When styles resurface, you can almost hear the collective sigh. If only we had kept those Dr. Martens and ripped jeans that are “in” again. If only our closets were more like that of salon owner Ashley Haley, voted “Best Clothes and Hair” by Mitchell Senior High School, class of 2001.

Haley misses the flannels and high-waisted Girbauds she wore as a teen in Mitchell, South Dakota, but she’s held on to many things, including her mom’s “amazing collection of pieces from the ’80s.” The stylist, who cut her teeth at the Aveda Institute at 20 years old and stayed in Minneapolis, which proved to be the ideal town for expressing her punk-retro-boho style, admits, “I was basically a younger version of the way I dress now.”

Aside from hipping up her BANGbang Salon clients’ locks with fresh trends and ideas (she’s regularly in New York City to style at Fashion Week and attend Bumble and bumble workshops), appointments are made more fun by seeing Haley’s latest creative outfit in the mirror.

“Fashion has always been a way to set myself apart and express myself,” says the blonde, who often wears geek-chic glasses and snips away with her sleeves rolled up to reveal a smattering of tattoos.

When asked about a style icon, Haley doesn’t hesitate. “Blondie. The whole band. I love androgynous dress—the jeans, boots, blazer, and undone hair look.” Which is so very then. And now.

BANGbang Salon, 11 W. 38th St., Mpls., 612-823-2264, bangbangmpls.com

Tea Tree Oil from Whole Foods | “I use it as an antibiotic oil for blemishes and cuts. Plus, I like the smell.”

Meow Meow Tweet | “Best deodorant cream ever.”

Ormedic Lip Complex | “Great for dry lips during our MN winters.”

Arabian Oil from Whole Foods | “I use this for my perfume.”

Smith & Cult Nail Color | “Fun colors and minimal chemicals!”

R+Co One Prep Spray | “This hair refresher and detangler is great for the person who doesn’t want to wash every day.”

R+Co Park Ave Blow Out Balm | “Use as a protector before a blowout; it adds shine and smoothness.”

Tarte Lip Tint from Sephora | “My favorite in several shades, just as long as it is matte!”

KIND bar | “Perfect on-the-go snack that tricks you into thinking you’re eating candy bar.”

Rifle Paper Co. Notebook from Paper Source | “I often have several on me. I like to journal and write down ideas before they slip away.”

Reusable Shopping Bag | “I was always forgetting, so now I just stick this rolled up one in my purse!”

More than 340 new homes were built in Woodbury last year, which adds up to a lot of rooms in need of decorating. Enter Merriment, a new home furnishings and adornments store from interior designer Sarah Olsen. After years of working out of International Market Square, she decided to bring her business home to Woodbury. The spacious store bridges classic and contemporary styles with a full design studio and major furniture lines including Century. But there are plenty of small items—pillows, jewelry, soap, candles to keep shoppers coming in between remodeling projects. 803 Bielenberg Drive, Woodbury, 651-219-4597, merrimentadornments.com.

Doggy Dress up:

Every Minnesota pup deserves a cardigan sweater.

Nearly 10 years after the opening of the Woodbury Lakes lifestyle center, which failed to make Woodbury a shopping destination, the ultimate east metro bedroom community is finally finding its retail mojo.

As proof, I give you: Patina. It’s not nearly as big as the Costco that is supposed to open in Woodbury this year, but it is perhaps even more significant that the Minneapolis-based gift retailer chose Woodbury for its seventh Twin Cities location—only its second in the suburbs. And while Patina is not the first, nor the only purveyor of candles and cards east of St. Paul, its presence at Valley Creek Road and Radio Drive does give Woodbury a certain boutique credibility that had been sorely missing among the big-box stores and endless strip centers. If the seemingly fail-proof upscale boutique retailer wants to do business in Woodbury, well, others will too.

To that end, recent openings by local companies include Merriment, a home furnishings store and design studio, Sisu women’s boutique, Blast Blow Dry Bar, and fast-growing fast-fashion retailer Primp, which opened its sixth Twin Cities location at Woodbury Lakes.

