College students often don bland garb instead of snappy, crisp clothes. But just a quick jaunt away from the University of Minnesota campus is Northeast Minneapolis, one of the most stylish neighborhoods in town.
Twenty-somethings in sundresses stroll down the main avenues, hiding a secret or a sly glance behind their sunglasses. While the gent-style game is stronger in some parts of the neighborhood than others, there’s more of a collective effort to look good in this neighborhood than on campus.
These four people demonstrated sartorial acumen that sets them apart from the other window shoppers and patio diners around Northeast.
Shauna Fenske
25, Grad student
What she’s wearing: Banana Republic T-shirt, Charlotte Russe shorts, DSW sandals, Guess necklace.
Fenske’s outfit exudes quiet, understated confidence. She works with subtle basics, yet understands the principles of fit — both her T-shirt and shorts fit her profile perfectly, even though they’re ready-to-wear clothing available at the local mall.
The similar patterns on her necklace and sandals make her neutral-colored ensemble pop out and elevate it beyond the simple pieces used to put it together.
Rebecca Beal
23, Math teacher
What she’s wearing: Heartbreaker dress, Target cardigan and sandals, Forever 21 sunglasses, necklace from grandma, Earthbound Trading Co. fanny pack.
Fanny packs aren’t for the faint of heart, and nine out of 10 times they make an outfit flop. In Beal’s hands, however, her fanny pack ties her outfit together. The pieces appear classic at first — gray cardigans and blue dresses never go out of style — but the cutout mid-section of Beal’s dress upends the silhouette to make it chic, intriguing and flirty. It doesn’t distract from the solid color palette, which is what makes the fanny pack succeed.
Megan Jensen
25, Parc Boutique employee
What she’s wearing: First Rite top, Elizabeth Suzann pants and cape, Birkenstock sandals, the Horse watch, Another Feather jewelry.
Northeast’s most style-savvy shoppers congregate at local womenswear mecca Parc Boutique, where Jensen works. Her black-and-white palette exudes the chic vibe the store is known for, and she brings high-fashion edge to an area where understated is the norm.
Jensen nails the Birkenstock trend by opting for a solid, muted gray pair that complements the other neutral tones in her outfit. Bonus points for her jewelry — her on-point sterling silver bracelets are a trend more women (and men) should adopt to add a stark, sophisticated modernist panache to their style.
Jake Anderson
27, Marketer
What he’s wearing: Len Druskin shirt, Urban Outfitters chinos, Aldo shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses, Grain Belt varsity jacket.
Anderson nails two of the biggest men’s trends of the summer — short-sleeved button downs and colored chinos. His shirt isn’t frilly and rides on the success of a proper cut. Note the sleeves aren’t super wide, a common drawback of the nerdy short-sleeve oxfords of yore. The chinos sit in the sweet spot between military tan and mustard, and they sing against Anderson’s muted blue shirt.
Ray Ban Wayfarers never go out of style, and the varsity jacket in Anderson’s arms — a souvenir he picked up at the Grain Belt Brewery — exemplifies the reason the clothing item is experiencing a resurgence; the color, fit and kitsch-level embody the blue-collar cool associated with the garment’s roots.
