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People don’t believe me when I say I live in both worlds, but I think there are more women out there who are like me and can embrace both worlds equally.”
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aura Schara is always dressed impeccably – from her shiny, perfectly styled hair to her on-trend but easy-going style that includes everything from chic cocktail dresses to fitted blouses tucked into perfectly hemmed jeans. As Macy’s trend expert and stylist for the annual highend runway show Glamorama, Laura’s radar is honed in on what’s hot in fashion and she represents it to a tee. Yet, in her Minneapolis condo, sharing closet space with the high heels and designer denim is a substantial collection of camouflage and hunting boots. As a recent pheasant hunting trip proves, Laura balances her life of high style with another as an outdoors woman. “Fashion and fishing, are like yin and yang – one is high energy and high stress at times and the other one is balancing, relaxing and refreshing,” she said. “That’s how I stay balanced.” In addition to her Macy’s gig, she hosts “Due North Outdoors” on Fox Sports, which seems a lot more natural when you discover that her Dad is Ron Schara of “Minnesota Bound” fame. Laura hasn’t always found such harmony between her two passions. Though her mother has always been a fashionista and “total city girl,” Laura started out more interested in playing around with the family dog and
Laura Schara
worked at the men’s store Structure, where she enjoyed guiding customers. “I found it fun to style guys because they didn’t have so much of a sense of what they wanted,” she said. At the University of Wisconsin – Madison, she initially planned to become a veterinarian, but that changed after she failed her first chemistry exam. So she switched to fashion. During college, she had an internship at Marshall Fields, where she worked in every part of the store for a few weeks, including unloading trucks at 5 a.m. When she graduated, she decided to go back to the company, then based in Minneapolis, as a business analyst in juniors dresses. Early on, she had the opportunity to be in the audience for the flashy fashion and music show, now known as Glamorama. “I remember sitting in the theater thinking, I want this job,” she said. Nearly a decade ago, the job became available and she jumped at it. Since she had been doing some TV with her Dad, that experience helped her segue into hosting in-store fashion events and acting as company spokesperson. Since Marshall Fields became part of Macy’s, Laura’s role has gone national – you can watch her on the Web wardrobing contestants from NBC’s “The Voice.”
riding horses than in runways. As a young tomboy in Anoka, Laura eschewed dresses in favor of cowboy boots like her father and a pair of red jeans with a banana on the pocket. Since Laura hated having her hair brushed, her mother chopped it off. That all changed by the time Laura graduated from Coon Rapids High School and she was voted best dressed. “I look back on the picture for my photo in the yearbook and I’m completely embarrassed,” she said of the 90s-grunge short shorts, sweater and boots. Through high school, she
“People don’t believe me when I say I live in both worlds, but I think there are more women out there who are like me and can embrace both worlds equally,” said Laura. There are similarities. “When I’m doing Glamorama, I will hunt and hunt and hunt until I find what I’m looking for.” She hopes to someday design clothing for the outdoor world for women who want function and fashion. In the meantime, she’ll keep up her glamorous life in the world of fashion as she also pursues her quest to catch a Muskie.
Designer Doo.Ri Chung created a capsule collection for Macy’s “Impulse” department including this ladylike black and white geometric print dress with belt from doo.ri for Impuse, $ 65. Macy’s trend correspondent Laura Schara said the tailored look is perfect for spring. Plus, the bright belt adds a colorful punch similar to the 2012 Pantone Color of the Year – Tangerine Tango. Jewelry is Laura’s own. savvy.mn | March 2012
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