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July 17th, 2009
Since our new babymama is still in the happy throes of new-motherhood, we thought we’d bring you a sampling of some of our favorite places for summer shopping in the Twin Cities. Whether you’re looking for a new sundress to show off those shoulders or a new handbag to “lighten up” for the season (we are enthralled with all things yellow, white and straw for summer), here’s a list of a few favorite haunts from the Minneapolis Picks staff. If you see us shopping, be sure to say hi! And when you stop in yourself, be sure to tell them Minneapolis Picks sent you! After all, what are we without Local Love? |
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Minneapolis Picks Suggests: |
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| 1 | Nordeast Charmer Northeast Minneapolis is known for its art scene, delightful corner bars, and commitment to supporting local businesses. Its thriving fashion district? Not so much. But change is on the horizon with the trend-worthy Parc Boutique. With sassy Joy Han dresses, sexy premium jeans, and an array of cotton duds from Fluxus, this shop has everything a lady needs for a day at the office or a night on the town. The amazingly inexpensive smattering of accessories (we picked up a ring and necklace for under $20) is not to be missed, and Parc’s selection of men’s clothing will keep your favorite male shopping buddy occupied. Parc Boutique |
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| 2 | Our Favorite Color Frilly antiques, yellowed books, country-kitschy crafts that our crazy, cat-lady aunt forces upon us at year after year... Stillwater used to be the perfect shopping destination for these types of items. Fortunately, the oldest town in the state has caught up with the times and now boasts a variety of trend-worthy storefronts, including our new favorite, Local Color on Main. This spot-on boutique carries all that we crave, including our recent passions: one-of-a-kind earrings and offbeat yet classic clutches. Check out local accessories brand Le Glitz, and luxe leather bags from Latico, plus unique scarves, clothing, bath, and body products and gifts. All super-cute stuff! Local Color on Main |
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| 3 | Well Hello, Gorgeous! Despite agonizing over our dwindling 401K, we aim to fend off our flagging confidence with some show-stopping style. Feeling pretty is half the battle, and clothes that exude feminine confidence with a flash of intrigue are what make Belle Reve our new go-to. This meticulously designed shop stocks a bevy of twenties-inspired cocktail dresses by Foley + Corinna, plus cross-continental designers like By Francine, the quintessence of French femininity, and the Korean line, Mcginn, known for its classic yet ethereal styles. When times are tough, our wish list may lengthen, but we’re checking off at least one item (or three) at Belle Reve. Belle Reve Boutique |
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| 4 | Fierce, Fabulous Finds Some women love flowers, some love jewelry, and others swoon for shoes. We do quadruple back flips for handbags, hence our newfound and perhaps overly hearty obsession with Pursecution. This urban boutique is a haven for the accessories addict, offering up a tightly honed selection of handmade, high-quality bags, purses, and leather goods. Owner Jackee’s luxe line of custom-made creations take center stage and include a variety of lust-worthy handbags, as well as ultra-hip peek-a-boo wrist and ankle cuffs (fierce-meets-fabulous!). And Pursecution stays true to their handcrafted mission by stocking a bevy of other like-minded designer lines. Pursecution |
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| 5 | A Lyrical Revival When our new boy toy (with major potential to be more) invited us to a Metallica concert, we were stoked, but also panicked, because our pastel plaids weren’t exactly 80s edgy. In an effort to show our “up-for-anything” versatile style and appreciation for his musical taste, we skipped to Lyric, a one-stop shop for rock n’ roll glam n’ glitz. We found denim jeans and skirts in every hue (think hot pink to bright yellow) with flip-flops to match, uber-sexy dresses. Quietly slam-dancing to the David tunes, we decided the Denim of Virtue mini-shorts were just the right amount of back… to our future. Lyric |
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| 6 | Beach-Baby Glam While we welcome the summer sun on our skin, two words simultaneously bring an abrupt halt to our sunny disposition: swimsuit season. Luckily we've found a remedy for the swimsuit blues. Say Aloha to Nani Nalu (Hawaiian for “beautiful wave”) where you'll find flattering fits, fabrics and fashions for every body. Hollywood glamour girls can score Ed Hardy bikinis with graffiti-like prints of fish and mermaids, while luxe ladies can tout Trina Turk's sophisticated, well-structured suits with gold embellishments. We pined over the pin-up girl-worthy ruched one-pieces by Jantzen, which prove you don't have to show a lot of skin to look sexy! Nani Nalu |
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| 7 | Indulge Your Shoe Fetish We recently went to a nightclub where towering Amazon beauties hovered over our heads and we so wished that we had opted for a killer pair of heels instead of comfy flats. Enter Pumpz and Co., a Galleria hotspot with sizzling shoes and Fashion Week-worthy accessories. We drooled over the Cynthia Vincent wedge gladiators (as fierce as a shoe can be), and their sassy array of sandals adds a hop to any step. On the handbag front, Be & D studded leather shoulder bags send the “I’m edgy and hot” vibe, or pick up spring-ready, colorful Rafe leather handbags. Though we may not be gracing the cover of “Glamour,” with Pumpz we are sure to look runway-worthy. And, hey, at least we can eat. |
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| 8 | Flirt Alert The sun is shining! Yes, the beautiful and short-lived Minnesota summer is here. And it looks like Jessica Gerard opened the doors to her new shop, Flirt, just in the nick of time. This shabby-chic Grand Avenue boutique is stocked with lingerie, bath goods and accessories. The vintage-inspired lingerie line from Lucy B will have you channeling Bettie Page faster than you can say, “Crack the whip!” She also carries Hanky Panky—sexy, no-V.P.L., super-comfy lace thongs. And with a smattering of stylish handbags, jewelry, and more, one trip to Flirt can get you summer-fling ready. Flirt Boutique |
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| 9 | Affordable Fashions Some of us have three weddings to attend this summer, so when it comes to a budget, we’re the poster gals. Cliché |
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| 10 | Retail Therapy Recently we were consoling one of our best friends after a big breakup the best way we knew how: with lots of pinot and all six seasons of Sex and the City. Once the cry-fest was over (and Carrie came to her senses about that jerk Aleksandr) we decided it was time for some serious retail therapy. So for high-fashion finds on a freelancer’s salary we headed straight to gh2. Half designer consignment shop, half super-swank outlet store for the very posh Grethen House, gh2’s racks are packed with up-to-the-minute clothing, shoes, and accessories that are sure to satisfy our inner Manhattanite—at incredible prices. gh2 |
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This list doesn’t even come close to rounding up all of the fabulous places to find fabulous fashion in the Twin Cities… and we do hate leaving someone out… so please search our Archives for key words like “dresses,” “shoes,” “accessories,” “handbags” and “designers” to help make your own list of must-shop stores for the summer! |
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