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.