“It’s been on our radar since we opened our first store at Selby and Dale,” says Michele Henry Gudmundson, co-owner of Primp. “We knew a lot of our customers were coming from Woodbury, but until recently the timing wasn’t right.”

So what changed? The ownership of Woodbury Lakes, for one. After a string of management companies tossed the flailing center around like a hot potato—losing major retailers (remember when we had Z. Gallerie for five minutes?) and failing to attract needed restaurants—a new owner gives reason for optimism. Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust runs 83 shopping centers around the country. Woodbury Lakes is its first in Minnesota, and RGPT is determined to make it a hit. A coffee house, local bakery, upscale restaurants, and more indie boutiques are on the wish list. But even more importantly, RGPT also purchased two pieces of land just west of Woodbury Lakes with plans to add something big: an anchor store, a movie theater, or possibly a restaurant.

When Woodbury Lakes first opened, the east side of town was still sparsely populated with a dearth of daytime traffic. Turns out: Stay at home moms and teenagers can’t support a shopping center alone. But the population has continued to grow, and daytime traffic will get an enormous boost from redevelopment of the old State Farm campus. The eagerly anticipated City Place complex will include a hotel, Whole Foods, and restaurants, as well as two medical office buildings that could house more than 2,000 employees.

Woodbury is never going to have the charm of a downtown Stillwater or Grand Avenue. But it may finally have the right equation to support retail beyond the basics. Let’s just hope for more Patinas and Primps sprinkled among the chains.

Scarborough Fair, the medieval canticle turned Simon & Garfunkel hit, speaks of impossible tasks—not entirely unlike getting people to an under-the-radar boutique on a quiet stretch of West Seventh Street in St. Paul.

But Katheryn “Kat” Menaged follows her passion. She knew if she opened a store that connected with women—about everything from spirituality to finding cool clothes that fit curves—they would come. Even if it wasn’t on Grand Avenue.

Scarborough Fair, the boutique, is located in the corner of a renovated building that’s been home to every-thing from a salon to a porn shop. The windows are big, the ceilings are high, the angles are odd. Menaged used a beam that could not be removed from the middle of the selling floor to prop up a fantastical tree she had made for the shop. Ornaments and lights dangle from its twisting branches creating a mystical aura that warms the space.

If stores were celebrities, Scarborough Fair would be Stevie Nicks—from the religious medallion jewelry by Virgins Saints & Angels to bejeweled collectible bags by Mary Frances to the romantic, Bohemian dresses actually designed to fit women who were alive when Simon & Garfunkel was on the radio. Menaged, 54, counts herself among them.

“I stopped drinking and smoking, gained 40 pounds, and didn’t want to live in sweats,” she admits. One of the biggest draws to Scarborough Fair is vintage-inspired fashion in plus sizes, from hard-to-find lines such as Chalet and Nataya.

Clothes were almost an afterthought when Menaged first opened. She envisions her store as more gallery than apparel boutique. But with more than a year under her belt, she’s becoming more focused on what sells.

Slowly but surely, Scarborough Fair is establishing its clientele and becoming known for specialties such as women’s hats. The store currently features three local milliners offering a wide variety of styles.

There’s also jewelry and scarves from local artisans, and the occasional owl figurine. Because Menaged loves owls.

“It’s a constant examination,” says Menaged, who spent most of her career in product design and merchandising. “This is more about passion than making money, but I’m an entrepreneur. I don’t want to fail.”

Mark your calendar for February 11 to 14, Scarborough Fair’s annual Everything on Sale sale.

961 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-224-4182, scarboroughfairshop.com

Being warm and cozy looks better than ever—you can wear this season's luxe sweaters, chic hats, and updated sweats out of the house. That is, if you actually wanted to go out.

