This week would have been Fashion Week MN’s spring 2020 season, and we had a fantastic lineup of events planned. Sadly, cancelation was inevitable. But in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the local retailers, brands and designers who were to be part of the lineup have pivoted to virtual events and other special online promotions.
Clockwise from top: Wild Isles Swim, Noisy Eye Vintage with On the Shelf Jewelry earrings, and SUN50’s Island Dreamin’ promo.
✨In lieu of their planned “Mood for Mod” Fashion Week MN show, vintage styling duo Rose & Bull hosted a virtual #ModStyleChallenge on Instagram over the weekend, encouraging local vintage fans to post their best mod look with the hashtag to win a prize. Two of its event partners, On the Shelf Jewelry and Noisy Eye Vintage, also launched mod-themed collections on Saturday (now available to shop at etsy.com/shop/ontheshelfjewelry and etsy.com/shop/noisyeyevintage.
✨On Monday, local brands SUN50 and Wild Isles Swimwear moved their planned Fashion Week MN show to a virtual format. Dubbed “Island Dreamin’," the show featured SUN50’s SPF-infused apparel and accessories and Wild Isles’ ethical swimwear, complete with cocktail inspiration from Hai Hai (where the fashion show was supposed to take place). You can shop all the looks featured in the show at sun50.co and wildislesswim.com. You can save $25 on any Wild Isles bikini through today (4/28) and 25% off SUN50 clothing with promo code WECARE25. Plus, 10% of all SUN50 promo sales will be donated directly to food bank partners. Miss out on the fun? You can watch a video recap of the show at @sun50official and @wildislesswim on Instagram.
✨North Loop boutique Queen Anna had been planning to host a style workshop as part of Fashion Week MN, but has shifted to host a series of virtual style sessions. On Wednesday, join them for “Style for Days: Creating a Capsule for the Evolving Body,” in which Queen Anna owner Nicole Jennings will be joined by husband Greg Jennings to discuss wardrobe options for our shifting bodies. Then on Friday, there’s “Style for Days: Defining Your Style,” which explores what it means to define your personal style. Tickets range from $20 to $25 a session; book at queenanna.co/pages/events.
✨Blunt Cuts Podcast, a past Fashion Week MN partner, is hosting a live Q&A this Sunday, 5/3, with CJ and Michaela. DM your questions before then and tune in on Sunday at 8pm at @bluntcuts_podcast on Instagram.
✨Other local businesses are reacting to the outbreak in new and innovative ways. The Mill City Farmers Market is back—albeit in a different form due to the COVID-19 outbreak (and sadly, without the artisan market). Because the State of Minnesota considers farmers markets essential grocery providers, the long-running market plans to remain open to serve the community and support its local farming partners every Saturday beginning this weekend through October, unless otherwise directed by officials. But this means shopping safely—there will be special social distancing guidelines in place that shoppers must follow. Be sure to visit the Mill City Farmers Market website before heading to the market at millcityfarmersmarket.org/covid-19.
✨Looking for help with your virtual shopping or not sure where to start? Enter The Virtualist, a new company that launches today that offers virtual styling appointments with locally owned boutiques. Co-founded by local fashion producer and stylist extraordinaire, Grant Whittaker, the company was founded to "support brick and mortar and evolve retail into this new virtual way of life." The brand is launching with stores in Edina and plans to roll out to other neighborhoods. Learn more at www.thevirtualist.com and follow them at @thevirtualist on Instagram.
Other retailers are reacting to COVID-19 with special deals and gift card incentives, and pivoting their models to online, with virtual styling services, virtual style shows and other new ways to shop. Here are this week’s top *virtual* style happenings:
MOTHER’S DAY GIFTING:
Local gifting studio Minny & Paul is known for curating high-quality goods from local makers and brands. Their new Mother's Day box, Mama Bear ($78), features some local tea favorites, handcrafted milk soap, chocolates and more in a keepsake box. You can also check out other box options to find one that Mom is sure to love at minnyandpaul.com.
