Stylish Person: Thao Nguyen

Meet Thao Nguyen, the founder of the chic Northeast Minneapolis clothing store, Parc Boutique.  Thao has made a name for herself in the Minneapolis fashion community with her social media presence and amazing style known for it’s timeless staple pieces as well as unique trendy pieces.  Style-Architects has been working with Thao to help revamp her website and we think she is a total sweetheart! Did we mention she is in her third trimester of pregnancy? {It’s a girl!}  We caught up with the beautiful and talented mother-to-be to bring you an insider’s look into all things Thao. Who are your favorite fashion lines and/or designers?

For high fashion, I love the tailoring from Alexander McQueen, adore the prints and colors from Alice + Olivia, and I can live in anything from T by Alexander Wang.

Where do you turn for style inspiration?

I find inspiration from everyday life such as street fashion or in the colors from nature.  For on-trend styles, I turn to digital inspirations such as Who What Wear, The Coveteur, Style.com, Pinterest, and various fashion bloggers.

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How do you spend your Saturdays?

When I'm not working, I usually spend my Saturdays grabbing coffee and breakfast with my husband, or out with my girlfriends dining or shopping and catching up on life.

What adds pep to your step?

A good cup of joe, it can make or break my day.

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What is your favorite aspect of owning your own boutique?

Getting to know my customers on a personal relationship level. It’s like having your best friends come over and I get to help them pick out outfits!

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities?

You can usually find me out in the Twin Cities dining scene. I love trying new restaurants and frequenting my go-to favorite restaurants around town.

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Lovely photos compliments of Canary Grey Photography and Cadence Cornelius.

Stylish Person: Sam Fehrenbach

Meet Sam Fehrenbach, the manager of men's store martinpatrick3, who is just as clever with ensembles as he is with words. He fashionably lives his life on the edge and can charm his way into {or out of} anything. He has mastered the "effortlessly-stylish" look, and is known to always look the part.

How would you describe your personal style?

I don’t know if I’m really consistent enough in my choices to fit into a category, but I usually try to mix a lot of sporty knits like cardigans and tennis sweaters with tailored items.  Not quite all the way dressed up might make sense, though I have been known to wear a grey suit/white shirt/grey tie on a more than regular basis.

Name five things every man should own.

Only five? I don’t like pegging things down like that, but I’ll concede this time:

• A knife.
• All the ingredients and equipment to make a gin martini twist.
• A proper for suit getting into {or out of} trouble consisting of a dark grey suit, white shirt and either black silk knit tie or black bowtie.
• A pair of shoes that you would wear to the bank if you needed to ask for money.
• A vice.

When you are not at martinpatrick3, where are we likely to find you?

Given that we’re coming off the holidays, you’ll only find me at martinpatrick3 or sitting in my house in complete silence.  During the rest of the year though, I’ll often spend my early morning hours at Barbette, the Red Stag, Whitey’s Saloon, all those dingy northeast bars and, of late, Marvel Bar.

What past style trend did you embrace that you wish you could take back?

For a long time I worked for a store that made its name in brightly patterned dress shirts with big collars.  Some of it got pretty silly looking, but I still have all of them hidden away in a box. They’ll be cool again, someday.  A few of my friends would probably point out that in college I went through a phase of holding my long-ish hair back with a tortoiseshell headband. I think I was trying to look like David Beckham, but it really just made everyone think I was weird.  I still think it was cool and I wont apologize for it.

Who are your favorite designers/lines?

Obviously, I have to point out that most of the brands at martinpatrick3 are things that I really like (otherwise Greg and I wouldn’t bother with them), but especially Shipley & Halmos, Spurr and a brand that we’re starting with for spring called Folk. Shipley & Halmos actually ends up being pretty hard for us, because we do an altogether poor job of editing down our initial selections. Among the brands we don’t carry, I’m always interested in sort of preppy things like Band of Outsiders, Maison Kitsune, and Ralph Lauren. I also really appreciate brands that make muted, handsome versions of items that are almost boring like Margaret Howell, Filippa K, Reiss, Jil Sander and even though I absolutely cannot afford it, Brunello Cucinelli.

