The Rake: Hook & Eye

Off to Mexico

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:49:42 -0600

Sick of winter much? Can you bear another cold day of having to bulk up? Me either! That's why I'm checking out for Mexico, yo. Feast your eyes on this: the adorable, but nonetheless scanty, romper I procured for the occasion (as modeled by the much thinner-than-me office floor).

Wilson’s: Loss of jobs and my junior-high jacket

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:37:58 -0600

When was the last time you entered a Wilson's? For me, it's been a while. But the trip that's forever etched in my memory goes all the way back to junior high. My sister had just scored a cool Michael Jackson Thriller-style red windbreaker. Not wanting to be outdone, I commenced to scour the shopping mall for my own status jacket. Eventually I settled on a black suede bomber from Wilson's that had a lil' feminine flourish: a tiny puff at each shoulder (the closest approximation of a Juliet sleeve that

Exclusive Sneak Peek of Voltage 08

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:54:50 -0600

Unbeknownst to most folks, there was a public preview of the Voltage '08 fashions at last night's 10,000 Arts Party. Mostly I spent the evening being a bugaboo to the models backstage. (Don't they look irritated?) But I also managed to take these snapshots of the looks:

Why It Took Me 'Til Now To Post on NY Fashion Week

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:14:11 -0600

1. d'Uh. I'm not even there.

2. By now, I've had my fill of black, gray, and wool--even though I am somewhat pleased by the, uh, "bold prints" that will purportedly appear on racks everywhere next fall. My original point being: right now I'm looking forward to spring, not fall.

(2.5 A parenthetic thought: In theory, graphic prints are fine. But have you noticed how revolting they are in the real world--on curvy, non-coat hanger bods?)

Jovovich-Hawk for Target

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:14:31 -0600

p.s. I heart these looks from the latest Go International designer, Jovovich-Hawk. These will hit Target stores on March 2 or thereabouts.

In a Word, Slutty

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:32:35 -0600

A word regarding this month's fashion feature and the related discussion: Jason DeRusha did not, in fact, call his wife slutty. He was simply being witty about the fact that 1) he is, in fact, male and 2) he therefore prefers that his beautiful wife wear form-flattering clothes. And yes, friends, in the minds of

The Changing Tides of Calhoun

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:00:00 -0600

So, as I'm sure lots of you've heard, another makeover to Calhoun Square is in the works. The press release came across our desk just yesterday, along with the artist rendering above. Frankly, I can't pretend like I care much about it today ...

The Royal Robes (A Retake)

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:02:15 -0600

An Economic Stimulus of the Mind

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:24:10 -0600

So, am I right on this? The government wants to send me six-hundred bucks? Well, that's the sort of policy I can get behind, friends ... But at first, when I heard the news, I thought: Now, g'on ahead and feed that to your wee, pup of an investment portfolio. But that sort of defeats the purpose of an economic stimulus, right? So then, I realized, it is my duty to blow this dough--and guilt free, too!

Apologies, Promises, and News

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:09:40 -0600

Sorry I've been slow to update, but I wanted to send alert of this upcoming fashion show LATER THIS WEEK (Thursday) that's titled, appropriately, Avoid The Grey. The show is being produced by Cliché, a fabulous Lyn-Lake area boutique. The intent, even more appropriately, is to inject some color into our beige-um-gray winter palettes, and also to tease us with the promise of adorable spring fashions, which we in Minnesota never quite get to enjoy the

Hell Yes, Holly

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:37:07 -0600

Last week, while continuing work on the February fashion feature (coming soon), I stumbled upon this fantastic jewelry collection at Key North, a new-ish eco-retailer in Northeast Minneapolis.

Many Thanks to Moskal

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:19:18 -0600

Thanks to local designer George Moskal for making me feel all Lindsay Lohan-like this holiday season. He lent me one of his dresses! I wore it to a belated holiday party last Friday night; see the craftily cropped outtake below. Because, you see, even with a pretty dress on, I still can't feel good about my big, frizzy mop of hair.

First Stop: Stephanie’s

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:26:38 -0600

So, yesterday I started working on the February fashion feature, for which men and women pick fashions for their sweethearts. (Check the crappily laid-out online version from last year.) First stop was Stephanie's in Highland Park with WCCO-TV reporter Jason DeRusha, who picked out a darling dress for his darlin' wife. That dress, however, shall remain unseen until the Feb issue hits

The dress is souper!

