The Art of Fashion: Chicago Designers Bring a Little Couture to the City

Chicago is famous for many things; one of those being the city's budding fashion scene. Nothing says fashion quite like Chicago's bi-annual runway show featuring the latest collections of a few of the city's hottest designers, The Art of Fashion hosted by StyleChicago.com. This season, fashion goers gathered at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago's River North community to preview the Autumn/Winter 2012 collections of some of the city's best established designers: SWABY, Barbara Bates, Lara Miller, Cettina, Borris Powell, ZAMRIE, Eva Pazola, Miriam Cecila, Nora del Busto and Nade Baer.

From 5 until 10 p.m., guests enjoyed the ultimate designer shopping event, FashionChicago, which spanned the second and third floor of the building and featured 30 of Chicago's top accessories, apparel and jewelry designers. During the shopping event, I bumped into Anna Hovet, one of my favorite emerging designers, selling a few of her signature tees and an eye-catching piece called the 'Convertible Sophia Tunic' ($79). The tunic was loose fitting, but it had a snap that could be changed to make it form fitting. The top also featured a transparent mesh yoke with hearts on it. I'm not just talking it up; check it out for yourself!

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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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Shoppin' and Stylin' at Mr. and Mrs. Digz

A few weeks ago, I was invited to Mr. and Mrs. Digz to check out the store and style looks from their wide variety of merchandise.

With a 4-part store concept (designer vintage, consignment, new and handmade)*, I had a feeling that I would be overwhelmed with choices from which to style our lovely model, Rochelle. And I was indeed correct!

*For more information on the store, click HERE to view my post on Chicago Like A Local

Since this was my first time visiting Mr. and Mrs. Digz, I took a few moments to browse the store and get myself acquainted with the well-edited collection of clothing, jewelry and accessories. I was particularly impressed with the range of sizes that were offered AND the presence of a men's section. It truly is a one-stop shop.

Here are just a few things I discovered during my walkthrough:

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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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The Art of Fashion: Chicago Designers Up the Ante

The finale headlining show for Fashion Focus was The Art of Fashion hosted by StyleChicago.com and it was certainly impressive!  The sold out crowd descended upon Millennium Park to preview the Spring 2012 collections of some of Chicago's best established designers: SWABY, Squasht by Les, Lara Miller, Borris Powell, RÜCH, Zamrie, Eva Pazola, Nora del Busto, Sylwia W., Nade Baer.

Sidenote: I must admit, I had the highest expectation and anticipation for SWABY.  Designer, and former Project Runway Canada contestant,  Shernett Swaby has been on my radar for over 2 years. I own one of her handbags and truly appreciate the level of detail she incorporates in every piece. Even though she's been in Chicago for over awhile, it was her first fashion show here. So, I couldn't wait to see her looks walk the runway.

These designers did not disappoint! There was at least one item in each collection that I would be willing to purchase right off the runway.  The show represented the versatility of the Chicago fashion scene. From the practical every day wear by Lara Miller and Zamrie to the avant garde looks presented by SWABY and Nora Del Busto, there was something for every woman.

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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