The Style Suite: DailyCandy & Suave Bring "Fashion Stars" to Chicago

DailyCandy and Suave Professionals® joined forces to bring “The Style Suite,” a FREE VIP beauty and style lounge, to Chicago’s own fashion stars. The exclusive event featured hair styling with Suave Professionals® Keratin Infusion™ products. The city’s fashion set mixed and mingled over sweets and sips while enjoying a private viewing of NBC’s Fashion Star, along with two of my favorite Fashion Star designers, Orly Shani and Nzimiro Oputa.

Sidenote: I’ve used Suave products for years! I grew up washing my hair with Suave shampoo, and I still use Suave’s Cocoa & Shea Butter Body Wash. Suave’s commitment to offering professional-quality products and affordable prices has helped the brand remain a force in body care for over 70 years. The products often work as well as, if not better than, high-end salon and specialty brands. While I love Suave’s products, what I love most about the company is that it’s based in my hometown, Chicago.

In case you've been living under a rock and have completely missed Fashion Star, NBC’s new reality fashion competition series, let me give you the quick run down. Fashion luminaries and buyers from the nation’s top retailers, Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue, decide the fate of 14 contestant’s designer brands. The host and fashion mentors of the show are some of the most iconic fashion figures of our time, including Elle Macpherson, Jessica Simpson, Nichole Richie and John Varvartos.

International Business Times has called Fashion Star "one of the biggest and most-commercially backed reality competitions yet." Each week, contestants are given the opportunity to be purchased by one of the three retailers. And at the show's conclusion, the winning contestant will be crowned the "Ultimate Fashion Star" and will receive $6 million in orders for capsule collections at all three stores.

with Nzimiro Oputa

with Orly Shani

Tuesday night’s Style Suite took place at Hotel Palomar, in the city's River North community. While DailyCandy's goodies were a delight, the highlight of the night was getting face time with Fashion Star contestants Orly Shani and Nzimiro Oputa.

In true Nzami-mi (as Nicole Richie would say) style, Nzimiro, a Detroit native who actually went to college for engineering, had lots to say! 

“No one would ever admit it, but Detroit is probably one of the most fashionable cities that exists on the planet. We got swag in Detroit.” And if I didn't get the gist the first time around, he wanted to make sure I understood: “Detroit has swag. We have a lot more swag than Chicago. No offense. I love Chicago, but I'm going to rep my city.”

Orly and Nzimiro were very candid, mingling with guests like we were the Fashion Stars and they were the fans. However, I learned that viewers almost didn't get a chance to see Nzimiro's designs on the screen — he originally did not want to be on the show.

“I didn’t want to do it. I thought it was like a Project Runway thing. I didn’t want to be this reality person. I wanted to build my brand organically," he said. “But, once I found out the background and premise of the show, I knew it was a healthy thing for me to do.”

Nzimiro also offered up one key piece of advice for future Fashion Stars and people trying to break into the fashion industry: “Stay true to yourself, and have confidence.”

For those of you outside of Chicago, there are still two more chances to experience the Style Suite and rub elbows with Fashion Stars. Get tickets to Miami's May 1st event or New York's May 15th event. Don't miss out!


Who's your favorite Fashion Star this season?

Brad to the Bone: Book Signing and Fun Facts with Brad Goreski

Celebrity stylist Brad Goreski first encountered fashion as a 12-year-old boy, captivated by the images in Vogue magazine. Since then, Goreski has emerged from his small town roots, breaking into the fashion industry as the style director of Rachel Zoe Inc. and transforming into a pop icon as a cast member of Bravo TV's The Rachel Zoe Project. Now, on the heels of the first season of his own reality show, It's a Brad Brad World, Brad has released his debut book, Born To Be Brad: My Life and Style, So Far.

Chitown Fashionista's Gabriel Charles Tyler posing with Brad Goreski at Brooks Brothers

Saturday evening, Goreski partnered with Brooks Brothers for a signing of his book,  Born to be Brad, which features the memoir of his humble beginnings, the story behind becoming Brad Goreski, tips to making it in the fashion industry and a style Bible. The evening was very Brad — guests were given Brad-esque cookies in the shape of bow ties and oversized glasses frames, while they waited in a line that swung onto the streets of Michigan Avenue to connect with the celebrity stylist. 

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Four Star Style: Chicago's Urban Fashion Showcase

A few days ago, Crown Royal presented Four Star Style, a fashion event showcasing the stars of Chicago's urban fashion life. Held at Gallery 1028, four fashion brands, including Iridium, Leaders 1354, Sir & Madame, and Modahnik, displayed their latest collections on the runway while DJ iLLA and DJ Legacy manned the 1's and 2's.

