MNFashion preview at Honey

Nice and graphic and sparkly, this dress put me in a Mondrian state of mind, also 1920s Art Deco. So that was good.

trader joe's hippy chick

When I first saw her searching for bread on the lower shelf, her tie-dyed wrap skirt was puddled on the floor in the coolest way.  I tried to recreate it and the skirt didn't cooperate but I still like and appreciate the time-intensive double dye process, and the way she looks right at home next to the colorful produce. The skirt is rayon which holds color better than often-used cotton. She got it years ago at a shop in Grand Marais.

we are the world, Grand Ave., St. Paul

She's from Belarus and he's from Mexico City but the international flavor doesn't end there. These two well-traveled people bring color from all over the world: He's wearing pieces from Canada, Spain, Italy and a truly want-it Ben Sherman bag from London.  She said the fedora attracts a lot of attention but my feeling is it's not just the fedora. Look how awesomely she's styled jeans and a t-shirt. Her scarf is Versace, borrowed from her mom. And of course her long locks are really head-turning.

Trader Joe's dairy princess

Really nice contrast of colors and textures and the cutest ankle strap Tevas I've ever seen. She has two pairs. Love the tweed + lace skirt, although it hurts a little that it's Forever 21. I'm uppity about clothes but I'm working on that. Can't hate on Forever 21 -- cute stuff cheap is a winner every time.

reiterating...

As poor in quality as this photo is, I'm reposting it because it says so much about why I do this blog. I was talking to my daughter about how beautiful this woman is, how perfect the dress is and the way it just nails a sort of Palm Springs elegance. And oh by the way, this woman is not 26. I look at Vogue (note: do not often read) and am a dedicated follower of many street style blogs, and it's tough to find even one image of a woman over the age of 40. That hits close to the bone. The daughter proffered the excuse that of course everyone wants to look at attractive people who make the clothes look good. As hard as this is to swallow, it's a completely legitimate philosophy for advertisers, and almost acceptable for editorial purposes in a fashion magazine, but showing only young, thin, attractive women in a style blog is an unacceptable failing. Style is about how people use clothing to express themselves. Trust me, this gets trickier past 40, but there are plenty of women who have taken on the extra challenges and exhibit style sense that's every bit as fit and toned as a 27-year-old's legs. Which seems to be the requirement for many style bloggers -- The Sartorialist, Facehunter, Garance Dore (who should know better), Jak & Jil, Wayne Tippetts. Older men, yes, you see them on The Sartorialist frequently. Older women display that same richness and history in the way they dress, the same ease with themselves, and often significantly more grace and humor in the way they dress than young women.
This woman doesn't look good for her age, she looks good. Period. And style? Pitch perfect, adroit, fluent. There, got that off my chest.

Glamorama

From about a block away, I called this guy's suit -- Etro from London. Actually this whole party is about as chic as it got. The woman on the left made cargo pants absolutely urbane with some beautiful jeweled stiletto sandals that you'll have to take my word on, as I handily cut them off. Sorry. The woman on the right is playing the ruffled blouse/shorts dichotomy expertly. Which reminds me -- shorts, mostly tiny shorts, walked tall at Glamorama. Saw 'em left and right. I'm a huge fan.



On the left, we have the Office Max dress -- it's not just for ink cartridges any more! Office Max partially sponsored Glamorama, so local designer Joynoelle taught Project Runway a lesson by painstakingly, skillfully, mitering rubberbands (the green stripes) and some kind of black ribbony office product (tape?). I would never have thought of cutting rubberbands on the bias. Belt, rosette and neckline frill are all paperclips. The woman on the right is not wearing any office products that I know of, but looks pretty in pleats nonetheless.

Glamorama

Yes it's Pucci-inspired and she's wearing it perfectly -- big smile, light heart and a good-natured guy.



Can you tell that's faux mink on these fabulous tapestry court booties? The very soul of couture, taking a single idea -- Louis XIV for example-- and running way over the top with it. You know, it doesn't take a LVHM budget to pull off the look, as these shoes of modest provenance prove.

Glamorama

Here's an example of indie designer Amanda Christine. She got this off-the-rack at Cliche but it looks like it was made for her, it fits so well. Love the cut in shoulders and draped skirt. Putting it together with the vivid bag and vintage-y looking gold shoes, well, it makes me happy, that's all.


These two know how to have fun, sassy and stupendous! The gray dress is Max Mara (I think) and her organic necklace is a bespoke piece from Israel. The black backless on blond -- mercy.