Those bangs! That coat! First Lady Michelle Obama hit another homerun in a tailored Thom Browne coat for the Inauguration Day ceremonies. The entire First Family was color coordinated in shades of blue and purple. Daughter Malia wore a pink J. Crew coat (off the rack, J. Crew prez Jenna Lyons just told the New York Times) and Sasha was in periwinkle Kate Spade, both…
Hello Yellow
Yellow stole the spotlight—sunlight?—at Sunday’s Emmy Awards. I enjoyed the bold pop of positive color, although stars pulled it off with varying degrees of success…Julie Bowen: Good; Julianne Moore: Not so much. Too bad, the color actually looked lovely against Moore’s auburn hair, but there was just too…
Another MN Brand You Should Know
We’ve celebrated, we’ve analyzed, we’ve enthusiastically gushed about our hometown heritage brands as they enjoy the ride from function to fashion. You know the story: tried and true Minnesota-based brands that come from humble roots and practical beginnings, quietly churning out quality product for decades until finally, the fashion industry starts talking…
Madewell is Coming to Southdale
Score one for Southdale. The ailing Edina mall owned by Simon Properties Group, promised that renovations would lead to new and better stores, and with construction well underway, Southdale Center today announced its first wave of store openings including Minnesota’s first Madewell —a hot concept from J.Crew that is sure to help the mall win back some of the trendsetters it has lost in…
Worth a visit: Maria Rivolta
I’ve been mulling a column idea this week about the proliferation of accessories stores, both locally owned and national chains. So many stores now specialize in affordable baubles and trinkets – which are also readily available at virtually every clothing store, discounter and outlet, too. When I asked friends on Facebook where they go to accessorize in a hurry, the answers ranged from specialty chains…
Red Wing reaction to New Yorker
J. Crew CEO Mickey Drexler is a big fan of Red Wing Shoes - the first outside brand he brought in to what is now a substantial heritage collection. But that admiration does not extend to every style – like the ones favored by Red Wing Shoes CEO David Murphy. While interviewing Murphy for today’s…
Martin + Osa's final season
Grown-ups frequently complain that mall stores cater to teens. Yet one by one, the "grown-up" concepts introduced by the big three: Gap (Forth & Towne), Abercrombie & Fitch (Ruehl No. 925) and most recently, American Eagle's Martin + Osa, have failed. Do the chains not understand what post-college shoppers want to wear into their 30s and beyond? Or are those shoppers not buying what…
Rosedale catches up
Rosedale Center has long been a more pleasant, updated place to shop than, say, Southdale. And it’s finally getting the stores and amenities that will keep shoppers on the east side of town (watch out, Mall of America!). The mall announced Tuesday that J. Crew, Sephora, White House/Black Market and C.J. Banks will open at Rosedale this spring, along…
Service gripes
Which is worse: no sales associate behind the register, or an associate who stands there, doing nothing, even when the customer asks for help? Not once, but twice in the past week I have directly asked about sizes I couldn’t find on the rack, only to receive a shrug from the staff. The first time, it happened at J.Crew. I was filing through stacks of…
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