Hive of Style: 4 Play BK, Park Slope

360 7th Ave (btw 10th St & 11th St), Brooklyn, 718-369-4086

With a name like 4 Play BK, you’d expect this trendy women’s shop should be sandwiched between a Contempo Casual and 5-7-9 in a suburban mall from yesteryear, not parked on the Slope’s main mommy drag. But to be deterred by the late 80s’ retro name is to miss out on neo-retro designs, a tremendous selection of designer denim, fun brands, and current kicks like Seychelles, Nicole, and Havaianas in every color of the rainbow.

This past breezy Saturday, a friend and I were lured into the smallish boutique. After 10 minutes, my friend had an armful of girly dresses and mid-heeled shoes pitch perfect for the coming summer. A drowsy pug wandered around the store, sniffing feet and handbags while the store clerk back by the fitting areas offered the kind of honest advice you’d expect from your BFF. “I’ve worn these jeans 5 or 6 times without washing and look, they still aren’t baggy.” You probably won’t hear that in the denim department at Bloomingdale’s.

Rounding out the sweet frocks, girly retro-styled blouses, and Brooklyn-proud T’s is a healthy collection of shoulder bags, mid-heeled shoes by Seychelles and Nicole, Ked’s slip ons and Manic Panic which has been stealthily making a come-back by way of LA power punk (no comment). The vibe is low key, casual, with a slightly schizophrenic amalgamation of every-20-something’s style.

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