STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I don't know who this member is, (and you don't need to tell us - it's totally understandable if you want to remain anonymous!) but thank you for mentioning stylethread in your Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota StarTribune interview

Look how cool one of our fellow STer's is:

http://www.startribune.com/217/story/355844.html

Style star: Haivy Nguyen, 26, Twins employee The Metrodome isn't exactly the best place for a shoe lover to parade a fabulous new pair of stilettos. Megan Kaplan, Special To The Star Tribune

Last update: April 07, 2006 – 2:43 PM

The Metrodome isn't exactly the best place for a shoe lover to parade a fabulous new pair of stilettos.

"There are lots of stairs at the Dome," says HaiVy Nguyen, who turns 26 Monday. She adds with a smile, "And I can be a klutz."

Since she started working for the Twins last April, Nguyen has divided her self-professed weakness into two camps. Game-day shoes: low, comfortable "people-herding" heels, suitable for tasks such as escorting groups to watch batting practice or the national-anthem singer down to the field. And off-day shoes: high "impractical" heels, best for time spent in the office planning youth baseball and softball outreach programs.

Nguyen's favorite Dolce & Gabbana floral-print mules ("love them, but can't walk in them") fall into the latter category. They reflect her penchant for classic pieces with feminine details, a style she cultivated at her previous job at the downtown Marshall Field's, where she was training to be a buyer-- and privy to the latest trends.

While she admires high-end fashion, Nguyen is no snob when it comes to shopping. (Those D&G mules were marked 75 percent off, by the way.) "I'm not a brand-conscious girl," she insists. "I'll shop anywhere." One wardrobe staple, for instance, is a fun multicolored scarf purchased at Target for $5, which Nguyen likes to tie around her waist when she's wearing what she calls a "blah outfit" that day.

Aside from combing the racks in her spare time, Nguyen can usually be found in her apartment in St. Paul's Lowertown, which she shares with her boyfriend of five years, Travis Thompson, an editor for Car Tech Books. The self-professed homebody is loyal to a line-up of TV shows, and loves the Food Network, which inspires her to try out new recipes. "I go through withdrawal if I don't watch it for a while," she admits.

Like a true Minnesotan, Nguyen gets a wistful expression when talk turns to spring. Very soon the Farmers Market will be bustling right outside her door. Then there's the home baseball opener. Oh yeah, not to mention that new pair of wedge-heeled sandals she's been thinking about.

personal best

A few of Nguyen's favorite things:

1 "VERONICA MARS"

I have a set roster of TV shows I can't miss and VM is at the top of the list. It's smart, witty and well-acted.

2 STYLETHREAD.COM

I check this website on fashion and beauty at least once a day to see who's finding great stuff where.

3 DDF ULTRA-ITE OIL- FREE MOISTURIZING DEW

It's refreshing and provides just the right amount of moisture -- and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin.

4 MARK MAKEUP BRUSHES

The best affordable make-up brushes I've tried. Excellent quality, not to mention they're only $4 to $8 per brush.

5 BASEBALL OPENING DAY

Nothing says spring to me like Opening Day. The season is new, everyone is optimistic and anything, including a world championship, is possible!

6 SHOES MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT I LOVE MY SHOES, AND I OWN SEVERAL STANDOUTS. I WEAR A 6, SO I'M THE SAMPLE SIZE, WHICH MEANS I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TRYING THEM ON -- I CAN JUST SLIP INTO THE DISPLAY SHOE.

7 RED COAT BY TULLE

I got it at Karma in St. Paul and have been wearing it nonstop, even if it's probably too thin to be an ideal Minnesota-winter coat. It's a classic cut, but what makes it interesting is the color -- a great shade of red -- and the black-and-white polka-dot inner lining.

8 FRUIT, GRANOLA AND YOGURT PARFAITS FROM MARSHALL FIELD'S MARKETPLACE

The perfect snack. I've tried to duplicate these at home, but they just don't quite taste the same as the ones you can get at Field's.

9 ST. PAUL FARMERS MARKET

It's right outside my back door. I love going on Saturday mornings in the summer, before it's too hot or humid, to get fresh veggies for a new recipe and flowers for my apartment.

10 OVERSIZED SHOPPER BAG BY TANO

This is definitely the favorite handbag in my closet right now. It's big and slouchy, and I can throw tons of stuff in it.

Megan Kaplan is a Minneapolis freelance writer.

-- Edited by detroit at 22:43, 2006-04-09