What man or woman do you consider a style icon? Why?

I’m not going to touch the women’s side because it will just come down to girls that I think are pretty and I’ll get sidetracked.  For men, I don’t really think in terms of icons. If we’re talking men whose style I admire, then there are more than I can possibly come up with offhand. A few might be Jean Paul Belemondo, David Hockney, Brian Ferry and Clark Gable (I know every blog ever has listed all of those guys, but I’m not diligent enough to come up with something new). In particular I think Marcello Mastroenni looks incredibly smart and so cool and confident in every photo or movie I’ve seen with him.  Also, I know it’s a bit cliché, but I just found a bunch post WWII photos of my dad’s dad and he looks fantastic in all of them.  He was a marine so there are a lot of him just wearing a white shirt with some cigarettes rolled up in the sleeve with some disheveled un-marine hair.  I’ve started cutting my hair differently so I can look more like him.

What is the man's equivalent of a little black dress?

See item two, bullet point three.  I’m not kidding about the getting into and out of trouble part. There was an occasion where I was caught doing something that might generally get a person arrested, but was wearing some iteration that outfit. The attending officer let me go and said “You really don’t look like you’ll be worth all the effort.”

Graham Tolbert Photography, Art of Wore

Stylish Person: Anthony Chow

Anyone that frequents J.Crew in Southdale knows Anthony. He has become somewhat of a local celebrity for his shopping expertise. When our team is in a pinch and needs a sassy ensemble at a moments notice, he is our go-to guy. His honesty and amazing sense of style makes him the perfect shopping buddy. Check out our exclusive interview with Anthony...

How would you describe your personal style?

I would say my personal style is fairly classic, just with the addition of an unexpected twist.  Mixing and matching patterns has to be my favorite, not everyone can execute it successfully.  For me it is all in the details.  Accessories go miles for me as well in adding those finishing touches.

Who are your favorite fashion lines and/or designers?

Where to start, there are so many options right now.  At the moment I would have to say I am obsessed with Tom Ford, Lanvin (Albert Elbaz), Burberry Prorsum, Jil Sander, Celine (Phoebe Philo), Balenciaga, and J.Crew of course. The +J collection from Uniqlo has been a godsend for everyday pieces for me. Sadly this was the final season for this collaboration.
 The new Jimmy Choo mens collection that debuted this fall has piqued my interest as well.

What staple pieces do you think every man and woman should have in their closet?

For both men and women a great coat is a necessity.  We have the advantage of having four seasons up here in Minnesota and we should take advantage of it to the fullest.  All too often in the colder months, I see people have a great outfit on only to bury it under a piece of outerwear that hardly lives up to the caliber of the underlying ensemble.  An investment in a great coat will only serve to enhance your existing wardrobe.

For women, a must have is a killer black heel.  Forget the LBD, the right black heel can transition you from day to the work place to evening effortlessly.  Especially with pants getting wider, a heel is a must.  If said heel has a red sole, more power to you!

For men, nothing beats a well-tailored suit.  Spend the time and effort to get the suit tailored properly and you will be surprised by the result.  An inexpensive off the rack suit can look like a million bucks with just a few points of fine tuning by a skilled tailor.

How do you spend your Saturdays?

In my business, I work on Saturdays.  I arrive at the store in the morning and check my messages and any client requests from the previous day.  Then I get to work pulling what I need for the days appointments and take it from there.  As the day dies down, I return any phone calls that I need to, check my email, and then strategize for the upcoming week to see what we have coming in and what needs to be pulled as soon as it arrives.

What is your favorite fashion trend this season?

For women, it has to be all the bright colors. The brights have been around for a while now.  However, there is just something refreshing about seeing bright colors in the doldrums of winter.  What is nice about this is that you do not have to go all out to incorporate color.  At one extreme, we have the color blocking of bold colors so you are literally saturated with colors head to toe.  On the other hand, you could simply add a pop of color with a handbag, shoes, or even a layering piece.

For men, it has to be the return of brown.  We are seeing a lot of browns and camels right now from everybody.  To me, this is just one of those quintessential fall colors.  I really love the idea of camels paired with whites in the dead of winter.

