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.

Every gal in Brooklyn needs a wardrobe of grocery totes to elevate a market run into a stylish eco moment—and we’re digging Loyalty & Blood’s bags monogrammed with florid, scrolly letters so grand they practically defy the canvas. The large size is $28, but the smaller version ($24) is a chicly compact 14″-W x 16″H x 3″D. (Tell her it’s an evening tote.) Available online through Loyalty & Blood, a quirky online store run by Williamsburg-by-way-of-Austin couple David Denosowicz and Maggie Doyle.

Big thanks to our friend Jessica Dodell-Feder for sending us this tip. If you’re a merchant, local craftsperson or a reader with a fun find for our growing list, please send photos and descriptions to faye [at] brokelyn [dot] com. And check the site every day through Christmas for our latest additions.

Maybe you know a Brooklynite in absentia (they’ll be back, don’t worry) or maybe you’re a recent arrival yourself and want to show all the folks back home just how ironic and cityslickery you’ve become. Or better still, you know someone whose job it is to concoct kooky moneymaking schemes. In that case, BROOKLYNrehab’s “NYC Souvenir” is perfect inspiration because, well, look at it: it’s a test tube (plastic!), a cork, a piece of cleverly printed oaktag and a damn pigeon feather picked off the cobblestones and it’s selling it for $14. It’s actually pretty cool, but then so is most of the stuff from BROOKLYNrehab’s Alyssa Zygmunt, a fashion designer by day who Etsies at night.

Order a pigeon feather in a test tube here, and if you’re a merchant, local craftsperson or a reader with a great find for this daily post, please send photos and descriptions to faye [at] brokelyn [dot] com. And check the site every day through Christmas for our latest additions.

The author boards the bus. Photos by Eric Reichbaum.

Ikea is practically its own sovereign Swedish colony on the banks of the Gowanus Bay. So it only makes sense that the store has its own intricate system of transit involving everything save for aircraft (so far, at least). But which mode of transport is the best for you? And by that, of course, we mean: which one is the cheapest? Herein then we lay out the specific costs of all the different ways to transport your Ektorp or Aspelund back to your apartment so you can choose smartly, and not fall into the fjord of poor decisions. (more…)

Some of what you can expect at the Re/Dress trunk show tomorrow.

Re/Dress is a Brooklyn plus-size vintage and contemporary second-hand store we’ve been meaning to write about for a while, and here it is in a nice little NYC fashion roundup in the Times’ excellent frugal travel blog this week, so thanks, Matt Gross.

If you’re one of those people who thinks vintage dressing is strictly a skinny girls’ game, you probably haven’t seen this Boerum Hill shop, where the Times found “clothes by everyone from Target to Marina Rinaldi, with prices generally hovering between $20 and $80.” Some is vintage, some is Lane Bryant resale and the like, but none of it is smaller than a size 14 (but beware that’s about a size 10 by 1950s standards.) (more…)

“Shoes, shoes, omigod, shoes” are the chorus of a YouTube music video making the viral rounds. The Shoes video may be exaggerated take on the stereotype that all women are consumed by footwear, but not in my case. I am obsessed, especially with this year’s bold, colorful, statement-making heels (like these Michael Kors platforms at left). So I went to compare out the end-of-summer selection at Century 21, DSW and Loehmann’s. A shoedown, if you will. (more…)

You don’t have to spend $20 every time a birthday party rolls around (and you don’t need to go to Target to get a deal). We did the local rounds on foot to find perfect presents for half that.

BOERUM HILL
Acorn, 323 Atlantic Avenue (between Smith and Hoyt), 718-522-3760
Crocheted Baby Rattle ($10): These sweet, one-of-a-kind baby rattles seem more expensive than they are. How can something handmade be so cheap? Not to worry—proceeds go to promote fair trade.

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When it came time to do some recon at the Fulton Mall, we turned to our fashiony friend Subira, who has an internal GPS that zeroes in on the groovy hippie-chick stuff no matter how many dayglo patent-leather gladiator sandals and ham-handed poly prints stand in her way. “I go to Fulton Street for bargains with personality—statement earrings, print skirts, delicate summer dresses, ruffled peasant tops and chic shades,” she says. “You want to go for good basics in a place like this and stay away from the over-embellished stuff.” Off we went. (more…)