By Peggah Navab
There are few clothing items that stay in my closet for more than a couple years. It’s not that I’m big on trends; At 24 I don’t exactly have boat-loads of cash to spend on one-of-a-kind it pieces that’ll take me through the ages. Usually I wear out all my clothes until they become drab and ill-fitting, then I get replacements. One exception to this cycle is a dress I bought at Cliché when I was sixteen, right around the time the store opened. I have no idea who designed it or where it comes from. But it’s pretty unforgettable and has garnered me complements whether I was in France or in Argentina. It’s got a 1920s feel. It’s probably a polyester blend though it looks like silk. I think it cost me about $50.
Cliché has a wonderful mix of local, international, and U.S. made designs. Owners Josh and Delayna Sunderg used to carry a more random assortment of locally-made clothes. Nowadays they’re trying to narrow them down. They look for a clean, modern aesthetic found in collections by Twin Cities-based designers, including Kathryn Sterner and Amanda Christine, which they recently made into wholesale accounts. Their work is classic in cut and style but also forward-thinking. It’s on trend but simple enough to last. Kathryn Sterner uses a lot of sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, linen, and silk. She has some beautiful red dresses at Cliché, that would work great as everyday staples. The same goes for Amanda Christine’s purple cut-out dresses, though her draping fabrics seemed to make for a less casual look. Josh also named Christine’s Red Italian Mohair sweater as one of the highlights of her collection.
Dress ($168), by Kathryn V, from Cliche
Dress ($178), by Amanda Christine, from Cliche
