Anthropologie and Creative Kidstuff have some company at the slow-to-get-going new Shops at West End in St. Louis Park. Love Culture is open, and ready to give H&M and Forever 21 some competition. Did the sign on that t-shirt table really say $2.90 each??! This fast growing, fast fashion chain was founded just two years ago in Los Angeles and now boasts 23 stores in 11 states. West End is Minnesota's first. The store is big and bright with lots of trendy temptations for less than $50 - heck, many less than $30 - like buckle ankle boots, sweater dresses, long tops, leggings and plenty of basics and accessories. Just be sure to try things on: the return policy is not-so-friendly and some items, like the $35 boots, are final sale - even at regular price. Still, great to have a new player in town!
December 28, 2009
Their hotness knows no bounds
Add three more addresses to Hot Mama's ever expanding empire. Today the Edina-based boutique chain announced plans to open in Eden Prairie (next to Kona Grill) in March, with two more openings to follow in April at Hilldale Mall in Madison, Wis. and the new Shops at West End in St. Louis Park. That will bring the total to 16 Hot Mama stores throughout the Midwest - seven in the Twin Cities.
It's great to see a local husband and wife team succeed - it was just five years ago that Megan and Mike Tamte opened their first store in 50th & France, having not even decided whether or not to offer maternity apparel. Now, they've got the formula down: serve moms during pregnancy and beyond by making it easy for them to shop for hip, contemporary clothes. That means sales associates that double as babysitters, toys, video games, plenty of seating and a free flow of animal crackers. Genius. Hot Mama was the pioneer - even Old Navy has play tables now. But Hot Mama has figured out how to make moms - and kids - comfortable. And apparently, they've figured out how to conquer a recession. The Tamtes told the St. Paul Pioneer Press in October that their strategy is to expand when no one else is, which gets them lower rent and more flexible deals. They've also lowered their price points.
I just hope they don't lose focus on the fashion. The last few times I was in, the selection was underwhelming. The racks were messy. Animal crackers are great and all, but if the jeans and tops don't make me feel hot, I'm not buying.
November 05, 2009
Shaping a brand
Shapewear is designed to give women confidence, but Hollywood Fashion Tape took it to a whole new level Thursday night at Maiden Minnesota. Their shapewear model had no trouble attracting attention in the crowded ballroom of locally made products and eager shoppers.
October 05, 2009
Take that, Anna Wintour
Minneapolis-based fashion designer Joy Teiken delighted the hometown crowd with her spring 2010 Joynoelle ready-to-wear and bridal collections, shown Thursday at Gallery 13 in Minneapolis. Lots of fitted bodices and feminine details went into these utterly lovely, wearable dresses. She called it "Pretty Little Houses" in response to Vogue editor Anna Wintour's comment that Minnesotans look like little houses. Look at these pictures, Ms. Wintour! No really, look. So, a Minnesota fashion show isn't going to make a career like one in New York can do, but it does make a difference in terms of respect, buzz and sheer energy. "It's like a dance performance," Joy said of her fashions. "You just want to get it in front of an audience." She had a lot of local support, from individuals and companies. But for fashion to continue moving in the direction Joy is trying to take it locally, the big money sponsors are going to have to step up...and get us out of our little houses.
Photos courtesy of Sohail Akhavein for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. See more in the paper on Sunday, Oct.11.
September 17, 2009
Floating heels hit the suburbs
September 15, 2009
I'm a Jenny?!
By Sunday afternoon, the day the "Gossip Girl"-inspired Anna Sui for Target collection officially debuted in select stores, sizes were picked over (is everyone a medium?). The quality seems better than some past Target designer collections, which photograph amazingly well but disappoint in person. I was generally impressed by the Sui pieces, other than the sequin feather detailing on a gray dress which looked like something my kids glued on. Swept up in the moment, and pressured by the two girls grabbing dresses around me, I wanted a piece of Sui. I picked a silk sleeveless black wrap dress with white geometric print. Realized when I got to work today and reviewed the Target Look Book, which is divided into four themes, for each of the four main female characters, that my dress is a Jenny. A Jenny! I would have thought I'd want to be a Serena, but feel more appropriate in a Blair. Never even considered the rocker-edged Jenny. It's a whole new me. Assuming I don't decide I'm too old, or too busty to wear the dress and return it.
August 31, 2009
Behind the fall fashion shoot
Great idea, colleagues exclaimed when they saw that we mixed consignment and clearance clothing in with new arrivals for the St. Paul Pioneer Press fall fashion section. It did work out amazingly well and was the perfect way to balance our desire to update and wear designer pieces at a time when buying them full price still seems gratuitous. But here's a little secret: I didn't really set out to mix old with new. It happened when the new stylist I hired, Jane Belfry, indulged her penchant for vintage by pulling clothes from June and gh2 despite my sending her out with a shopping list of new fall trends. I'll be honest: at first I was freaked. I've got one day to get this mammoth shoot completed. The models, the hair and makeup team the photographer were all set to go, and I had a rack of not-so-new clothes. But forget about the red marks on the price tags - there were some amazing pieces - Lanvin; Jean Paul Gaultier - everything looked perfectly modern and now...even if it wasn't. So who cares what the tag says? I know we're lucky to have designer resale shops like June and gh2 in town, but seeing some of the amazing buys really told me I need to look beyond the new arrivals when shopping for fall - or any season. See for yourself.
August 10, 2009
Hot, hot Mama
It's gotta be the animal crackers. How else to explain Hot Mama bucking the boutique blahs and expanding at a time when so many local retailers are downsizing or closing? Hot Mama just announced plans to open its 12th location (fifth in the Twin Cities) at Rosedale Plaza in Roseville. The store will open Nov. 4. But first, on Oct. 22, Hot Mama will unveil a new, larger store at 50th & France in Edina. Hot Mama is moving down the block to the old Acorn space where there will be room for maternity and regular fit to combine (now they are across the hall from each other). Hot Mama sells contemporary women's fashions including a lot of designer denim and accessories often seen on celebs. The store understands what makes women in their 30s and beyond feel sexy. But more than that, Hot Mama knows the key to a shopper's wallet is her children. Ply 'em with snacks, provide them with toys and even have salespeople double as babysitters - then mama can shop.
July 17, 2009
Bootylicious redefined
Oh my.
St. Paul Pioneer Press photographer Chris Polydoroff took a lot of fantastic photos at the Beyonce concert last night, but none quiet as, shall we say, spellbinding as this one, captured outside the Target Center.
Where, oh where to begin?
How about with applause for confidence. These ladies tried. They wanted to show their sexy. They showed that...and a few too many other things.
Hold the giggles. There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this situation. Stylists tell us again and again, on every cable channel, that hiding our curves only makes us look bigger.
This is a fashion lesson taken too literally. Clothes should fit. Yes, not too big. But not too small either. Leave a little something to the imagination. Times two.
May 19, 2009
The disgusting truth about expensive clothes
You want to think it's all logos and status - that expensive clothes aren't really any better, just pricier. But I unknowingly tried on a $930 dress and it was bliss. The white-with-black-polka dot Charles Chang Lima dress zipped up the back, but inside the bodice was a second, interior zipper to hold the cleavage in place. The lingerie straps adjusted. The length was perfect. When does that happen? Ever? The dress will be 30 percent off later this week during the spring sale at Grethen House, the store owner offered. It wouldn't help.
Recent Comments