No, This Isn't a Motorcycle Dive Bar- Fashion a la Mode

Leather is a tough look to pull off. Unless you frequent Sturgis, are in to S&M, or hang out backstage at concerts… leather isn’t generally something one is comfortable is wearing (of course- the classic leather jacket can be a staple for a lot of people). I am talking leather skirts, shorts, dresses, vests- a little outside the norm of a clean-cut leather jacket. I am just giddy over this. Giddy, now that I think about it, is not quite the best term used when in conjunction with excitement for leather.

I am obsessed with my zipper front leather mini skirt, and my new leather hot shorts. The shorts I have yet to wear, I am waiting for more of that sweltering heat and an invite to a dive bar/ fun event that they would work perfectly for. The skirt I have worn and it has been complimented and adored. I have paired it with an oversized, chunky sweater and heels, and also with a button up shirt tucked in with flats.

(Free People)

(Theory)

(ShopBop)

A little tip: When wearing one of these bold, and sometimes more “scandalous” pieces, try pairing it with something to tone it down a bit. I wouldn’t suggest a low cut silk tank and leather hot shorts if you’re going to a casual dinner. Throw on a leather vest with a white v-neck and cut off jean shorts with a bright colored pair of flats… come on, this is too easy. Effortlessly chic.

-N

Pause...

I am extremely upset by the latest Bundle.com “unbiased poll” claiming Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota as two of the ten LEAST fashion forward cities in the US. They took this poll by taking the fifty largest cities by population and creating a “fashion-index” with 1.0 being average. They then based their index on “fashion-aware” households by counting households that made at least four purchases in top-end merchandisers in the last 30 months. They even dared put the comment “Warmth before fashion” next to our name (you CAN be good-looking and warm?!). I am completely offended. I mean, yes, I cannot control what the entire city/state wears, there are just NOT enough hours in the day for that. But come on. With only 5 cities below us on this scale, I am pretty upset. Why is it that we can be considered that fashion behind? We have the BIGGEST mall in the United States... along with dozens of other shopping venues. The Galleria in Edina is a top-end merchandiser's heaven. 

Listen here Minnesota, step it up. 

Print Maker- Fashion a la Mode

I literally (word-overuse I am aware) literally cannot stress how important and EVERYWHERE prints are this season and the seasons to come. I have written about polka dots, a very simple print, but print nonetheless. What I am talking about now is, over the top, wild and crazy, grandma’s curtains, prints. Every decently fashion forward store you walk into now, whether it be in the low price range like the Forever 21’s and H&M’s, to mid-price range Urban Outfitters, American Apparels, J. Crew’s, Banana’s, even to the upward high-end stores, like the 2^nd floor of Nordstrom at the Mall of America, and Zara- every single one of these bombards your visual palettes with prints! Dresses, shorts, pants, even little details such as shoes are covered in outlandish prints… not that shoes are little details, I meant physically.What is important about taking on these prints head on is just that. You need to be bold and unafraid and ready to throw out your “matching look” censor that you have been building up. This is not prep school, you don’t need to look tailored, in fact, the point is to look different. How refreshing.

Take a bold strapless dress, add a huge chunky necklace and some heels, and throw in a clutch in a solid color. If dresses aren’t your thing, take a pair of pants with a loud print, pair with a chambray, or if you’re feeling daring, a shirt in a complimenting pattern… heck you could even double the pattern up! The patterned shoes are where I am getting my pleasure from this spring. I have already scooped up three pairs… and am not feeling the need to stop there. Who doesn’t love a spicy shoe to make a used-to-bed boring outfit come alive? 

Its simple really, just go buy something and play with it (and since they have stuff at every price point, I don’t see why you can’t). And throw on some MSTRKRFT while you’re at it to put you in the right mindset. Viola! 