No.1
Hats On. Don’t worry about hat hair, you won’t want to remove this cutie. Pom beanie ($209), by Mischa Lampert, from Pumpz

No.2
Old Fashioned. This candle smells as good as the Marvel Bar cocktail that inspired it. (Comes with the drink recipe!) Candle ($40), from Askov Finlayson

No.3
Sweater Weather. Like a big hug you never want to end. Until springtime. Raglan sweater ($435), by Brochu Walker, from Maha Boutique

No.4
Rite of Winter. Sure to get you through any Polar Vortex. Rye whiskey ($24.99), by Bulleit, from Lowry Hill Liquors

No.5
Lean Back. Maxed out on heritage blankets? Add a pillow. Wool pillow ($142), by Faribault Woolen Mills, also from Askov Finlayson

No.6
Toasty Toes. Warm enough for Canadians, handcrafted by Aboriginal artisans. Moccasins ($100), by Manitobah Mukluks, also from Pumpz

No.7
Take a Sip. That retro look in modern stoneware. Mug ($9), by Canvas, from Guild Collective

No.8
Dress in Layers. We won’t be taking these off until the snow melts. Waffle pants ($120), by Skin, from Room No. 3

No.9
Soles of the Irish. Hand knit in Ireland (and Scotland!). Socks ($42), by Howlin’, also from Askov Finlayson

No.10
Soak It In. Minnesota made, with certified organic essential oils. Buttermilk & Honey Bath Soak ($18), by Good Leaf Botanicals, also from Guild Collective

No.11
Room for Two. A heavy-duty throw that will add flair to your sofa. Blanket ($249), by Brahms Mount, from a la Mode Boutique & Nail Spa

“Shopping for fun is no longer part of the equation,” Katrina Lake declared on our recent coffee date, and it’s so true. My visits to stores these days are always purpose driven. Aimless browsing is as dated as shoulder pads. We’re shopping in the age of iPads, and I’m noticing that when I admire a friend’s new sweater or patterned pants, her response, with increasing frequency, is “Stitch Fix!”

For those unfamiliar, Stitch Fix is an online subscription shopping service. You fill out a questionnaire that covers everything from measurements and lifestyle to favorite brands, budget, and a wish list. About a week later, five items arrive at your door, complete with style notes on ways to wear them. The $20 styling fee goes toward your order, but an envelope is included to make returns as easy as finding a mailbox.

Lake, a Blake School graduate, is the founder and CEO of Stitch Fix. Her sister Chelsea inspired the concept: “She was always able to look great without spending a lot of money,” Lake says. “She would tell me what to buy and how to wear it. I started thinking, everyone should have access to someone like that.”

Geared toward those of us who’ve only dreamed of having a personal assistant bring us new outfits, the average price of a Stitch Fix garment is $55.

Lake developed her business plan while working on an MBA at Harvard. She launched right out of grad school, hoping to attract young, tech savvy women like herself. Interest was much broader than she initially imagined. “The common thread is busy women—moms, professionals, doing everything at once.”

When I ordered my first “Fix” as the service launched in 2011, the selection was fairly limited. But as the San Francisco–based company has exploded—with a team of about 1,000, including more than 800 personal stylists—so too have the options. The Harvard professor who warned Lake that her business would be an “inventory nightmare” underestimated the power of the data she is collecting. Stitch Fix stocks a wide range of styles with greater precision than most chain stores because it knows so much about its clients—things like, the percentage of shoppers that hate yellow, what’s already in their closets, and how clothes fit.

“I would love to rip the size off every garment,” Lake says. Stitch Fix assesses each item of clothing internally and adjusts sizes within its system, noting details like “tight sleeves” or “runs long” that better serve customers’ actual body types.

This data (and, no doubt, Lake’s econ degree from Stanford) helps to distinguish Stich Fix from the glut of fashion websites and shopping services. With direct knowledge about what women want and which styles work, Stitch Fix is able to identify holes in the market and, in turn, has started manufacturing a handful of its own lines. Likewise, expansions into new product areas, such as denim and dress clothes, are based on actual demand rather than general trend reports.

I’m not ready to give up the experience and inspiration of going into stores—nor is Lake, who raved about the boutiques I suggested she visit in the North Loop while she was back in town. But eliminating the hassle of trying on a dozen pairs of jeans is helpful. And the delight of receiving a blouse I never would have considered, and finding that it fits perfectly, is compelling.

“At the end of the day,” Lake says, “women want to look great in a black dress at their reunion and find the best white shirt that doesn’t need ironing.” To get that payoff without spending any time on it is today’s version of luxury shopping.

