Columbus emerges as unlikely fashion hub

You probably never thought you'd read a story about Columbus, Ohio, being a mecca for fashionistas. But this Midwestern city has a surprising secret: It's one of the country's chicest capitals.

So what's fueling the fashion phenomenon in a place largely known for college football (Go Buckeyes!)?

Clothing retail giants like The Limited and Abercrombie & Fitch, Express and Victoria's Secret have headquarters here, and a young, entrepreneurial vibe has brought new life to this section of flyover country.

"Columbus has to be fashionable," says Marin Roth, who owns Rowe Boutique, a clothing and accessory shop in the Short North. "With so many fashion companies based here, Columbus has a discerning client base that sees what's being sold in New York City and wants to be able to buy it here. They have an appetite for clothing."

Project Runway alum and Columbus native Kelli Martin calls Columbus "a mosaic of creative energies." She launches her latest project, Columbus's Alternative Fashion Week, in June.

The "mosaic" she describes includes fashion recruits who have been scouted from around the world by Columbus' bevy of national retailers. The fashionable set also includes students, a talented group of aspiring clothing designers who hone their skills at the Columbus College of Art & Design and stay in the city after graduation. And then there is the creative class of entrepreneurs like Roth, who are redefining Columbus's Short North arts district. That community used to be one you hit the gas pedal to get through; now it's an inviting, Bohemian neighborhood lined with eclectic shops and restaurants.

For tourists, the local hunger for fashion translates into an exceptional shopping vacation. So put on your comfiest -- and most-stylish -- pumps and hit the shops.

Start your fashion getaway at the Rodeo Drive of the Midwest, Columbus's Easton Town Center (160 Easton Town Center, 614-416-7000, eastontowncenter.com). You'll find high-end luxury stores like Tiffany's and Kate Spade here and new additions like the preppy women's apparel brand C. Wonder. A 11,500-square-foot American Girl store will open its doors this summer.

For local couture, head to High Street in the Short North arts district located between Ohio State University and downtown Columbus. Here you can peruse an assortment of trendy, independent clothing stores.

Your shopping hit list should include Tigertree (787 N. High St., 614-299-2660, shoptigertree.com), which carries belt buckles inspired by children's books. The store's owners, Josh and Niki Quinn, design them. Rowe Boutique (718 N. High St., 614-299-7693, roweboutique.com) is known for its locally designed earrings and necklaces. The eco-friendly Substance (783 N. High St., 614-299-2910, shopsubstance.com) has a collection of vegan-friendly purses and an on-site Design Lab where visitors work with the boutique's internal designers to create fashion masterpieces from recycled materials. After a long day of shopping celebrate your fashion triumphs over a fashionable cocktail. Watershed Distillery (1145 Chesapeake Ave., 614-357-1936, watersheddistillery.com) and Middle West Spirits (1230 Courtland Ave., 614-299-2460, middlewestspirits.com) collaborate with designers to spruce up the labels on their spirits, which include award-winning vodkas, whiskeys, bourbons and gins. Sample them during weekly tours.

Make a weekend of it: Columbus style

Kristy Eckert, editor, of Columbus's fashion magazine, Capital Style, and Columbus-based designer and Project Runway contestant Kelli Martin reveal their favorite fashion-centric places.

DO

Shop: Homage for athletic, vintage inspired T-shirts often sported by celebs (17 Brickel St., 614-221-5693, homage.com); Bungalow for comfy luxe home décor and fabulous jewelry (641 N. High St., 614-228-4448, bungalowhomeandgarden.com); and Happy Go Lucky for gifts and other whimsy bits of fun you didn't know you needed (937 N. High St., 614-297-1100, happygoluckyhome.com).

Mukha Custom Cosmetics and Medi-Spa is a relaxing retreat, and they will also make you personalized mineral makeup while you wait. 980 N. High St., 614-294-7546, mukhaspa.com.

EAT

Surly Girl Saloon: Known for its signature pizza made with crumbled gorgonzola, dried cranberries, pecans and slivers of red onion, the restaurant has fun vintage pin-ups on the walls, which inspired Martin's early clothing designs. 1126 N. High St., 614-294-4900, surlygirlsaloon.com.

Northstar Cafe: Tricia Wheeler, editor-in-chief of edible Columbus, swears by the cafe's ricotta pancakes for breakfast. 4241 N. High St., 614-784-2233, thenorthstarcafe.com.

STAY

Hilton Columbus Downtown: The hotel's art collection is comprised of over 150 original pieces by Central Ohio artists. Be sure to check out the paintings in the hotel's restaurant of stylish chickens wearing necklaces and earrings. 401 N. High St., 614-384-8600, hilton.com.

DON'T MISS

Shops and galleries stay open late and street performers roam the sidewalks during the Short North Arts District Gallery Hop (shortnorth.org), held the first Saturday of every month. The neighborhood's annual Highball fashion show (highballhalloween.com) held each October features costume couture and a dog costume event.