Summer is in full-swing, with this week playing host to the MLB All-Star Game, the Aquatennial and Bastille Day celebrations. Mid-July also marks the height of summer sale season, if this week’s big sales are any indication.
The biggest has to be the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, a once-a-year event that gives shoppers the chance to stock up early for fall. Nordstrom cardholders got a jump start on the sale last week; beginning this Friday, Nordstrom opens the sale up to the general public, with pre-releases from dozens of designers’ fall collections–occasionally exclusives–marked down by 33 percent for two weeks only before they go back to regular price on August 4.
Two other major sales are popping up two of the Twin Cities’ biggest shopping destinations: 50th and France and Galleria in Edina. The former hosts its annual Crazy Days Sale this weekend, with four days of sales and special events. Participating retailers including designer clothing shops Bumbershute, MINQ, Bluebird Boutique and Grethen House, paper goods shop Paperista, designer resaler Fashion Avenue and swimwear shop Nani Nalu are offering discounts of 30 to 90 percent throughout the weekend.
In conjunction with the event, 50th & France retailer Corset Styling & Fashion Boutique is hosting their semi-annual clearance sale. It includes 50 to 75 percent off spring/summer and fall/winter clothing, shoes and accessories, with extended days and hours. Additionally, designer boutique MINQ will host a five-day trunk show beginning on Wednesday for Spanish handcrafted jewelry line UNOde50.
On Thursday night, the intersection will host a night of live music, a fitness-inspired “happy hour” run, a post-race lifestyle marketplace with food from Edina Grill. Race registrants receive an Athleta performance running tank ($25 value), two drinks at the Pig & Fiddle Bubbly Bar and more. (Register to race at espiritdeshe.com.)
Also this weekend, Galleria’s semi-annual Clearance Experience includes discounts of up to 80 percent, special offers and events at most of its stores, including Len Druskin, Pumpz & Company and Melly. Galleria home goods boutique Ampersand is also kicking off its summer sale, offering 25 to 50 percent off selected styles of dinnerware, glassware, table linens and more summer entertaining goods.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Editor’s Picks
Trina Turk “Scarlett” Plaid Coat, $449.90 after sale (originally $685)
Helene Berman Wool Blend Cape in Burgundy, $198.90 (originally $298)
Theory “Super” Pencil Skirt in Navy, $126.90 (originally $190)
Laundry by Shelli Segal Tweed Single Breasted Reefer Coat, $109.90 (originally $168)
Danielle Nicole “Adeline” Laser Cut Satchel in Black/Brown, $64.90 (originally $98)
Sam Edelman “Zachary” Cutout Ankle Cuff Suede Pump in Burgundy, $89.90 (originally $139.95)
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Fri.-Aug. 3. Nordstrom, Mall of America, 1000 Northwest Ct., Bloomington, 952-883-2121, nordstrom.com. Preview the sale at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Lookbook.
Crazy Days at 50th & France: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 50th & France, Edina, 50thandfrance.com/events.
Corset Styling & Fashion Boutique Clearance Sale: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. & noon-5 p.m. Sun. Through July 31. 5400 France Av. S., Edina, 952-224-2495, corsetstyling.com.
UNOde50 Trunk Show: (Wed.-Sun. MINQ, 5045 France Ave. S., Edina, 612-886-2346, shopminq.com & unode50.com.
Galleria’s Clearance Experience: Fri.-Sun. Galleria, 69th St., & France Av., Edina, 952-925-4321, galleriaedina.com.
Ampersand’s Summer Sale: Ongoing. 3445 Galleria, 952-920-2118, ampersandshops.com.
More local shopping:
Now available: Hackwith Design House x Indigo & Snow: Local fashion line Hackwith Design House recently joined forces with designer Annabella Sardelis of Indigo & Snow for a collaborative capsule collection. The four-piece line features hand-dyed, one-of-a-kind pieces featuring Indigo & Snow’s signature shibori dye technique coupled with Hackwith’s minimalist silhouettes. Tanks and tops range from $130 to $145, with a dress priced at $180. [Read more: In the Studio with Hackwith Design House] (hackwithdesignhouse.com.)
Tuesday: Network + Connect: Culinary Fashion: Fashion Group International’s local chapter hosts this fashion-meets-foodie event. FGI member, James Beard Award winner and Minnesota Monthly food columnist Sue Zelickson will moderate a discussion about how fashion influences culinary style and trends with award-winning chef David Fhima and his wife Lori, owners of FACES Mears Park. With passed hors d’oeuvres and networking hour. (6 p.m. networking, 7 p.m. presentation. $15 FGI members, $20 non-members. FACES Mears Park, 373 N. Sibley St., St. Paul, 651-209-7776, eventbrite.com.)
