You may have read about the new store at the Mall of America, Martin + Osa. I was particularly impressed with the very clever, practical ideas like chinos made from sweatpants fabric. Here’s a snapshot from the retreat-like store. If you are brave enough to go to the MOA on a Saturday, you may want to check it this weekend. In addition to M+O’s regular stock of clothes, accessories and trinkets, there will be performances at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. by local group Terramara. While I can’t vouch for them, I can vouch for these espadrilles (left). Bonus: 10% of all sales from that day will benefit VH1’s Save the Music. It’s really a win-win.

I bump into Anna Thompson all of the time. She always looks put together. I adored the Radcliffe Denim (from Bluebird Boutique) jeans that she wore last night. See the little silver speck near the hem– it allows you to instantly hem the jeans to fit. However, I suspect with the Bebe Babble crowd, Anna is best known as “Lucy’s Mom.” Check out Lucy (left) in the ensemble she modeled in the show. What a star.

For as much as I love fashion, I was kind of leery about a random fashion show on a random Monday night. I’ll admit when I’m wrong. I was impressed with the ready-to-wear Bill Blass collection, different from the line presented during fashion week. The trench coat (above, right) retails for $895, an investment, but a timeless one. Sarah Ramsay (pictured right, with choreographer Mitch Kelly), who organized the show through her Bella Sofie, is running a trunk show and selling the full line by appointment only at the Chambers through February 27.

I was surprised at how modern the designs were. Check out the sleeves on the cropped jacket (at left). Adorable!

In comments about the opening of “via C,” Kent and others asked about Nordstrom’s menswear. Here’s the update:

1. New in denim: Joe’s Jeans and William Rast (Justin Timberlake’s line, pictured right).

2. Other brands:

Armani Collezioni

John Varvatos Star USA

Ermenigildo Zegna

Canalli

Robert Graham

Hugo Boss

Happy shopping!

Back in Minneapolis, a new department is opening in Nordstrom. A few current fashion favorites will find a home in the Twin Cities in “via C.” That’s what Nordstrom calls this department for emerging designers. On the second floor, the cool collection includes Anna Sui, 3.1 Phillip Lim (photo, who designs impressively wearable clothes), Tory Burch, See by Chloe, M Missoni and McQ by Alexander McQueen.

Earlier this week, I went to the Tibi show with the women’s fashion director of Macy’s North, Stacie Clark. Read more about it in the Star Tribune today. Here is the footwear look from the show:  T-strap shoes with black socks. Yes, socks. Similar combinations have appeared on many runways.