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The Maharajah of Thrift: Beacon’s Williamsburg

It’s pretty obvs by now that I’m maniacally obsessed with the Park Slope outpost of Beacon’s Closet. I assumed that their Williamsburg shop was similarly excellent save for the fact that, well, it’s in Williamsburg, land o’ the anti-JAPs. A combination of sloth and fear hindered my urge to check out the store until recently, when I suffered a fruitless experience at Beacon’s Park Slope. So I bit the bullet that is the L train and found my way to its sister store. Beacon’s Williamsburg is approximately 10 times the size of its Park Slope sister. Clothes are organized by color throughout the massive, warehouse-esque space and shoes of varying degrees of awesomeness sit atop the clothing racks. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I almost couldn’t shop. Almost.

This Alice and Olivia sweater/shirt thang is 85% silk, 15% cashmere and probs retailed for at least $150 in it’s prime. I got it for $19.95. Booyah.

The sole downside of Beacon’s Williamsburg is its staff; a collection of bitter, vintage clothing enthusiasts, they loathe anyone incapable of fully appreciating the wares for sale, particularly ex-spoiled brats looking to JAP out their merchandise. Maybe I shouldn’t have worn a white BCBG peacoat and Mommy’s Ralph Lauren boots on a Williamsburg shopping excursion, but whatevs. I don’t give a flying fuck about the artistry of vintage clothing - I just want to look loaded. And if I have to suffer the judgment of hipsters to do it, so be it.