Thursday-Saturday: Sample It Apparel Sale: For three days a year at the Days Inn in Bloomington, the Sample It Apparel Sale features clothing and accessories samples from brand-name designers, including Nick & Mo, Luv 4 Anouka, Tribal and Halladay, at or below wholesale prices for women, men and kids. On Saturday, all remaining samples go an additional 25 percent off. (2-8 p.m. Thu., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri. & 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. Days Inn, 7851 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, sampleitsale.com.)
Thursday: A Mano Trunk Show: Minneapolis-based e-commerce shop A Mano is hosting a pop-up sale this weekend at Uptown boutique Kisa. The shop features handcrafted, one-of-a-kind ceramics, jewelry and accessories from designers from the Twin Cities and beyond. (5-8 p.m. Kisa Boutique, 722 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-823-5192, kisaboutique.com & weshopamano.com.)
Beginning Thursday: Gus Modern Furniture Sale: Modern furniture and design store ROAM Interiors kicks off a month-long sale on Canadian-based furniture vendor Gus Modern, which designs contemporary and mid-century-inspired pieces. (ROAM Interiors, 2914 Hennepin Av., Mpls., 612-377-6465, roaminteriors.com & gusmodern.com.)
Friday-Sunday: MidModMen Annex Clearance: Mid-century modern vintage interior store MidModMen is hosting a weekend-long clearance sale at its annex location, promising new furniture additions and a ton of hand-picked vintage glassware and small decor. Hop on the Green Line light-rail–the shop is located just off the Raymond Avenue stop. (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sun. MidModMen Annex, 2401 University Av., St. Paul, 612-234-1201, midmodmen.com.)
Saturday: Joeleen Torvick & East Fourth Street Designer Launch: Locally-focused designer boutique Showroom is hosting a launch party to welcome two new brands to the shop: modern clothing line Joeleen Torvick and handmade artisan jeweler East Fourth Street, with small bites, beverages and a designer meet-and-greet. (4-7 p.m. 615 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-345-77391, showroommpls.com, joeleentorvick.com & eastfourthstreet.com.)
Saturday & Sunday: “Circensian” Jewelry Show: Northeast art gallery Rogue Buddha hosts a different kind of art show this weekend: fine jewelry oddities. Dubbed “Circensian,” the show curated by jewelry designer Cora Marshall features her own steampunk-esque line Trinkets and Gears alongside four similarly-quirky jewelry designers and the dark, dreamlike paintings of Nicholas Harper. (Noon-8 p.m. Sat. & noon-5 p.m. Sun. Rogue Buddha Gallery, 357 13th Ave. NE., Mpls. 612-331-3889, etsy.com/shop/TrinketsAndGears.)
Now open: OOTN Lifestyle: New boutique OOTN Lifestyle is an offshoot of OOTN Magazine, an online look book of crowd-sourced fashion in which the brand’s Instagram followers can share their “outfit of the day/night” through the hashtag #ootnmagazine. The shop carries an appropriately-eclectic mix that’s equally rock ‘n roll, multi-cultural, and feminine. [Read more: First Look: Crowd-sourced boutique OOTN Lifestyle opens] (Now open. 99 S. 10th St., Mpls. 612-338-3437, ootnmagazine.com.)
Now available: Jesse Draxler’s hand-painted t-shirts: Minneapolis artist Jesse Draxler’s darkly beautiful, hand-cut collage work and illustrations have been commissioned by everything from the New York Times, Target and clothing line Oak NYC. This month, he debuted a new line of hand-painted and -dyed t-shirts, commissioned by new L.A. skateboarding company SOVRN. Draxler now has additional t-shirts available on a made-to-order, customizable basis via Big Cartel. Available in unisex sizes small to XXL, the hand-painted, stained and dyed shirts are all one-of-a-kind. (And at $45, a total steal.) [Read more: Jesse Draxler debuts hand-painted t-shirt line] (Available now at jessedraxler.bigcartel.com.)
Now open: Lily Stan Studio: This week saw the launch of new clothing line Lily Stan Studio by Minneapolis designer Lily Harris. The handmade, limited-edition line is meant to be layered, seasonless and classic closet staples. [Read more: “First Look: Lily Stan Studio”] (Now available. lilystanstudio.com.)
