Ready For Its Close-Up
After a quarter-century at the Galleria, under-the-radar women’s boutique H.O.B.O. is turning heads. All it took was gray-washed wood floors, pewter fixtures, and brighter lights. A sleek makeover is...
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Bavarian Rhapsody
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Make Like A Maker
Deep as we are into the “maker movement”—an era of handcrafted, hand-stitched, hand-dyed, hand-sewn, limited-run objects—I still can’t say “maker” without thinking of Play-Doh and potty training....
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It's All In The Details For Viska Bags
Minnesotans appreciate a good bag—from Duluth Pack up north to J.W. Hulme Co. in St. Paul. There’s a newer line that has us repacking our books: Viska, handmade in Minneapolis by Ashley Duke, who has...
View ArticleIsabelle And Caroline Bercaw's Bath Bomb Empire
Industrial-sized sacks of citric acid are piled up where the sofa used to be. A thin veil of powder coats the hardwood floors. The kitchen counter is covered with trays of freshly molded bath bombs....
View ArticleMarion Parke
Marion Parke doesn’t (yet) have the cache of the top-tier women’s shoe brands she hopes to rival, but she’s got something Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik can’t claim: a podiatry degree. Parke is a...
View ArticleSundance
Like Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were, we Minnesotans are waiting for Robert Redford—and not entirely in vain. The Hollywood legend’s Utah-based lifestyle brand, Sundance, now has a store at the...
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Good Stuff: A ‘70s Love Story
In this season of throwback trends, the ’70s is the star, from flared jeans and fringe details to suede shoes and hobo bags. But instead of channeling Woodstock, our muse is Ali MacGraw running...
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The Nature of Beauty
Organic hair color might sound like an oxymoron—especially when it comes from a bottle, not a handful of berries—but Kassandra Kuehl has built a following of devotees since opening her doors as Kasia...
View ArticleRing in the Season
As the holidays stretch from the day after Halloween straight through New Year’s Eve, versatile, enduring décor has become popular. Nowhere is that more evident than on front doors—wreaths are going...
View ArticleThe Secret is Out
Celebrities typically don’t tape and tell, but anytime a star appears on a red carpet in a plunging gown, many of us in the Twin Cities smile knowingly. Chances are, the double-sided tape preventing...
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Game Changers
Diamonds are never a bad idea. But this season, we’re drawn to the less expected. Unusual materials. Dramatic shapes. New twists on traditional. The special pieces that demand attention and simply...
View ArticleBlack Friday + Small Business Saturday Guide
Thanksgiving Weekend Extended Hours Despite R.E.I.’s pledge to remain closed on Black Friday, traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year, most major retail centers will be open...
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The Year in Shopping
As the year draws to a close, we take stock and reflect . . . on why we can’t find a sophisticated dress with sleeves, and what we would do with the family over the holidays if the mall wasn’t an...
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Good Stuff: Nesting
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The Fashion Director for Moms
As Edina-based women’s chain Evereve continues to grow nationally—now 60 stores in 21 states—owners Megan and Mike Tamte are adding a layer of executive roles common for much larger retailers....
View ArticleElizabeth Geisler of Cocoon
Hair and makeup by Ingrid Kent/Wehmann Models and Talent (Left) Designer Elizabeth Geisler models her collection. Waldorf weekend coat in whiskey, $795 (Middle) Notting Hill cap sleeve sweater, $395...
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Open Season
For many Gen-Xers like myself, those early trips to the beauty counter were a rite of passage. Mine undoubtedly involved white lab coats and plunking down babysitting money for a pressed-powder...
View ArticleShopping 411
The trouble with “secret” shopping resources is foragers love to brag. Let’s be honest, when you find that one rare 19th century lamp or those designer shoes for half the regular price, recounting the...
View ArticleVIP Shopping
The pinnacle of MartinPatrick 3’s latest, most ambitious expansion is the new private lounge—immaculately furnished with Knoll chairs and equipped with a fully stocked private bar and kitchenette, game...
View ArticleBeauty Undercover
Just when I think I know every feel-good, get-pretty trick that the Twin Cities has to offer, a pearl presents itself. Props to the local talent who keep us all a bit more beautiful and grounded with...
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Good Stuff: The Mother(s) of Invention
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View ArticlePretty, Pampered Valentine
Look and feel good on Valentine’s Day—for a date with your sweetie, a night out with friends, or just because you deserve it. Here are some of the best deals and special offers in town. (Psst: They...
