The Chicago Blogger Shopping Crawl: Fashion, Fun and Fellowship

(l-r) Andrea, Gabriel, me, Raijean, Dee Dee, Hallie, Patrice, Tabitha, Jen, Elise, Mariposa, Lisa

The Chicago Blogger Shopping Crawl has come and gone.  Yet, I'm still recovering from all the shopping, in-store scavenger hunt missions, Twitter challenges and fun times!

I put my tagline - "the enabler of fashion consumption" - to the test last weekend and passed with flying colors. Everyone left the crawl with tons of bags and lighter wallets. SCORE!

Here's a recap of the day.

CONTINUE READING...

The Chicago Blogger Shopping Crawl and How YOU Can Participate Virtually

I'm excited to announce that ChiTown Fashionista is hosting its first ever Chicago Blogger Shopping Crawl this Saturday!! 

That's right! I've rounded up some of my blogger friends to indulge in my favorite pastime...shopping.

We will be "crawling" to three local TJ Maxx/Marshalls stores to kick off our holiday shopping and to share with all of you exactly why these are the best stores to find great gifts and even better deals. 

the crew:

Elise of Seams Deep (@EliseColleenW)

Hallie of Corals and Cognacs (@halliekw)

Lisa of Fantabulously Frugal (@fantabandfrugal)

Tabitha of Defining Tabitha (@definingtabitha)

Patrice of Afrobella (@afrobella)

and of course, me (@chitown_fashion) and Gabriel (@mistertyler)

Add to that a few guests and you have a van full of fashion-loving, shopping-addicted bargain hunters!

Now, what started out as a small shopping trip for a few friends to visit some of my favorite local TJ Maxx/Marshalls stores, has turned into a shopping event that YOU can also participate in!

TJ Maxx, Marshalls and I decided that it would be even more fun to allow the readers to track our stops and join in on the par-tay!  So, we're hosting a virtual giveaway at each location.

here's how it will work:

1. The bloggers will tweet out a photo at each store and provide our followers with the retail or "compare at" price.

2. The first one of our followers to guess the correct TJ Maxx/Marshalls price (or comes the closest) will win a $50 TJ Maxx/Marshalls gift card!

That's THREE chances to win a gift card. And who doesn't want one of those cards to help with that upcoming holiday shopping?! 

In addition to the giveaways, we will be live tweeting our finds using the official hashtag #CHIBloggerCrawl. So, be sure to stalk our Twitter timelines Saturday (10AM to 2PM) to be a part of the fun!

Can you guess which locations we're hitting up?

This is a "pilot" event that may turn into something even bigger. Who knows? I could be chartering a bus the next go 'round and inviting all of you to join me! Time will surely tell...

Randolph Street's Holiday Market: Get ready for stress-free holiday shopping [EXCERPT]

"If you’re on the hunt for unique gifts this upcoming holiday season or one-of-a-kind home decor to spice up your holiday gatherings,  look no further than Randolph Street’s Holiday Market!

With the team behind the popular Randolph Street Market and Modern Vintage Chicago events as the hosts, the Holiday Market is bound to be yet another great shopping adventure. Under one roof, you can expect to find a wide range of items at various price points. Vendors offering up gift options such as artwork and vintage clothing will neighbor those selling home goods, antique dishes and serveware."

Click HERE to read my entire post on Chicago Like A Local and find out exactly where you need to be this upcoming weekend for some good pre-Black Friday shopping!

Trendevous at Carson's: An unexpectedly great shopping experience for the department store skeptic

With Autumn in full swing, everyone is looking to update their wardrobes with items that keep them warm while maintaining their sense of style.

So, when Carson's in Yorktown Mall (Lombard, IL) invited me to Trendezvous, their Fall trend show, I was certainly curious to see what this department store had to offer this season.  As a shopper that tends to avoid department stores like the plague, I was highly impressed with the fashion show.  

I already expected the show to consist of items by designers such as Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, John Bartlett, Victor Alfaro, and the store's newest addition, Vince Camuto. But it was the use of Ford models and the coveted looks created by the Carson's styling team that pleasantly surprised me. The mixing of patterns, the execution of layering and subtle styling choices - like the fur infinity scarf worn off the shoulder - provided the audience with ideas on how to wear the trends this season.

CONTINUE READING...

GIVEAWAY: Modern Vintage Chicago is coming!

I will bypass the formalities of explaining why you should attend Modern Vintage Chicago this weekend* and get straight to the GIVEAWAY!