The simplest things can be the greatest luxuries. A steamy tub. Fragrant bubbles. A good book. A fluffy towel. A cozy robe . . . and something flirty underneath. Yes, a shower would be faster, but a bath is worth the time.

No.1

Fresh Scent. New from the Minneapolis-based company. Grapefruit Oleander body lotion ($20.25), by Illume, from illumecandles.com

No.2

From the Woods. The pine scent is perfect for a winter night. Scotch pine candle in glass ($29), by Simpatico Home, from Room No. 3., 4948 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-746-3003, roomno3.com

No.3

Dry Off. Super absorbent. Super stylish. Two-tone chambray washcloth ($10), by Yoshii; striped Turkish towels (hand, $24 each; bath, $54 each), by Antiochia Collection; all from Lussuria Lini, 850 E. Lake St., Wayzata, 952-746-5826, lussurialini.com

No.4

Lace Not Required. Proof that simple is sexy. Jersey camisole and pleat shorts ($48 each), by Skin, also from Room No. 3

No.5

Slip ’em On. An update on the fuzzy classic in a cool, subtle shade. Slippers ($25), from Restoration Hardware, Galleria, 952-926-5557, restorationhardware.com

No.6

Good Read. Makes a great girlfriend gift. Small Graces: The Quiet Gifts of Everyday Life ($16), by Kent Nerburn, from Patina, seven locations including 7814 Olson Memorial Hwy., Golden Valley, 763-546-1497, patinastores.com

No.7

Trinket Tray. Keep track of your rings with this darling dish. Tray ($18), by Rosanna Inc., from Equation (opening again soon), shopopm.com

No.8

Scrub-a-Dub. Perfect for those hard-to-reach spots. Bath brush ($21), by Lovisa, from The Foundry Home Goods, 125 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-333-8484, thefoundryhomegoods.com

No.9

Subtle Bubbles. Because the packaging counts. Pamplemousse bubble bath ($55), by Cote Bastide, also from Lussuria Lini

No.10

From the Heart. Rose-scented bath bombs (they dissolve in the tub) befitting a beautiful ceramic bowl. Fold bowl ($60), by Merrik Anderson, also from The Foundry Home Goods; bath bombs ($6.35 each), from Lush Cosmetics, three metro locations including Rosedale Center, 651-633-9249, lushusa.com

No.11

Make it Last. We love the pretty packaging and richness of this hand cream. Peony & White Lily Shea Butter ($25), by Lollia, from Anthropologie, four metro locations including 4999 France Ave. S., Mpls., 612-285-9164, anthropologie.com

No.12

All Wrapped Up. Warm and soft—without making you look like a marshmallow. Robe ($172), by Eberjey, from Flirt Boutique, 177 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, 651-698-3692, flirt-boutique.com

While malls clamor to bring new stores to town and designer shops keep cropping up in the endlessly hot North Loop, I’m keeping an eye on Primp Cheap Chic Boutique. Here’s why: In the past year, Primp has doubled in size, jumping from three to six stores across the Twin Cities. And the most impressive part: owners Michele Henry Gudmundson and Wesley Uthus paid for each new location with earnings from the last. No investor. Not even a loan.

That one-step-at-a-time approach to building what I call a “mini chain” has worked for Gudmundson and Uthus since opening their first (and still busiest) store at St. Paul’s Selby and Dale in 2010. They shored up $16,000 to pay the rent, furnish the space, and fill it with trendy apparel—all priced under $100. Their modest investment paid off in just five days. Five years later, they have stores in Excelsior, St. Louis Park, south Minneapolis, St. Paul, Woodbury, and White Bear Lake, plus a warehouse in Northeast, and a staff of 50.

“We always wanted to grow,” Gudmundson said when we sat down to talk about Primp’s next move.

Expansion seems to be the goal for many local retailers today—blame the Internet for the infinite possibilities . . . and competition. Parc Boutique, Grethen House, CorAzoN, Brightwater Clothing & Gear, MINQ, and Hammer Made all opened second or third stores last year—the same year that saw Creative Kidstuff and Patina hit seven Twin Cities locations apiece, and Hot Mama rebranded as Evereve, surpassing 50 stores nationwide.

