This is the best local fashion news ever–there’s a new accessories boutique coming to 50th and France. The owners of Bluebird Boutique, Allison Mowery and Sacha Martin, are teaming with local fashionista Amanda Rose to open a new handbags, shoes, and jewelry shop in the space formerly occupied by Spirit Kids. They plan to call it Ladyslipper.
They’ll move the Loeffler Randall shoes currently in stock at Bluebird down the street and add other lines that aren’t high, high end, but also aren’t cheapy cheap. That’s known as the fashion-forward middle. Surely this cool-hunting team will keep the same stylish standard of Bluebird and finally offer shoppers an alternative to department store doldrums. Not to mention, they buy in small quantities, so odds are better that you won’t be wearing the same Kenneth Jay Lane necklace as everyone else in the office.
The bad news? Ladyslipper doesn’t open until August. However, that’s just in time for fall.
In the mean time, you can shop at Bluebird for spring. These LNA tees ($60 each) are soft, lightweight and feature the perfect scoop neck–seductive, but not slutty low. Be sure to check out the Loeffler Randall shoes and accessories as the selection will soon be expanding.
Mark your calendars for the weekend of May 2, 3, 4. Bluebird will have their seasonal sale where everything in the store will be 20 percent off.

Bluebird Boutique, 3909 W. 50th St., Mpls, 952-746-8675.

Now Open:
Uber Baby at Galleria:The new store is right across from Expecting Uber Baby and carries lots of Twin Cities exclusives. The cutest part? The shoe gallery with little shoes from TOMS and L.A.M.B..
Nine: This consignment shop (5456 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls, 612-827-8144) is devoted to maternity clothes. Seeing that moms-to-be have such limited use from their clothes? Sounds genius.
White House Black Market at Rosedale: This store has some cute, fashion-forward pieces. However, some of the fabrics feel a bit cringe-worthy.
The North Face: It’s hard to miss the building that rose at 3008 Hennepin Av. in seemingly record time. It seems like everyone in the store is already wearing a North Face jacket. I guess in our climate, you can’t get enough.

Opening soon:
Pacifier at Gaviidae: The popular Northeast Minneapolis shop for cool tots is opening in its second location. Where? Downtown, baby. First level in the Saks Off Fifth wing, across from Drama. It’s time to get off the skyway level, people.
Covered in Uptown: Didn’t you read the Daily StylePointer? Pay attention!
Rocco Altobelli, J.Crew, and Sephora at Rosedale: There’s a lot of action at this Dale. Stay tuned for opening info.

Closing:
Brooks Brothers at the Mall of America: Wrinkle-free shirt fans will have to shop the newer downtown location.
Staccato at the Mall of America: Shoes today, gone tomorrow. The store leaves
Paiva at the Mall of America: I hardly knew ya, but I already miss your active-lifestyle gear, including a wide selection of Stella McCartney for Adidas. All of the stores in the chain have closed.

First came bridal, then came eveningwear, then sportswear, then a Barbie and Royal Doulton fine china and now…handbags. It’s about time! What’s a celebrity (or a girl going to a party) supposed to wear with her Lhuillier outfit?
Try these on for size. The gold metallic python bag ($1695) which doubles as a clutch when you tuck the substantial chain inside, will not only last forever, it will look good with everything. Hey, who a fancy party when you could carry this sparkler to lunch at Salut?
If that’s not exclusive enough for you–try one of these ostrich bags ($2950 each) with jewel-encrusted clasp. They are very limited edition. The white one is the only one left of it’s kind.
See and purchase these handbags only in L.A. and Minneapolis. Lucky us, right?
Monique Lhuillier, 3928 W. 50th St., Mpls, 612-920-0747.

Keith Elsworth Dorsett is one of the most recognizable sales people in town. He spent 21 years at Macy’s-Marshall Fields-Daytons. If you’ve bought something from the downtown store, you’ll probably know his face and you’ve probably missed seeing it in the past few months.