Local jewelry brand Jac & Violet is offering a special for Mother’s Day: From now until May 31, get free shipping (no code required) on all orders, plus receive a free greeting notecard of your choice with the discount code GIFTS at checkout. Shop now at jacandviolet.com.
Fair Anita, a locally owned brand selling fair-trade, ethically made jewelry and other accessories, is having a Mother’s Day Sale: Buy two items, get one free site-wide with code SUPPORTWOMEN at checkout at. fairanita.com. Gift wrapping is also available.
What better time than now to give Mom the gift of aromatherapy? Now through April, save 25% on everything by local fragrance brand Essence One at essenceone.life during their Birthday Sale. (Excludes gift cards.)
NEW DEALS THIS WEEK:
Stephanie’s: Save 25% on all dresses with code DRESS25 through Thursday, 4/30, at stephaniesshop.com.
Mille: Mille’s Rachel Pally SS20 Trunk Show is live. For the next week, Mille will donate 10% of sales to World Central Kitchen. Also ongoing is the Coco Shop Trunk Show, with 10% of sales going to Frontline Responders. Plus, 10% of all sales of Alex Mill pieces will go to RAICES, 10% of Free&Easy sales to Surfrider Foundation to protect the oceans, and 10% of SPLITS59 sales to Baby2Baby to fight childhood poverty. PLUS, you can save an extra 25% off all sale items with code EXTRA20OFF at checkout at shopmille.com.
GIVEAWAY! Win $100 in-store credit each to three ethical fashion brands: Minnesota womenswear brand Hackwith Design House, California clothing label Back Beat Co and family-owned, Spanish footwear brand Avarcas. Visit avarcasusa.com/ to learn how to enter. Ends Sunday 5/3.
ENDING THIS WEEK:
Amani’s Fashions is donating 100% of all online sales during the month of April to a local food shelf. Shop via amanisfashions.com.
Atmosfere menswear is offering a gift card incentive: Get an extra $25 credit when you buy a $100 gift card, or an extra $50 when you buy a $200 gift card. Offer valid through 5/4. Plus, the store is taking phone orders Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 5pm at 612-333-1843.
Blu Dot is offering 20% off all new pieces at bludot.com plus outlet inventory at ebay.com/str/bludotoutlet through 5/3.
Brow Chic (where I get my eyelash extensions done!) is offering 10% off gift cards for use when they reopen with code LOVE at browchic.com. Ends Friday, 5/1.
FOAT Design and Yoga Garden are teaming up for a pair of deals for the month of April: Save 25% on a purchase of $100 or more at foatdesign.com with code FOAT25 + save 25% on a $99 monthly unlimited pass for Yoga Garden at yogagardenmpls.com with code YG25
The Foundry Home Goods is donating 100% of profits from the sale of locally made beeswax hand and body balm by Old Mill Candles and wood serving boards by Mara Metz during the month of April to Second Harvest Heartland and UNICEF at thefoundryhomegoods.com.
Goldfine Jewelry is donating 20% of all online sales for the month of April to Loaves & Fishes to help those with food insecurity. Shop online at goldfine-jewelry.com.
Requisite North Loop is offering a progressive deal running through April: get 10% off one item, 20% off two items, or 30% off three or more items, or get an extra 20% value on any gift card purchase. (Note, promos cannot be combined.) Plus, shop markdowns from 50 to 70% off, and get free shipping on orders over $100. Shop virtually at @requisitenorthloop on IG; DM or call/text 612-840-7339 to order.
SPF clothing brand SUN50 is offering 25% on all clothing for the month of April with promo code WECARE25 at sun50.co. Plus, Sun50 will donate 10% of all promo sales directly to its food bank partners like Second Harvest Heartland.
Local maker Tiny Loud is donating 10% of April sales to Women’s Advocates of St. Paul to help victims of domestic abuse. Shop online at tinyloud.co.
Local maker United Goods has dropped prices on select items, like its First Avenue candles, plus through 4/30, it’s offering free shipping with code SAFETYFIRST, and $5 off everything related to the state of Illinois with code ILLINOIS at unitedgoodsusa.com.
Wild Isles Swimwear is offering $25 off any bikini through Tuesday, 4/28 at wildislesswim.com.