Before the runway show commenced, attendees got a chance to chomp down on bags of freshly made truffle oil popcorn (which I must admit tasted like heaven) and partake in the Crown Royal life by drinking some of the liquor brand's many mixtures. Can you say Crown Royal on ice?

Iridium had a lot of anime and cartoon prints in their collection for both ladies and gentlemen. Camouflage and other prints must really be in this season because I saw them in every single collection. If you're a girl with a passion for comic books and super heroes, Iridium's latest line is perfect for you. It's definitely a look I haven't seen before, but it can be interesting when styled correctly.

Leaders 1354 stuck to what they know best: men's wear. The brand has been in business for 9 years, and if it isn't broken, don't fix it. One thing I loved about Leaders' latest line were the political statements featured on the knit tops, such as a photo of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute. If you're looking to make a statement with your apparel, Leaders 1354 may be the look for you. Check out their latest Spring II collection online here.

Sir & Madame presented a more urban hipster take on street style. Their pieces for men and women featured prints, which as I said before seemed to be the theme of the night. A peacock skirt from Sir & Madame hit the runway paired with a sheer orange blouse and cheetah print wedge heels; it's sure to be a winner among the ladies. For men, the brand offered bags and really hipster shirts. There was a camouflage shirt that I particularly loved because it was two-toned and featured elbow patches. Every man should have a least one shirt, sweater or sport coat with elbow patches.

Honestly, I've never heard of Modahnik and I'm disappointed that it's taken me so long to come across the line. I love tribal prints, and Modahnik presented a take on tribal prints that was more chic than overbearing. Sometimes when an entire look is based on prints, it can be overkill, but there wasn't one look that I didn't love.

Overall, the event was a celebration of urban style, which we don't see often enough in the fashion industry. The featured trend was prints for men and women, including tribal, floral, animal and camouflage.

Can you get with all the prints this season?


Photo Credit: Crown Life Chicago

Project Runway's Viktor Luna helps Macy's Create a little MAGIC

Project Runway Season 9 designer, Viktor Luna, and Macy's teamed up on Thursday, March 8 to bring a little magic into Chicago's fashion scene. I don't know about you, but I'm usually glued to my seat during every season of Project Runway! I love the show, and when I heard that Luna, one of my favorite contestants from season 9 was going to be at the Macy's on State Street, I couldn't pass up the chance.

Viktor Luna is a fashion designer born in Guadalajara, Mexico. A third generation seamster, he learned from his mother at a young age about construction and tailoring. In 2003, Viktor moved to New York City to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. His work has garnered him positive reviews and attention from a number of fashion publications, which led to him being a finalist on Project Runway season 9, where he showed at New York Fashion Week in September 2011 (pictured above).

At Macy's, contestants from the audience got the chance to style models for different scenarios. Those who styled the best looks won $100 Macy's gift cards. As you can see, the venue was packed with women excited to create a little magic. 

Viktor outlined a few trends for the upcoming season, including color blocking, bright colors, flowers and prints. My favorite look (pictured below) featured bright, bold colors and the current hot trend, color blocking. Bold color combinations make for a eye-catching, confident look that's perfect for the Spring season. When you've been wrapped up all winter, there's no better way to make a coming out statement than to splash a little color into your outfit.

What's your favorite Springtime trend?



*Project Runway photo courtesy of ViktorLuna.com

Click You're It: Attend the Smashbox Photo Event

If you haven't heard, Nordstrom Michigan Avenue has teamed up with Smashbox to host fashion and celebrity photographer Steven Khan for a photo event on Saturday, April 28. Yes, it's perfectly fine for you to get excited.

I, like many other men, don't know the first thing about cosmetics. I've always considered beauty products to be a woman thing. However, that all changed when I was introduced to Smashbox after receiving the brand's Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer as a perk from Klout. While I will still never wear makeup or make cosmetic adjustments to my face, I think primer is safe for every man to use.

Let's be clear. Primer is not makeup. So, it's cool for men to use without feeling effeminate. In a city like Chicago, where the everchanging weather tends to cause dehydrated skin, the hydrating primer is perfect to have a fresh, healthy look throughout the day. I wouldn't lie. I swear I can almost feel my skin getting nourished as I spread a little of the primer on my face in the morning. The key to it is Hydraplex, an extract derived from desert plants that restores skin and prevents dryness. And this is just one of the many products the company has to offer.

If I haven't already convinced you that Smashbox is the answer and that you should attend their photo event, here's a few more reasons you should go. Steven Khan's work has appeared in countless magazines for years, and attending the event gives you the opportunity to get a mini photo shoot with him. For me, that alone is worth it. Every person who spends $100 or more, gets to experience the photo session and will receive a CD of photos to take home.

So far, 3 of my friends have booked an appointment with me. There are no gimmicks — all you have to do is call for a free appointment and buy a few products. To book an appointment today call (312) 464-1515 ext. 1083, and ask for Claire Latronica. Tell her Gabriel sent you. Hurry before all the slots are filled.