(J. Crew)

(Urban Outfitters)

(J. Crew)

(Zara)

(Aldo)

Spring Time's "Winter Road"- Music a la mode

The Fine Line in Downtown Minneapolis is the perfect venue for a small concert, a wedding reception (T-minus 2 months until my best friend gets married there- Shoutout to Casey and Dust!), or a CD Release Party. And that’s just the reason that brought the 150 plus people to Fine Line last Thursday. Nels Leafblad, or Nels, as he goes by in the music world, was a fellow Bethel student with me for the too-short year and a half I attended there. Friends of both Randi and I, we both know how talented he is musically. Whether he was doing stuff for Mr. BU, singing with his friends on a Friday night, or hey- even trying out for American Idol and getting the coveted golden ticket to Hollywood, he always stood out. After returning to Minneapolis from his chance to meet and talk to singer Jennifer Lopez (god I sound like a name dropper), he decided to further pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. He rallied family and friends together to gather the funds he would need for studio time, and to make this much dreamed about CD a reality.            Upon getting a super personal invite via Facebook to join him at his CD release party (tis the time of invites over the internet), I was so excited. He had done it! And boy did he do it right.
            Everyone I expected to see was there, and even people I didn’t expect to see showed up to see Nels, as well as fellow musician and friend Matt Moberg and his wife Lauren, and two other bands: A Thousand Miles from New York, and Josh Tarp and the Still. The place was packed and buzzing. The Moberg’s graced the stage first with their haunting voices and indie, feel-good vibe. The two of them are spectacular if you haven’t had a chance to hear them yet- check them out. (Remember, Randi and I know good music…) Nels went on next. Looking like a natural he preformed songs off his CD “Winter Road”.  “Get on With Loving You” and “Stop Shivering” are two of my personal favorites. Trying to decide how to describe his voice is difficult, because he can fit in so many categories. Think Jason Mraz-like, but more folky, rawer, and there are some strong moments of country twangs in there. The CD may be called Winter Road, and yes I can totally envision listening to this by some fireplace when its snowy outside… but I can also imagine a bonfire setting this summer with this playing, a cold drink in hand, and just some acoustic version of these songs. Fantastic. 
            Sure, you might think I am biased since we are all friends, but as many of my friends can vouch, I am extremely and brutally honest. So I probably wouldn’t write this at all if I didn’t back it. Go buy it. Listen for yourself. And come to your own conclusions, but I guarantee they’ll be similar to mine.

-N

Not Your Average Noodle Bar- Entertainment a la mode

Last night I had the wonderful pleasure of getting happy hour with my very best friends. It has now since been dubbed our Wednesday night ritual- much to my excitement, because hey, who doesn’t love happy hour!! This week, we decided to think outside the box and try something new, so we ventured a couple hundred feet from our usual bars and hangouts (adventurous people we are) and stopped at Kinsen. Kinsen Noodles and Bar was created after the owner was under the impression that Uptown needed a noodle bar and also an Asian restaurant that stuck to the needs of the Uptown community. They serve only meat that comes from local and all-natural farmers, and also cater to the gluten-free and vegan population. They stay true to their idea of local vending also while serving Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream (and uptown favorite), as well as Bull Run Coffee.

Wednesday nights they have some great deals. 2-4-1’s on all tap and bottle beer as well as wine. They also have an appetizer menu that on Wednesday only costs $3 a plate! Pretty inexpensive if you compare it to other happy hour “specials” in the area. Our table got orders of the spring rolls, egg rolls, and pad thai with shrimp and chicken. Although I can’t say I tried the egg rolls (pig products aint for me), I can say the rest of the food was delicious. And two cider beers for only $6? Count me in.

The atmosphere is great; it was warm so they opened up some of the sliding doors. The interior decorations were ethnic and different than any other bar in the Uptown area. My one friend mentioned that it reminded her of a California beach bar, the doors could easily open right up to the sand. A nice little get away only steps from your front door.

