MAGICLV Brand Discovery: Gräf & Lantz

One of the many highlights of my trip to MAGIC was discovering the quality wares of Gräf & Lantz. Made entirely in L.A., this brand's use of leather and felt immediately intrigued me.

Founders Holger Gräf and Daniel Lantz explained that what started off simply as a collection of felt and leather wine bottle holders has now expanded to bags, tech accessories and home goods.

Lantz's design skills mixed with Gräf's engineering background has resulted in a line that successfully marries the world's two oldest fabrics while dispelling the myth that felt items are too "crafty" and lack style.

Concerned about the durability of the products? No worries. Lantz ensured me that the merino wool felt, which he sources from Germany, is of the highest quality and will show no signs of pilling.

My top picks were the croc embossed totes, the colorblocked clutch bags and the iPad sleeves which consisted of brightly colored leather on one side and gray felt on the other.

The travel bags were also a favorite, with their perfect blend of ruggedness and refinement.

Although this was their upcoming Fall collection, many of these items are currently in the Gräf & Lantz online shop.

Here are more gems I spotted on the website:

clockwise from top left: Bradley messenger | Loden Green Pouch | Jaunt tote | Zenzi bag


I will most definitely be making a purchase in the near future. I'm thinking a Zenzi bag or colorblocked clutch for me and a Bradley messenger for hubby.

What do you think? Are you officially a fan of Gräf & Lantz now?

Etsy Showcase: Plastique

Plastique is an Etsy shop I've known about for awhile. It was the Chicago skyline necklace (above) that initially caught my attention. However, Plastique has even more to offer.  From well known skylines to turntable cufflinks, L.A.-based graphic designer Jen Murse has created an affordable jewelry line filled with instant conversation starters.

1. cufflinks | 2. DJ brass knuckles | 3. Golden Gate Bridge 3-finger ring | 4. London skyline | 5. tweet twitter necklace | 6. interchangeable ring set (teal) | 7. interchangeable ring set (red) | 8. prismatic square earrings

Each piece is made with laser cut acrylic and directly reflects the designs Murse creates on her computer. With geometric earrings, knuckle rings, and necklaces representing the world's best cities, this Etsy shop is the ideal online destination for gift hunting. There's even a cassette tape necklace that has just enough space for you to add a custom "mixtape" label. What a unique, personalized item for a music lover, right?

After adorning your body with Plastique goods, take to the walls of your home. Majority of the necklace pendants have been resized to larger dimensions, which results in eye-catching wall art.

The wall art is available via the Plastique online shop and appears to be a customer favorite (since all but one are currently sold out).

Click over to the Plastique Etsy Shop and get acquainted with the brand. With everything priced under $30, you'll be adding items to your virtual shopping cart in no time. Trust.

What do you think about Plastique? Which piece is your favorite?

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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My Popular m0851 Tote (and how to get it on sale)!

My Refinery29 feature (more to come on that later) was posted almost two weeks ago and I'm still getting inquiries about the luscious leather tote bag I was rockin' in some of the photos.

With Cyber Monday in full effect, I figured this would be the best time to tell you about the bag and how you can get one at 20% off!

I stumbled upon the m0851 store while strolling in SoHo during my New York Fashion Week visit in September. I had never heard of the brand but the smell of leather drew me in. I was immediately impressed with the quality of the bags that lined the ramp as I entered the store.

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Eddie Bauer: The Blogger Day Styling Event and My Reunion With The Brand

As long as I can remember Eddie Bauer has been synonymous with quality. In my high school days, if you owned an Eddie Bauer backpack or portfolio (remember those?), you were definitely considered as one of the "cool kids". But there was more to it than status. Yes, they cost more than most bags. But we all knew that purchasing an Eddie Bauer meant you could last all four years with the same bag, no problem. It was one of my first examples of the consumer mantra "you get what you pay for".

However, as time went on, Eddie Bauer fell off my radar. I knew it was the best source for down coats - I even blogged about one of their coats 2 years ago - but hadn't made a purchase in years!

So, when I was invited to to attend Eddie Bauer Blogger Day (#EBBloggerDay) and style models in the 2011 Holiday Collection, I jumped at the chance to reconnect with the brand and see what the store had to offer besides outerwear.

Before arriving to the Mag Mile store (600 N. Michigan Avenue), I had a chance to view some digital images of the collection and knew that the quilted leather Military Jacket (shown below) would be a blogger favorite.

But I was determined to use some of the other great pieces in the collection to style our lovely female model, Jade.

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Robot & Brucling vs. Topman - Bow Ties: The Look for Less

Although I'm not into couture or costume styled bow ties, I cannot deny that Robot & Brucling bow ties have caught on in the fashion world. Bruce Franklin and Christopher Bennett are the owners of Robot & Brucling, a custom bow tie company launched in April of 2010.

