Brokelyn

NY Fashion Week is just around the corner, which means the city’s third annual Fashion’s Night Out will take over an evening of the runway-to-retail-buzz-fest on Thursday (Sept. 8). Brooklyn has stepped it up a notch with lots more stores participating this year, and lots more wine, cupcakes, and discounts a go-go. You could fight the crowds to see big name celebs at Bloomingdales or Saks… or you could kick back in the home-borough and preview new collections from indie designers, enjoy special FNO-only deals. Here’s a selection of Brooklyn events; there are dozens more on the FNO website. All festivities begin at 6pm and end at 10pm unless otherwise noted. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s September, which means school’s back in session and Fashion’s Night Out is back for a second year. Originally created as a way to help recession-addled fashion retailers, this year’s slate of Vogue-sponsored shoptastic events spreads to Brooklyn neighborhoods like Mill Basin, Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst in addition to more expected nabes like Williamsburg and Greenpoint. You may not see the likes of Michael Kors out here (he’ll be at Bloomingdale’s), but chances are there are some stylish goings on near you: The FNO web site very conveniently lists events by neighborhood (we like the ones with booze and freebies). Here are a few of the Brooklyn shopping spots we’ll be checking out on Friday night: Read the rest of this entry »

Fashion Week is both an escape from the recession and a reminder of it: it’s somehow exciting to see designers roll out the Bergdorf bait as though there are still people who can afford $8,000 dresses. Wait, there are still people who can afford them—just not anyone we know. (That’s the reminder part.)

But as we all know around here, fabulosity can still be within reach even if your dress budget is just $8. This we confirmed during a boutique crawl of Williamsburg—yes, on Fashion’s Night Out—where we asked some glammy gals for their advice on staying chic in tough times. Read the rest of this entry »

The offiical Fashion's Night Out t-shirt model.

Maybe you’ve heard about tonight’s shopping orgy—the Vogue-sponsored Fashion’s Night Out—in which stores all over the city are staying open til 10 or 11 with cocktails, freebies and trunk shows to “encourage the fun of fashion again.” Okay, but it’s not the store hours that are cutting into the fun of fashion for a lot of us. Why, we can shop at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays!

So what’s going on in Brooklyn? Not tons. It turns out that most of the really fab action in this Fashion Week kickoff event is in Manhattan, but here are a few local haps:

- Brooklyn Industries is having a party from 6 to 10 at the Smith Street store, with shopping discounts and a show by Brooklyn-based alt-rockers Breaking Laces.

- The American Apparel stores in Williamsburg and Park Slope will be selling a special Fashion’s Night Out tote bag as a fundraiser for the Sept. 11 memorial. Buy one and get 20 percent off all purchases.

- You can bring your gently used garments to the three Bird locations (316 Fifth Avenue, 203 Grand Street or 220 Smith Street) or the two Brooklyn Macy’s locations as part of a citywide clothing drive.

- Pieces of Brooklyn (671 Brooklyn between Park and Vanderbilt) will be showcasing Brooklyn-based designers.

- Wonk, where we would buy furniture if we could afford it, is hosting 10 BK designers at its Dumbo store, 68 Jay Street, from 5 to 10.

The official Fashion’s Night Out web site is a bit of a slog—but Greenpointers has some Franklin Street events and About.com has a decent list of participating retailers in Brooklyn.