*Simply click HERE to see what I spotted at the last one.

I have a pair of tickets for one lucky winner to attend Modern Vintage Chicago. That's right! You and a guest get to attend the event, ogle over the Hermes and Chanel bags and encounter some of Chicago's best indie designers...FOR. FREE.

To enter, post a comment below describing one of your favorite vintage items (include your name and email address).

The giveaway ends this Thursday, October 20th, at 11:59PM (CST) and I will randomly select the winner the following morning.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!

---

UPDATE:

And the winner is...

KESHA!

Congratulations and enjoy Modern Vintage Chicago!

Shop my Randolph Street Market "Editor's Choice" picks for charity this weekend!

Since there have been numerous posts on this site about the Randolph Street Market (Exhibit A, Exhibit B), I'm not going to bore you with the million reasons why I love it.

This time around, I want to extend a personal invitation to all of you for this weekend's market.

Not only is it the regular season finale (which means it's the last time you'll see vendors outside until May 2012), but the Randolph Street Market will also be hosting its first annual Editor's and Designer's Choice for Charity. And I'm happy to announce that I was selected to participate!

Here's how it will work:

Before the market begins, the handpicked media participants will peruse the venue and select their favorite items. These items will be labeled "Editor's Choice". Additionally, prominent interior designers will pick their favorite booth setups, which will then be marked as "Designers Choice". When "Editor's Choice" items are sold, a portion of the sales will go to the editor's charity of choice. The booths deemed as "Designers Choice", will receive free booth rent for one show next season while the designer will score 2012 season passes for themselves and their charities of choice.

As an avid fan of the Randolph Street Market, I consider it an honor to be selected for the "Editor's Choice". I can't wait to get out there and designate my top picks for charity!

Wondering which charity I selected?

Whitney Young Dolphins Making A Difference (WYDMAD): It is a mentoring program started by some of my fellow Whitney M. Young Magnet High School alumni to provide 6th, 7th and 8th graders in the West Pullman area with academic support and character development. The program has expanded and now assists with the social and academic growth of existing Whitney Young students. I am a mentor within the program and have witnessed the benefits it has bestowed upon the mentees.

So, find some time to get to the Randolph Street Market this weekend! I'll be tweeting my "Editor's Choice" picks so that you know exactly what to buy. *wink, wink*

I hope to see you there!

Randolph Street Market

1340 W. Washington

Saturday, September 24 - 10am to 5pm

Sunday, September 25 - 10am to 4pm

($10 at the gate / $8 in advance)


Visit RandolphStreetMarket.com for more details and to purchase advance tickets.

NYFW Chronicles: A Crazy, Lazy Fashion's Night Out at Macy's

When I realized that I would be in New York for this year's Fashion's Night Out, I eagerly mapped out every location that I would visit for what is now considered the biggest shopping celebration in the world.

Being overly ambitious and eager, I generated this map on the Fashion's Night Out website to help me determine my course of action.

I included every store from Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue to Manolo Blahnik and Coach. How I figured I could get to so many locations in a 3 - 4 hour time span is beyond me.

After all the strategic planning, the night began and ended at Macy's. This is due to the fact that A) it was the closest destination to my hotel, B) there was a boatload of celebrity and designer appearances and C) by the end of the night, my feet were aching and all I wanted to do was change into my flats and explore Times Square.


Here's what went down...

Raijean of Swa-Rai.com arrived at my hotel and indicated that she heard Rachel Roy was already at Macy's making her appearance. We agreed that we would ditch the idea of visiting the Target for Missoni popup shop first and instead headed straight to Macy's.

GREETED BY MODELS AND GOOD VIBES:
We arrived at Macy's and stumbled upon a crowd of people surrounding models who were wearing INC gear and snapping photos of all the onlookers. The DJ was pumping out upbeat vibes that had models and consumers dancing throughout the store.

I spotted this stylish chap in the aisle.

Don't you just love his Kente cloth bowtie and cummerbund? I would later find out that his name is Sureme and he works for Alvin Ailey.

RACHEL ROY AND AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE:

Rachel Roy and Amar'e Stoudemire were in the building to promote their newly launched collaboration collection. There was no opportunity to chat with either of them but I was able to snap a couple of photos.

After explaining to someone, "No. I don't mean Rachel RAY. It's Rachel ROY, the designer whose name is on all the signs in this section we're standing in", I realized that the frenzy may have been more for Amar'e than Rachel.

I did get a chance to check out the collection which appears to be targeted to Juniors. Here's my favorite look from the night.