Never fear, his new menswear boutique is just steps away on the skyway through the men’s shoe department. The shop is a well-edited version of what Dorsett wants to stock. You’ll find a John Varvatos suit ($895), Jason Hammerberg’s Rarity shirts ($80), Parasuco jeans ($120-$140), Ted Baker and some very distinctive shirts from Billtornade such as this cotton sweater ($200) with subtle, but cool details. This soft collection belt ($106) in brown or black has very distinctive texture.

That’s what Dorsett’s style is about. “Simplicity without a lot of bling. Sharp,” he said. That’s also why he prefers silver (over gold) hardware on belts and clothes (such as buttons and studs). The store’s logo? A dark silhouette of a man, actually his father when he was 16. At Elsworth, it’s all about the personal touches.

The best reason to shop there? Dorsett’s signature advice. He’ll show you how to put your looks together–such as this outfit he mixed and matched before my eyes, inspired by the Leather Island belt ($56). Trousers with a Gypsy 05 shirt ($68) and Kenneth Cole boots ($275). He doesn’t use mannequins–the ideas will be just for you.

Yesterday, Dorsett answered the phone, “Thanks for calling Elsworth.” Then he proceeded to tell the rep: “I’m still getting used to the phone. For years, it has been Macy’s or Marshall Fields or Daytons.” I suspect he’ll become accustomed to it really quickly.

OPENING PARTY & FASHION SHOW!
Celebrate the opening with Dorsett this Thursday night, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Fashion show at 7:30.

Elsworth, Highland Bank Court, 811 LaSalle Av., suite 205A (skyway level, right through Macy’s men’s shoe department, Mpls, 612-339-0763.

Last weekend’s fashion show at the new Hotel Ivy was the best I’ve seen in the Twin Cities in the two and a half years. It featured the work of Joynoelle (above) and Monique Lhuillier (below).
Why? It was professionally and elegantly choreographed (thanks to producer Mitch Kelly), the setting was lovely (thanks to the new IVY) and the clothes were stunning (thanks to the designers and stylists).

Joynoelle’s shabby chic designs were at their best in the first look and the xxx look. Monique Lhuillier’s spring collection was inspired by her favorite Laduree macaroons. Even though I saw it on the runway last fall, it’s a spectacular collection of dreamy pastels in floaty, feminine, playful silhouettes.

The show was further boosted by jewelry from JB Hudson baubles.

A nice touch? A run of show… The audience can follow along with look-by-look descriptions as they watch. So you can shop as you watch. It’s standard fare at New York fashion shows, but a rare occurrence in the Twin Cities.

Here’s the description of look number nine from Lhuillier’s run of show:

Mist grey crinkle gazar one shoulder asymmetrically draped gown with soft bubble tier skirt.

For fashionistas, it’s poetry!

Here’s Joynoelle’s first look (my favorite):

Cream shredded silk taffeta bodice dres with pale blue skirting and black rose and hand-knotted details.

The collaboration was an impressive effort–a day of watching, shopping, eating and socializing. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday.

Where to shop:

Joynoelle, 312 W. 42nd St., Mpls, 612-209-7822.

Monique Lhuillier, 3928 W. 50th St., Edina, 612-929-0747. For reports about Lhuillier’s fall 2008 collection, click here, here, here, and here.

We’re springing forward an hour on Sunday morning, but don’t sleep in! Get a glimpse at the new Hotel Ivy with a Joynoelle/Monique Lhuillier fashion show/trunk show.

Yeah, you read that correctly, the two designers are teaming up to celebrate the hotel’s opening.

When: There are two shows–one at noon and another at 5 p.m. with trunk shows in the middle.

Drinks: Both designers have signature cocktails concocted by the hotel’s mixologist. Joynoelle’s is the demi-couturini. It has cranberry-infused vodka made just for the occasion.