(Oh and a little secret. If you live in Uptown and can prove that to your waitress, you get 10% off your bill…)

-N

Oh So Top Heavy- Fashion a la Mode

I have been honestly searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses for the past month. I know, I know, its only been sunny for like, 4 days here in Minnesota, but regardless of the sun being scattered in its appearances, my sunglasses never are in theirs. I am one of those obsessive sunglass wearers (I didn’t know that was such a word until my Mac didn’t autocorrect me), I have even fallen asleep inside my house with them on. I think I found the style I desperately want, maybe need, (finally, stepping away from the wayfarer style I have been wearing for the past 2 years), and my style icon is none other than Malcolm X. …pause. Yes, I said Malcolm X. He made these brow-line glasses famous in the mid-twentieth century, and for that I give him credit.

The name comes from the fact that much like eyebrows frame the eyes, these frame the glasses themselves. Ray-Ban makes a line of glasses and sunglasses known as the Clubmaster, which is based on this classic style. AMC’s Mad Men has helped to reintroduce this style with the characters wearing them frequently. Flattering on most face shapes, even my rounder heart-shaped face, I’ll take em! 

Now go out at be protected by the (hopefully everywhere) sun... 

-N

No longer is it the 1920's but let's speakeasy about this! - entertainment a la mode

“A bar with no sign out front?  How do I find one of these things?”

Secret speakeasys have become a not-so-secret trend. San Francisco, Boston, New York City and Charleston each have at least one. Want to know something even better for us Minneapolis folk?  We have one right in our neighborhood….you ask where it is?  Well, based on my experience…all I can say is, “good luck”.  

For those of you who DO NOT know what speakeasies are, it is time to get a little educated. We will excuse you if your history classes are blurring together right now and you can’t actually recall what the prohibition is.   Ponder no more. The first thing you need to know is that during the prohibition (January 1920 to December 1933) bartenders had to get creative in their drink-making due to the lack of "legal" alcohol and they started using ingredients that masked poor tasting liquors like, ginger ale and rye. During the prohibition, rediscovering (and reinventing) premium, hand-made cocktails was highly valued.   Patrons crowded around the bar for a show in the art of making drinks. And a show they got- flipping bottles, adding fruits, sugars turning to flames atop the glasses, quite the spectacle. Second thing you need to know is that this circus of a drink-making all happened in hidden bars; behind restaurants, under buildings in cellars, unmarked doors, password protected. In lower-class versions of these bars, the term blind-pig was given to them, as these places would charge $.25 for patrons to enter and see a blind pig, then get a gin drink gratuitously, as evading the laws of the time. In upper-class speakeasies, men wore sport coats and women wore fancy dresses and paid quite the small fortune to enjoy these bootlegged drinks (provided by gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Al Capone).

"This ‘speakeasy’ business was one of the most independent and prosperous businesses in the world, especially in New York, for no other industry in the world could afford to kill its customers off like that,” Will Rogers wrote in a letter to The New York Times in 1928.

Recently in the US there have been bars like this popping up all over the place.  You might ask, “Why?”  They were replicated perhaps out of nostalgia, but more out of an obsession with the days of the prohibition.  Whether it is Nashville, Seattle, New York or Minneapolis, everywhere it seems that fancy cocktails are being created in their dark, shadowy and secret surroundings. Most of them are now modeled after the Mayflower Club, by far the swankiest of the speakeasies during prohibition, located in Washington D.C., close to the place where alcohol was banned! Sure, we can call them, “speakeasies” today, but technically thats an unfitting term, considering the business is now legal. And highly discussed!

We will leave you with one tip. (The one we went to is located in a basement… without a sign… in the Warehouse District) Good luck, and hopefully you aren't left lost and frustrated on a chilly march night looking for this place like we were. Trust us, once you get inside the secret door and past the bouncer, it's well worth it. 

