It became clear, as we wound our way through
the packed opening of the "Made in Brooklyn" exhibition
inside Manhattan’s Felissimo Design House Tuesday night, that
Brooklyn and its artists have forged a fashion mecca.
The crowd murmured with excitement over D-CD’s "Trash-a-Porter,"
an elegant column evening gown made from recycled squares of
cashmere sweaters. With its sexy, low-slung back, this is exactly
the type of dress that should be worn on a red carpet.
Smaller whimsies on display were designer Kate Cusack’s rose
brooches wrought from zippers. This clever Boerum Hill designer
recently garnered kudos in New York magazine, and several Brooklyn
boutiques, including the Marissa Alperin Studio, on State Street,
are now selling them.
Just as there seems to be a wide array of emerging fashion designers
getting their due in Brooklyn, there is an equally exciting number
of new, rabidly trendy boutiques everywhere from Smith Street
to Atlantic Avenue to Fifth Avenue.
Park Slope boutique Umkarna opened Aug. 15 and has imported the
real deal when it comes to very fashionable Bollywood-themed
accessories. Warm and welcoming store owner Luisa Giugliano offers
an array of jewelry from the Silk Road, including gold chandelier
earrings and enameled pieces; as well as designer Angelina DeAntonis’
contemporary clothing line inspired by tribal textiles, Ocelot;
and long, hand-embroidered antique jackets from Uzbekistan, lined
in Russian trade cloth.
While these one-of-a-kind chapan jackets, dating from the 1920s
through the ’70s, are a flattering, striking addition to any
wardrobe, they’re also rich with meaning and Giugliano is happy
to explain the symbolism sewn into the patterns. For those looking
for a more contemporary piece to add to their wardrobe, the Ocelot
line, with its graphic patterns akin to sophisticated, controlled
tie-dye works, are tempting.
For more fabulous 22-karat gold chandelier earrings from India,
including carnelian pieces favored by Charlize Theron, stop by
the diminutive Layla boutique, which also sells textiles for
the home (but has yet to stock up on fall clothing).
Another newcomer is Serene Rose in Park Slope. For fashion-conscious
women larger than a pencil – they go up to size 16 when possible
– this boutique is a godsend. Open for just six months, it’s
a labor of love for owner Hermion Charles.
"If I had to describe my style, it would be somewhat retro
chic throwback to the ’50s or the 1920s flapper girl dresses.
I’m probably from a different era altogether," the 36-year-old
said with a laugh. "I want the store to feel like your best
friend’s ultimate closet where you can always find something
fun."
Happily, Charles’ feminine, flattering style is in vogue, and
we love flipping through her racks, which include Lynn Lugo and
Max Studio.
So don’t come here looking for jeans and T’s (go to Habit on
Smith Street in Cobble Hill for those items as well as the must-have
glazed leather wristlets).
Charles proudly sells jewelry by local designers including Evie
Designs, Hioroyo Fitzgerald and Chuilin and one-of-a-kind sweaters
by Jocelyn Taylor of Folkwear.
The Kimera atelier in Park Slope, which predominantly showcases
the Asian-inspired clothing of in-house designer Yvonne Chu,
now has a second location – with three times as much retail space
– in Boerum Hill. Chu usually works in jewel toned silk shantung.
For fall, Chu is working in oranges, reds and mossy green. Her
new silk halter top, knee-length dress with cummerbund waist
stops window shoppers in their tracks.
If your size isn’t on the rack, it takes just six weeks for your
custom order to be filled. (Shop now for the holidays, and don’t
forget to order a coordinating mini handbag for just $35!)
Chu’s Park Slope shop is carrying striped, wool knit ponchos,
which, she says, are flying out the door despite the warm weather.
(Perhaps it’s their great price – $78.)
Kimera also has Audrey Hu’s feather earrings, which are the perfect
complement to soften a contemporary ensemble.
When looking for an exciting pair of shoes around which to build
an outfit, the owners of two-year-old Foot Fetish, in Bay Ridge,
Debbie Batanjany and Maureen Brody, are the experts. They offer
shoes by JoeyO, Enzo, Michelle K and Luichiny.
For those who have to emulate "Sex and the City" at
home, too, Foot Fetish carries those slippers with big flowers
by Bonjour Fleurette.
I always take Brody’s advice, and she says, for fall, you must
get boots – whether they be round-toe boots or white boots, you
need them and she’ll have them in stock soon.
Eidolon boutique in Park Slope sells a mix of limited-run clothing,
handbags, shoes, jewelry and more. Although they’re just beginning
to get in their fall merchandise, they already have tempting
eggplant-colored, round toe shoes with black piping and black
Mary Janes updated with ruched leather straps.
Castor & Pollux owner Kerrilyn Hunt told GO Brooklyn she
will soon be stocking her own clothing line, until then she has
vintage inspired shoes with fuchsia, appliqued flowers and plastic,
rose-shaped rings the color of white chocolate.
On a budget
For Brooklyn fashionistas on a budget there are many ways to
sate your craving for the latest styles, even when money is tight.
The matriarch of Brooklyn’s fashion shops is Aaron’s, in Park
Slope. Aaron’s sets themselves apart from other designer clothing
stores by selling this season’s fall clothes and handbags with
an immediate markdown. Already the store is stocked with luxe,
elbow-length, knitted gloves with dainty buttons, and large,
chunky sweaters by Bianco.
Depending on how much time you have on your hands, you can visit
Williamsburg’s Beacon’s Closet, with 5,500 square feet of resale
clothing and lots of vintage mixed in, or visit it’s smaller
sister store in Park Slope. The clothing – for men and women
– is carefully edited and unlike a Salvation Army thrift shop,
you’ll find pleasant fitting rooms so you can try it before you
buy it. They also sell handbags and shoes.
The recently expanded Century 21, in Bay Ridge, also offers discounted
clothing including designer names for the whole family.
Isn’t it great that we don’t have to go over a bridge to get
the latest fall fashions and one-of-a-kind looks? It’s all right
here in Brooklyn.
GO shopping list
Aaron’s
627 Fifth Ave. at 17th Street in Park Slope, (718) 768-5400,
www.aarons.com
Beacon’s Closet
88 N. 11th St. at Berry Street in Williamsburg, (718) 486-0816
220 Fifth Ave. at Union Street in Park Slope, (718) 230-1630
Castor & Pollux
67 1/2 Sixth Ave. at Bergen Street in Park Slope, (718) 398-4141,
www.castorandpolluxstore.com
Century 21
472 86th St. at Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, (718) 748-3266
Eidolon
233 Fifth Ave. at President Street in Park Slope, (718) 638-8194
Felissimo Design House
10 West 56th St. in Manhattan, (212) 956-4438
Foot Fetish
8813 Third Ave. at 88th Street in Bay Ridge, (718) 238-8470
Habit
231 Smith St. at Douglass Street in Cobble Hill, (718) 923-0303
Kimera
366 Atlantic Ave. at Hoyt Street in Boerum Hill, (718) 422-1147
274 Fifth Ave. at Garfield Place in Park Slope, (718) 965-1313
Layla
86 Hoyt St. at Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, (718) 222-1933
Marissa Alperin Studio
25 State St. at Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights, (718) 243-2326
Serene Rose
331 Fifth Ave. at Third Street in Park Slope, (718) 832-3225
Umkarna
69 Fifth Ave. at Warren Street in Park Slope, (718) 398-5888
