Tuesday, February 14, 2012

l'etoile's Guide to Sales & Shopping: February 14-21

Edited and written by Jahna Peloquin, l'étoile Fashion Editor

This week in local shopping and style events, new boutique Arrow opens in the Warehouse District, Minneapolis welcomes new blowout bars, and Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week kicks off.

SALES & SHOPPING FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15-21:

New blow dry bars open in Minneapolis
What:
Minneapolis is taking a nod from the coasts with a wave of blow dry bar openings this month. Boutique salon HAUS (pictured), which opened last year, just introduced an in-house blow dry bar to its South Minneapolis location, available for $30 a pop (or $20 for first-timers). Meanwhile, Smart and Chic Beauty Lounge has relaunched as the Beauty Lounge Minneapolis under new ownership, offering hair and makeup styling, private parties, and special occasion services. Finally, the new Blast Blow Dry Bar is opening two locations later this spring: at the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park and Aloft hotel in downtown Minneapolis, priced at $35. All services include a wash, blow dry, and styling.
When: Now open at HAUS; coming soon at Blast Blow Dry.
Where: HAUS Salon, 4240 Nicollet Avenue S, Minneapolis, 612-827-4287, www.haussalon.com; Beauty Lounge Minneapolis: 20 NE University Avenue Minneapolis, 612-227-9363, www.mplsbeautylounge.com; Blast Blow Dry Bar: 1668 West End Boulevard, St. Louis Park & Aloft hotel, 900 Washington Avenue S, Minneapolis, 1-855-MNBLAST, blastdrybar.com

Wednesday-Saturday: MODE Designer Liquidation Sale
What:
What can we say? We're suckers for designer clothing on the cheap. And you can swoop up tons of deals for less than $40 at this weekend's designer liquidation pop-up sale from retailer MODE. Brands include Trina Turk, Ella Moss, Theory, Alice and Olivia, Chloe, Diane von Furstenberg, 7 for All Mankind, Paige, J Brand (pictured), Serfontaine, Diesel, and many more, plus designer cosmetics and fragrances marked at $20 or less.
When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 15-Saturday, February 18.
Where: 4416 Excelsior Boulevard, St. Louis Park, 701-478-9969, www.shopmodestore.com

Saturday: Styles for Smiles
What: Celebrate local retailers for a good cause as Styles for Smiles kicks of Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week in style. Enjoy an afternoon of shopping, food, and makeovers, with runway shows featuring Kokoon, Local Motion, and Primp. Proceeds benefit Project Healthy Smile .
When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, February 18.
Where: Maki Strunc Studios, 6156 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, 612-229-8522, www.projecthealthysmile.org

Saturday: University of Minnesota Senior Fashion Show: “Twelve”
What: The University of Minnesota’s apparel department has produced a number of l’etoile favorites over the years - designing duo Calpurnia Peach (Ashley Wokasch and Luci Kandler), Niki English, Kathryn V., Tender Cuts (Emily Bryngelson), to name a few. This year’s latest crop of a dozen designers don’t look to be anything to scoff at - a pair of designers already selling their line at a local boutique, a student who already has internships in Paris and New York lined up, and a future Zandra Rhodes intern. Tickets are $10 for balcony standing, $20 for general seating ($25 day of show) and $50 for VIP seating, available in advance at 612-625-8796 or fashionshow.design.umn.edu
When: 5:30 p.m. & 8 p.m. Saturday, February 18.
Where: Rapson Hall at University of Minnesota, 89 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, 612-625-8796, fashionshow.design.umn.edu

Sunday: The Red Dress Collection
What: Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week takes a cue from our New York counterpart when MNfashion and The Heart Truth present The Red Dress Collection this weekend. The event pairs local designers including Emma Berg, Max Lohrbach, Danielle Everine, Christopher Straub and others show red dresses on local celebs for a runway show, with proceeds benefiting the Women’s Heart Clinic. Tickets are $20 and available at reddressmn.com.
When: 6–9 p.m. Sunday, February 19.
Where: Seven Sushi Ultralounge, 700 Hennepin Avenue N, Minneapolis, reddressmn.com

Sunday: Sol Inspirations Fashion Network Happy Hour
What: Meet and mingle with members of the local fashion industry at eco-fashion organization Sol Inspirations’ happy hour and Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week kickoff event, which will also feature an eco-fashion exhibit with looks from Jenny Carle, Renalie Bailey, CounterCouture and more.
When: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, February 19.
Where: Bespoke Hair Artisans, 3918 W 49 1/2 Street, Edina, www.sol-inspirations.org