CLAIRE OF FASHION BOMB DAILY:

I'm a fan of Claire Sulmers' blog Fashion Bomb Daily and was excited when I met her briefly at the IFB Conference.  We ran into each other again at Macy's, near the Rachel Roy department.

After chatting for a bit, she asked to photograph me and Raijean.  To our surprise, the photo shown below ended up on her website the following morning. SCORE! (click HERE for the entire article)

KELLY ROWLAND... OR LACK THEREOF:

We headed upstairs to catch a  glimpse of Kelly Rowland. The line for fans waiting to meet her was beginning to extend the length of the store.  With no intention of standing in line, I decided that I would be happy with just a photo. But after waiting a few minutes (at that point Kelly was already an hour late) AND receiving word that Anna Dello Russo was on the 2nd Floor, I bolted.

ANNA. DELLO. RUSSO.  #iDie:

Japanese Vogue fashion director Anna Dello Russo was at Macy's along with model Karolina Kurkova promoting the Fall/Winter I.N.C. collection for which she is guest editor. Due to the chaos, no one could get close to the fashion icon. But I managed to photograph both Anna and Karolina enjoying the evening's festivities, which also included a surprise appearance by Grammy award winning Hip Hop Violinist, Miri Ben Ari. Being that close to the woman whose style I greatly admire and whose closet I highly covet, was certainly the highlight of the night!

 

My crazy, lazy Fashion's Night Out at Macy's was a memorable experience. New York sure knows how to throw a shopping party!

Thinking, "THIS should be big enough to fit Anna in."

So how was your Fashion's Night Out? Did you find any great deals or meet any amazing celebrities or designers? Do tell!


Special thanks to hubby for tagging along and playing the part of paparazzi. I am grateful for his sacrifice, especially since I'm sure the Fashion's Night Out mania has left him scarred for life.

"Dear America", With Love: ZARA Launches U.S. Online Shop!

ZARA is known by many as the prime "fast fashion" retailer in the world. With its inexplicably quick turnaround of on-trend pieces and above par quality, it is the ideal place to affordably recreate the expensive runway looks each season.

Although there are 30 stores within the U.S. (Did you know their largest U.S. location is right here on the Magnificent Mile?), the biggest gripe amongst American fashionistas was that the Spanish retailer did not have an online store for U.S. consumers.

ZARA has heard our cry and is slated to launch its U.S. Online shop tomorrow, September 7th!

In celebration of the launch, ZARA sent over a "Dear America" postcard set featuring photographs representative of each state!

50 states. 50 photographs.

This certainly proves that ZARA appreciates the uniqueness of the individual states.

And to that, my response is:

Dear ZARA,

I look forward to shopping online with you and will continuously pray for my pocketbook.

With Love,
ChiTown Fashionista, xo

Now, who's going to join me tomorrow for a little online retail therapy? 


P.S. If you want to be ahead of the game, "like" ZARA's Facebook page [HERE] and register for the exclusive online preview which begins tonight at 6PM (EST).

Paul Stuart Chicago: 'Treasures of the Night' Fashion & Charity Event

Chicago's fashion elite gathered at Paul Stuart Chicago on Tuesday, August 30, for an evening of fashion, charity, culture, music, cuisine and good times. The fashion soiree occurred as a part of the In-Fashion: The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival™ presented by MasterCard ®. The theme, "Treasures of the Night," represented the the charitable spirit in which the event was held. All proceeds from the donations and the silent auction, along with 10% of all sales from the evening, will benefit the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation.

Paul Stuart's "Townhouse" resides in one of Chicago's premier luxury shopping destinations on East Oak Street. The retailer, founded in 1938 by Ralph Ostrove and named after his son, stands as an upscale men's & women's retailer known for its unique take on Anglo-American classics. Since its inception nearly 70 years ago, the store has dressed world leaders, dignitaries, celebrities, titans of business, and anyone who expects the highest quality clothing and superior service.

One of the defining elements about Paul Stuart is the retailer's method of fitting men. Tailors at the store work to mold clothes to each man's body, promising for a perfect fit every time. It's no surprise that the store has helped redefine the American tailored look.

If you are looking for your own signature fit, whether it be for lounging around the house, golf trips, work or formal events, stop by one of the two Paul Stuart locations in Chicago. Make sure you tell them that ChiTown Fashionista sent you.

Until then, check out what I saw, ate and heard during the "Treasures of the Night."