Pencil, Well, Permanent Marker This In -fashion a la mode

See ya short skirts, well, not entirely. This spring and summer however, pencil skirts are a girls new best friend. Arriving in all new fabrics and cuts, there are plenty of styles for every girl to try. Of course I had to jump on this style trend (although trend might not be the accurate word to describe it, trend meaning that it will go out of style at some point- which with this classic cut, I doubt). I bought the skirt in a double cotton fabric (neon rose and a watercolor floral print), double-serge wool (mustard yellow, more for the fall, but can adapt it to the spring), cotton knit (a light blue), and a cotton paisley print. As you can see, I have done some shopping as of late.

Pair any of these skirts with a silk blouse, a chambray shirt, or even just a v-neck tee. You can wear them highwaisted or sitting on the hips; they truly are one of the more versatile pieces you will have in your closet. So go ahead and buy one, or like me, 5, and rock the pencil!

-N

(J. Crew)

(J.Crew)

(Rag and Bone)

(Alice + Olivia)

The Head AND the Heart?- Music a la Mode

Another day stuck in traffic on my commute home from work, trying to unwind and look for the perfect song to capture my mood- always a hard task. But today I hear something that makes my ears perk up... as I am flipping through the stations, I hear a song that immediately intrigues me. I crank up the volume, and work my memory hard (trying to even recall a few of my college studying techniques... King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk... Anyone??) to try and remember all of the words in this song so I can download it as soon as I get home.  Okay, so I admit, I couldn’t remember all of it (I do not have photographic, or immediate song memory), but what I did remember was a catchy chorus that went a little something like this: “I am on my way, on my way, I am on my way back to where I started. California, Oklahoma, all of the places I ain’t ever been to.. down in the valley, whiskey rivers, these are the places you will find me hiding.  These are the places I will always go.”  Ah, the music has the most beautiful harmonies, and combined with a refreshing folk sound as well as the building of the piano, and then climax of the song just made me so dang happy!  After I ran in the door and found the name of this mysterious song, I stumbled upon the creators of this masterpiece: an indie-folk pop band called “The Head and the Heart”.  Wondering why they choose this quirky name? I was too. Band member (and the only chick!) says, “So many decisions in life and in the music we love can come down to a critical tug between the logic in our heads and the hot red blood beating through our hearts.” Well ain’t that the truth? Speaks to me (as I know it speaks to my fellow emotional- music junkie Nicole.) This band decided to create beautiful music in the middle of that crux that we all often find ourselves in.

Six talented individuals got their first start after many frequent visits to the open-mic night at Conor Byrne in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood (ah, the ever-burgeoning Seattle, Washington- Americana music scene) in the summer of 2009.  They decided to leave their day jobs (don't we all) and academic pursuits behind, and start recording. After listening to their whole album, no, unlike I thought, it is not just a one-hit wonder…I decided the WHOLE album is amazing. But seriously, each song is seriously better than the next.  

Many of the songs are inspired from those first months we all grapple with involving; the multicolored threads of leaving home, finding home, and through that process of deconstruction, finding yourself.  The Head and the Heart write and play songs that speak to the newness of a fresh start, of the ghosts left behind, of moving forward- all brimming with a soulfulness and hope for a better life than the one we've all been sold. I mean, seriously. Talk to me. 

Once you hear these powerful voices melded together you start to believe that these six people may have been meant to be find themselves together in life.  The full, rich harmonies mixed with an assortment of instruments including a piano, cello, violin, even handclaps(!), create pure magic.  No trickery involved, the band claims that the more genuine and honest they are in their songwriting and performing, the more the people seem to relate to the transparency.  Yep, I like it. I like them- almost as much as I like jamming to them on my commute to and from work. 

So from my heart and my head I beg you to listen to them as you find yourself in traffic, like many of you will at some point. 

