The Rake Magazine

Tag: Len Druskin

  • First Stop: Stephanie’s

    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
    stands. But I can tell you this: As it turns out, DeRusha actually likes
    shopping for his wife, so we had a pretty good time. Here’s a snap of DeRusha and
    shop owner Stephanie Morrissey hangin’ out in the back of the store, near the
    sale section.

     

    "Oh, I know Ted Baker!" said DeRusha upon noticing the label on the beautiful
    steel-gray dress below. "I like his ties." But of course, Stephanie’s doesn’t
    carry the ties. (You’ll need to head to Len Druskin to find those.) However, Stephanie’s is
    the exclusive Twin Cities carrier of Baker’s women’s line. Alert! Occupational
    hazard! Yes, that is my very own bathroom in the background you see there. If
    you have already gleaned this fact, I’ll lay it out for you: I bought the damn thing.

  • Consumerist Report

    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!

    So, you see the point: I’m no fun to buy for. But it’s very much fun, I would assert, to find your way onto auntie Christy’s shopping list. Me, I
    enjoy the thrill of the hunt, the self-satisfaction of knowing I’ll snag one-of-a-kind
    and/or designer items for all my loved ones, and they’ll never get the faintest
    whiff of the pittances paid to acquire these goodies. For these reasons, I’m
    much better at buying for adult women and style-conscious men. What follows is a
    sampler of the Christmas gifts I purchased over the weekend. (Note: This post is written
    in good faith that my loved ones don’t read this blog.)

    My best friend Andrea is a woman of letters. While perusing
    Letterbox, I found her this gorgeous (but very affordable) letters kit, replete
    with address labels and envelope stickers in the themes of birds, flowers,
    vines, and leaves. This version was designed by Suzanna LaGasa (a somewhat-celebrity
    graphic designer) for Sukie.

    Local Motion currently has an assortment of cutesy leather handbags
    and carryalls from this Canadian label, ESPE. I went in for this billfold for
    my brother’s style-conscious, teen-age daughter. It has universal appeal, don’t
    you think? And besides, it was a steal at just twenty-five dollars. Note: Local
    Motion hosts “Girls’ Night Out” this Thursday from four to nine p.m. Go for the free snacks
    and wine, if not for the sales.

    For the practical—one might say miserly—mother whose sole extravagance
    is buying Coach handbags off eBay: A pair of sleek Coach kicks. OK, I didn’t
    get the best deal on these sneaks. I found a cheaper pair at Off Fifth, but
    wanted to make sure mom could easily exchange if the size isn’t quite right, so
    I went to Macy’s.

     

    And while I was at it, I picked up some staples for myself. From
    the Len Druskin Outlet: I couldn’t pass by these leggings with snap
    details. Also, just yesterday afternoon, I stumbled upon the newly remade
    vintage store, Swank. I picked up the ‘70s socks (pictured above) as well as reams
    of vintage Santa-themed wrapping paper (left in boyfriend’s truck) for only
    five bucks. In fact, Swank is a great place to find cheap Christmas crap!