Summer Street Style In NYC's Williamsburg

The first stop into Williamsburg, Brooklyn off the L Train is Bedford Avenue, a hipster hub. Culture Trip photographers spent a Friday afternoon hunting for street style on Bedford, and the looks did not disappoint.

Before 2000, Williamsburg was where artists went to find cheap loft space, where retailers set up factories, and where the Hasidic community found respite from the city. Fast-forward nearly 20 years, and Williamsburg, Bedford Avenue, in particular, has become a hipster hotspot for 20 and 30-somethings, with a slew of fabulous bars, cheap eats, and shops. Bedford has also become a fashion destination with independent designer boutiques like Catbird, Brooklyn Fox Lingerie, In God We Trust, as well as The Bedford Avenue Mini Mall, which is more like a vintage flea market than traditional American mall.

Bedford’s DIY aesthetic has helped put Williamsburg on the map as Brooklyn’s Greenwich Village. Coffee shops, late-night pizza parlors, and tons of bars give the fashion set a place to hang their hats. And speaking of hats, Bedford Avenue passersby know how to accessorize: just check out the chic details in the outfits below for this latest addition of street style. You can shop the look with offerings from Topshop.

1. Underwear as outerwear

Dress up a slip with a casual chic denim jacket and four-inch heels for a vamped up high-low look.

Shop the look: Denim Jacket, Slip Dress, Suede Ankle Boots

2. Under cover

Cropped coveralls in cool linen are low maintenance but deliver a clean, polished aesthetic.

Shop the look: Dungarees by Native Youth, Lace Up Sandals

3. In the bag

Another take on overalls, this look is made sleek with a flashy yet functional backpack.

Shop the look: Short Denim Dungarees, Inflatable Backpack

4. Purple reign

There’s no reason ladies can’t rock these purple wide leg trousers.

Shop the look: Wide Leg Pants

5. Summer goth

For Williamsburg residents, black is a summer must. Just keep the fabric breathable and reveal as much skin as possible.

Shop the look: Ribbed Halter Top, Denim Shorts, Ankle Boots

6. Urban whimsy

Ruffles may be traditionally feminine, but create a more balanced look when paired with the athletic accessories.

Shop the look: Ruffle Mini Skirt, Skinnydip Purse

7. Nautical stripes

You don’t have to reside in a beach town to wear summer’s favorite type of stripe.

Shop the look: Round Sunglasses, Striped Jumpsuit

8. Tailor-made

Play around with tailoring, mixing a twist front blouse with a textured midi skirt for a look that’s authentically urbane.

Shop the look: Textured Midi Skirt, Twist Front Blouse

About the author

Jill Di Donato

Fashion Editor

Jill is a New York native who holds a BA in Literature from Barnard College, and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. She is the author of the novel Beautiful Garbage (She Writes Press, 2013) about the downtown Manhattan art and fashion scene in the 1980s. A former staff writer for The Huffington Post and Bustle, Jill comes to Culture Trip after working with Refinery 29, Vice, Salon, Paste Style, Los Angeles Times, Nylon, Shopify, Autre, and producing content for emerging fashion labels. She teaches classes about fashion and culture at Barnard College and The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her prized possessions are her Gucci fanny pack, vintage rocker t-shirts, and her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry. She's always on the lookout for a gem-encrusted turban.