7 New Trends People Are Already Wearing in My Very Stylish NYC Neighborhood

In the 12 or so years I’ve lived on and off in New York, Williamsburg has really been on a journey. The dive bars and tattoo parlors of yore are now nestled between bougie restaurants, and North 6th Street feels more like Nolita than Brooklyn. The local crowd—which now includes me—is a sort of gentrified mix of ex–West Villagers with dogs who like to live on the river, SoHo fashion types, and Dime Square cool kids who exist on martinis and fries between Le Dive and Le Crocodile. Like everywhere in New York, you either love it or hate it.

As you can imagine, the trend-spotting is ferocious. Williamsburg harbors an aggressive mix of style, ranging from chic, tailored looks traveling by ferry from the waterfront high-rise apartments to Downtown offices to the influx of Gen Zers who come to vintage-shop every weekend. A recent influx of European cool kids in town for NYFW added to the mix, making September a particularly good month to watch what everyone’s wearing. Now that the weather is starting to cool down and catch up with fall fashion, these are the new-season trends I’m spotting on the chic people in my neighborhood.

T-Bar Shoes

If you love a Mary Jane but it’s been a few seasons now and you’re getting an itch to mix it up, you’re going to love the T-bar (or T-strap) styles that are popping up for fall—especially if you’re into the personality injection of the “wrong shoe theory.” Very cool Spanish content creator Vicky Montanari wore a pair from Tory Burch to the designer’s NYFW show, and the ugly-preppy energy hit just right.

Animal Print

There’s a lot of leopard floating around right now, but special mention to the zebra print that’s also having a moment. I stand by my belief that the trick to wearing any animal print is to completely disregard that fact that it’s a lot, and treat it like a neutral—is it that it goes with nothing? Or maybe it goes with everything?

Burgundy

Shades of burgundy are definitely the color trend to note, which feels like a natural progression from all the red we couldn’t stop wearing this time last year. It’s one of those trends that are also classic, making rich-looking burgundy accessories an especially great place to invest.

Barn Coats

We haven’t had a single moment of weather that warrants them, but barn jackets are being thrown over end-of-summer looks as though it might lightly shower at any moment. Kate Middleton fans will know that Barbour is obviously the OG when it comes to weather-ready jackets with corduroy collars, but all your go-to brands are on board and offering more wallet-friendly takes this season.

Cropped Jackets

Loads of this season’s jackets are being served up as chic little crops, from trench coats to collarless blazers. My pick is this collared leather style from Mango, but I couldn’t not show you the two-trends-in-one efficiency of this cropped barn jacket that rings in under $100.

Double Denim

When denim-on-denim looks are good, they’re so good. I’m spotting a lot of denim shirts. Plus, belted denim jackets seem to be a thing—either by design (like the below) or by way of DIY styling.

Studded Accessories

We knew the bohemian trend was coming back with a vengeance this fall, but the full romanticism of the Chloé runway isn’t for everyone. Studded accessories are apparently the safe zone for fans of the trend who aren’t trying to drag their ruffled sleeves in their dips at Laser Wolf.