Jersey Gardens is a regular outlet mall with the same "outlet" stores that are in almost every other outlet. Most of the merchandise in those stores has been manufactured specifically to sell in an outlet. I've just about stopped going to those centers because of that.

Woodbury Commons has more true closeout stores, and those stores are very much higher end. In a few cases, the center has the only store in the US, or they may only have one other. There also are the same "outlet" stores I mention above, but for true designer outlets Woodbury is the place to go.

Off the top of my head, some of the real outlets there are Thomas Pink, Frette, Pratesi, Barney's, Saks, and Neiman Marcus.

The place is huge and nearly always very crowded. I sometimes go in the middle of winter because it's outdoors and it's not very busy.

A note about the true outlets - many, if not all of them, will assist you in shopping either via phone or email. They will take pictures of the product, email, and take the order. I purchase most of my Frette items that way.

Might I suggest you make it an overnight trip? You can easily drive out of NYC and up to West Point (the military academy) do a little sightseeing, spend the night, and then drive about 10 miles to the outlets early and spending as much time as you need. The drive back to NYC shouldn't be that terrible, particularly if you do it on a weekend.