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January 15th, 2010
We hate to be a Debbie Downer, but we are bored with a capital B these days. We’re not sure if it’s the absence of our holiday-induced booze and cookie high, the weather, or simply that we just don’t have anything to look forward to in the next 8 weeks, but we’re bum-city population 1 and everything is just blechy-blechy-blah-blah. At first we thought we might need one of those happy lamps to sit under, but then we realized what we really needed was shoes. Yep, shoes would definitely fix our funk. And maybe a saucy new dress. Ooh! And as long as we’re getting all gussied up, maybe a night out to a swank supper club? And Christian Bale! Yep that’s all we need: shoes, dress, food, and Christian Bale and we’ll be able to kiss our foul mood buh-bye. Man, we’re easy to please. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Simply Irresistible We’ve been cursed—or blessed, depending on who you ask—with big ta-tas. We’re not talking Dolly-worthy or anything, but still… big. And while we’re all about loving what we’re born with, blah, blah, blah… we most definitely don’t love the industrial-style undergarments available in our size. We’re not strapping the girls in for a space launch! So fortunately, we have Allure. Like a siren song in the night, this Grand Avenue newbie calls out to busty chicas with an eye for style, stocking its shelves with a pleasing assortment of bras from noteworthy lines like Aubade, LeMystere, and Cosabella, that masterfully mix support with pretty colors, lace, and embellishments. And fear not, our less-endowed sisters—they offer traditional sizes too, and the ultra-friendly and knowledgeable staff will professionally fit you, then hook you up with the best bras for your bod. Allure also boasts a stylish selection of undies, pajamas, swoon-worthy cashmere robes and loungey-luxe sweaters, yoga wear, and an ethereal selection of bridal lingerie that’ll knock the socks of your significant O on the big night. Ooh, la, la! Allure |
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| 2 | House Beautiful One of the challenges we face at any swanky furniture store is how our imagination runs wild the instant we walk through the door. “Oh wow,” we exclaim. “Maybe we do need a sofa upholstered with blue synthetic hair! Great for parties!” But with a little time (and a stern look from our shopping partner), we realize that these ultra-edgy pieces, while fun, just aren’t really us. Looking for more reasonable choices, we headed to Heinrich+Schultz. Their light-filled studio is a treasure trove of pieces that can translate instantly from showroom to living room. As for their aesthetic: elegant, classic, contemporary, and unique all come to mind. The merchandise represents the best the world has to offer, which means you can find a mix of styles, from Asian vases to a contemporary bright red claw-foot side table. H+S offers pieces both small and large off the showroom floor, as well as a custom decorating service with an emphasis on working with what you already have and using their collection to inject new life into your living space. And that’s definitely us. Heinrich+Schultz |
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| 3 | Have a Little Nosh Enough with the buttercream frosting, already. We’ve taken a firm stand against all things goopy, gloppy and covered with sprinkles. We already insist on sleek sophistication in what we wear, so we’re demanding it in what we eat, as well. Vinaigrette is a store for the grown-up palate, with a setup of urns and bottles that encourages customers to sample, nibble and discover their favorite olive oils and vinegars. With products from Spain, Greece, Tunisia and Syria, this round-the-world tour is ready for takeoff in a warm storefront in Southwest Minneapolis. We thought our palate was refined, but the 18-year-old Pear Balsamic Vinegar was a whole new trip for our taste buds. And when we heard about the store’s recipe for Pear Vinegar Martinis, we snapped up several bottles for our next Sips & Apps night. Choose your favorite, pick a bottle size, and even bring back the empties for a 10% discount. The store is planning new chef-demo nights for the coming season, so we can expand beyond our bread-dipping and salad-dressing repertoire. Vinaigrette |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | The One That We Want We find the “shapes” ascribed to women’s bodies kind of weird, slightly annoying, and a little unflattering. Who the heck wants to admit they might be shaped like an apple? Luckily we have lines like Olivia Luca to help us embrace our shape in style. This fully customizable bridal line aims to fit and flatter the whole fruit basket by allowing brides and maids to mix and match a huge assortment of cuts, styles, and fabrics for maximum wedding-day beauty. |
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| 2 | All Keyed Up After we saw the stunning diamond skeleton keys from Tiffany we felt faint with longing and then our butts bounced back into reality. Us scoring one of those jewel-encrusted beauties is about as likely as our fatty cat Sophie doing the cha-cha. Good thing we found a sweet little key on Etsy to keep us from feeling deprived. It may not be loaded with bling, but it is plated in 24k gold and at under $100 we can fathom purchasing it. |
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| 3 | Who Loves Ya, Baby? Just when we were getting used to all of our friends getting married, all of a sudden, they all started getting knocked up. From bachelorette parties to baby showers, our heads are spinning, but at least we know what to get them. The glass baby bottles from Wee Go are phthalate- and PVC-free, eco-friendly, and we love the modern design and brightly colored silicon sleeves (to keep the bottle from breaking, and making it easy to grip)—perfect for tiny baby hands. You’re welcome. www.lifefactory.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Bye-bye Blahs Shake the winter doldrums at Avoid the Grey, an ultra-stylish runway show that highlights the talents of 15 top-notch local designers. Along with a peek at their lust-worthy lines, fashion lovers will also be treated to a swank after-party, complete with swag bags. Who says winter isn’t fun? What: Avoid the Grey |
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| 2 | Fare Thee Well We’re always bummed when a local boutique decides to shutter its doors, but such is the case with the lovely Birch Clothing. Now through the end of January savvy shoppers can save up to 70% off Birch’s fab selection of eco-friendly apparel and accessories. Don’t be too sad though—their online shop is alive and well! What: Birch Clothing’s Closing Sale |
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| 3 | Give a Little, Get a Little We’re always happy to help out our community—yep, we’re givers—so if we can help by shopping, we say all the better! Now through January 31, bring in two or more nonperishable food items to Details Style Lab and you’ll receive 10% off salon and spa products! Items collected benefit the Emergency FoodShelf Network. What: Details Style Lab’s Food Drive |
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