fashion/shopping
Up-and-coming fashion designer
Caroline Hayden
Since her local runway debut in 2011, Hayden has gained a reputation for her polished tailoring and sophisticated fabrics. Her designs are a play on soft and structured — tailored jackets, high-waisted pants and pencil skirts are tempered with flowing, silk georgette gowns and ruffled blouses. The Crookston, Minn.-based designer is poised to break out — she's showing her latest bridal collection at New York Bridal Market, and she recently released her fall 2016 lookbook showcasing 13 looks to be nationally marketed. carolinehayden.com
Veteran fashion designer
Joy Teiken
Teiken has been creating one strong collection after another since founding her Joynoëlle line in 2003. She's one of the hardest-working, most prolific designers in the business, typically displaying nearly three dozen looks per show. The Minneapolis designer also has a keen ability to combine inspiration from unusual sources — her 2015 collection "Pretty in Paleo" struck a balance between classically refined and darkly edgy by combining Jurassic-inspired rigid textures with Edwardian silhouettes. joynoelle.com
Fashion blogger
Madelynn Furlong, Wide Eyed Legless
Fashion blogging has become more than a hobby, as bloggers have grown into entrepreneurs, art directors and creative consultants. Furlong, whose Wide Eyed Legless blog boasts 122,000 followers on Instagram, has lent her modern, minimalist eye in collaborations ranging from Rachel Comey and Loeffler Randall to J. Crew and Banana Republic. Last year, she went one step further and created her own e-commerce offshoot, WEL Shop, with a curated selection ranging from home decor to leather handbags, drawn from collaborations with some of Furlong's favorite makers. wideeyedlegless.com
Women's boutique
Grethen House
Since opening in 1953, Grethen House hasn't lost its touch, despite being one of the Twin Cities' longest-standing boutiques. The family-owned store has stayed fresh by continually adding new contemporary lines, such as Rick Owens and Étoile Isabel Marant, into its selection anchored by established fashion houses such as Comme des Garçons and Maison Martin Margiela. In 2014, it launched an e-commerce site as well as a second outpost in the North Loop. 4930 France Av. S., Edina, 952-926-8725; 212 3rd Av. N. #109, Mpls., 612-339-5702; grethenhouse.com
Men's boutique
MartinPatrick3
Founded in 2008 as a small accessories shop in the North Loop, MartinPatrick3 has revolutionized men's shopping in the Twin Cities, merging old-school tailoring and fine suiting with contemporary brands such as Railcar Fine Goods and Public School NYC. In 2010, owners Greg Walsh and Dana Swindler transformed it into a full-fledged menswear store. And it's showing no signs of slowing — last year, the store expanded once again, adding a men's lounge, a shoe salon and an estate jewelry showroom. 212 3rd Av. N. #106, Mpls., 612-746-5329, martinpatrick3.com
Bridal shop
The White Room
Though less than a year old, the White Room has made its mark on the Twin Cities bridal market with its unconventional approach. Instead of a traditional storefront, the store opted to set up shop in a sixth-floor live-work loft space at the Sexton Lofts in downtown Minneapolis. The shop's selection is similarly unique, with fashion-forward gowns from hard-to-find luxury designers such as Spain's Yolan Cris and Rosa Clara, Aussie designer Johanna Johnson, NYC-based Houghton and Minnesota's own Caroline Hayden. (21 S. 7th St. #624, Mpls., 612-361-7175, thewhiteroommpls.com
Baby boutique
Pacifier Highland Park
Where else can you get a Wu-Tang Clan onesie, Angel Baby Bottle Balm and a City Select City Jogger stroller under one roof? There are plenty of baby shops in town, but none brings together fashion-forward kiddie clothes, gifts and gear quite like Pacifier. Customer service is so friendly, you'd almost trust them to watch your kids for a couple hours (kidding!). The shop is also one of the largest local purveyors of Tea Collection, the ultra-hip kid clothing company with a global mind-set. And this Pacifier recently began hosting classes for parents — one class showed how music therapy can really make your parenting skills sing. 714 S. Cleveland Av., St. Paul, 651-330-8747.
