It’s Fashion Week in New York but Brooklyn has never really adhered to the whims of the style tyrants over in Manhattan. Instead Brooklyn style circa 2011 is going in a million ways at once. It’s the cut off shorts and bright yellow tank tops on a Williamsburg hipster. It’s the older gentleman in Bay Ridge sporting a sharp looking hat, dress slacks and overalls, with a dirty white undershirt. It’s a Parkslope mom rocking yoga-pants even though she hasn’t gone to yoga in three days. It’s the dude in Bushwick keeping it crispy in all black everything and his Yankee fitted low.

In Brooklyn fashion is everything all of the time and that is because Brooklyn is never just one thing. Every race, culture and sub-culture has a nook in the borough. The economic lines are as blurry as the neighborhood distinctions and the folks on any given block can be moving in a thousand different directions at once.

Clothes are not life in Brooklyn as they are in some sections of Manhattan. There are certainly fashionistas in every neighborhood but they define the way they dress as apposed to letting the way they dress define them. The restless nature of Brooklyn style means that here every week is Fashion Week and everything is always in season.

Thrift shopping, or thrifting for short, has become the real trendy thing to do. I’ve done enough of it myself to know how rewarding it can be, as well as easy on the wallet. You’d be amazed the kind of deals you can find, designer duds even, for ridiculously low prices. And if you can score true vintage, even better as that is the most fashionable trend right now.

Brooklyn is lucky to be home to many wonderful thrift stores, beyond the typical Goodwill and Salvation Army (though those places are great too and give back to the community!).

Beacon’s Closet located in Park Slope is one such well known thrift store, and while there are a few locations in Manhattan as well, the Brooklyn one always seems to have the best selection. You can also sell your own old clothing here, if they are in trend and good quality, so it’s a great way to put some cash in your pocket.

Guvnor’s Vintage Thrift is also in the same neighborhood, and it’s a vintage store with actual thrift store prices. Too many vintage stores in Manhattan charge you upwards of $100 or more for a dress from the 70s. Guvnor’s has real deals and clothing for all decades.

Monk Vintage is also a great little shop not far from prospect park with $1 racks. Yes, everything on the rack is $1. It’s worth shuffling through all the uglier clothes to get that one gem.

So the next time your looking for a bargain, check out some thrift shops in Brooklyn. You may be surprised with what you find.