I’ve been pondering what it is that distinguishes a really good solo boutique from one that’s bigger than its founders. One that can expand to more places than its owner could possibly visit in an afternoon, without losing its personality.

Primp benefitted from being the first in the Twin Cities to do fast fashion on a local level—boutique atmosphere, accessible prices. Having a clear concept is essential, but it’s the execution that separates Primp from the growing pack of price-conscious, trend-driven local stores. Gudmundson and Uthus built community, in store and online. They have more than 40,000 Facebook fans—engaged fans, who will call the store or come in the minute a new dress is posted online. Their staff is as excited about affordable fashion as they are, so you get that personal connection, even when the owners aren’t in the store.

And they listen—to themselves, and their customers. Gudmundson and Uthus started Primp because they were ready to graduate from Forever 21, but not ready for higher prices. They started designing their own private label line, Henry + Martin, because the affordable labels they stock at Primp tend to be designed for a young, micro-mini sort of customer, and the Primp shopper—typically 25 to 36—wanted longer skirts.

While they are firm about not going above $98, the store is growing up with them. Having worn their share of bad, overpriced bridesmaid dresses, designing tasteful special occasion gowns at reasonable prices is on the to-do list.

The next location for Primp isn’t as obvious as the ones opened last year, but Gudmundson and Uthus are always looking. They’re also contemplating moves outside the Twin Cities—perhaps to smaller markets with fewer boutiques. And, they’re considering growth opportunities beyond bricks and mortar, like selling their Henry + Martin line to other stores or creating an online Primp store (tricky, because they move through merchandise quickly and carry each piece in limited quantity).

Whatever it is, you can be sure the next move will be carefully calculated. “We’re entrepreneurs,” Uthus says. “We take a lot of pride in how we’ve grown, and we want to maintain it as long as we can.” 

Combine everything you know about shoe trends from the last few years–flats, platforms, menswear influence–and you’ve got spring’s grab bag. The ankle-strap sandals we’ve been wearing now have a platform heel. Those updated spins on Birkenstocks have an added inch or two to qualify as “flatforms.” Bottom line: You won’t have to teeter on a stiletto to look stylish. This season’s platform sandals are just the right height for spring’s flared bottoms. Yep, those are coming back, too.

From top: Alexander Wang ($525), from Pumpz at Galleria; Prada ($850), from Nordstrom at Mall of America; Jimmy Choo ($525), also from Nordstrom; Robert Clergerie ($575), also from Pumpz; Robert Clergerie ($425), also from Nordstrom

The name may have been grand, but it wasn’t quite big enough to encompass all that Grand Frames on Excelsior has become. So Grand Frames is now Bean + Ro, custom framing and gift shop. It’s a play on the maiden names of founder Elissa Kadue and her business partner Katie Miller. They’re hoping a little intrigue will stop more cars on Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park.

It’s been a gradual evolution for Kadue, a photographer whose Little Bean Photography specializes in children’s portraits. She launched Grand Frames next door to her studio in 2011 because—lightbulb!— clients wanted their photos framed. Kadue added grab-and-go gifts: small picture frames, note cards, jewelry, and candles—just to round out the assortment and fill the space. But she quickly realized the opportunity and brought on Miller, who had years of retail experience with Crate & Barrel.

“The gift world tends to be high end or novelty,” Kadue says. “There are a lot of people looking for that girlfriend gift or hostess gift who don’t want to spend $100, but don’t want a gag gift either.”

Kadue and Miller steadily expanded their assortment: monogrammed beach bags and blankets, books, baby gifts—all with a modern-meets-preppy vibe. They’ve been a best-kept secret among women in Edina and south Minneapolis, but now they’re ready for everyone else to know.

As Bean + Ro, they’re delving deeper into personalized gifts and adding stationery and invitations—a business within the business called The Paper Doll.

But custom framing remains important. In fact, Bean + Ro has added design services to help customers create gallery walls at home. They’re gradually bringing in art—especially with a pop-art vibe—because some customers also want help figuring out what should go inside the frame.

“A lot of our growth is client driven,” Miller says. “We have the benefit of being in our customers’ homes, so we know what they want.”

