The Rake Magazine

Tag: Local Motion

  • Off to Mexico

    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).

     

    The romper is by Michele Henry, originator of House of Henry
    line (check the website if you care to see the above on an actual person). Here’s another of her warm-weather rompers, which is made from the same stretch
    cotton and modeled by a lovely size-eight dress form.

     

    I’ll mark my return in early March with coverage of three
    local fashion shows:

    MARCH 8: A TWOFER
    Methinks it’s marginally interesting that the all-new
    Envision fashion show, which promises to parade looks from the Cliché and Local
    Motion boutiques across the IDS Center’s fiftieth floor, is going head to head
    with the stalwart DIVA MN show. Among the DIVA designers, by the
    way, will be Ms. Henry, mastermind of the rompers above.

    MARCH 9: BREAK-THE-BANK BEAUTIES
    The brand-new "Runway Luxury" show will feature unattainable
    clothes by Monique Lhuillier (whose only local connection, really, is that she
    keeps an Edina
    boutique) and Joynoëlle (a certified Twin Citian) at the soon-to-open Ivy boutique
    hotel.

    In the meanwhile, stay reasonably warm, will you?

  • The Changing Tides of Calhoun

    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 …

    But here’s something I do find interesting: A few months back, while reading about the anniversary of Southdale’s opening (it’s the nation’s oldest mall, which
    you probs already knew), I was reminded that the place was built by a total commie, Victor
    Gruen, who so loathed the social isolation of suburbs, such as Edina, that he
    sought to fix ‘em a proper town square. Of course, the reality is that these
    shopping centers are too cold (as in: beige) and too manufactured to ever
    achieve the organic, hand-made feel of a public meeting spot, such as our downtowns. Turns out, sunshine and fresh air are more important
    ingredients than first imagined.

    Which is precisely why I live in Uptown. Of course, the neighborhood
    has plenty of haters, but it’s still the most walkable in all the T.C.
    I’ve got three grocery stores within a quarter mile (which is, perchance, the "walkability"
    threshold). I’ve got the lakes. I’ve got some of the best clothing boutiques
    (Ivy and Local Motion) within three blocks, an upstanding new shoe shop (Luna Soles) around
    the corner. We’ve got decent restaurants. One of them happens to be Chang Mai
    Thai    , and that joint is on the biggest eyesore of a street (Girard) I’ve ever seen. So, I’m happy to see Girard will get a boost, in any case. I’m also happy to see an attempt will be made to make the mall better "integrated
    to the Hennepin Avenue
    streetscape." But still, I’m skeptical. The best neighborhoods aren’t
    created by real-estate developers; they’re made by people. As I see it, it’s an
    ugly, vicious circle we’re now operating in: the homogenizing influence of corporate
    culture has infiltrated our homiest, most historic neighborhoods while, some time later, they started making facsimiles of the best ‘hoods (only with plenty
    of parking). Bah!

  • 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!