs and high-net-worth individuals who value rarity and unparalleled personal service.

• Product mix: An elite collection of designer apparel, high jewelry, luxury accessories, and exclusive brand collaborations. The focus is on unique, runway-inspired pieces you won't find elsewhere.
• Price point: The pricing is at the very high end of the luxury stratosphere. Handbags often start around $2,000, with many items reaching into the tens of thousands for bespoke or rare designs.
• Quality: The curation emphasizes masterful, artisanal craftsmanship, haute couture creations, and the finest materials available, appealing to collectors.
• Sales: Discounts are extremely rare. The store maintains a premium pricing strategy year-round to underscore the exclusivity of its merchandise.
• Sizing/Fit: Ready-to-wear sizing is similar to other luxury retailers, but sizing for couture or exclusive capsule collections can be limited and may require in-person fittings.
• Style &, Aesthetic: The style is unapologetically high-fashion, dramatic, and opulent. Bergdorf's is where you go for bold statement pieces directly from the runway.

For those seeking the highest level of exclusivity and personalized service, Bergdorf Goodman delivers an unmatched, one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

Shop Bergdorf Goodman: bergdorfgoodman.com

Neiman Marcus vs. Bergdorf Goodman Comparison

Price Comparison

Both retailers are undeniably expensive, but Bergdorf Goodman consistently occupies a higher price tier. A designer handbag might debut at Neiman Marcus for $1,200, while a comparable piece at Bergdorf Goodman will likely start at $2,000 or more. This gap exists across most categories, from shoes to ready-to-wear.

Furthermore, Neiman Marcus offers seasonal sales and promotions, allowing for strategic splurges. Bergdorf Goodman rarely offers discounts, preserving the full value and exclusivity of its items. For shoppers who appreciate a deal, even a luxury one, Neiman Marcus is the more practical choice.

Quality & Materials

Both stores showcase products of exceptional quality. Neiman Marcus's curation focuses on renowned luxury brands with a proven track record for high-quality materials and construction. You can be confident that what you're buying is well-made and durable.

Bergdorf Goodman takes this a step further by emphasizing artisanal and haute couture craftsmanship. Its pieces often feature more intricate detailing, rarer materials, and limited-run production from the world's top fashion houses, catering to a clientele who views fashion as wearable art.

Product Selection & Style

Neiman Marcus offers a broad and comprehensive view of the luxury market. Its inventory is vast, covering a wider range of styles from classic elegance to contemporary trends. It's a one-stop shop for building a complete luxury wardrobe that is both sophisticated and wearable.

Bergdorf Goodman's selection is a tightly edited collection of what its buyers consider the "best of the best" from the runway. The style is more avant-garde, dramatic, and trend-setting. It's the destination for finding a show-stopping gown for a gala or a limited-edition handbag that serves as a status symbol.

Shopping Experience

Neiman Marcus excels at a scalable, omnichannel luxury experience. Its website is robust and user-friendly, and its multiple physical locations offer services like personal styling and in-store restaurants. It makes luxury shopping accessible and convenient, whether you're at home or in one of their stores.

The Bergdorf Goodman experience is built around exclusivity and personal attention. While its website is elegant, the true essence of the brand is its in-store service, which includes private appointments, dedicated personal shoppers, and access to new collections before they are widely released. It is a much more intimate and high-touch service model.

Return Policies

Both retailers offer generous and straightforward return policies befitting their status. Each store allows for returns of new, unused merchandise within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. The process is seamless at both, though the in-store return experience at Bergdorf Goodman often involves the personal shopper that assisted with the original purchase, adding another layer of personalized service.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both department stores are leaders in luxury, but they are tailored to different sensibilities and shopping priorities.

Choose Neiman Marcus if:

• You want a wide selection of different luxury designers and styles under one roof.
• You appreciate the opportunity to find luxury items during seasonal sales.
• Balancing timeless pieces with current trends is important to your personal style.
• You value a well-integrated online and in-store shopping experience for convenience.

Choose Bergdorf Goodman if:

• You are seeking hyper-exclusive, runway, or couture items that few people will own.
• A personalized, high-touch shopping experience with a dedicated expert is a top priority.
• Your style is bold and fashion-forward, and you love statement pieces.
• Exclusivity and rarity are more important to you than price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bergdorf Goodman more expensive than Neiman Marcus?

Yes, on average, Bergdorf Goodman is more expensive than Neiman Marcus. Its product selection is more focused on the highest echelons of luxury, including couture and exclusive collections, which command higher prices. Neiman Marcus offers a wider range of luxury price points.

Are Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman owned by the same company?

Yes, both Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus are owned by The Neiman Marcus Group. Bergdorf Goodman operates as the company's ultra-luxury flagship, while Neiman Marcus serves a broader luxury market with its national chain of stores.

Which store has better sales?

Neiman Marcus consistently has better and more frequent sales. They offer seasonal markdowns, loyalty program events, and promotional deals. Sales at Bergdorf Goodman are exceptionally rare, as their business model is built on exclusivity rather than promotion.

Which is better for classic designer bags?

Neiman Marcus generally offers a wider selection of classic, iconic handbags from a larger variety of brands. Bergdorf Goodman will also carry classic styles but often has a deeper inventory of limited-edition colors, materials, or special versions of those bags.

Can I shop at Bergdorf Goodman if I'm not in New York?

Absolutely. While its legendary flagship store is in New York City, Bergdorf Goodman has a sophisticated e-commerce site where you can shop its curated collections from anywhere in the world.

Which store is better for unique, runway fashion?

Bergdorf Goodman is unequivocally the better choice for unique, runway fashion. Its buyers are famous for selecting bold, avant-garde, and exclusive pieces directly from fashion week presentations that you are less likely to see at other retailers.

What is the return policy for each store?

Both stores have a similar return policy. They accept returns of new, unused merchandise within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. Final sale items are not eligible for return at either retailer.

Is the customer service really that different?

The customer service at both is excellent, but it serves different purposes. Neiman Marcus offers professional and helpful service designed for a high-volume luxury environment. Bergdorf Goodman's service is intensely personalized, often building long-term relationships between clients and personal shoppers who curate entire wardrobes for them.