December 22, 2008

That's a Wrap

I like shopping for holiday gifts almost as much as I like wrapping them. The real work is done and I can settle in before a fire with a glass of port, surrounded by pretty papers, thick ribbons, and little extras. I like to stick with a color theme each year—silver and gold, green and white—so that everything looks coordinated under the tree. It's one of the few times of the year my inner Martha Stewart comes out.

Not everyone enjoys this painstaking step in the gift-giving process. If you'd rather eat rafia than tie umpteen boxes with it, consider hiring a professional gift-wrapper. I didn't know they existed until local stylist/event planner/merchandiser/all-around creative genius Read more »

Posted on Monday, December 22, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 15, 2008

The Gift List 2008

I am not a procrastinator. If there were a antonym for the word, you'd see my face next to it in the dictionary. I tend to panic when I have too much to do, and my natural response is to do it all. Immediately. This tendency, which generally impresses bosses and annoys laid-back husbands, is particularly handy when it comes to Christmas shopping. Per usual, I wrapped mine up about a week ago (No, I am not one of those people who shops for sweaters and Santa figurines in July, when they're 80 percent off. That is another illness altogether.). If you fall into the camp that hates to shop, doesn't have time to shop, or whose idea of shopping is curling up on the couch with a See's Candies catalog (grandma, you had better save me a... Read more »

Posted on Monday, December 15, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 8, 2008

Napoleon Complex

While some girls go ga-ga over star sightings, I'll take a celebrity make-up artist any day over Lauren Conrad. Anyone who can make my face shimmer just so, or create the perfect smoky eye, is reason for hyperventilation and rapid texting. Last week I put my best face forward with Napoleon Perdis, Australian-born beauty guru. Read more »

Posted on Monday, December 8, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 1, 2008

Pop-Up Fashion

MNfashion, an organization that provides resources and professional development to our budding design community, has opened a pop-up holiday boutique at Gaviidae Commons featuring locally made fashions. The boutique, which will remain open until January 10, was made possible by a grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation. You'll find the works of a few of my favorites, like cocktail hats by Ruby3 and casual knits by Katherine Gerdes of Project Runway fame, plus many more. I continue to be amazed at not only the number of local fashion designers, but the quality and creativity of their work.

Beginning this Friday, a collection of... Read more »

Posted on Monday, December 1, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 18, 2008

Happy Holidays to You

It's not even Thanksgiving and the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Since when is mid-November such a retail extravaganza? Since the econmy needed a boost. Now is the time to take advantage of the steals and deals and pick up something for yourself. Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 15, 2008

Night Out: Maiden Minnesota

Guest blog by Ali Brady, Minnesota Monthly writer
 

Laura Nelli of Nelle

You could tell the second-annual “Maiden Minnesota” event was a big success the minute you stepped foot inside the site of this year’s event, at the W Minneapolis–The Foshay. It was packed. While this was great news for the event organizers—and even better news for the event beneficiary, WomenVenture, a nonprofit that supports local entrepreneurs—it made it a little tougher for anyone looking to score one of... Read more »

Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 10, 2008

Trend Spotting: Owls

Animal motifs continue to spark new trends in fashion and home decor. Butterflies, birds, and deer have all had their day, and now owls are swooping into stores everywhere. While I'm not particularly into kitsch (and was always a bit unnerved by those talking-owl Tootsie Pop commercials), these nocturnal creatures have a funky, 70s vibe that works in small doses. Hoo knew? Read more »

Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 3, 2008

Natural Beauty

I've slowly started making the switch to non-toxic skincare products—those free of parabens, commonly used preservatives that have been linked to cancer and allergies. The more I read about their potential dangers, the more I have trouble putting parabens on my face. But giving up my favorite moisturizers and masks won't be easy. If I'm going to invest in anything new, it has to work, and it has to look pretty in my medicine cabinet. Read more »

Posted on Monday, November 3, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 27, 2008

The Art of Retail

If you haven't been to the Walker Art Center lately (or, if like me, you've just been too preoccupied with the potstickers at 20.21 to notice anything else), then you may not be familiar with the Walker Shop. Ever since I stopped by to scope out presents for our holiday gift guide, I've been transfixed by the shop's collection of local and global goods. Read more »

Posted on Monday, October 27, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 23, 2008

Vibrating Mascara

I'm a beauty junkie, not a dummy ($1000 face cream? You do the math.) So it was with decided skepticism that I approached Estee Lauder's new TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara ($32). What could a battery-operated mascara possibly do that my $24 tube could not? And did I really want to put something battery-operated anywhere near my eye? Read more »

Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 in Style File | Permalink | Comments (0)