Poor St. Paul. Even losing its last department store didn’t linger in the news much longer than a warm popover in the River Room. Macy’s inevitable St. Paul closure—greeted with shrugs by most everyone other than downtown workers—was quickly overshadowed by good news: Nordstrom is going to open at Ridgedale Center.

Nordstrom’s westward expansion is made possible by Macy’s come-to-its-senses decision to consolidate its two Ridgedale stores under one upgraded and expanded roof. Many news outlets described this plan as yet another closure for Macy’s, when really it is a savvy investment in the western suburbs. Macy’s is going to dress itself up, supersize its Ridgedale presence, and then better its odds by sharing the spotlight with a more dashing and adored co-star—Bradley Cooper to Ed Helms.

Macy’s construction will begin as soon as the ground thaws. When Macy’s closes its men’s/home store next year, it will be torn down to make way for the new Nordstrom, opening fall 2015. After a hat trick of department store closings, it’s a relief to have good retail news to share. But the excitement over progress in the suburbs and the lack of tears over the end of an era in the city is a sobering reality check. Theoretically, we want vibrant downtowns with classy shopping. In practice, we love our Dales—their convenience, climate control, and free parking—so much that we are blinded to their flaws.

When I asked Ridgedale shoppers how they were feeling about their lagging mall a month before the Nordstrom announcement, most said “Great!” Few complained that it doesn’t have standout restaurants, a movie theater, or many of the hot specialty stores that have opened at Southdale and Rosedale.

“A J.Crew would be nice,” said one shopper, who was quick to add, “I grew up shopping at Ridgedale. I love it.”

That loyalty, coupled with choice demographics and the annoyingly long ride to Mall of America, helped Ridgedale weather some rough years. Now Nordstrom will make Ridgedale the Twin Cities’ premiere Dale. (Enjoy that gleaming Herberger’s, Southdale.) Specialty stores are already lining up for spots near Nordstrom. Better restaurants—a high priority for the mall—will be that much easier to secure.

Meanwhile, St. Paul is left to find a replacement for the windowless department store that never quite fit. Another national retailer is unlikely—downtown Minneapolis can’t even get those. Better to tear down the box and focus on industry, arts, residents, and a few quality independent retailers. Just look at downtown St. Paul’s best retail success story of recent years: Heimie’s Haberdashery. The tailored men’s store and barbershop is so charming, so intimate. It harks back to the heyday of urban shopping in a way Macy’s never did. Heimie’s is proof that St. Paul executives will shop downtown when given a classy option, and that folks as far-flung as Edina will cross the river for a unique shopping experience. And that’s something a suburban mall can’t deliver.

Give the greys a rest, and embrace color this spring. Brilliant florals in bold hues look incredibly fresh against a crisp, white backdrop. We’re especially mad for the bomber jacket—its relaxed shape is juxtaposed with a frame-worthy print. Plus, it’s reversible, so you get a quilted white jacket, too, making this piece totally justifiable.

Don’t tell the millennials, but independent artisans were actually making things long before the label “maker” went viral.

The American Craft Council (ACC) has been a champion of handcrafted, functional art for 72 years. Its community is rooted in a World War II–era shortage of basic necessities, which prompted people to “make” everything from cups and dishes to the tables they’re set on. The idea of caring about where something came from and knowing who made it pre-dates Etsy. But shoving it down the throats of those growing up online is something an old person would do. Instead, ACC is growing a beard and drinking small-batch scotch. Getting hip with the times. Less crafting. More making.

“We’re a heritage brand that’s innovating,” says ACC marketing director Pamela Diamond.

If the blankets of a century-old wool company and boots made for manual labor can become hip, why not the ACC?

Ever since the advent of sock monkeys and noodle art, the Minneapolis-based American Craft Council—we love to talk about how it ditched New York to move its executive offices here—has suffered its name. “Craft is a word that’s been appropriated by everyone else except our industry,” Diamond says. “And yet craft and craftsmanship is more top of mind today than it’s ever been.”

But today’s budding artisans don’t wait around to get accepted into a juried show like this month’s annual American Craft Council Show in St. Paul. They sell online. They build brands on Instagram.