Tickets: 612-746-4600. Proceeds go to the Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Handbag designer-to-the-stars (Cher! Sarah Jessica Parker! Tina Turner!) Carlos Falchi is coming to Minneapolis next week. Last month, I visited his studio in New York. He gave me a tour of the workshop, showed off some of his designs and let me watch as he mixed a batch of mushroom-colored dye.

More on the behind the scenes next week and an article in the Star Tribune on Sunday. In the meantime, enjoy the video here.

If you want to meet Falchi and check out his current bags, make a special request or have him sign the lining of a vintage handbag you already own, here’s the scoop:

Pumpz & Co, Galleria, Edina, 952-926-2252. Friday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Move over Victoria’s Secret. I heard a few months back that the Mall of America was going to have one of the first of the enigmatic new Abercrombie spin-off stores.

Now, the signs are up on the second level, kind of by Nordstrom. The sign features a row of males in white underwear and one female, also in her scanty underpinnings.

I logged on to their website and after entering my birthdate watched a short nudity-filled film. (NOTE: NOT SAFE FOR WORK!) This news follows the recent return of the risque A&F catalog.

The new Gilly Hicks store will be opening soon and it’s one of the first five stores in the country. Oh, and the official title is Gilly Hicks Sydney. Isn’t A&F in Ohio?
I didn’t take a photo, but I’ll post one when I have it.

Have you seen it? Have you heard? This month, our little Twin Cities are featured in Lucky magazine. The shopping authorities of the publishing world finally made it to Minneapolis to check out our little world of retail. The story featured Minneapolis and a short aside about St. Paul.

If you go into Bluebird (50th St. & France Ave, Edina), you’ll find this wall of magazine covers. Hayden Panettiere has never had such local publicity! It’s the same wall visible in their Lucky photograph. According to co-owner Allison Mowery, editor-at-large Gigi Guerra came into the store scouting and didn’t identify herself (or her Lucky affiliation) for a good 15 to 20 minutes. When the Lucky crew came to take photos, Guerra rearranged the store. Hence, the perfectly spaced hangers in the background.

Expect to see a gigantic cover in the window of Karma soon. There’s also a cover in the window at Stephanie’s. Owner Stephanie Morrissey said that Guerra was scouting in her shop on a Sunday in October. Then Morrissey found out about it from one of her employees. “When I opened my store, one of my goals was to be in Lucky,” said Morrissey.

Now I wonder what stores Guerra browsed, but didn’t include in the round-up.

Here’s the list of stores featured on pages 143 to 144 in the February issue.

Minneapolis:
– Bella Lana

– Bluebird

– Clutch Boutique

– Covered

– Design Collective

– Hunt & Gather

– Ivy

– Letterbox

– Luehmann

– Salon Rouge

– Soleil Brule

– Walker Shop

St. Paul:

– Karma

– Stephanie’s

– Swank Retro

Missing from the list, as far as I’m concerned: Bumbershute, Cherie, Cliche, In Toto, Luna Soles, and Picky Girl. It seems being in a mall rules you out too. (Sorry, Galleria!) Also absent? Any Northeast Minneapolis and downtown retail. Not that there’s a lot of it, but maybe someday!

More than one in four grooms propose during the holiday season. That makes this the season where many brides-to-be start dress shopping. Carolina Herrera makes the most beautiful wedding gowns I’ve ever seen, including this one. Herrera’s bridal starts at $3,200 and goes up to $30,000. I just found out that these dream gowns are available locally and exclusively at L’atelier couture bridal boutique.
This weekend, there will be a trunk show featuring some 15 gowns from Herrera and Vera Wang (also available at Macy’s).

Potential designer brides need to make an appointment, so a consultant can guide you through the process, just like on “Say Yes to the Dress.” If you buy a dress during the trunk show, you’ll get 10 percent off.

L’Atelier Couture Bridal Boutique, 493 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-602-9492, www.lateliercouturebridal.com.