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May 14, 2010
We admit fashion can be confusing. Keeping track of trends could practically be a part-time job (and is, for us.) For starters, there are styles that pop up every few seasons, such as cowboy boots and mini-skirts. There are 15-minutes-of-fame trends like shoulder pads and head-to-toe denim (eek!). Celebrity-driven trends include oversized sunglasses and broken-in boyfriend jeans. And finally the worst, what-are-you-trying-to-do-to-us? trends that simply pile on the pounds. Here live pleated pants, horizontal stripes, skinny jeans and high-waisted shorts. (Have we learned nothing from Jessica Simpson?) It’s exhausting trying to figure out what we can and can’t pull off. So what are some accessible styles this season? Think classic with a twist. We’re loving espadrille wedges paired with flat-front loose-fit shorts; studded, strappy sandals with pencil skirts; and chunky gold jewelry with sheath cardigans—lots of age-appropriate staying power and no dizzying side effects. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Hardware and High Heels, Honey We heart mashups, whether they’re food (potato chip sandwiches!) or music (every episode of Glee!). This summer, just imagine Spartucus getting together in Gordon Gekko’s hot tub with the Ladies from Dynasty and say hello to the mashup that is this season’s fashion sensibility. Better yet, stop into this Uptown boutique—they keep their fingers on the pulse of top trends, while allowing you to keep most of your cash in your clutch. Mashup Madness starts with must-have towering Roman gladiator sandals, perhaps in yellow, the brightest color of the moment. Pair the heels with a Linda Evans-worthy shoulder-padded frock, perhaps one that sports the new jeweled hardware that showcases your software oh so nicely. Add a tote with enough chains to fend off a biker gang, and you’re ready to rock the summer of one-oh and party like it’s 1989. They claim you can pull together a chic outfit here for under $100, and we believe it. Now if they could just direct us to an Uptown restaurant that sells potato chip sandwiches… Uptown Girl |
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| 2 | Getting Hitched We’re in party planning mode. It’s the summer of our matrimonial “I do’s” and we want our sweetheart’s event to be the talk of the town. In search of something hip, hot and delish for our rehearsal-dinner bash, we found our ideal match in the Twin Cities’ newest private party host: The Barrio Truck. That’s right—the dark, sexy and swanky Barrio Tequila Bar that we’ve come to know and love for its potent tequila libations and gourmet Latin-street food has gone mobile! Painted in stealth black with its signature-red Barrio logo, this taco truck is sizzling hot. (Just like we are in our wedding dress!) And the menu includes all the Barrio favorites: Pork Carnitas, Fried Mahi-Mahi tacos, Skewered Tequila Shrimp, Crab Empanadas, Potato Sopes, Mexican Coke and more. Paired to perfection with our salsa band, and serving up to 250 people, this Barrio Truck knows how to bring the fiesta. Available for corporate catering, private parties and debuting at this summer’s favorite food festivals, we must admit that with the Barrio Truck, it was love at first bite. The Barrio Truck |
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| 3 | Dressed to Thrill As girls we thumbed feverishly through bridal magazines, diligently dog-earing our faves. The dress: ginormous. The veil: fluffy. The jewelry? Pageant-style, baby. If only we’d known about The Wedding Shoppe, perhaps we wouldn’t have sauntered down the aisle looking like a cupcake in drag. This bridal haven houses a dazzling array of wedding-day must-haves including stunning bridesmaid dresses, elegant jewelry, and tuxes that epitomize man-glam (shhh… don’t tell your guy). But where this boutique really shines is in their drop-dead gorgeous selection of bridal gowns, and let’s be honest—it really is about rockin’ the right dress and blowing raspberries at nay-sayers. We swooned over a ball gown by Paloma Blanca that perfectly embodied a timeless-meets-modern vibe, and we were positively mesmerized by an exquisitely fitted floral number by Watters & Watters, so ethereal in beauty and romantic in style that we briefly contemplated divorce just so we could get remarried in it. Fabulous invites, ultra-chic clutches, dance-worthy heels, and Spanx to tame the jiggle in your wiggle… this local mainstay has everything needed to give you the perfect happily ever after! The Wedding Shoppe |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Not-So-Basic Bedding So we went searching online and found Luxury Lab linens—shams, duvets and even pajamas are silk-screened by hand with cool designs. And the hand-dyeing means every item is unique and original. Just right for independent sleepers like ourselves. |
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| 2 | Shop Around the Clock We love shopping. Okay, that's a gross understatement. But wading through the throngs can be downright deflating. This is why we frequent Bernadette’s online boutique. Bernadette’s offers an ever-changing, carefully edited collection of footwear, jewelry, even pet couture! From discontinued Louis Vuitton to vintage Halston, there are many squeals of joy to be had 24/7. There is only one of each item, though, so once it’s gone, it’s not restocked. In other words, it’s shopping time. |
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| 3 | Make a Statement We’re not gonna lie—we totally rocked all those tee-shirts with dorky phrases on them, circa 2004. In fact, we loved them. And now we can make a new statement and extol our love of books (with classic literature cutely emblazoned on our chests) thanks to Out of Print Clothing. But most importantly, we can make a difference—each shirt purchased sends a book to a community in need, through Books to Africa. “On the Road,” indeed. www.outofprintclothing.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Haute Homes We love visiting someone when they’ve just built a new home ‘cuz we can get ideas of our own, so we love ASID Showcase Home Tour. Enjoy the unique opportunity to see two distinct homes designed by 26 ASID designers. Tour Lake Calhoun Chic and Lake of the Isles Eclectic and gather ideas for your future remo! What: ASID Showcase Home Tour |
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| 2 | Dream Maker Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit helping grant wishes to individuals battling breast cancer, has kicked off its Tour of Gowns. The charity wedding-gown sale features hundreds of beautiful gowns donated by designers, retailers and individuals. Find your dream gown and help those fighting metastatic breast cancer. Already married? They’re still taking donations! What: Brides Against Breast Cancer Nationwide Tour of Gowns |
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| 3 | When Two Become One We’ve been big fans of the Galleria’s Three Rooms and ATAZ for some time, and little did we know they had the same home décor-genius owner, who’s decided to combine the two and have a huge consolidation sale! Three Rooms reopens their remodeled digs Thursday, May 20, with a focus on local artists and contemporary design. What: Three Rooms and ATAZ Consolidation Sale |
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