ONGOING DEALS:
1004 Designs is offering 75% off its Fall/Winter 2019 collection of hand-knit apparel and accessories with code STAYHOME at 1004designs.com, plus free shipping.
Al’s Tailoring is offering 15% off all its handmade goods at alstailoring.com with code FRANDZ
A MANO Ceramics is offering free shipping on all orders over $75 at www.weshopamano.com with code SHIPPINGLOVE
Atelier957 has new markdowns from 30 to 70% off at atelier957.com. Virtual styling sessions are also available.
Bluebird Boutique in Edina is offering 20% to 50% off everything online at bluebirdboutique.com (no code needed; discount added at checkout). It’s also running a gift card special: Get a $125 gift card for $100, $250 for $200, and $375 for $300.
Cake Plus-Size Resale is updating its online shop and offering virtual style sessions at cakeplussize.com.
Covered is available for virtual shopping appointments and offering free shipping. Find them on Instagram @covereduptown.
Local brand De Nova is offering 20% off its luxe robes (great for lounging around the house) with code BETTERTOGETHER at mydenova.com.
Duke Albert is offering free shipping and free same-day local delivery on all orders at dukealbert.com
dugo is offering an extra $25 credit when you buy a $100 gift card, available on their website at dressupgoout.com/collections/gift-cards.
The Fitting Room is offering a free $20 gift card for every $100 gift card purchase made online via thefittingroommpls.com. You can also make a virtual shopping appointment.
Flirt Boutique recently launched an online shop through Stephanie’s boutique in St. Paul, stephaniesshop.com/flirt, to make it easier to shop its luxe lingerie and loungewear. (Plus: Free shipping!)
The Foundry Home Goods is offering 20% off Skagerak Denmark outdoor and indoor furniture through May (no code needed).
From Grasse with Love—a French-crafted, locally-based fragrance label—is offering 20% off all personal-size fragrances at grassewithlove.com.
Golden Age Design is offering free shipping on all orders (excludes furniture) at goldenagedesign.com.
The Golden Pearl Vintage recently launched an online shop for its vintage goods at thegoldenpearlvintage.com.
Golden Rule is offering 25% off cards, pantry and sale items with code SPRINGCLEANING at shopgoldenrule.com. Plus, get $5 off your next purchase when you buy a print from the store’s “Wonders Never Cease” group show at shopgoldenrule.com/pages/wonders-never-cease.
Grethen House has just taken new markdowns on spring arrivals, ranging from 20 to 80% off. Plus, get an additional $25 gift card to use when stores reopen when you buy $100 in gift cards now at grethenhouse.com, virtual style sessions, curbside pickup during select hours, free same-day local delivery and online price matching (with some exclusions).
Hackwith Design House is offering a 30% off promo code for its collection of sustainable shoes for Dr. Scholl's with code HACKWITH30FS at drschollsshoes.com. Plus, get free shipping on all orders at hackwithdesignhouse.com.
HOUSER, the North Loop fair-trade jewelry brand and gift shop, is donating 15% of all purchases to Second Harvest Heartland until further notice. Shop online at shophouser.com.
Hazel & Rose is offering a free $15 gift card for every $100 spent plus free shipping on orders of $100+ at shophazelandrose.com. The ethical fashion store is also launching something special each day this week in partnership with Winsome Goods’s zero-waste project. Watch their Instagram story @shophazelandrose around noon every Wednesday for the next release.
Looking for something to keep your hands busy? Hemlocks Leather has launched a stitch-your-own wallet kit for a leather clutch. It comes with everything you need including a digital instructional booklet, at a discounted price of $38 via www.hemlocksleather.com.
Holistic Purity CBD is offering 20% off all CBD products from the local brand at holisticpurity.com with promo code CORONA
Idun boutique in St. Paul is offering 20% off sitewide with code HJEM plus free shipping online at shopidun.com.
Jac & Violet jewelry is offering free shipping on orders through 5/31 at jacandviolet.com.
Joeleen Torvick is offering 40% off her fall/winter 2019 collection at joeleentorvick.com. Discount automatically applied at checkout.
