By Faith Hope Consolo

The Madison Avenue Maven has decided to give a fashionable overview of the newest and tres chic destination to live, work and, of course, shop. Brooklyn is undergoing a transformation and — although it has always been hip and fresh — the entire borough is being reborn. Here is a tiny tour of what’s hot and what’s to come:

In Williamsburg, Noisette, 46B North 6th Street, features feminine romantic clothes with 20 top European brands exclusive to the shop. Nom de Guerre, 88 North 6th Street, is a men’s boutique famous for its cutting-edge sneaker collection and skater chic apparel from labels like Rogan and Rag and Bone. Saved, at 82 Berry Street, features handmade art and fashion and everything from clothing to furniture is customized. Another fashion forward favorite is Mini Mini Market, 218 Bedford Avenue, a hot hipster favorite with coveted labels like Ella Moss and J Brand. At Otte, 132 North 5th Street, the hip, cheery store has current designers such as Rebecca Taylor, Ulla Johnson, and Development.

In DUMBO — “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” — amongst the cobblestone streets and warehouse buildings being converted to condos, restaurants and retail shops rule supreme. It is said to be a cross between Soho and the East Village. The Jacques Torres Chocolate Factory, at 66 Water Street, is a delectable sweet shop that would make Willy Wonka envious. Peas and Pickles, 55 Washington Street, is a neighborhood fixture and elegant grocery shop. West Elm, at 75 Front Street, boasts contemporary furniture designs, and is part of the gentrification as well as a neighborhood favorite. Blueberi is a new boutique offering clothes, shoes and accessories from a wide range of little known companies, at 143 Front Street. Dining delights include the renowned River Café, at 1 Water Street, and Grimaldi’s Pizza, 19 Old Fulton Street, serving the best brick oven pizza that people will travel far and wide to eat. Bubby’s Brooklyn, 1 Main Street, is an outpost of Tribeca’s much-loved comfort-food restaurant and Five Front, at 5 Front Street, also features creative comfort food. Let’s not forget Peter Luger steakhouse, at 178 Broadway, which has been a local landmark since 1887. Galleries are also popping up in this super hip area. Jan Larsen Art, 63 Pearl Street, shows work from young artists in a stylish industrial space. 111 Front St. Galleries is home to more than a dozen art galleries on the second floor and Superfine, part art gallery, part restaurant and part pub, at 126 Front Street, is quintessential Brooklyn.

In Boerum Hill, Butter continues to be synonymous with fashion. Open at 389 Atlantic Avenue, one will fi nd a beautiful mix of new and established designers known by all the well-heeled Brooklynites.

Cobble Hill is home to Diane T., 174 Court Street, where chic cocktail dresses and eveningwear reign supreme in this upscale boutique featuring designers like Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Furstenberg and Rebecca Taylor. Another local stop for the well dressed is Dear Fieldbinder at 198 Smith Street, which caters to those who adore emerging designers.

In Park Slope, Clothier Bklyn is the top shop for denim devotees at 44 Fifth Avenue. Bird, at 430 Seventh Avenue, is stocked with American and European labels such as Isabel Marant and Nicole Farhi, as well as jewelry by local designers. It even includes an area devoted to hipster denim like Earnest Sewn, Sass & Bide and Acne.

In discussing Brooklyn, we must touch on the gourmet warfare that is taking place in this borough. We, the consumer, will of course be the winner whatever the outcome because it will be delicious! On the banks of the Gowanas Canal, a massive Whole Foods Market will rise in 2008 with a 49,000-square-foot store to be located on a 2.1-acre site at Third Street and Third Avenue. In Red Hook, Fairway is taking a 19th century warehouse and converting it into another huge supermarket, opening in the fall. Adding to the mix is a report that Trader Joe’s also has an eye on this borough.

The amount of activity in Brooklyn is so massive that this overview is just a tiny bit of what exists, and there is an incredible amount more to come. Development is so hot that we must find an epicenter from where to begin. There is such a formidable amount of condos springing up in every single square foot and an equal amount of retail space for fabulous new shopping to come. At a premier location in Downtown Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Renaissance Plaza sits adjacent to the 665-room New York Marriott Hotel, situated at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, and has 13,500 square feet of retail space to welcome future boutiques and restaurants. The demographics are stellar — 11 million square feet of office space, seven universities nearby, and government centers just steps away. Not to mention that this is an area with supreme residential potential — there are an impressive 3,000 units under construction. The Brooklyn Renaissance Plaza is also within five minutes of the sights and sounds of Manhattan, Wall Street and the Financial District.

One extreme indicator of the level Brooklyn “In Vogue” has reached is that Brooklyn Fashion Weekend debuted May 5-7 at the Tobacco Warehouse at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, and gave Manhattan’s Fashion Week competition! The show featured 19 designers, and invited celebrities included Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams and Sarah Jessica Parker. Water taxi service will be transported Manhattan’s fashion industry elite to the blossoming borough! If they will leave Manhattan, this is a borough to be reckoned with.

With the transformation that is underway, Brooklyn is the place to develop, dine and especially shop! My passionate pastime!