What People Are Wearing In Williamsburg, Brooklyn
A Very Serious™ sartorial study on fall style conducted from three dog-friendly neighborhood bars.
On a recent sunny November day, I dusted off my reporter’s notebook and my University of Florida journalism degree to investigate how fellow Williamsburgers were navigating this transitional weather, style-wise. As a native Floridian myself, I always had trouble knowing how to dress for days when temperatures could yo-yo from 44 to 63 degrees within just a few hours.
”Layers” is always the practical answer, of course, but then the art of the layer is another question entirely, isn’t it? So I did what any self-respecting amateur anthropologist might do, and I decided to go people watch at some local watering holes.
My vantage points? The Levee, Lucky Dog, and George And Jack’s Tap Room. How did I, an unbiased journalist with a penchant for pattern-spotting, select these three locations for my research? Well, they were already my go-to bars, but also, they are all dog-friendly, and Mickey wasn’t about to miss out on a whole day of outfit scouting.)
The goal was to see what the people were wearing. If I learned the great mystery of the layer in the process, excellent, but I genuinely was just curious to see what the styles of choice were outside of my TikTok and out in the streets.
Not only did I spot many good ‘fits throughout the day (more on that below), but I observed several fashion trends that — despite fall serving us fewer hours of daylight — simply refuse to give up their day in the sun.
The art of the layer is still a mystery to me, but as far as fall trends go, I’ve got you covered. For your reading pleasure below, please enjoy the top four styles I recently spotted while out and about in Williamsburg.
Four Styles Trending In Williamsburg:
1.) Adidas Samba and Gazelle Sneakers
Topping our list with a whopping 13 separate sightings throughout my afternoon of trend spotting, the Samba and Gazelle’s placement on this list will come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to street style. Still, their prevalence really can’t be understated, so here I am, declaring their grip on girlies everywhere — or at least, on girlies in Williamsburg. (See picture above of two besties, then please direct your gaze to the right, and see another pair in the crosswalk).
Their attraction, at least to me, is in their comfortability and styling ease. Plus, you can snap up pretty much any color combo that you please, allowing you to feel like you’re you’re going out on a personal style ledge, while simultaneously knowing there’s a whole host of in-the-know fashion fans who already like what you’re wearing (aka, best of both worlds).
(There’s also the little fact that Harry Styles wore those adidas x Gucci Gazelles a couple years back, but I believe I’ve made my point.)
Some of my favorite colorways:
2.) Craftcore Styles
This look is harder to pin down, but I’d qualify it as anything that looks like you maybe (emphasis on maybe) could have made it yourself (but major points to you, if you actually did). I’m talking mixed-medium vests, patched-up jackets, tie-dye shirts, crochet appliqués and hand-knit beanies. When worn with confidence, this look usually ends up feeling creative, cool, and distinct to the wearer.
The crochet and tie-dye details have crossover appeal, too, for the ‘60s and ‘70s style devotees (hi, it’s me!).
Other ways I’d wear the look:
3.) Animal Prints
Whether they’re striping a coat or dotting some straight-leg jeans, animal prints can somehow channel both ‘80s hair-band campiness and glam Upper East Side grandma all at once. Though exotic prints don’t usually call to me from the racks, the way these folks were wearing theirs may have me convinced otherwise.
In Williamsburg, wearers tend to balance the boldness of the prints with low-key fashion selects (I love a Vans high-top sneaker) and denim, but I also appreciated how our first wearer delicately grazes the ‘mob wife’ aesthetic with a red shoulder bag. Our wearer on the far right, on the other hand, went way more rock ‘n’ roll with the chunky boot and flannel pairing.
More animal-print styles to ‘add to cart’:
4.) Trench Coats
The trench needs no introduction, especially after the Grand Tour it’s taken throughout Williamsburg this fall. So instead, let’s inspect how the coats above are worn. On the left, we have a color-blocked version, which gives the timeless style a contemporary update. Paired with leggings and slip-on loafers, it’s a laid-back luxe ensemble ideal for grocery store runs, when you still want a little polish.
In the center and at the right, two fairly similar trenches — but different vibes, thanks to a form-fitting tie at the waist, versus an oversized fit worn open.
More trenches to shop:
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Love these detailed descriptions and multiple options of the various looks! Thanks for doing the "work" of documenting these styles. So happy to see the fiber crafts coming around again.