Fashion Forward

“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.