pacifier.me
Vintage store
The Golden Pearl Vintage
Though it opened just this year, the Golden Pearl Vintage stands out among retro shops. Founded by collector Audra Frizzell, who worked Via's Vintage for a decade, the shop spotlights high-end and hard-to-find pieces meant to be mixed into a contemporary wardrobe. A recent visit turned up a couple 1980s YSL chain-link necklaces and a pair of 1940s-era emerald wool pants embroidered with a silk gold Shriners crest, as well as a stockpile of 1960s furs from the old Dayton's Oval Room. Replete with Art Deco wall sconces and a 1960s chandelier, the shop itself is as beautiful as its merchandise. 507A E. Hennepin Av., Mpls., 612-378-3978, thegoldenpearlvintage.com
Shopping suburb
Excelsior
This historic Lake Minnetonka town has transformed into a retail and dining destination. Half a dozen new storefronts have opened in the past year, including cheap-chic chain Primp, men's suiting store J. Novachis, women's clothing shop Buck + Fir, interior design store the Sitting Room, Lululemon kid's offshoot Ivviva, maker-oriented Golden Rule Collective and the lifestyle boutique Gray Home + Lifestyle, which sells artisan-made bags from fair-trade label Manos Zapetecas, skin care by cult brand Grown Alchemist and towels by Japanese textile brand Fog Linen.
Local brand
My Sister
A new Minneapolis brand is using fashion to make a socially conscious statement. My Sister sells apparel and jewelry adorned with clever and powerful slogans to bring awareness to the worldwide plight of sex and human trafficking. Examples include "Stop traffic," "You're not the boss of me," and "Sisters before misters." My Sister is a benefit corporation, a new classification that Minnesota introduced last year. That means that the company has a giving mission indoctrinated into all of its agreements. Every two years, it will partner with two nonprofits, which will receive 6 percent of their gross sales. My Sister products are sold at Roe Wolfe, MartinPatrick3 and mysister.org.
homes
Home interior store
Roam Interiors
Roam Interiors remains a best-kept secret, despite being the only Minnesota retailer to carry Blu Dot. Owner John Stedman moved the store, which he founded in 2007 as an addition to the Ligne Roset furniture showroom, to Uptown in 2011. Its design-driven selection of midpriced to upscale furnishings and home goods includes items often found in Dwell magazine, such as Magis and Kartell chairs, furniture by world-renowned architects Patricia Urquiola and Zaha Hadid, Alessi tabletop accessories and Italian designer Mario Bellini's famous Cab chair. 2914 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-377-6465, roaminteriors.com
New home decor store
At Home
More like the OMG decor store. Burnsville's At Home spans 107,000 square feet and is packed with mass quantities of home accents and housewares, and countless decorative lanterns. Looking for new patio stuff? There's more outdoor furniture, umbrellas and cushions than landscape rock at Patio Town. Furniture includes bar stools, chairs, sofas and day beds —heck, even mattresses. And the selection? There's 60 shower curtains to pick from instead of 10. Shoppers can choose the level of quality for many items, such as the 4,000 area rugs, which are priced from "good," "better" and "best." Bring a list, grab a map at the door — and wear comfortable shoes. Another store is opening in June in Blaine. 14230 Burnhaven Dr., Burnsville, 612-257-6006, athome.com
Home goods
The Foundry Home Goods
This North Loop home store is a haven for the hostess (or host) with an affinity for clean, modern design and artisan-made goods. Since opening in 2012 in a onetime brass and metal foundry, the store has been stocked by Anna Hillegass with thoughtfully curated goods from all over the world, including Swedish towels, Spanish wine glasses, Japanese brass cutlery, French rolling pins and Moroccan jute baskets — plus Minnesota-made beeswax candles and ceramics. 125 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-333-8484, thefoundryhomegoods.com
Vintage funiture store
Flamingos Divine Finds
