Ratcheting up the city’s style factor, on April 21 one of the city’s most distinctive designers -award winning Shanel Regier – launches her Fall 2007 Collection with a fashion event at the Historic Turner Hall Ballroom featuring her signature modern slant on the feminine lines and dramatic silhouettes of the 18th & 19th century. This must attend evening starts at 7 pm with a sculptural fashion installation followed by a runway show of ready-to-wear. Tickets ($15 standing, $25 reserved seating and $50 VIP) include admission to an after show party at Zenden in the new InterContinental Milwaukee (at Kilbourn and Water). To view the designer’s Spring 2007 GenART Collection visit http://tinyurl.com/2uvxho. For more info call 569-7362 or email mailto:shanel@shanelregier.com
Blush Beauty(249 N. Water 414-272-1718, www.blushmilwaukee.com) celebrates the first year anniversary of their BROW BAR with luxurious new “menu” additions like specially blended Chocolate Wax perfect for even the most sensitive brows. Book your appointment now and enjoy a complimentary ‘clean up’ service, perfect for guys ready to learn how to groom and care for unruly brows without jeopardizing their macho-linity and women who want to shape brows in the most complimentary manner. As you clean up your act, sip complimentary champagne and nibble a special chocolate treat from Harlequin Bakery (just about one of the best in the city) and don’t forget to ask about the Frequent Brow Card program).
Get in touch with your femininity while developing greater self confidence, better posture, increased body awareness and sense of rhythm, with a Middle Eastern Bellydance (or Raks Sharki in Arabic) workshop at A Woman’s Touch (200 N Jefferson St Suite 101, 414-221-0400, www.a-woman-touch.com)Taught by professional teacher and performer Samantha Fairuzit’s just one of the tamer erotic classes women can sign up for this month.Held April 14 between 1 and 2:30 PM, the class, is for women only. Cost is $20 (pre-registration and pre-payment is required.)
If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Third Ward’s newest boutique, a huge sale at Stephanie Horne (159 N. Broadway, 223-1662, www.stephaniehorne.com) presents the perfect excuse. Find handbags 25% off and plenty of cool stuff moved onto the stores 50% off rack to make room for the shop’s new spring and summer fashions.
Pick up (sorry no delivery) upscale modern design now at the Design Within Reach (167 N. Broadway, 224-5353, www.dwr.com) Sample Sale. Lucky shoppers will find items like the Aladina Chair for $163 (orig.$398), Rotor Coffee Table for $599 (orig.$1498) or Ball Lamp Pendant for $799 (orig. $1598). Got your heart set on store’s current offerings? Buy it April 12 –23 and they’ll ship any item directly to your front door step free of charge. Word to apartment or condo dwellers – to have it “brought up and brought in,” opts for the $60 Room of Choice upgrade.
Had it with taxes? The Historic Third Ward thought so and is stepping up for the third year in a row with their annual TAX FREE DAY IN THE WARD (www.historicthirdward.org) event April 14 – 15. Giving you a much needed break, sympathetic stores like A Woman’s Touch, Cranston, East Town Women’s Shop, Freckle Face, InStep Running & Walking, J.Bird Boutique, JuJu Gifts, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Lela, Metropawlis, shoo, Sprout! The Home Market, Three Graces, Urban Accents and Verlo Mattress will pay the 5.6 % sales tax on any and all of your purchases so you don’t have to. Note: Broadway Paper and Rubin’s Furniture will only be participating Sunday April 15.
Be sure to check out individual specials as well – like the Spring Tee Sale at J.Bird Boutique (415 E. Menomonee, 727-6553, www.jbirdboutique.blogspot.com) featuring expressive embroidered tees in pretty pastels from JW Los Angeles regularly priced $99 – 129 now only $69.99 or The Home Market (222 East Erie St., 755-2165, www.thehomemarket.net) APOTHECARY SALE (through April 21) will save you 20 percent off all lotions, potions, soaps and candles.
Yet another city boutique stepping forward to take over the burden of your 5.6% sales tax on April 17 is Valentina (18900 W. Bluemound Rd., 262-789-7759 & 1505 W. Mequon Rd. 262-241-4122) where shoppers find everything from “rock star” grade jeans to one of a kind couture. And if that isn’t enough shop their Mequon location now through April 22 for some great deals (some below cost) on select fall and spring merchandise.
CONTINUING ON: Kudos to Fred’s (524 N. Water St., 273-3733) for hosting a month long clothing drive to benefit Casa Maria’s work with Milwaukee’s homeless population. The fashion boutique offers a 15% discount on all store purchases in exchange for any item of quality used clothing donated now through April 30. If you stop by to shop during one of the store’s Wine with Fred events (held 6 – 10 pm the last Thursday of every month) along with the savings, enjoy complimentary wine, nibbles, beauty makeovers, paraffin hand treatments, massages, eyebrow shaping and lots of fun networking opportunities with other stylish professional women of the city.