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:52:01 -0600

Today, I did more sleuthing for the coming February fashion feature and uncovered this treasure: Kim Bartmann, owner of Bryant Lake Bowl and Barbette as well as a lover of all things vintage, has an original "Souper Dress" on display at her new-ish Red Stag Supper Club (see my mediocre snapshot below). This paper dress, inspired by the

Danger, Danger, and Whatnot

Christy DeSmith — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:35:06 -0600

In these cold, bristling days of the early year (when there’s no holiday in sight), it's good to have something to anticipate ... And so, in defiance of depressing January, this offering: an illustrated list of some, but not all, of the designers for this spring's Voltage local fashion show, courtesy of Nic Marshall Photography.

Best and worst gifts of 2007

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:31:06 -0600

Of course, this will be a personal list. If you have a hankering to mention a particularly tasteful or -less gift of your own, please comment below.

WORST

Did Hillary Clinton Choose Her Fanny Over Her Face?

Christy DeSmith — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:24:08 -0600

Don't think all the Hillary Clinton hullabaloo has gone unnoticed by the likes of me. Truth be told, I've been very busy at work this work, whereas my inner life has been consumed by a rage caused, for one, by the MPD's horrific, paramilitary-style antics, but also by the revelation that certain political conservatives hate older women.

We Are All Bag Ladies

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:23:47 -0600

Last weekend, in the Sunday Times, one of the meatiest, most interesting Style articles was found ... in the business section. I also liked the ETSY profile in the Times magazine, but that's a different matter-one that, I'm afraid, nearly inspired a very long, boring post about my preference for receiving hand-made Christmas gifts. In any case, the long and the short of the business section piece was

Voltage Reload

Christy DeSmith — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:56:48 -0600

Whew, it's been such a busy week as we've put finishing touches on our January issue (and we're not done yet) that I almost forgot to tell ya: The Voltage 2008 designers were announced recently. (Yes, yes, by now it's old hat ... )

Cover Your Heads

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:05:36 -0600

Well, one highlight of the weekend was stopping by Anna Lee's Ruby3 trunkshow. As I mentioned previously, Ms. Lee is best known for her sculptural, showgirl-style hats, like this one, which she made of Big Bird feathers leftover from a production of Sesame Street Live:

Skirt Chasers

Christy DeSmith — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:01:49 -0600

My sporty friends, there is now an entire company dedicated to hawking athletic skorts. You'll find 'em at www.skirtsports.com. The founder, so says the press release, is Nicole DeBoom, an Ironman champion who just so happens to be married to superstar triathlete Tim DeBoom. Anyhoo, wearing these

Dealios; Plus, Deep Thoughts on Gift-Buying

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:02:09 -0600

More exciting news for all you patriots intent on fulfilling your duties as Americans this holiday shopping season:

Shopping for Girly-Men

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:00:10 -0600

Fashion That Gives Warm Fuzzies

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:14:08 -0600

Reasonably Promising Shopping Events

Christy DeSmith — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:31:52 -0600

For the women on your shopping list: You might have luck at these two shopping events. First off, there’s No Coast Craft-O-Rama at Midtown Global Market. I was cruising the list of vendors and was happy to spot all sorts of great local jewelry-, clothing-, and crafts-makers as well as the clothing/ephemera

Dress Rage

Christy DeSmith — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:58:00 -0600

Oh, and this other thing: What. the. hell. is with this year’s selection of holiday dresses? The New York Times ran a piece this morning, alleging that the year’s holiday dresses are better tailored than last year’s and, again, that the "baby-doll dress is dead." But everyone I go, I am confronted by ads of ugly, sack-like frocks cut from the decidedly un-friendly to shapelessness fabrics of satin and silk. Every

Fashions From Afar

Christy DeSmith — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:10:38 -0600

Consumerist Report

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:01:47 -0600

I’m one of those crazy people who enjoys giving more so than getting. But that’s because I’m a total snob, not that I’m generous of spirit. I mean, I certainly appreciate the professional portrait of my nieces I get from my sister most years. But, geez, couldn’t she have at least tucked them inside some fancy frames? And there’s simply no way my mother can please with her annual assortment of Kohl’s-bought bedclothes. Not that I have anything against Kohl’s. What a great place to buy pots!

Black Friday Agenda

Christy DeSmith — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:57:42 -0600

I don’t mind shopping malls, really. But I intend to avoid them this Black Friday, not to stave off those bouts of claustrophobia, but to procure a series of gifts that are either high-quality second-hand or awfully, awfully special. Here’s the action plan (a working document):

Bethinking Butterball

Christy DeSmith — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:21:57 -0600

The theme was black and white this year. And let me tell you something, it is very, very difficult to do anything interesting with b&w—especially when you have autumn coloring, such as I do, and a closet full of earth tones.