Bruce and Christopher created the brand around their love of history, art and punk and rock ‘n’ roll music. They use a variety of materials to achieve an edgy look, including leather, studs, denim, rhinestones, metals and chains. Celebrities like Steph Jones, Beyonce and Rhianna have celebrated the brand.

These guys are good at what they do, but the price tag that accompanies their pieces are rather hefty. With the cheapest thing on their website being a denim bow tie for $65.00, I had to find similar bow ties that provide consumers with the same look at a lower price point. Surprisingly, I found a few similar ties at TopMan, that with a little alteration would look exactly the same as the Robot & Brucling bow ties.

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Bows 'N Ties: Pocket-Friendly, Quality Ties for Men

Bows 'N Ties, a San Francisco based e-commerce retailer established in 2009, provides men with quality neck ties, bow ties, cuff links and handkerchiefs at pocket-friendly prices. Like most men I know, I usually stay away from online shopping because I can be a little impatient. However, after seeing a few of the staple products Bows 'N Ties offered in person, I realized that what they had to offer was well worth the standard shipping wait.

It was nice to see a legit online shop for ties and other accessories. However, I wasn't too shocked about the quality of the products on Bow 'N Ties when I found out they were a segment of the United E-Commerce, LLC., the parent company of several online retailers specializing in men’s fashion accessories ranging from finest neckties, cuff link sets, dress shirts, briefcases and leather accessories. I was not only impressed with Bow 'N Ties and their products, I was impressed by how they tied it together.

Neck Ties

After I graduated from elementary school, I told myself that I would never wear a classic, prep style tie again. Many of us have those private school, uniform blues, and we don't want to be reminded of the times when we were forced to dress business casual as children.

When I first saw the "Classic Stripped Silk Tie in Red and Navy" by Parsley, I was reminded of the times I had in elementary school, and although I would never want to go back, I had to admit the tie was sharp. It is the perfect tie to complete the standard prep look. The tie also complements a number of outfits because it can be dressed up or down. You can't go wrong with classic styles and colors, and what I appreciate the most about Bow 'N Ties is that they realize men need options without reinventing the wheel.

Most of the neck ties featured on the website had low price points. With 1,000 listed ties and over 19 unique color waves, it's impossible for you not to find a tie that fits you.

Bow Ties

I love bow ties, so I was very excited to see the retailers offered them. If you can't tell from the photo above, I wore the "Solid Bow Tie Light Olive Green" to a few functions, and let's just say I was feeling myself, and rightfully so.

Although the specific bow tie I had was pre-tied, it drew attention. I liked the color and the feel of the tie. It made me look and feel like a million bucks, when in reality it only cost $14.90.

A few men asked me where I got the bow tie from and how could they purchase similar ties. Of course I told them to head to Bow 'N Ties.

Now, I know many men are against pre-tied bow ties. However, I don't come from that clique of what I like to call "tie snobs." The reality is that many men, whether young or old, don't know how to tie a neck tie, let alone a bow tie. I believe pre-tied bow ties are perfect for informal events and times when you're in a rush.

The great thing about Bow 'N Ties is that they offer both pre-tied and self-tie bow ties, giving the shopper the choice to choose what suits their life and style the best. The online retailer also offers men information about the history of ties, how to choose and style a tie, how to tie a tie in various styles, how to tie a bow tie, and why ties are so integral to completing a look. It's these little tidbits that are important to men and helping them create their signature look.

Tying it Together

I was impressed by Bows 'N Ties because they offered men a large variety of ties and other accessories, which gives the shopper a chance to choose what he likes, instead of the generic ties we see so often in department stores nationwide.

Head to www.bows-n-ties.com and start learning how to tie it together. Use this exclusive ChiTown Fashionista coupon code for 20% off your entire purchase: chitownfashion. At these prices, you can not afford NOT to purchase a few items. Make sure you use the code as soon as possible because it expires on November 30, 2011.

Until Tomorrow,

Gabriel

ChiTown Fashionista would like to thank Bows 'N Ties for providing us with complimentary ties and giving our readers a complimentary discount.

Tying it Together

ChiTown Fashionista is dedicating the rest of this week to Tying it Together. The week-long series will feature local, national and international power houses in fashion and style that offer men dozens of options to tie it together.

Nothing completes a look like the perfect tie. As men, the options we have to switch up our style every once in a while are limited, making the tie one of the few things that can give a shirt or suit a brand new look.

Men’s ties are made of many different kinds of fabrics, including wool, cashmere, silk and linen. They offer men a variety of appearances, designs and prints to fit a number of purposes and occasions. The goal for men is to choose the tie, whether it be a neck tie or a bow tie, to compliment their look. It does not have to be a perfect match, it just needs to tie your outfit together.

Whether you're a man looking for something new or a woman looking for the perfect gift for the man in your life, stay tuned this week as we introduce you to the stores and boutiques with ties you will want to buy. Make sure you check out the Twitter hash tag #TyingitTogether to catch exclusive offers we have for you guys this week.

Until tomorrow,

Gabriel