-R

She Wore An Itsy Bitsy... - fashion a la mode

My sister for years has been telling me how much she loathes polka dots. Hates them. Well my dear Paige, this is not your season. Dots are everywhere. Big and small, or a combination of the two, monotone black and white or a variety of colors. They’re covering dresses, pants, tunics, blouses and those naughty little unmentionables- undergarments. Whether you love them or hate them, you might have to give them a shot, because one thing’s for sure, you can’t get away from them.

The pattern surfaced in the late nineteenth century in England, and was used for formal wear. The famous small black dot-on-white print was seen everywhere from shirts, to children’s clothing, to lingerie. Once associated with the dance of the same name, a lot of people thought the pattern was named because it had some correlation to the dance. Untrue- it just happened to become popular around the same time. In the 1960’s, the song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” gave homage to the pattern and the song is one that not only gives a pleasing mental image, but gets stuck in your head too. In the 80’s and 90’s, polka dots were commonly associated with designer Carolina Herrera as she used the pattern for many of her dresses and clothes of the time.

But now, 2012, and over a century after the pattern surfaced, dots are back, and with a bang. I wore my J. Crew jacquard polka dot pullover blouse to work last week and literally had people coming up to me left and right commenting on it. Who would have thought a simple white blouse with navy dots could be something to rave about. You can pair a dotted blouse with a light wash denim for a casual, pulled-together look, a scarf with a button up for a splash of print, or if you’re feeling wild, pair a polka dot top with a bottom of the same pattern. You might be surprised to find this look works for everyone. Hopefully my sister will be a believer after she tries and tests it. 

(Anthropologie)

(J. Crew)

Let's Set the World on Fire. fun. -music a la mode

As I sit down to write this, it is 7:35 on a Friday morning. Woof. If you need a visual image of what I may look like right now, its pretty similar to the Some Nights album cover… sitting lounged on a chair, in last night’s lace skirt and a hoodie, in taking as much caffeine as I can per gulp of my Starbucks. Mornings should not exist before 10 am. Some Nights is playing in the background and as I was originally gonna write about something completely different, I decided to write about something a little more “friday”.  fun. came out in 2008, and surprisingly I hadn’t heard of them until about three weeks ago when my friend from work turned on their pirated album (sorry…) over the loudspeaker. My initial reaction after finding out he hadn’t chosen Keith Sweat (no offense to all you Sweat fans) was “Aaron, what the hell are we listening to?” The intro song to their album sounded like a musical. The only way I could describe what I was listening to was comparing it to a blend of Queen and the Little Mermaid. Yes, I compared fun. to an iconic band and a Disney children’s movie. (Truthfully, they’re a lot more than that, so don’t let my initial reaction scare you off.)

I bought their first CD “Aim and Ignite” three days later, because I am a music junkie, and because after giving them a chance I actually loved them. I throw around that word a lot when it comes to music, and one of my musician friends says I have the musical mind of a sponge (I like everything), but seriously, this is different. Their first CD topped the US Billboard charts at 71… not the best, but hey, at least they were on it. Their two hit singles from that record “All the Pretty Girls” and “At Least I’m Not as Sad (As I Used to Be)” are catchy to say the least. My favorite song from the album, and their first single as a group, “Benson Hedges” is quirky and original and its meaning- don’t try and make me something I’m not, accept me for who I am, is an idea that all of us can appreciate. Nate Ruess, the lead vocals for the group, does have the pipes much like Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury I mentioned earlier. Now add that amazing voice to the many instruments of the group: trumpets, guitars, pianos, synthesizers and even a flugelhorn- this group is unlike any I have heard.

In 2010, the group toured with Jack’s Mannequin, Paramore and Relient K, getting their name out there, and later that year they released the single “C’mon” featuring group Panic! at the Disco. 2011 was the year that they started getting more notoriety for their music, when they announced that their next single, “We Are Young”, featuring singer Janelle Monáe, was to be released. This song was then featured in an episode of the TV show Chuck, all you Gleeks out there probably heard it remade in Glee, and was finally featured in the Super Bowl XLVI commercial for Chevrolet’s Chevy Sonic also featuring the well-known band OK Go. Super Bowl face time is big time. Who wouldn’t want to listen to a song with the words ringing “So if by the time the bar closes/ And you feel like falling down/ I’ll carry you home/ Tonight/ We are Young/ So let’s set the world on fire/ We can burn brighter/ Than the sun”. Kind of endearing, kind of empowering, an anthem for 20-somethings all around.