So the ACC has made a conscious effort to bridge the divide between its big arena exhibition and the studios just a few blocks away in Lowertown, where leather makers, woodworkers, and jewelry designers are building products that will end up selling online, and in hot stores such as Forage Modern Workshop.

Ben Feiss ceramics and Brittany Pool bronze flatware are among the newcomers to this year's American Craft Council Show.

For the past couple of years, ACC has incorporated emerging designers and retailers, including Forage owner Mike Smith, who last year designed a room at the ACC show themed “hipster foodie brunch at a cool apartment.” At this year’s show, Forage will host a “Hip Pop” pop-up shop showcasing up-and-coming brands, such as Neal (formerly Carrier Pigeon) Jewelry, Ben Fiess ceramics, and Indigo & Snow hand-dyed apparel and accessories.

ACC is also addressing the broadening (some may say excessive) use of the term “handcrafted,” as it applies to everything from a cup of coffee to a sack of oatmeal. A new feature at this year’s show is “Let’s Make,” a series of inspiration stations on brewing beer and coffee, creating vessels out of clay, and even building a boat. Because boats have makers, too.

Veteran artists used to represent as much as 70 percent of the show. This year, it will be closer to 55 percent, Diamond says. And among those longtime craftspeople, you’ll probably see fewer $10,000 objects than in the past. The council has been coaching those whose careers pre-date Pinterest on ways to make them more relevant. “This is no longer a day and age where they can just sit in a studio and wait for someone to come buy their things,” Diamond says. “That high-roller customer does still exist, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. You have to diversify. You have to try new techniques, and new technology.”

The methods and labels will continue to change. The constant is thoughtful consumption.

The American Craft Council Show takes place April 10–12 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Earthy meets modern this spring, as wood gets amped up in contemporary shapes and hot hues. Perhaps it’s our fever for the trees to be back in bloom, but we’re spotting wood grain influence everywhere—from scarves to shoes.

1. Exotic Element. A touch of blue brings new dimension to shades of brown. Endless Terrain Scarf ($128), by Obakki, from Anthropologie, four metro locations including Shops at West End, 763-544-2053, anthropologie.com

2. Step Out. Equal parts natural and graphic, this marbled print will take you anywhere. Espadrilles ($150), by Hudson x Toni Pons Shoes, from Grethen House, three metro locations including 4930 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-926-8725, grethenhouse.com

3. Better than Beads. Handmade, with sustainable timbers. Wood necklace ($50), by Rare Rabbit, from Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-375-7633, shop.walkerart.org

4. Shake It On. Modern shapes; natural foundation. Salt & pepper ($25), by Sagaform, from WAM Shop, 333 E. River Rd., Mpls., 612-625-9495, weisman.umn.edu/wam-shop

5. Into the Woods. An invigorating woodsy scented soap in an elegant maple bowl. Spice bowl ($96), by Black Creek Mercantile and Trading Company; The Woodsman soap ($10), by Birch & Goldberry; both from Wilson & Willy’s, 211 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-315-2280, wilsonandwillys.com

6. It’s Magnetic. Simple, smart design: The light, housed in wood, magnetizes to any spot on the steel neck. Polaris desk lamp ($525), by Bower, from Pharmacie, 2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-200-9633, pharmaciempls.com

7. Armed Source. A hint of neon commands attention. Recycled horn bracelets ($75 each), by Feathered Soul, also from Grethen House

8. Beyond Basic. Paint adds flair to military greens. Pants ($484), by Raquel Allegra, also from Grethen House

9. Earth Girl. A subtle tie-dye adds interest to the everyday tee. T-shirt ($49.50), from J.Crew, five metro locations including 870 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-292-1470, jcrew.com

10. Neo Geo. Multifaceted wooden sculptures in sustainable mango wood. Three-piece “guardian set” ($69.96), from CB2, 3045 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-821-9303, cb2.com

11. Eye Opening. Light as a feather, and made with maple. Even the hinges are wood. VEDETTE frames ($1,150), by ROLF Spectacles, from Art of Optiks, 747 E. Lake St., Wayzata, 952-404-2020, artofoptiks.com