Reviewed September 13, 2013
If you've never been up to Stillwater for a day of sightseeing, snacking and shopping, you're missing one of the best side trips around, especially if you're from the Twin Cities. Located only about 45 minutes from Bloomington on non-construction days (meaning that's usually about an hour's drive), it's a welcome breath of fresh, riverside air on the banks of the St. Croix. Tucked along the roads of the tourist-traveled downtown area are lots of lovely shops of all kinds, and one of them is Karma, just off the main drag on Chestnut Street, a great little bauble of a consignment shop slightly away from the well-trod path of the downtown tourist hordes.
I found Karma one abysmally hot day a few weeks back on the first of what, I'm sure, will be many sight-seeing trips to Stillwater. Despite the smothering heat and humidity, the downtown area was packed with tourists all up and down the sidewalks and in every eatery and shop on the main drag. As I looked up the street from my corner while sweating profusely and waiting for the light to turn, I spied, on a clothes rack on the sidewalk, a beautiful red-and-white peppermint striped blouse that was screaming for me to come quickly and adopt it. Hurrying up the street, arms outstretched, mouthing "I'm coming, darling!", I zoomed up the street to rescue it and, lo and behold, was smack-dabin front of the store, which, conveniently, also had air conditioning. Snatching the peppermint striped blouse (a Talbots on the five dollar clearance rack), I ventured my sweaty arse inside. Kismet, you say? Nope, Karma.
It's a peaceful little place, softly lit, chock full of well-maintained threads in the recognizable brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and Steve Madden as well as the more high end stuff like Badgley Mischka , Manolo Blahnik and Coach, all neatly racked and shelved. There were all kinds of things I would have liked to try on - a few pairs of True Religion jeans, a couple of Banana Republic Sweaters, a lovely Talbots silk blouse that would have been great under a blazer - but alas, that day I was budgeting myself strictly to the peppermint blouse and the idea of even trying on something that I couldn't buy was sacrilege. Still, one thing that almost got me to bust my budget was the table full of handmade custom bath products and yummy scented candles by Clean Karma, for very reasonable prices ranging from seven dollar soaps to twenty four dollar foot creams. I fell in love with the Butt Naked Scented Candle (which, despite it's name, is a sweet, clean scent) and the next time I'm in the area plan to splurge on a bundle of them.
Owner Kathleen Squier was lovely and chatty, especially when I mentioned what Karma was such a great little respite for the fashionista who was wearying of the more generic clothing boutiques a few blocks down. She gave me lots of information about the Stillwater shopping scene and mentioned along the way that, in addition to the summer weekend crowds, the downtown riverside area stays fat and festive all the way up through the holidays. Which makes me think that I should return again soon, before the Christmas hordes really set in, to pick up loads of Butt Naked candles for all of my naughty friends.
Karma Clothing Company
224 East Chestnut Street
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-342-1004
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