Monk

Williamsburg, home to an array of funky thrift and vintage stores. They are splashed along its streets and avenues—rubbing stylie shoulders with cozy little bars and vegan restaurants. Monk is no exception.

One of the few stores that allocates equal space and quality for both genders, Monk is a store where you can bump into a set designer or a wardrobe stylist. Like a good vintage store, all clothes are in perfect condition, and the merchandise is organized by size directing you to fall in love with the garment that suits you right.

What:: Monk
Where:: 496 Driggs Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Call:: 718 384 6665
Why:: Be the character of your own movie

Beacon’s Closet

You got what it takes to call yourself a trendsetter? If you do, your sense of style isn’t related to price tags or the name of the designer’s clothes piled up in your closet. It’s all a consequence of one thing, your very own fashion eye.

Check your face, yeah, you know you got one, raise your brow, and give that fierce look. You are about to find fashion heaven. It’s called Beacon’s Closet.

Beacon’s Closet is an exchange clothing and thrift store located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY. Beacon’s understands that your style doesn’t have to fall into a fashion category. It offers an infinite selection of retro and new clothes to suit your fashion desires. On one rack you can find clothes made in Italy, born during your mother’s teenage time, and others worn by your neighbor. Their clothes are used, new, vintage or collectibles. Find them all in perfectly wearable conditions and at a very heavenly affordable price. It’s not a question of buying, but a question of deciding how much you can carry home.

If you are running short on your greens, or your plastics are so scratched they are useless, there is a solution for your economical inconvenience. Pack a bag of clothes that have been forgotten in your closet and bring them over to exchange. Beacon’s will pay 35% cash or 55% store credit on their reselling price. Now, go get yourself a sexy pair of whatever new obsession you got.

Beacon’s acknowledges that your style is your own, and it should be named after you. Stop by and commemorate your vanity.

What:: Beacon’s Closet
www:: www.beaconscloset.com
Where:: 88 n 11th street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Call:: 718 486 0816
When:: Monday-Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am-8pm
Why:: You are “it”

Now, imagine that the garment you are now in proud possession of is tangible proof of a donation you’ve just made. That daring little Pucci blouse or Free People tank just bought a battered woman or child a meal at the Lotus house. Voila! Ladies, welcome to guilt-free and philanthropic shopping.

The Lotus Thrift, located on 203 N.W. 36th Street, is a boutique thrift store where ALL of the proceeds go to fund The Lotus House shelter. Aside from being a wonderfully relevant cause, the merchandise itself is absolutely worthy of browsing. High-end designers are found next to vintage no-names, brand new garments with tags still attached to well-worn jeans can be found all over the store. The staff working the boutique are down-to-earth people and helpful employees who either volunteer or come from the shelter to work.

The Lotus House is a shelter located in Overtown, Miami, ran by the Sundari Foundation, Inc. The shelter is not just transitional housing for women and children but a prototypical safe haven where they are offered classes, workshops and counseling to provide them with tools necessary to integrate into society as productive and self-sufficient members of society. Some of the comprehensive support services include individual and group counseling, computer lessons, job training and placement, medical and mental health services and access to an array of community resources. There are also education workshops and a plethora of enrichment activities which include art, creative writing, yoga, dance, crafts alternative paths to healing and self-exploration. The shelter also caters to pregnant women and infants; they are provided with pre-natal care, birthing and parenting classes, baby supplies, infant medical care and daycare assistance to name a few.

It is rehabilitation for the mind, body and spirit of up to 130 women and children annually. A break from traditional shelters in which just offer basic necessities to victims of domestic abuse, drug abuse, homelessness , financial woes or mental illness, The Lotus House is a departure from the traditional to ensure a lower probability of return to a shelter for these victims by instilling them with a new sense of worth and self-purpose. Their belief is that with renewed self-esteem and armed with empowerment through knowledge of new skill sets, women are much less likely to fall into their previous self-damaging cycles.

Now you may simultaneously provide two women with having needs met; YOUR basic need for affordable, unique style and another woman’s basic need to heal in a holistic environment . . . as the store’s motto offers: “Love to Shop and Shop to Love”.

For more information on the The Sundari Foundation, The Lotus House and The Lotus Thrift store or to make donations, please visit their website at www.lotushouseshelter.org

By Iris Acevedo