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities?

Admittedly, I am more of a homebody.  My greatest guilty pleasure is barricading myself at home and shopping online.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

The best part of my job is being a creative problem solver.  I actually come from a background in finance, so I feel my approach is a little bit different than others.  In addition to using my creative side, my background also instinctively drives me to tackle a challenge with an analytical and logical mindset as well.  I am actually a left-brained thinker, but in a right-brained line of work.  Who would have thought?
I do not want to forget to mention all my wonderful clients as well.  They are also one of the reasons I look forward to my job everyday!

Stylish Person: Mary O'Regan

Meet Mary O'Regan - a fashion aficionado and power woman in the fashion industry. Calling Mary a "professional multitasker" seems like an understatement with daily responsibilities that include Fashion Editor for METRO Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of Arizona Bride, Minnesota Bride and Wisconsin Bride, as well as managing the web editor for five bridal websites. As if that's not enough to make your head spin, she also has her own fashion blog, Art of Wore. She is infinitely curious, a vintage-lover, laid-back but decisive, and has a keen eye for all things fashion. The Style-Architects team was lucky enough to catch up with the fashion connoisseur. Read below for our exclusive interview with Mary:

How would you describe your personal style?

My style is always changing, but at the moment, it’s inspired by the 1990s, 1970s and menswear. I wear lots of vintage clothes and accessories. I’m also very aware of my silhouette — lately I like wearing tight bottoms with oversized tops or loose bottoms with loose tops.

Who are your favorite fashion lines and/or designers?

I love Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, Tory Burch, Preen, Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Rodarte.

How do you spend your Saturdays?

I typically hit up a yoga or aerobic class in the morning and then meet up with friends for brunch. The afternoon is spent shopping, often at thrift stores or boutiques, walking the dog and tidying up around the house (I’m a neat-freak). My evenings vary — sometimes I have an event to attend, like a fashion show or art opening, but if not, I’ll go to the bar with friends or hang out at someone’s house.

What is your favorite fashion trend this season?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I think I’ll go with pleats, since they’re appearing in so many incarnations this season. Skirts, dresses, pants, tops — everything looks elegant with pleats. And the tinier the pleats, the better.

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities?

I’ve been going to Bradstreet quite a bit lately. They make the most amazing cocktails—you really only need one, they’re so strong. The ambiance is cool, but not too loud.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

Being an editor involves making lots of judgment calls, whether it’s choosing a photographer to hire or picking the best fashion trends, and that’s probably my favorite part of the job. I’ve never had a hard time forming opinions, especially when it comes to fashion.

Stylish Person: Katie Dohman

Ever wonder if fashion editors really are as stunning as they appear in their magazines and on television? This one is.  Meet Katie Dohman - an incredibly gorgeous and stylish lady with one of the coolest jobs in the Twin Cities. As the Style Editor for Minnesota Monthly Magazine, her creativity and eye for all things pretty make her an inspiring and endearing woman. To top it all off, she is down-to-earth, humble and kind (and happens to have an adorable husband too). Yes, she is our girl crush. Check out what inspires her and how she spends her weekends.... Who are your favorite fashion lines and/or designers?

Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and Oscar de la Renta for high-end inspiration and aspiration. For that midlevel, I love Nanette Lepore and theory. I love J. Crew, the Gap, and even Target for everyday. I’m a cardigans and pencil skirts kind of girl.

What fashion trend did you embrace in the past that you wish you could take back?

I think part of my regret is not embracing more fashion trends—good or bad—when I was young enough to be forgiven for them.

Although, I did once own a flannel shirt from the men’s section at American Eagle as a 90-pound high-school freshman that my dad wears now (with room to spare!) at our cabin. I still miss my Doc Martens, but I’d style them with better-fitting clothes!

How do you spend your Saturdays?

My husband and I just bought a mid-century house, so lately our weekends have been full of packing, moving, and thrift- and vintage-store shopping to get our new house in order.

Who is your style inspiration?

