Photo by Hilary Stein

Revelers celebrate fashion and politics at RetroRama

Walking into RetroRama, an annual evening of retro fashion and fun at the Minnesota History Center, felt like stepping back in time. Attendees were invited to dress up for the event, and they didn't disappoint. Clad in their finest vintage attire with looks ranging from the 1920s to the 1980s, men and women alike showed that Minnesota knows how to do vintage fashion.
 
"People have fun dressing up for the event, and they are sharing their personal history with their clothing," says Aleah Vinick, adult audience specialist for the Minnesota History Center. "Vintage clothes have a personal meaning to people, and there's a story behind what they're wearing."

This year's theme, when politics and fashion collide, added a fun element to the event as attendees had the opportunity to create souvenir election hats and have their photo taken in the "Oval Office" at the "President's desk." More >>

Samantha Rei photographed by Nick Abrego

If you think that history is boring, RetroRama at the Minnesota History Center is set to prove you wrong. This hot party is a combination of history, politics, fashion, games, art, crafts, drinks, and music.

One of the highlights of the event is a vintage fashion show featuring local designers Emma Berg, Danielle Everine, Max Lohrbach, Samantha Rei, and Christopher Straub.

Samantha Rei, who designs under the fashion label Blasphemina's Closet, says she thinks that attendees will be surprised by how fun history can be.

"I love history, but I think a lot of people think it's this boring thing that their grandpa talks about," Rei says. "When you give history a youthful gloss, people realize how completely interesting it is. RetroRama is a way to be 'tricked' into learning while dressing fancy and drinking cocktails."

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The worst ever.

Ladies with long hair especially know the pain of blowdrying.  It takes forever, it never looks quite as sleek as it did walking out of the salon, and in general it just kind of sucks. How many times have you thought, "If I could only have someone do this for me all the time?"

Well, in a few weeks, you can. 

The creators of HAUS Salon are opening Blowdry Bar in Uptown this summer, and they're dedicated to bringing you your best hair days, over and over again. Sound too good to be true? We thought so, too.
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Photo by Corey Tenold

Editor's note: "What To Where" with Sarah Edwards is a new feature highlighting the Twin Cities' best clothing boutiques, special events, and foods for Summer 2012.
 
Every other week, What To Where will profile a clothing store, an accompanying event, and a restaurant within one of Minneapolis/St. Paul's unique neighborhoods. We'll showcase the Cities' incredibly diverse group of stylistas and show you how owning your individual style can be more powerful than simply following trends.
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Mei Pak of Tiny Hands Jewelry

Combine the crafty internet sensations Pinterest and etsy, add some distinct Minnesotan flair, bring it to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and you've got Craftstravaganza. The seventh-annual event celebrates the handmade goods of crafters from around the country.  

At this year's event, which has added a second building to accommodate the 140 different vendors, there's no shortage of great goods from amazing talents. From screen-printing to plushies to soaps to lamps, if you can make it, you'll probably find it here. If you need a little creative nudge, there will also be a bunch of workshops to help get your craft on throughout the day.

Mei Pak is the owner of Tiny Hands, a jewelry line that combines sweet and cute with miniature food. While this is the first time that Pak has participated in Craftstravaganza, the Minnesota native isn't new to the crafting game, as she's been making tiny scented pancakes, waffles, and cupcakes since 2006.

Pak's work has been featured on countless blogs and jewelry magazines, as well as on the hit show Parks and Recreation. (In case you're wondering, everyone's favorite deputy parks director Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, wears Tiny Hands jewelry in season four's "Operation Ann" episode.) Pak has also contributed to a miniature craft-making book, and gives tutorials about how to replicate her scrumptious little goods at home.

We talked to Pak about her sweet, successful journey with Tiny Hands, Parks and Recreation, and, oddly enough, placentas.

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Opitz Outlet is a haven for the spendthrift fashionistas of the Twin Cities. While they already have two buildings filled with style steals on Excelsior Boulevard, this weekend they're packing another warehouse full.

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Photo by Garrett Born

Upcycled dress created by You and Me for the Resurgent Fashion Show

Sol Inspirations, a non-profit organization that advocates for responsible clothing, styling, and beauty products, will host its second annual fashion show, Eco Inspirations, this weekend. Over one dozen local designers and boutiques were asked to create garments and accessories from earth-friendly materials for a fashion presentation. Participants include the Design Collective, Jenny Carle, CounterCouture, Vanessa Zahid, and students from the University of Minnesota and St. Catherine's University.

Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide, and Deborah Block of You and Me, a Minneapolis boutique that offers custom-made garments and accessories, will headline the show with a collaboration that includes dresses, men's and women's separates, and accessories.

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Nate Berkus

You may recognize Nate Berkus from The Oprah Winfrey Show or from his syndicated talk program, The Nate Berkus Show. This Sunday, you'll have the opportunity to see him in person, as he'll be speaking at the Talmud Torah of Minneapolis's annual benefit as the alumnus honoree.

"We have always honored people who are connected to our community, and we are happy to have a great alumnus at the event," says Beth Rubin-Gabor, marketing and fundraising director for Talmud Torah. "Nate was selected because he inspires youth at the Talmud Torah school to do what we encourage them to do: to work hard, to be passionate, and creative and to give back to our community."

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You've already done some spring cleaning and tossing of excess items from your closet. Now it's time to freshen up your wardrobe for spring. This weekend, you'll have the opportunity to do so when Mighty Swell pop-up shop hosts its annual spring sale.
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Fashion expert Carson Kressley has traveled across the nation helping men and women improve their wardrobes. From Queer Eye for the Straight Guy to Carson-Nation to How to Look Good Naked, Kressley has focused on making fashion fun. His next project is a women's clothing collection, Love, Carson, available exclusively at the Eden Prairie-based ShopNBC.

"I've done so many makeover shows, and I always go back to the same key pieces -- a great wrap dress or tunic. We'd go to these beautiful stores like Nordstrom and high-end places, but they'd always be quite expensive," Kressley says. "For my last show, Carson- Nation, I'd travel to small cities across the United States, and there weren't stores there that had merchandise that worked well. When we'd go to bigger cities, things were expensive and not really accessible for most women."

So Kressley set out to create his own collection.
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