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Retail's New Lewk
Having outfitted men his entire career—primarily at stores—Minneapolis-based entrepreneur Scott Kuhlman has come to a pivotal conclusion: Most guys don’t want to shop. But they do want to look good,...
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Kate Hudson on Diet, Body Image, & Yoga Pants All Day
Wouldn’t we all like to be more like Kate Hudson? That smile. That body. That easy laugh and natural way she has of always seeming like someone who could be your best girlfriend—even when rocking the...
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Good Stuff: Take Us to Tulum, Please
With spring break approaching, we’ve got Mexico on our minds. Sea breezes. Warm colors. Natural materials. Here are a few ways to capture the laid-back look—whether you’re packing for the beach or...
View ArticleSoothe Me
I used to half joke that my dream was to have a woman under my desk who could give me mani/pedis when I didn’t have time to go to the nail salon. That day might be coming sooner than we think...
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It's a Family Affair
Top: Chloe and Dee Dee Lappen of Gray Home + Lifestyle; Bottom: Buck + Fir When it comes to the modern neighborhood boutique, mothers and daughters are the new mom-and-pop. Local families are...
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What Would Mary Wear?
It’s been 40 years since Mary Tyler Moore’s TV character, Mary Richards, showed us that a woman can be professional, without dressing like a man. That she can be taken seriously, and yet still embrace...
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The Power of Good Design
This bag (featured below) drew the loudest oohs and aahs at our spring fashion shoot. It’s a stunner, and so simple: clean lines, minimal detail, black and white. But to really appreciate this very...
View ArticleMove Yourself
“I’m the butt of a lot of jokes at parties,” says Natalie Davis, who opened Move Colonics last year in St. Paul. A candida sufferer, Davis visited five different doctors and tried everything from...
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Good Stuff: True Blue
Blue and white are the couple of the season—sure to be seen everywhere together, from beach to table to—yes—the bedroom. Done in lively patterns, this maritime-inspired blue evokes a sense of...
View ArticleBest of Beauty Readers' Poll
Do you adore your hairstylist? Have you found the most energizing massage in town? Share the knowledge! Fill out our Best of Beauty Readers' Poll. As a thank you for your time and tips, you'll...
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Russell + Hazel Plans to Shake Up Office Supplies—Again
My first thought when I heard russell + hazel was closing its store at Galleria? That’s it. That shoebox of a space next to Good Earth must have proven to be a coffin. I’m pleased to report quite the...
View ArticleShake Your Beauty: Vanessa Dembo's Tips
Before she began teaching Twin Cities women to feel beautiful (Stand tall and stick your boobies out! They’re like shooting bullets!) at her popular Zumba and barre classes, Vanessa Dembo was a famous...
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Good Stuff: Blooming Botanicals
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View ArticleModernRoots' All-Natural Booming Business
After five years of selling her natural soaps and skin care products at farmers’ markets, ModernRoots founder Meg DiMercurio has become a full-fledged retailer with stores bookending the Twin Cities....
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14 Beauty Must-Haves to Tuck in Your Bag
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A Gift for Moms: Self-Care
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Diary of a Wellness Junkie
Forget de-cluttering closets and cleaning out the gutters. For me, spring is the gentle nudge to set aside time for the things that make me feel more grounded. When I sat down to sketch out this dream...
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Makeover Magic: Pacifier's Owner Gets A New Look
As soon as every onesie was in its place at the beautiful new Pacifier store in the North Loop, co-owner Wing Witthuhn panicked. “It’s such a nice space,” Witthuhn says. “I feel like I need to look...
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Good Stuff: Pool Party!
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Three Dads Are Making Essential Oils Seem Manly
Any guy looking for the best haircut and beard trim in St. Cloud goes to Brian Wohlman at Loft Salon & Spa. It’s not a manly place, but Wohlman’s classic barber chair is set apart from the rest of...
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Ready, Set, Summer: New Beauty Treatments for the Season
You could just get a spray tan and call it a day. Or, you could step up your summer beauty game with these smart services. You’ll only look low-maintenance. Hair “It’s the greatest thing since sliced...
View ArticleLake Effect's Nod to Nautical
Just when it seems we’ve seen every possible nautical product ever made, new Excelsior boutique Lake Effect puts a fresh spin on lake life—from why-didn’t-I-think-of-that water bottles for dogs (with...
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