D.NOLO Expansion: Shops-within-a-shop concept D.NOLO–short for Destination North Loop–is debuting two new in-store shops on Tuesday. They include 50th & France casual-chic shop Bluebird Boutique, which D.NOLO owner Veronica Clark says will focus on denim from J Brand and Citizens of Humanity, plus casualwear and coats from Vince and J Brand Collection. The second is Area, which will carry soft lines and footwear by Joie. (Now open. D.NOLO, 219 N. 2nd St., Mpls., 612-584-3244, dnolo.com.)
Mille Summer Sale: Mille, which features a thoughtfully-curated selection of small designers and U.S.-made goods, is hosting its summer sale, with spring and summer merchandise marked 50 percent off online and in store, plus take 10 percent off all online orders this week when you enter “BLUESKY” at checkout. (Now. 316 W. 48th St., Mpls., 612-209-7364 & shopmille.com.)
Pumpz & Co. Summer Sale: Take up to 50 percent off select shoes, handbags and accessories, plus $25 and $50 surprises, at the Galleria designer haven. (Now. 3335 Galleria, Edina, 952-926-2252, pumpzco.com.)
The Annual John Fluevog Thinks You’re Awesome Sale: Take 60 percent off spring and summer footwear at the cult-favorite shoe shop known for its quirky, vintage-inspired designs. (Now. John Fluevog Shoes, 2900 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls., 612-821-1970, fluevog.com.)
Max’s Semi-Annual Sale: The fine jeweler hosts its semi-annual sale with discounts of 40 to 80 percent off selected pieces from the shop’s jewelry, home decor and chocolates collections. This month, the store also introduces two new lines, the New York-based Ten Thousand Things and U.K.’s Deakin & Francis, plus new pieces from Anne Sportun, Rebecca Myers and Lauren K. (Tue.-July 19. Max’s at the Shops at Excelsior & Grand, 3826 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, 952-922-8364, stylebymax.com.)
Stephanie’s Progressive Summer Sale: Through the month of July, Highland Park store Stephanie’s is hosting its annual progressive summer sale: Take 20 percent off one item, 30 percent off two items and 40 percent off three or more items, plus an extra ten percent off if you mention Minnesota Monthly. (Excludes jewelry and select accessories.) (Now through July 31. 758 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul., 651-690-3802, stephaniesshop.com.)
MartinPatrick3 Summer Tag Sale: North Loop men’s and design shop MartinPatrick3 is in the midst of a summer tag sale with markdowns of 30 to 60 percent on select furniture, including Mitchell Gold, Bob Williams floor samples and stock, plus 20 percent off special order upholstery. (Now through July 27. MartinPatrick3, 212 3rd Ave. N. #106, Mpls., 612-317-0045, martinpatrick3.com.)
FinnStyle’s Marimekko Summer Sale: Local Marimekko retailer FinnStyle hosts its biggest sale of the year this month. Shoppers can save 20 to 70 percent on more than 300 Marimekko products spanning bed, bath, kitchen, dining, fabric, clothing and bags both in-store and online. (Now through July 20. 160 Glenwood Ave., Mpls., 612-333-2127, finnstyle.com.)
Now open: Shinola & Filson: Shinola’s first Minneapolis shop (its third brick-and-mortar) carries much of what you’d expect if you’re a fan of the e-store, or visited any of the company’s other locations: Shinola’s beautifully-crafted bicycles, leather-bound journals and leather accessories, watches galore, and quirky-cool giftables like a brass coaster set and bottle opener. A doorway connects Shinola to Filson, which carries reclaimed waxed-canvas bags, outfitted with new leather straps and hardware, as well as new bags, sturdy wool and flannel shirts, jackets and other essentials that are both timeless and au courant. [Read more: “First Look: Shinola’s and Filson”] (Now open. 228 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-338-5493, shinola.com & filson.com.)
Now open: Idun: St. Paul’s Cathedral Hill neighborhood is the site of internationally-minded, high-design boutique Idun. The shop carries a mix of goods that reflect the shop’s minimalist aesthetic, with activewear-inspired detailing, luxe fabrics and clean silhouettes, including quintessentially-French line Bérangère Claire; minimalist Danish label Won Hundred; sporty, streetwear-influenced NYC line Nomia and Toronto-based contemporary sportswear line Priority of Ten. [Read more: “New Shop Alert: Idun”] (Open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Idun, 495 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 610-745-7681, shopidun.com.)
