(72) Calpurnia Peach

Minneapolis is home to hundreds of fashion designers—some of them serious, some of them hobbyists and some of them shop-owners. All love their craft, but few are as ambitious as Ashley Wokasch and Luci Kandler, the brains behind local label Calpurnia Peach. Barely out of college, the duo has already shown their whimsical, energetic creations twice at Voltage: Fashion Amplified. This year, they won the Ikea challenge, making an outfit entirely out of Ikea materials, and left with a free studio makeover.

While one First Avenue show a year is enough for many designers, Calpurnia Peach also designed for RetroRama at the Minnesota History Center, worked the runway for the Clapperclaw Festival in 2008, taught two screen-printing classes at the Walker Art Center (expected attendance = 30; actual attendance = 300), and put on a show at the Varsity Theater with La Nouvelle Femme, an art collaborative they founded with five other women.

This fall the 22-year-olds are keeping busy with custom work, creating an owl-print dress for Haley Bonar’s performance in the bird section of the Minnesota Zoo and making chic carnival-themed dresses for an entire bridal party. They’re hoping to branch off into pillows, towels and drapes, catering to those who love the label’s playful textiles, but don’t want to sport the clothes. Pick up Calpurnia Peach’s light-hearted creations at Design Collective in Minneapolis and Picky Girl in St. Paul.

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(73) ShopFatal.com

Let’s be honest: It’s hard to find truly cutting-edge fashion in the Twin Cities. We have a modest selection of big-name designers at Neiman Marcus and Galleria, but when it comes to the underground movers-and-shakers who set the trends—we’re talking African-print harem-pant jumpsuits that the average person might’ve feared in 2007 but purchased, toned down, in 2009—we’re in short supply.

But if you look closely and do a little digging, you’ll find one online shop based in a small office building on Lake Street, owned by a 35-year-old closeted fashionista, where avant-garde brands like Bernhard Willhelm, Opening Ceremony and C.neeon actually flourish.

“Most of my customers are from overseas in Europe, Asia and Australia,” says ShopFatal.com owner Lori Dockendorf. She’s had just one customer from Minnesota and attributes the low local popularity to, well, ignorance. “I think there would be more people here who would want it if they knew about it,” she says. “I’m always looking around [local stores] for cool stuff and I just don’t really find a lot of it.” She heard a rumor that one shop was selling Vivienne Westwood, the queen bee of edgy cult clothing, but never actually found any.

Growing up in the ‘80s, Dockendorf was considered a bit of a weirdo, wearing bell-bottoms and hippie jackets at Southwest Senior High. “I tried to tone it down, but I always liked the weird stuff,” she recalls. Now she’s trying to find a balance between her eclectic leanings and salability.

“I want to buy the crazier stuff from the collections, but it’s kind of hard because I never know if it’s going to sell,” says Dockendorf. She checked out a storefront in Northeast before settling on her LynLake office, and is now thankful that she decided to go online only. “I don’t think I’d still be around [with a physical shop],” she says, but “I’d love to get a little storefront together someday.”

In the meantime, locals can get a bit of special treatment, as Dockendorf says she’s open to the idea of letting customers stop by to try things on. This winter she’s looking to increase her accessories selection and is particularly excited about a new collection of boots, bracelets, barrettes and bags by House of Holland, a U.K. brand known for its ‘80s-inspired catchphrase t-shirts.

It’s like Dockendorf says: “You guys, this is amazing stuff. Why are you not picking up on it?”

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(74) The Minneapoline

The Twin Cities’ street fashion scene was on fire this year, thanks largely in part to theminneapoline.blogspot.com, a Web site by local photographer Ellen Dahl that was recently syndicated on Glamour.com. We sat down with Doyle to find out exactly what it takes to get shot for her blog.

How long have you been shooting street fashion?

I started the blog in 2006.

Do you think the Twin Cities has a distinct look, or are we pretty similar to other cities around the country?

The only distinct look is the lack of one. There’s definitely more color here, more of a sense of personal style, and an unwillingness to fit into certain aesthetic parameters. Comfort is a big factor, I think.

What do you think of our fashion scene?

It’s in that teenage stage where you really start to experiment. I’d like to see it get a little more honed, but the challenge will be to not lose that sense of creativity and personality along the way. At some point I’d like to see something beyond the chain stores, local designers and ubiquitous huge-name designers to make us more well-rounded—buzz-worthy brands like Acne, Zucca, Vena Cava, Opening Ceremony and Mociun.