Some of my earliest memories are standing on a chair, getting “pinned up” by my grandma, Marion Schwartz. She was an extremely accomplished seamstress—she made all her own clothes until petites stores opened up in earnest (she was 4’11”)—and she always made my holiday dresses and made matching or similar dresses for my Barbie and Cabbage Patch Kid. I wish I could have taken lessons from her as I got older, but she unfortunately had to stop sewing due to Parkinson’s disease. I still reference photos of her when I need an inspirational shot in the arm. I miss her deeply.

What adds pep to your step?

A few things—coffee, yoga, vintage shopping, or wandering around the St. Paul farmer’s market.  I love reading, too. I love helping people find their style or helping them remix things to make them feel new. . . I love sharing what I learn every day at my job. At last but not least is finding a great vintage bargain. I crow about them for days, probably much to the irritation of people around me. (The latest: a midcentury desk for $5!)

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities?

Over the years, I’ve become quite a homebody. One of my favorite rituals is takeout Thai food from Bangkok Thai Deli, and Netflixing a good documentary with my husband and my cockapoo, Molly, by my side.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

I love that no day is the same. I can totally immerse myself in a new trend or topic, and, at the end of the month have a magazine in my hand that shows the finished product. I love being surrounded by experts in their own fields—I learn something new every day.

Stylish Person: Laura Nelli

It's hard to believe that a mere seven years ago, Laura Nelli had sewn nothing more than a pillow (a home ec project). That didn't stop the lovely lady from pursuing her big dream -- to master the art of handbag design. Fast forward to today, and it is clear that her ambition and determination carried her far. The Minneapolis native has a nationally recognized accessories company, NELLE & HAROLD, which is sold in more than 35 boutiques nationwide in addition to her online store. The attention to detail and immaculate construction of her handbags has captivated a noteworthy audience of style editors and industry insiders, and she has  consecutively topped the "Best of the Cities" list at METRO, Minnesota Monthly, and Mpls/St. Paul Magazines four times. Our thoughts? We love her adorable clutches. In fact, our team has over a dozen between us and we are looking forward to growing our collection.

The Style-Architects team was lucky enough to catch up with the pretty craftier. Read below for our exclusive interview with Laura: Who are your favorite fashion lines and/or designers? Hands down my favorite fashion line is Lanvin, and that in large part can be attributed to Alber Elbaz. His simple, feminine clothing is exciting, but what I truly love is his use of color and accessories to create drama. Like every other 30 something J Crew is a staple in my closet, they just make it so easy to dress! And I have to give a shout out to Tara Latour, she recently made my wedding gown, I have never worn a finer, nor more perfect fitting garment & no, I can't share a picture yet!

What fashion trend did you embrace in the past that you wish you could take back? Ugh... Volume! At 5' 2" and a few centimeters, the last thing I should have worn was volume. However, I wouldn't change it, that is what your 20's are all about, wearing deliciously trendy clothing and learning what works and what doesn't.

How do you spend your Saturdays? I wish I had something charming to say like having brunch with girlfriends or hitting up my local farmers market, doesn't that sound picturesque? Truth is, I attempt to clean our house on Saturdays, and more times than not end up taking a nap in the afternoon. Then I wake up, make a nice meal for my NEW husband and we watch TV comedies like Curb your Enthusiam, 30 Rock, Bored to Death, etc... Sometimes I do take our dog Buddy to the dog park in the a.m. and grab an iced Americano on the way.

Where do you get your inspiration? Color and texture drive my designs, what did they say in Mermaids, "know your colors, know your fabrics"? That is the mantra that I like to chant to myself while I am designing a new collection. I also look to the runways for inspiration & trends & sometimes I design something just because I feel like it.

What adds pep to your step? Any activity that involves a lake; I am a tried and true Lake Girl! Having grown up in North East Wisconsin and spending my summers on the lakes, there is nothing I love more than running full speed off a dock and diving into the water head first. However, living in the city I don't get the chance to do this very much, so instead I slam coffee & eat sugary treats.

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities? My favorite hangout is Chris & Rob's in South Minneapolis. They serve Chicago style hot dogs that are pretty darn close to the original thing. I love hijacking my husband and taking him there to sit on their patio after a long workday to eat hot dogs and drink Diet Cokes.

Photos by Cadence Cornelius Photographs