Julia Elise skincare is donating 10% of sales from her spring self-care bundles to Open Arms Minnesota. Shop at juliaelise.com.
June Resale is loading up its online store and offering free shipping online at juneresale.com with code SOCIALDISTANCE
Kisa Boutique is offering free shipping on orders over $100 via its online store kisaboutique.com with code SHOPATHOME, plus Kisa Turkish towels on sale for $25 each.
Larissa Loden Jewelry has restocked her quarantine jewelry craft kits and is offering free shipping all month at larissaloden.com. Plus, shop new limited-edition designs every Thursday, and help give back on Do Good Tuesdays.
Local Motion Boutique is offering 50 to 80% off transitional pieces at localmotionboutique.shop. Plus, get $5 flat-rate shipping and personal delivery of orders over $500.
Lula Vintage Wear is offering virtual shopping via its Etsy store.
MartinPatrick3 is offering 25% off on everything (including gift cards) until the store reopens. Shop via virtual personal shopping services, phone calls or DMs at @martinpatrick3 on Instagram.
My Sister’s Closet recently launched an online store. Shop it at my-sister-s-closet-mpls.myshopify.com.
Neal Jewelry is offering free shipping plus 25% off ready-to-ship jewelry (excluding fine jewelry) with code BEWELL at nealjewelry.com.
Oktober Kissed is offering 40% off all orders at oktoberkissed.com with code STAYHOME plus free shipping.
Parc is offering free shipping and curbside pickup on all orders at parcboutique.com.
Pharmacie gift shop and menswear store is offering free shipping with code SOCIALDISTANCE via pharmaciempls.com.
Local online boutique Poppy Stella Rose is donating 20% of all purchases to the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, whose mission is to end child abuse and neglect. Shop online at poppystellarose.com.
Proper is offering free shipping on all orders until they can reopen at proper-shops.com.
Now you can shop all of your favorite Queen Anna fashions directly from your phone. Download the Queen Anna Fashion app for iOS or Android and enjoy special savings for first-time customers, and take advantage of virtual styling services. Plus, get free shipping and free returns. Download the app here or shop online at queenanna.co.
Now might be a good time to inventory your stuff since many people are WFH. Repair Lair, a locally owned shop that fixes and consigns outdoor gear and apparel, has closed its shop and moved to accepting mail-in repairs. Send in your rain jackets, down winter parkas, wool socks and hiking boots–right in time for all those secluded outdoor excursions we’re going to be taking to get some fresh air in the coming month(s). The store will also be ramping up its online presence at www.repairlair.com. Questions? Email therepairlair@gmail.com.
Roe Wolfe is available for virtual shopping on social or FaceTime, and offering a special gift card promo: $10 bonus on $50 gift cards, and $25 bonus on $100 gift cards. Shop online at roewolfe.com.
Stephanie Lake Design is offering complimentary door-to-door delivery, free domestic shipping, and gift certificates in any amount, now offered at a buy one, get one 50% off discount. The jewelry designer is also offering VIP services including jewelry repair and customization for customer-owned jewelry. Shop online at www.stephanielakedesign.com.
Up Six Vintage is selling curated swag bags of vintage goodies at a discounted price on its IG feed @upsixvintage, plus it’s adding new items to its new Etsy store daily at etsy.com/shop/UpSixVintage.
WAY the Label is offering an additional 25% off sitewide and free shipping with code SHOPLOCAL at waythelabel.com.
Via’s Vintage is shoppable via its Instagram feed, @viasvintage.
Here are some other ways you can support our local small fashion businesses:
Shop online + virtually. Even if they don’t have an online store, many stores offer delivery (many offering free and same-day local delivery). Many shops and makers are also hosting virtual shopping events on their Instagram story. (More on those below.)
Buy a gift card to use later. This will help stores stay on their feet now, and you can wait to shop until it’s nicer outside.
Make a social post & leave positive reviews. Show your support and spread the love any way you can!
All salons and beauty studios will be closed until May 18. Support them by purchasing a gift card, booking your next appointment, and shopping products from their e-commerce stores.
Got something to add? Email me at jahna.peloquin@gmail.com!