The store owners are blaming the economy, but I wonder if the rise of Lillian's might have had a little something to do with the demise of Totes & Treasures, a lesser-known St. Paul resource for designer inspired bags and accessories. Just got word that this sweet little shop will close at the end of February. A big sale is underway - get the details in Sales/Specials. Of course, there are still plenty of places in town to get trendy bags for $50 or less: Lillian's now has 16 Minnesota locations, and growing. Then there's the veteran, Fun Sisters, the promising newcomer, Zida Fashion Accessories, and a smattering of smaller shops like Lori's Little New York, Ooh La La and Fringe. For more Twin Cities bag shops, click here.
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January 28, 2009
January 27, 2009
Harry Connick Jr. looking suave at MOA
I should be angry with Harry Connick Jr. for not making time to shop with me at Mall of America this evening, and not only because he has daughters and a gorgeous wife who undoubtedly would have appreciated a few pretty things purchased with no sales tax. Harry arrived at the mall an hour before I did! By the time Siobhan Fallon - who did shop with me - got there for their joint appearance to promote the new movie "New in Town," Harry was so bored, sequestered in the windowless mall management office, that Siobhan was summonsed to say hello. What about me?, I asked politely, standing, as I was, next to Siobhan. "Oh, there's no time," I was told by a gaggle of publicists. "Harry is about to go on stage!" Honestly. Even so, I can't stay angry at the handsome devil. Wow, does he look good in a suit!
January 26, 2009
Zellweger's co-star defends that dress
When the fashion police lambasted Renee Zellweger’s odd see-through dress over corset at the Golden Globes, her co-star Siobhan Fallon from “New in Town” (out on Friday) called and said “The cream rises to the top.” Zellweger’s reply: “I love you.”
“It’s got to hurt her feelings,” said Fallon, who plays a New Ulm, Minn. secretary in the upcoming release. Fallon, who remains fairly anonymous despite her long list of film and TV credits, was able to shop with me at Mall of America this evening. She’s a great reminder that not everyone in Hollywood is consumed by designer fashions ("I've got this black dress that I wear to a lot of things," she says). She caught just a few moments of the SAG awards in her Minneapolis hotel room Sunday night and says she thought they all looked good – especially her friend Tina Fey, who is not exactly a fashion critic's favorite for her safe, dark dress choices. “She’s a New Yorker,” Fallon says. “Black is what we wear.”
Find out what Fallon wears, and where she shops in my “Shopping With…” column Sunday, Feb. 1 in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
January 22, 2009
January 20, 2009
I want to be like Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama nailed it. The dress, a white chiffon one-shoulder Jason Wu design with a ruched bodice and sparkling train, was absolutely exquisite. Love that she wore her hair down. Love that she looked so comfortable and confident dancing close with her husband in front of Beyonce and the rest of the world. Love that she pulled it off seemingly minutes after sitting out in the cold at that never-ending parade. Rock on, First Lady. This is going to be fun.
New campaign: Get the First Lady a MN-made dress
Expect to see a lot of yellow at Twin Cities boutiques in the coming months. Yellow has already been declared the color of the year by the Pantone Color Institute and First Lady Michelle Obama cinched its fate Tuesday, by wearing a citron dress and jacket for Inauguration Day. Dare I confess that I didn't instantly love the ensemble? It seemed a bit awkward on first glance, but grew on me throughout the day. The color was flattering and unexpected. Love that she went with a dress rather than a suit, and the fact that it was embellished was a subtle nod to fashion without being over-the-top. Plus, the fact that it was designed by little-known Isabel Toledo had our own Joy Teiken jumping for, well, joy. She's just gotta get the first lady in a Joynoelle dress!
January 19, 2009
Look like Eva today; the first lady tomorrow
Everyone wants to look like Eva Longoria Parker. Her red-hot strapless mermaid style Golden Globes gown is proving to be the most popular for Unique Vintage, which is taking pre-orders on a $238 version "inspired by" the Desperate Housewife's Reem Acra dress. The other Eva, Eva Mendes' white dress is also being copied - er, "recreated" - but it was that spectacular turquoise and diamond necklace that made the look (Mendes being in it didn't hurt), so Unique Vintage owner Katie Echeverry tells me she's on a mad hunt to find something similar at an affordable price point. Echeverry's L.A. boutique and online store is also selling Jennifer Lopez's I'll-show-my-creepy-husband-how-hot-I-am slinky gold dress. All will be available to ship in time for prom. Not that teens are the only ones wearing them, Echeverry says. She even sold some celeb look-alikes for Inaugural balls. Speaking of which, Echeverry says Michelle Obama's Inaugural ball gown will be copied and practically in production before the new first lady even takes hers off. It really doesn't matter what it looks like - Echeverry says everyone is going to want it.
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