Vogue Came to Brooklyn

In the latest issues of Vogue, there's an article entitled “A Distant Shore." While the title sounds like it could be a piece about the latest travel location, it is actually about the magazine’s expedition to our borough. The article is preceded by a photo essay of beautiful people from the upper echelon who -- shocker! -- actually live here now. It seems Brooklyn has become so hip that even Vogue cannot deny it, even if they walk across the bridge with their noses pinched and are careful not to touch anything. 

The article seems to be about eight years too late. Writer Jeffrey Steingarten generically describes hipsters with little imagination -- “The spirit or brand can still be identified by the hipster, who can sometimes be identified by a narrow-brimmed fedora, white earbuds and skinny jeans.” -- and deems neighborhoods such as Bushwick and Sunset park as “disfavored” and “distressed.”

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This just in: Park Slope Moms are trend setters. Birkenstocks are in. I repeat: Birkenstocks are in.

Image via whowhatwear.com

The huge leather sandals that make ones feet look three sizes larger are no longer seen in Berkely, CA and Park Slope alone. This hippie footwear is now shuffling down 5th Ave, paired with Zara silk pants or haute couture dresses. Go ahead, google it. I know it's hard to believe. 

I could argue that the fashionably forward are delusional from all this heat and think that these fat summer sandals are valuable beyond their undeniable comfort. Perhaps even those from the fashion community can get one too many blisters from strappy sandals. Or Birkenstocks got a new PR manager.

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H&M Opens a Second Brooklyn Location on Fulton Mall

Image via Racked via WWDIn case you weren't sure if Brooklyn was gentrified, the Swedish retailer H&M will be opening their second Brooklyn location just a mile away from the Barclay center. That's right, this fast fashion super house will be throwing a block party on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of their new 29,000 square foot space. 

Does this mean the brightly colored, cheaply made, nauseatingly trending H&M clothing will be flooding the avenues of Park Slope? No, not Park Slope. Not our anti-the-man neighborhood which is dedicated to fair-trade, ethically made products? 

But, probably. H&M is the Starbucks of clothes. We all want to buy hand made clogs from fairly paid workers in Ecuador. But truth be told, when we're in a hurry, we look to fast fashion for easy shopping, quick consumption, and the ability to buy something outrageously trendy because even if we only wear it once it was only $11.99.

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Five Commandments for Chilling in Prospect Park

Image via file-magazine.comNothing typifies Brooklyn summers quite like recreation in Prospect Park. Picnics and sunbathers cover the grassy knoll from dawn till dusk. While the crowds make our neighborhood something quite picturesque, some people really ruin things for the rest of us. Like those guys playing frisbee all over your picnic. Or that mom that lets her kid pet everyone’s dog for hours. We've covered the rules Prospect Park Alliance sets out for those who choose to picnic/BBQ, but with July 4th nearly upon us, here are some unofficial commandments for sharing our most glorious public space: 

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Cool or Not Cool: Saltwater Sandals on Adults

When Suri Cruise and Matilda Ledger began rocking Saltwater sandals, you know these colorful kicks made it to the next level of trendy. Brooklyn, happy to dress our children better than we dress ourselves, welcomed these brilliantly basic sandals with open arms. But Alexa Chung threw us all for a loop when she made the SW sandals a stable in her oh so very cool wardrobe. 

But should these prepubescent shoes be worn by postpubescent people? Truth be told, these sandals can be a great summer wardrobe staple if done correctly. Here are three guidelines to follow when trying to figure out how to wear the colorful children's footwear without looking like a child yourself: 

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