Fashion Forward

Though we look to fashion’s world capitals and national mags for the trends, most of us rely on local stores to supply us with the goods that define our style and keep us looking fresh. To navigate the often overwhelming market of sources, designers, and brands, we count on the personal shoppers, stylists, trend specialists, and boutique owners pictured here. They not only carefully interpret global trends, they listen to us—their customers—earning status as our top allies in fashion.

“Runways just show a style direction; we’ll interpret the trends to make it more wearable.”

Todd Fliginger
Personal Shopper, Neiman Marcus
Before the dresses by Carmen Marc Valvo and suits by Dolce & Gabbana, this savvy salesman was rocking Levi’s and selling cowboy boots in North Dakota. For the last fourteen years, Todd Fliginger has been offering Neiman Marcus customers the most luxurious shopping experience in town. Whether it’s a phone query on how to tie a bow tie or an order to expertly remake a runway favorite, as long as it’s legal there’s no request that will make him flinch. 

“Style isn’t something you can teach someone; it has nothing to do with trends. Style is a personal touch of one’s own; it is a way of being creative and true to yourself.”

Gwen Leeds
Freelance Wardrobe Stylist
When Gwen Leeds works with clients, she takes into account their lifestyle and demographics and translates the trends to help them create a fashion voice all their own. Appreciative of technical creativity and standout textiles, she loves the work of Jil Sander and Dries Van Noten, but notes that some of the best-tailored items can be found at local vintage and consignment shops. She works with corporate clients too, including Monique Lhuillier and the

“The customer is always right, and if the customer asks for something, I’ll do anything to get it.”

Mike Pickart
Co-owner, Intoto
Seventeen years ago, Mike Pickart and Karen Heithoff opened their Uptown boutique featuring laid-back, California–style clothing. When a slew of other TC boutiques started to follow suit, they changed direction and have maintained a store that is very—well—in toto. Fashion shows in Paris acquainted them with designers Dries Van Noten and A.F. Vandevorst, but the sensibilities of their loyal clientele and the belief that personal style is expressed when we are confident enough to look beyond trends determines what lines they carry.

“Although clothing is a surface thing, people see it first and analysis is made upon it.”

Josi Wert
Owner, Josi Wert
A retail career in the Midwest spanning roughly twenty years has taught Josi Wert how to taper trends to a Twin Cities sensibility. She encourages her clientele to try new things, yet stay true to their lifestyle and personality. Her store—which has recently converted to women’s fashion only—fulfills an urban contemporary niche that is often copied, but never replicated.

“Many times people will just follow a trend, but it is important to make sure personality shines through.”

Laura Schara
Fashion and Trend Correspondent, Macy’s
Laura Schara knows that fashion inspires life, allowing people to express themselves through what they wear. As a trend spotter, she attends New York’s Fashion Week and communicates back to Macy’s buyers what she sees repetitively—and those items that just stand out. She also plays a role in planning Macy’s annual fall fashion show, Glamorama.

“I’m passionate about fabrics, quality, and assemblage. A jacket is never just a jacket–it has an architectural sense.”

Mary Brindley
Owner, Grethen House
For more than twenty-five years, Mary Brindley has brought top designers—including Rick Owens and Comme des Garçons—to her Edina boutique, which caters to women who, no matter what their calendar age, appreciate the style, quality, and integrity of a garment. Her ability to take an “out there” trend and pare it down for her clientele helps her cultivate long-lasting relationships with both customers and designers.

“Personal style is mental, something inside a person. It should make someone’s life easier.”

Keith Dorsett
Personal Shopper, Macy’s
Keith Dorsett knows that the foundation of style is a well-fitted, tailored suit and that the ebb and flow of trends is secondary. When Dorsett isn’t on a scavenger hunt for an item ambiguously described by one of his clients, he hits area antiques stores in search of intricate cuff links he can give as gifts. Though appreciative of Savile Row tailoring, he admires the styles of Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Seal, and others who think outside the box.

“The most important thing for a woman is to stay current. Look at everything from your own sense of style, but you must stay current.”

Ann Ackman
Owner, Arafina
In 1998, Ann Ackman, a former Dayton’s Oval Room buyer, opened her chichi shop offering a sophisticated mix of clothing and accessories that have a little edge, but are never trendy. Fashion-loving women young and old flocking to her Galleria boutique. Ackman’s skill at soaking up fashion through consumer and trade publications, as well as observing what Twin Citians wear, helps her bring elements of the runway to her clientele.