This is not Don Draper's vintage store with pristine, pricey midcentury modern pieces. Instead, Flamingos is more like a one-stop garage sale — an unpredictable jumble of stuff from random eras at temptingly modest prices. More than two dozen vendors pool their wares for this monthly sale of furniture, accessories, jewelry and other trinkets, from elegant Art Deco to retro kitsch. Worth a visit, whether you're looking for a sturdy chest of drawers for $100 — or a quirky vase that you didn't know you needed. Open May 11-15 and the second weekend of each month (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sun). 3404 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., 612-767-4548, flamingosdivinefinds.com
Community/party space
4Marq
With apartments becoming smaller and a growing need for places to party, apartment developers continue besting one another with knockout spaces aimed at bringing residents together. At 4Marq, the philosophy is that everyone should be able to enjoy the best views, so the tower's entire 31st floor, with stunning 360-degree views of downtown Minneapolis and even some suburbs, is devoted to community spaces. There's an exercise room with cardio machines, and an indoor/outdoor penthouse party room with wall-to-wall glass doors that open up to a rooftop space with sundeck, grills and fire pits. Trust us, your friends will be impressed. 400 Marquette Av. S., Mpls., 612-424-8127, 4marqapartments.com
Amenities for Fido
Latitude 45
Pet amenities are standard in every new apartment building in the Twin Cities. It's a sign of the times for the industry, which is catering to the growing number of renters by choice. At Latitude 45 in downtown Minneapolis, residents never have to leave the building to give Fido relief. The building has an extra-large heated rooftop "dog oasis" with an artificial grass surface that can be washed to keep it tidy. There are benches for enjoying outstanding views of the Minneapolis skyline. Inside is the dog washing station, and when the rooftop just won't do, the building is just a few blocks from real green space along the Mississippi River. 313 Washington Av. S., Mpls., 1-855-467-5254, l45living.com
Amenities for nature lovers
The Island Residences
When High Street Residential scored a deal to buy a wooded 13-acre site next to the Carlson Towers in Minnetonka, it was clear that the parklike setting on an island in a small lake would make this building the perfect setting for the nature lover. (The first order of business was building a bridge.) Right outside the front door are walking paths, an outdoor terrace with lap pool and an outdoor kitchen, and the most unusual of all: a canoe/kayak/stand-up paddleboard (SUP) landing with a SUP that can be used by residents. Bonus: views of the woods from nearly every unit. 501 Carlson Pkwy., Minnetonka, 855-855-6492, theislandresidences.com
Building for the dedicated shopper
71France, Edina
With a retail renaissance underway along France Avenue in Edina, it's no surprise that several new buildings have been built within minutes of Southdale Center. The latest is 71France, a multi-building project which is part of a broader effort that includes redevelopment of the nearby Lunds & Byerly's store. 71France is within walking distance of a broad variety of specialty stores including Room & Board, the Container Store and Macy's Furniture Gallery. Better yet, the Galleria and Southdale are within sight. Could there be a better location for those with a little cash burning a hole in their pocket? 7161 France Av. S., Edina, 952-835-5000, 71france.com
Building for empty-nesters
The Vintage on Selby
Ryan Companies' massive redevelopment in a once-low-key St. Paul neighborhood mirrors its transformation of a weedy stretch of Washington Avenue in Minneapolis. Both include a couple hundred luxury apartments and a Whole Foods. But the Vintage has a much more refined sensibility for a mature demographic. The project also includes several two-story, townhouse-style rentals with private garages, full kitchens and roomy floor plans that will appeal to empty-nesters who aren't quite ready to squish the contents of their suburban split-level into a standard urban rental. And being able to restock the larder without putting on a coat will no doubt appeal to those used to driving to the grocery. 1555 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-457-4075, vintageonselby.com
