Style + Shopping

Chain Store
With inky party frocks, nubby-knit sweater coats, and furnishings running the gamut from art deco to Turkish bazaar, it’s almost an insult to call Anthropologie a chain store—it’s more like a mini department store. The well-edited selection includes vintage-inspired apparel and home furnishings that aren’t all private label. 4999 France Ave. S., Mpls., 612-285-9164; The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, 763-416-1447 [top]

Consignment
The 50th and France address lets you know this isn’t your typical undergrad-haunted consignment shop. The tony threads (with prices that match) make Fashion Avenue a go-to when looking for quality clothing by top designers, including Escada Couture, Fendi, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana. 4936 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-929-7919 [top]

Day Spa
Fusion has a natural, elegant vibe that draws couples, singles, and friends to its cozy rooms. Services include chemical-free nail treatments, organic facials, global massages, and rejuvenating bathing rituals. With its soothing fireplace room and herbal teas, this indulgence easily becomes addictive. 18142 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven, 952-345-3335 [top]

Floral Arrangements
We were stopped in our tracks by the stunning bouquet of Vanda orchids and Blushing Bride protea on a coworker’s desk. Graphic, striking, yet somewhat subdued, the singular sensation was the work of Jon Maggs at Roger Beck Florist. Maggs kept his emphasis on the flowers and form when he created the arrangement. 110 Franklin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-871-7080 [top]

Green Products
A pioneer of the crunchy-green-granola movement, Horst Rechelbacher  now brings us Intelligent Nutrients, a nutraceutical company boasting the best organic coffees, teas, and chocolates, functional foods, and an IN café. 983 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-617-2000 [top]

Jeans
Len Druskin continues to get our nod both for its excellent selection and its style-savvy staffers, who would never let a customer buy unflattering jeans. And given the prices of jeans, we're grateful for their candor. Galleria, Edina, 952-927-7923 [top]

Lighting Store
Citilights was a leading source of contemporary and European lighting long before the trend became red hot. The gallerylike setting has eye-catching displays and ooh-ahh fixtures, and gets bonus points for the four-foot-tall neon Reddy Kilowatt icon that graces the front window (alas, he’s not for sale). 1619 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-333-3168 [top]

Lingerie
Leah Simon–Clarke listens to her clientele, and when someone suggested she open a high-end lingerie boutique, the owner of Extrados Salon did—right across the street. The new store is called Unmentionables, and it’s where Leah’s associate, Christina Snead, works with women of every age and stage, from first bra to bridal, pregnancy, and maternity. Lingerie ranges from the practical to the fanciful and is priced from $30 to $250. Guys, a wish list registry—for you or her—is kept on file. Hint, hint. 5004-1/2 Xerxes Ave. S., Mpls., 612-920-0227 [top]

Maternity Store
Today’s moms-to-be don’t want to give up their trend-right denim, sexy tops, and fashionista flair. So babes with a bump head to Expecting Über Baby to satisfy their hipster appetite while their hips get, um, hipper. 6001 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-869-0930 [top]

Men’s Suits
For breadth and depth of selection, top-of-the-line accessories, and, most crucially, the expertise and professionalism of a staff that helps you achieve perfect form and fit, Nordstrom is nonpareil in this market. Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-883-2121 [top]

Modern Décor Store
Shopping Design Within Reach is like studying the modern design masters. Most tables, lights, barstools, and rugs come with information about their designer. Many of the pieces derive from big names, such as Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Philippe Starck, Frank Gehry, George Nelson, and Florence Knoll. But this is also the place to discover new talent, such as Terence Woodgate and Twin Cities native Jeffrey Bernett. 2939 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-827-0990 [top]

Museum Store
The Weisman Art Museum Store, in Frank Gehry’s University of Minnesota masterpiece, features artisan jewelry, handcrafted ceramics, handbags, scarves, and gifts, many of which reflect concurrent exhibits. Plus T-shirts, mugs, and desk accessories reflecting Gehry’s freehand drawing of the building’s glittering façade. 333 East River Rd., Mpls., 612-625-9495 [top]

One-Stop Furnishings
Once you make it through the biggest of all big box mazes, Ikea rewards you with appealing contemporary furniture, home accessories, and I-can’t-believe-my-eyes prices. 8000 Ikea Way, Bloomington, 952-858-8088 [top]

Recycled
The cherry-picked items at Second Début, Goodwill’s stylish sister, include designer clothing, shoes, and handbags, plus a side room filled with framed original and reproduction art. Proceeds from all sales go to education, workforce development, and employment services for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. 4300 W. 36-1/2  St., St. Louis Park, 952-922-9640 [top]

Retro Consortium
St. Paul’s Retro Loop represents five vintage shops in the Midway and Mac–Groveland neighborhoods that specialize in modern-design home goods and fashion from the 1950s through the 1970s. Though not next-door neighbors, the owners of Up-Six, Lula, Swank Interiors, Classic Retro @ Pete’s, and Succotash are like-minded dealers who have used group marketing and special events to cultivate an audience of hip shoppers. [top]

Seasonal Greenery
A window box full of spruce tree tops is passé. The best boxes are decked with juniper sprigs, red dogwood twigs, pine boughs, and other greens that offer a textural mix. Your one-stop shop for Christmas trees, garlands, and bundles of mixed boughs, twigs, and tree tops is the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market. 312 Lyndale Ave. N., Mpls., 612-333-1718 [top]

Sex Store
The exotic Smitten Kitten caters to the feminist woman. Expect to see power women perusing oils, vibrators, and erotic videos, as well as the usual bachelorette goodies. The polite staff will help the rest of us navigate the variety of toys and tools. 3010 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-721-6088 [top]

Shoes
Scoring the perfect pair of patent leather pumps can be a more effective mood elevator than Zoloft. Shoe connoisseurs know that no matter what their budgets, Nordstrom will have their sole mates. The men’s selection is tops too. Mall of America, 952-883-2121 [top]

Store ( . . . Where You Can Buy a Cocktail Dress over Lunch )
The big event is only days away—and your closet is bare. Time to head for the dress department at Neiman Marcus. You’ll find fabulous frocks awaiting you on adjacent racks. Some may force you to brown-bag it for a few weeks, but there are also a few little lovelies that won’t break the bank. 505 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-339-2600 [top]

Wallpaper Source
Wallpaper is back. But great wallpaper needs to be designer paper. Belly up to the wallpaper-book table at Hirshfield’s Design Studio. Not to be confused with regular Hirshfield’s stores, the studio offers many of the same sources as the designer-only show rooms. The papers, including European lines, are to die for. But be advised: At $50 to $150 a roll, you’ll also want the name of a professional paperhanger. 721 2nd Ave. N., Mpls., 612-374-8901 [top]

Workout Gear
If you like to sweat in style, Paiva has you covered. For every sport, there’s sportswear from the likes of Stella McCartney, Nike, Three Dots, Puma, and other top designers. Also postworkout cashmere tops, trendy footwear, and Paiva’s private-label little black pants. Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-854-9204 [top]