Brokelyn

Slinky tanks from Brooklyn Royalty.

For anyone trying to bring their unique designs beyond an Etsy store and out into the wide world of NYC fashion, Work It Brooklyn is giving you a prime opportunity. Wednesday night, May 12, in Williamsburg, the event-based networking group is bringing together three big names from NY fashion to talk about starting out, and making it, in the fashion industry. Read the rest of this entry »

We don’t have tons of photographic evidence (this pic is from the Danish site because the U.S. one is so lame) but from the looks of things, H&M just got a big shipment of early spring merch, and we’re all over it—especially the jackets. There are so many this season, from cropped, Michael-Jackson-meets-Marc-by-Marc-Jacobs military styles to Banana Republic-ish trenches whose quality is so far beyond their $49.95 price tags it’d be foolish not to buy two. Seems H&M’s prices have crept up a bit as well, but deservedly so—the tailoring is clever and impeccable. Seriously. Other major themes: Donna Karan-ish wrap tops, Prada-ish patterned skirts and  really cool stovepipe pants that must recall some other-ish designer (Alexander Wang-ish?). Anyway, stop by H&M (before it’s all picked over) and let us know if you agree.

Random fashiony photos courtesy of Peachfrog.

Don’t feel bad if Fashion Week has you pining for your own runway moment—for the next week, you don’t have to leave Brooklyn to get glammy. Starting on Saturday, quirky designer discounter  Peachfrog (136 N. 10^th St.), is throwing an all day fashion-show-cum-rock-concert in their Williamsburg boutique. It all starts with free beer and pizza at noon and then gets rolling at 4 p.m. with sets from Canada’s Dinosaur Bones and New York’s own The Fire and Reason, followed by dance troupe Cuban Soul on II. At 7 p.m. is a fashion show featuring Peachfrog customers dolled up in merchandise from the floor by the shop’s in-house stylist. It is Brokelyn policy not to argue with free beer and pizza. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo courtesy of Bed-Stuy Blog.

Over the break, the Bed-Stuy blog posted about a designer-discount store on Marcus Garvey between Decatur and Fulton that sounds worth checking out—if you can get there when it’s open. The shop, which opened on Black Friday 2008, is called CloseOut Kings, and according to Bed-Stuy blog, it “feels like an urban chic or European boutique store” and is “stuffed with recognized name brand treasures, if you’re willing to take a few minutes to sort and sift.” BSB saw some Ralph Lauren ladies’ sweaters, Michael Kors sheets and other goodies. But beware: “One tip to note is their business hours aren’t consistent,” the blog warns. “If you can catch them while they’re open, this may be your next go-to shop for brand names at discount prices.” Has anyone else checked this place out? Read the whole story here.

Photos by Dennis Cahlo and Willy Staley.

I used to think that Army Navy surplus stores were only for paranoids who only felt safe in military fatigues, even if they were just going for coffee. Not until one of my best friends back in San Francisco started working at Kaplan’s Surplus Store on the seedy stretch of Market Street did I find out that the non-surplus goods—Levi’s, Dickies, Vans and New Era hats—are often the best deals at these stores, along with an abundance of cheap outerwear. To take advantage of these bargains but avoid the trap of the “crazy veteran” look, I went shopping at Cato’s Army and Navy in Greenpoint with Brooklyn style blogger Dennis Cahlo. Read the rest of this entry »

One dress, 365 ways: Sheena Matheiken models four looks from the Uniform Project's fashion experiment.

This week, you have two ways to help others while benefiting your own social life, look and living room.  Read the rest of this entry »

One of Alexander Wang's home pages.

Red-hot designer Alexander Wang, this year’s winner of the CFDA Swarovski award for womenswear, is the reigning prince of ’80s punk chic. However, unlike the actual CBGBs denizens we all remember (or at least our older siblings do), his women are rocking $80 t-shirts and $700 boots. So we decided to do a little experiment and try to recreate his look for a few hundred less. While we’re not about to tell you that you can walk out of any one of Brooklyn’s fab secondhand clothing stores looking like you just stumbled off of his runway, in one Saturday afternoon, I did manage to pull together an Alexander Wang-inspired look for under 50 bucks, head to toe. Here’s how. Read the rest of this entry »

Purple Rain–a terrible movie and a freaking fabulous sing-along. Big props to whoever at Celebrate Brooklyn came up with this idea along with the purple-flecked masses who came from far and wide to join in last night. First up, Alley Getz and Renée DeMund (left) from Stroudsburg, PA. “I got this dress for a dollar at Salvation Army!” boasted Renée, an honorary Brokelynite for that. Click here for more random acts of violet. Read the rest of this entry »

This is one of our interns, Trevor, working hard to dig up stories that make your Brooklyn existence easier, cheaper and more fun. Trevor, an NYU grad who lives in Bushwick, has spent the summer calling up every CSA in Brooklyn so you don’t have to, sussing out date ideas, downloading free software to test, and more. Much more.

What does he ask in return? Only that you read his articles and email them to your friends from time to time. Comment on them when you’re so moved. And buy a $20 $19.99 t-shirt so we can have a kickass intern party at the end of the summer. Buy one t-shirt and Trevor can have two beers at the party. If you buy two t-shirts, he can have three beers and two items of his choice off of the appetizer tray. Three t-shirts, and you get an autographed printout of your favorite Trevor story. Four t-shirts and maybe… you could lend him one?

Mermaid Parade photo by QXZ.

In addition to a 40-mile walk to New Jersey and a father’s day event at Babeland, where dads get a free goody bag by bringing their “little bundles of joy” (13 is definitely too old), here’s what’s on tap:

Mermaid Parade: If you’re feeling tearful about the demise of Coney Island, party like the old days at the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade. For the uninitiated: think of it as Mardi Gras meets Atlantis, or as gay pride for straight women, or as the Brooklyn event that brings out the most amateur photographers pre square foot. Read the rest of this entry »