what’s hot (or toasty) + david byrne at pete’s candy

December is now upon us. If the sudden drop in temperatures or suddenly higher numbers on the post-Thanksgiving bathroom scale weren’t enough, the sudden glut of Christmas music at local cafes, should cinch it. Currently on the sound systems at The L Stop on Metropolitan Ave: the 1984 Band Aid synthpop anthem “Do They Know It’s Christmastime?”

Suffice it to say that the kids of 25 years ago are well aware. While this holiday season has a different sort of rosiness courtesy of the current economic slump, the winter season is charging forward with outerwear looks to close out properly, this hodgepodge decade of fashion.

As I was taking a gander around the heart of Williamsburg late yesterday afternoon, I noticed both hints of an early 90s grunge revival (maybe spurred on by the recession? Or just comfort?) as well as hints of a new Mod look. Combined with the current trend toward smoky eyes, bright fashion colors and walking into concerts by happenstance, are we approaching an age of, dare I say, “Swinging Brooklyn?” Swapping out the 1960s for whatever one whatever wants to call this decade and the never-ending parade headed down London’s Carnaby St for today’s Bedford Ave in fair Williamsburg and possibly we have an analogy, no?

Take a look at the high-contrast alphanumeric leggings pairing off the black jacket and black-and-white striped sack, seen outside Bedford’s Verb Café.

For some extra 60s pastiche, this lavender and dusty rose coat spotted, as you can tell from the photo, at the Metropolitan Ave/Grand St G train station, late yesterday evening.

The girls a-walkin’ with boots and simple coats—one peacoat, one fur-collared, bring the whole mod look into 2000s perspective. 

But among the guys, grunge redux plaid is trending supreme, as seen here at the Verb Café, a patron pictured here.

Nothing wrong with some early 20-year fashion recycling to stay warm—even if it’s done indoors, as did this Talking Heads aficionado at Williamsburg’s Pete’s Candy Store Tuesday eve to see David Byrne give a talk on musical evolution.

Oh and if you were wondering, the David wears plaid.

For some sense made out of music, rather than fashion, evolution, see my two-minute video clip of David Byrne’s Nov. 30 talk at Pete’s Candy Store. CBGB: and it was.