Runway models wearing colorful dresses

Runway project

If you’ve read this magazine’s fall fashion preview (and if you haven’t, you’re missing out on a feast of gorgeous photography as well as crucial anti-aging product information), perhaps you’re ready to start shopping. And this week St. Louis—yes, St. Louis—offers discerning dressers a chance to see the latest from big names (BCBG Max Azria, Kate Spade, and Cole Haan) and offerings from up-and-coming Midwestern designers (such as Roberto Mendes and Kristin Archibald). St. Louis Fashion Week culminates with fashion shows Friday and Saturday nights. Friday’s “Indulge” show at Plaza Frontenac features attire by AK Ann Klein and Lucky Brand Jeans among others; Saturday’s “Liquid Style” outdoor show at Old Post Office Plaza is followed by a wrap party slated to get underway around 11 p.m. at the Pepper Lounge.

Where to stay? We recommend The Roberts Mayfair (806 St. Charles St.; 314-421-2500, www.wyndhammayfair.com; rates range from $99 to $349) and the Four Seasons (999 N. 2nd St., 314-881-5800, www.fourseasons.com/stlouis; rates start at $310). For dining, try the Sidney Street Café (2000 Sidney St.; 314-771-5777, www.sidneystreetcafe.com); we liked the lobster turnovers, pecan-crusted rabbit, and locally sourced pork. Or, the Eclipse (6177 Delmar Blvd.; 314-726-2222, www.eclipsestlouis.com), which serves classic American cuisine at the Moonrise Hotel.

GO St. Louis Fashion Week; times and locales vary throughout the week. Check www.alivemag.com/fashionweek/ for a listing of events and ticket prices.

Three More Things To Do In and Around St. Louis

  1. Garden party
    While you’re in the area (and before fall really takes hold), see the season’s final blooms at the Missouri Botanical Garden. At the Garden on September 11th: The Greater St. Louis Daylily Society sale and—mycologist alert!—a book signing by fungi fan Maxine Stone, the author of the just-released Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms.

    GO Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri; 314-577-5100, www.mobot.org. $8 admission.

  2. Brew and view
    Who needs a gallery when you’ve got a brewery? Beermaker Schlafly hosts a wild and wonderful assortment of local “alternative artists” (dress designers, ceramists, photographers and sculptors among them) from September 10th through 12th. Dedicated to showcasing local talent, Schlafly’s Art Outside is a juried, invitational held at the Maplewood hops house.

    GO Schlafly’s Art Outside, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood, Missouri; 314-241-2337, www.schlafly.com.

  3. Vatican view
    You could go to Rome to ponder Vatican City’s opulent array of gilded art and artifacts. Or you could just got to the Missouri History Museum for “Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art.” The exhibit closes Sunday and features treasures—including works by Michelangelo and Bernini—covering 2,000 years of Vatican history.

    GO Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri; 314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org.