Are you ready for your close-up?

*photo credit - Smashbox

Get the Look: Sorel and Columbia Outfits Handpicked by Daily Candy Editors and Us!

SOREL footwear has protected feet from snow and rain since 1962. However, the brand has not always been considered the fashion force we know it to be today. In the past few years, SOREL has recreated itself from head-to-toe, featuring a new look that marked the brand's descent from the mountain peak and into the fashion world. Last week, the footwear brand partnered with Daily Candy to introduce its new winter collection to the Windy City.

SOREL's transformation has been swift due to the brand's strategic press campaign and a fresh look. As a part of its transformation, SOREL created new looks that appealed to women and men who had to brave extremely cold weather conditions but didn't want to sacrifice style for practicality. It's no surprise that the footwear company would team up with Daily Candy, the online resource of editors across the globe delivering the scoop on choice online finds including fashion, food, home décor and must-have accessories, to push their new look to the masses.

SOREL and Daily Candy familiarized Chicagoans with the SOREL winter collection over finger food, sparkling wine, sweet candy and baked treats. The "Step Out in Style" event, which occurred at the Columbia Sportswear store on North Michigan Avenue, was the perfect blend of social and style.

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Art in Fashion Extravaganza: "By Latinos, For Everyone"

The 2011 Latino Fashion Week marked the 5th anniversary of the Latino fashion expo. This year's showcase was the perfect mix of Latin American culture and modern style. With a number of sponsors and contributors, including Walgreen's, Macy's, Akira, Univision and the Chicago Sun-Times, this year's Latino Fashion Week upped the ante just to make sure we'd all be paying attention this go-round.

Chicago's Latino Fashion Week is the only fashion exhibition of Latino designs in the United States. Although the Latino market has grown rapidly, representations of and opportunities for Latinos and other designers of color have remained limited. It was good to see a diverse crowd come together to celebrate the emergence of Latino fashion and acknowledge a culture often marginalized in the fashion industry.

This year's theme, "By Latinos, For Everyone", was a reminder that although Latino fashion is created by Latino designers, it is fashioned with every shopper in mind. The week-long celebration of Latino fashion concluded with the "Art in Fashion Extravaganza", a finale runway show featuring the collections of national and international designers such as Claudia Arce from Argentina, Paco Mayorga from Mexico, Tamaris Rubio from the Dominican Republic and Jorge Perez de la Habana’s 2012 Bridal collection. Lourdes Duarte, celebrity WGN-TV anchor and reporter, hosted the finale event.

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Anna Fong presents "A Mayan Tale"

Fashion Focus Week 2011 quickly came to end, and if you've ever believed in saving the best for last, you would have been pleased with Anna Fong's "A Mayan Tale" Collection Preview presented at the historical Renaissance Blackstone Hotel.

Anna Fong is an emerging designer whose ability to tell a story well has set her apart from many of her local contemporaries. She has been known to put a modern twist on a vintage look, which rings true in her latest collection, "A Mayan Tale."

Anna said she was inspired by her recent journey to Guatemala, where she learned about her heritage and translated that sense of identity and knowing into designs full of vibrant hues, timeless shapes and rich fabrics. There is no doubt that Anna can construct a well-designed piece.

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InspireDesign presented by Mario Tricoci and vitaminwater®

Photo by Shauna Battle

Chicago has the talent. Chicago is a FASHION city. No doubt about it. - Mario Tricoci

On Wednesday, October 19th, InspireDesign presented by Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas and vitaminwater® occurred as a segment of Fashion Focus Chicago. The event was also sponsored by Michigan Avenue magazine and Wella Professionals, and included a special opening performance by Brandon and Lucas Marx, the two sons of the legendary Chicago native and singer-songwriter Richard Marx, who rose to fame in the 80s. Although Rock may not be my genre of choice, the new generation of Marx blew their performance out the water and added an edgy element to the festivity.

The runway show featured collections of some of Chicago's most inspiring designers, including J. Chiekh, Narcisse Design, Imaginary People by Olivia Shanks, Michelle Tan and Reddoll by Tatyana Merenyuk.

The show's conclusion served as the grand finale of Mario, Make Me a Model. The competition provides five aspiring models with the platform they need to make their modeling mark. The process included a two-moth-long transformation. In past seasons, only one finalist has been named the winner. Well, it wouldn't be a fashion show without a twist. Mario decided to change the rules and choose two winners this season, Juni Park and Mercedes Johnson. And those two young women certainly deserved it!

View a recap of the entire night below:



For more information on Mario Tricoci and his hair salons & day spas, visit www.tricoci.com.

Thanks for the media swag bags, Mario!

- Gabriel Charles Tyler