The release of their 2012 album “Some Nights” has so far peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard charts, and number 1 on the US Alternative Billboard chart. It is one you need to buy. Frankly, that, and my venti iced sugar-free cinnamon dolce latte (Starbucks snob), are the only things getting me through this morning.

So go buy the album, or at least give it a shot. I need to go figure out what I am going to wear today, easily the hardest decision of my morning, every morning. Like fun. says, “I’ll put one foot in front of the other one” and go. Simply put.

-N

The Not So Neutral - fashion a la mode

For most of us, the winter season is that time of year where we go nuts for neutral colored pieces. Beige, grey, black, cream, you name it. In my case, I think I even go a bit overboard when stocking up on these wardrobe "staples". But March arrives tomorrow (for me spring is nothing but a dream in my far future, hello Minnesota snowstorm!) so as you can imagine, I am longing for some color to spice up my life and take me to that imaginary beach that I won¹t be going to...yet at least.  Just our luck and thank goodness- these days, stores are bursting with rainbows of color, so much so that it literally lifts my spirits walking in a store. (Unfortunately, this is not an exaggeration, poor passersby probably think I'm nuts.) Some of this season¹s hottest colors are absolutely gorgeous- bright tangerine, solar-power yellow, bright, cabaret pink, soft teal, and cobalt blue.  No matter where you reside or what the temperature is outside, there is no need to wait to experiment with these eye pleasing colors. Don¹t just let your eyes feast on the bright colors in the store front windows and mannequins! Invest in a few eye catching brights to liven up that monotone closet and perhaps, melt away those winter blues (and this snow?) If you have a tan sweater, throw on a tangerine scarf, belt or what the heck, tangerine pants! Don¹t hesitate to try a new color you have never worn before,you never know, rocking bold colors might even renew your optimism and energy in your life!
 

Here's to hoping.
-R

Wednesday a la Mode (Round 2)

Mondays. Monday. Mondays. Literally the bane of most of our existence. But not this Monday. Why you must ask are we this positive in a time where pessimism usually reigns? Well my friends, Randi and I are back. We are going to start out by saying that we let you down with that last pitiful attempt at a blog which most of our friends raved about. Life got in the way, or maybe we just got lazy… (I can safely assume on my end, the lazy factor had a big part). But we are back and promising that this will be an upstanding page to check weekly with our insight into fashion, music and entertainment. I mean lets face it; we’re both in the real world now… I think we have a little more insight (and a little more income to further that insight) than we did before. PLUS, we swore on my iPhone’s Bible app that we would bring you at least a few blogs a week, so you know we can’t be going against our omniscient Father... As we were discussing our new and improved Wednesday a la Mode over some fantastic Pei Wei (which if you haven’t been- you’re an idiot, go NOW) we came up with some pretty fantastic ideas and are really excited about this new chapter in our online ventures, as well as our lives.

Upon finishing our meals, we read our fortune cookies, after finishing the cookie of course (old traditions die hard), and the fortunes definitely rang true to our new goals: “Success is a journey not a destination”, and “An exciting opportunity lies ahead”. If those don’t say “get this started” I don’t know what does.

So bring it on Blogger, the Jersey Queen and I are back to stay, and we’re looking to take over this damn site. (I may be a bit excited but bear with me…. As y’all know, I’m overly excited, not witty, so this is all I had to offer you).

Peace and Blessings, and we’ll see you on Wednesday. I mean this is called Wednesday a la Mode isn’t it? ~N