The Fashionista

Hot Ticket: 
This year, Glamorama, Macy’s annual high fashion and music show, is going country. Headlined by the MuzikMafia, starring Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Cowboy Troy, Macy’s will kick off the fall fashion season and unveil its Oval Room and 28 Shops designer collections. Models will take the runway at the Orpheum Theatre on Friday, August 17. Proceeds from ticket sales for the Minneapolis show go to benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Plus, all Macy’s stores are celebrating Glamorama with in-store events and Glam Shop. MuzikMafia makes an in-store appearance at Macy’s Minneapolis on August 17.

Hoods to Haunt:
Hip Minneapolitans and Edina’s country clubbers rub sun-toned shoulders at the luxury corner of  50th & France. Find bridal couture at Monique Lhuillier (3928 W. 50th St., Edina, 612-929-0747 ), designer handbags at Clutch Boutique (5005 France Ave. S., Mpls., 612-455-0606), bohemian fashions at Anthropologie (4999 France Ave. S., Mpls., 612-285-9164), and Madison Avenue–worthy designs at Grethen House (4930 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-926-8725 ). Farther to the west, a tiny stretch of Lake Street between Broadway and Superior in downtown Wayzata is another go-to destination. Bumbershute (683 E. Lake St., 952-475-2684) carries imported European threads from such chic designers as Roberto Cavalli, Generra, and Costume National, while Side Door Ltd. (687 E. Lake St., 952-473-1937) has a great selection of party frocks, shoes from Stuart Weitzman, and accessories from Lulu Guinness.

Essential Travel Accessory:
Every fashionista needs this season’s hottest fashion accessory: a small pup to tote and dress in doggie couture. For ours, we chose an outfit from Lulu & Luigi (3844 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, 952-929-5858).

Where to Stay: The Marquette Hotel (710 Marquette Ave., Mpls., 612-333-4545), designed by Philip Johnson, who also designed the IDS Center and the Crystal Court, is the perfect pleasure retreat for a weekend traveler. The stunning presidential suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and ultracontemporary décor by Robynne Moncur of Moncur Design Associates. Its location in the center of downtown Minneapolis, close to Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, StyledLife, Cole Haan, and Hubert White, as well as restaurants, arts venues, and businesses, makes it a popular place for shoppers, business travelers, and arts aficionados.

Dining Out:
Café Lurçat (1624 Harmon Place, Mpls., 612-486-5500), which resides on the northwestern corner of Loring Park, is Minnesota’s take on New York chic. The restaurant offers ethereal views of both the park and the Walker Art Center and attracts a stylish crowd of artists and hipsters. No dress code: Social butterflies in Vera Wang wrap dresses, artists in thrift-store threads, and nine-to-fivers in business garb all mingle, admiring their collective good taste.

Best Deals: For a fashionista without a lot of cash who wants high style, we’ve got great consignment options. GH2 (318 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-378-0509), the sister store of France Avenue’s Grethen House, has a great selection of designer shoes at ridiculously low prices. Fashion Avenue’s moniker and location (4936 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-929-7919) signal what’s in store, including designer frocks from Armani and Gucci, as well as a great selection of handbags. Consigners from all over the country ship in upper-echelon brands to Rodeo Drive (4110 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-920-0188). All three of the shops are treasure troves for near-perfect, season-old, designer merchandise. For some of the best dresses, Katharine Hepburn–style suiting, plus hats, shoes, and costume jewelry, shop Via’s Vintage (2408 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-374-3649).

Boutique Trifecta: Inside a multistory house in Uptown is Intoto (3105 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-822-2414), the Twin Cities’ answer to Barneys. The men’s and women’s clothing here is sufficiently sophisticated for even the most discriminating tastes, with designer duds from Dries Van Noten, Paul Smith, Chaiken, and Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti. For party dresses and separates from fashion-forward designers such as Vivienne Tam, Nanette Lepore, and Anna Sui, the Galleria’s Arafina (952-925-1565) is tops. Rounding out your wardrobe at these designer boutiques will create a closet of envy.

Where to Recover: After a day of power shopping, recuperate at The Marsh (15000 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, 952-935-2202), a truly holistic getaway offering activities and services to refresh both your body and soul. Book a day of treatments—maybe a Vichy shower, acupuncture, and a Shiatsu massage—and follow them up with a class in yoga or tai ji, a plate of cedar-plank-grilled wild Alaskan salmon at The Moon Terrace, a wander to the meditation tower for a view of the natural wetlands—even an overnight in one of six cozy rooms. Or, just stop in for a quickie pedicure to prep your feet for your party platforms.

Fashionable Nightlife: The North Loop’s Jet Set (115 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-339-3933) is Manhattan chic with an unpretentious Midwestern vibe. It’s probably the only place in town where the interior may show up your outfit. It's technically a gay bar, but the minimalist décor and Euro-trance lounge music are the perfect backdrop for beautiful people of all persuasions.