Tell me about your work being featured on Glamour.com.

The online editor wrote me an e-mail saying she’s been a fan of the blog for a while, and that it was a breath of fresh air from the black-on-black style of New Yorkers. So I did an interview with them, which was posted on Glamour.com in July, and now they’re syndicating the Minneapoline.

What do you look for in a subject’s style?

Personality, character and new ideas. Someone who does color, pattern and texture well. A sense of style that sometimes doesn’t have anything to do with clothes.

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(75) MN Fashion Week

Twice a year for seven days, Minneapolis looks a little like Paris or New York in the height of Fashion Week: Models prance down the street in high heels and leotards [4.22.09, Red Shoe Clothing, Co.]; an avant-garde designer puts on an over-the-top runway show, complete with space-age gowns and a dramatic installation-art finale [4.21.09, Laura Fulk]; a cutting-edge boutique hosts a VIP shopping event with a mini in-store runway show [9.27.09, Cliché]; and the local fashion elite gathers on a downtown rooftop to toast their creative endeavors and exchange runway notes [4.22.09, Eitel Building].

Sure, MN Fashion Week occurs on a much smaller scale than that of Milan or London, but it’s nothing to sniff at. With roughly 25 events last spring and again this fall—including trunk shows, clothing swaps, boutique sales, bike rides, dance parties and, of course, stiletto-stomping runway shows—2009 proved to be a defining year for Minnesota Fashion Week. mnfashionweek.com

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(76) East Hennepin Shopping District

For the last decade, you could count the number of local shopping destinations on one hand: Nicollet Avenue, Grand Avenue, Galleria, Uptown and the nearest mall. These are all great places to shop, but sometimes a girl just needs some fresh boutique action. Enter Parc Boutique, Belle Reve and all the surrounding stores that have made East Hennepin Avenue a veritable shopping Mecca. The neighborhood blossomed in 2009, banding together for joint fashion crawls, dog parades and boutique sales. It turns out loving thy neighbor is all it takes to create a booming shopping node.

1. Bibelot
With four locations in the Twin Cities, Bibelot is one of the best places to buy gifts, jewelry and knick-knacks. Make sure you check out their Earth-friendly selection.

2. Pacifier
Want the hippest kid in town? Check out Pacifier for sweet baby gifts, toys, furniture and clothing up to size eight. There’s even a grown-up section for new moms and dads.

3. Bone Adventure
Don’t forget Fido when you’re window-shopping. Full of treats, toys and accessories, Bone Adventure keeps the Earth in mind so your pooch is greener than the average amphibian.

4. gh2
We raved about them in our “Best Deals” issue, and gh2 continues to reign as one of the top shops for a steal. Ninety-percent off sales? Pretty amazing when designers include Comme des Garçons, Martin Margiela and Stella McCartney.

5. Belle Reve Boutique
High class, beautiful and fashion-forward, Belle Reve Boutique brought a welcome breath of fresh air when it arrived in the neighborhood last year, ushering in designers like L.A.M.B., Francine and Interlude.

6. Parc Boutique
Finally a store that realizes a girl’s basics should be her best. Parc’s elegant esthetics gives new meaning to the casual/chic look with premium denim, chunky sweaters and delicate jewelry.

7. Key North
Get a taste of the tropics at Key North, a casual and comfy women’s clothing store that specializes in sustainable products with an exotic flair.

8. I Like You
Not the crafty type? Let your neighbors do the work: I Like You carries one of the Twin Cities’ biggest selections of locally made accessories, crafts, soaps and décor, all at reasonable prices.

9. Melrose Antiques
For those who prefer their clothes classic, refined and straight out of the mid-20th century, Melrose Antiques has a great selection of old-school wears. Don’t forget to check out the shoes and accessories.

10. T Lee Fine Designer Jewelry
Put the finishing touch on your East Hennepin outfit with something shiny and beautiful from T Lee jewelry boutique. We’re in love with the shop’s stately yet bling-tastic men’s collection.

11. Bella Lana
Winter is on its way, which means it’s time to stock up on warm sweaters, hats and mittens. Find out how to make your own at Bella Lana, East Hennepin’s seriously cute knitting supply store.