Monday: MNfashion & l'étoile presents: Emerging Designer Showcase
What:
Join MNfashion and l’etoile for a lively showcase of work from a hand-selected roster of emerging Twin Cities talent, including Marissa Bridges, Nicole Larson (pictured), YQY by Vivian, Gina Marie Vintage and Caroline Hayden. Sip libations, meet the designers, listen to live music from model/singer Tearra's project OSO featuring Mayda, and mingle with other like-minded fashion forwards the night before the official MNFashion Shows. Informal fashion presentations will occur throughout the evening, so show up early and stay late.
When: 6-9 p.m. Monday, February 20.
Where: CO Exhibitions, 1101 Stinson Boulevard NE #2, Minneapolis; click HERE for the Facebook invite

Next Tuesday: MNfashion presents The Shows
What: The centerpiece of this spring’s Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week is the return of The Shows, MNfashion’s fashion week staple that showcases top Twin Cities designers in individual runway shows for one full evening of fashion. This spring, Spring 2011 showstopper Emma Berg (pictured) returns with a Fall/Winter 2012 collection, as do Kimberly Jurek and Amanda Christine, who are among the Twin Cities’ more successful designers, manufacturing and selling their line in dozens of stores across the country. Tickets are $10 and available here. (Photo: Stephen Stephens/Digital Crush)
When: 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. runway. Tuesday, February 21.
Where: 514studios, 514 N 3rd Street #101, Minneapolis, mnfashion.org

Now open: ARROW
What: Many mourned the loss of Intoto when the longtime Twin Cities designer retailer closed in 2010 after 20 years of business. But fans of the store have something to look forward to when two former Intoto employees open Arrow at the end of this month in martinpatrick3's old space in the North Loop. Partners Sarah Dwyer and Michael Basham promise a concept similar to the old store but less high-end and more colorful, with hard-to-find lines for men and women such as Surface to Air (pictured), Vanessa Bruno, Steven Alan and Rogan.
When: Now open.
Where: ARROW, 121 N 1st Street, Minneapolis, 612-339-1663.

ONGOING SALES & SHOPPING:

Beginning Thursday: STYLEDLIFE Semi-annual Sale
What:
Fans of designer accessory haven STYLEDLIFE have been waiting with bated breath for the Galleria boutique's sale of the season. The shop will be marking down everything (excluding vintage items) 30 to 70 percent, with more items fromb rands like Missoni, Pucci, Alexis Bittar (pictured), Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lauren Merkin and more at greater discounts than ever before, including music. Plus, newly arriving Spring/Summer 2012 merchandise also receives at 15 percent off discount.
When: Beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 2. Sale runs through March 4.
Where: STYLEDLIFE, Galleria, Edina, 952-928-8888, www.styledlife.com


Ongoing: Spinario Design Moving Sale
What:
Vintage interiors haven Spinario have already moved to their new digs, but for a limited time, much of the stock at their old location will be 20 percent off. Merchandise available at discount currently includes Paul McCobb, Dunbar, Alvar Aalto, Scandinavian glass, original mid-century art, paintings, prints, and sculpture, studio pottery, books, records, lighting, and much more. New items will be added regularly, and prices will continue to drop to 40 and 60 percent off as they sale continues.
When: Ongoing.
Where: Spinario Design, 1300 2nd Street NE, Minneapolis, 612-396-1860, www.spinariodesign.com

SHIP&SHAPE's "Be Mine" collection
What: When Minneapolis-based online retailer SHIP&SHAPE launched last fall, we were ecstatic over the charmingly edited collection of clothing, jewelry, stationery and more by local luminaries such as Rachel Blomgren, Annika Kaplan, Molly Erickson, Erin Smith and Isa Gagarin. With their second collection, launching this weekend exclusively at www.shipandshape.com, the collective offers an ode to love with a Valentine's-themed collection called "Be Mine." The romantic collection ranges from the overtly love-themed, like the ceramic mug sets with the phrase "I love you" written out in various languages; or more subtly sweet, like ruffled cotton bloomers and a porcelain lace collar. Each item is available in ultra-limited runs of about five a piece, so get them while they're hot.
When: Through March 31.
Where: www.shipandshape.com

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