WHAT I SAW

Paul Stuart

WHAT I HEARD
15-year-old Japanese violinist Kelly Talim

Talim is only 15 years old, but the way she carries herself and plays her violin are mature beyond her years. She began playing at the age of 8, right before her family moved from Japan to the United States. The young violinist just moved to Chicago a few years ago and she is currently embarking on her sophomore year at Stevenson High School.

Taiko Group from the Midwest Buddhist Temple

The Midwest Buddhist Temple's Taiko Group started in 1977 with the help of Rev. Mas Kodani and the Kinnara Taiko Group. The members are a self-sustaining group of the Temple and they make most of their own equipment and costumes. Through the years, the musical group has performed across the United States, traveling from Minneapolis to Philadelphia and anywhere in between.

WHAT I ATE
Ai Japanese Restaurant & Lounge

Ai Japanese Restaurant and Lounge (358 W. Ontario Ave), located in the River North area of Chicago, features signature makis from Chef Toyoji Hemmi, one of the only chefs in the Chicagoland area "certified" to prepare blowfish. Ai is the perfect location to stop by for sushi and drinks. When you visit, try their "Firecracker Spicy Tuna," which consists of spicy tuna maki with tempura crunch, topped with wasabi mayo (pictured above). Their signature drink, a Japanese style Sangria, made with juices and calpico, a Japanese yogurt, is a must-have as well. For more information, visit www.aichicago.us.

Sullivan's Steakhouse

Sullivan's Steakhouse (415 North Dearborn St) is an American Steakhouse featuring the finest steaks, seafood, hand-shaken martinis and live music. The restaurant, also located in Chicago's River North area, has 20 other locations throughout the United States. So you can have your favorite steakhouse wherever you go. Make sure you order a Sullivan’s Steakhouse carved beef tenderloin sandwich, which comes on pretzel bread rolls. Order a round of the Knockout Martinis, made with pineapple juice and vodka. For more information, visit www.sullivansteakhouse.com.

Thalia Spice

Thalia Spice (833 W. Chicago Ave) is an Asian fusion bistro and bar where Noy Sengsurichanh is the executive chef. People have mistook the restaurant for a Thai specialty location. However, Thalia Spice offers so much more than a typical Asian cuisine restaurant. It merges tastes and styles from the entire continent into refined, tasty dishes. Try the "Karma Sutra," a sushi dish made with ebi, kawi kama, muscles and masago. For more information, visit www.thaliaspice.com.

To see all the photos from the event, click the following link: Paul Stuart: 'Treasures of the Night' Fashion & Charity Event

To check out more details about Paul Stuart and purchase from the retailer's online boutique, click the following link: www.paulstuart.com

In-Fashion: The Magnificent Mile's Shopping Festival Starts This Week!

The Magnificent Mile will be hosting the nation's first ever Shopping Festival and it begins tomorrow!

Entitled In-Fashion, this 2-week fest is going to be filled with celebrity and designer appearances, shopping deals, culinary events and hotel discounts.

Click HERE to get all of the details and see why I'll be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning to help kick off this spectacular event.

The things we do for fashion...

BabyDolls Boutique 4yr Anniversary Event - THIS WEEKEND

Here, at ChiTown Fashionista, I don't normally cover children's fashion. However, I recently received word about a boutique in Southport that offers fashion choices for children AND their moms. Smart move, don't you think?

BabyDolls Boutique (3727 N. Southport Ave.) offers the most adorable and unique items for the little ones as well as great jewelry and accessories for women.

Ladies, if you've never checked out this boutique, this weekend is the perfect time to do so! In celebration of their 4yr anniversary, BabyDolls Boutique is hosting back to back events. One that caters to children and another that has grownup fashionistas in mind.

So hop over there this Saturday with your mini-me and enjoy a day filled with fun and our favorite pastime, shopping! Could the weekend get any better?

Dose Market: Chicago's newest concept based on an old European tradition

It's a fact: markets in Chicago are few and far between.

Dose Market is a monthly event that is looking to fill the void by presenting some of the best local merchants in a European marketplace setting.

The Dose Market founders (aptly named the "Dosettes") are April Francis of The Haute Closet, Emily Fiffer of DailyCandy Chicago, Heather Spearling of Tasting Table Chicago and Jessica Herman of Time Out Chicago. Considered as experts in their respective field, they seek out unique clothing, accessories, furniture and food vendors to showcase to consumers in one place, the beautifully charming River East Art Center. How lovely is that?!

The inaugural event was last month and being a fashion blogger, I decided to hit up the clothing and accessories first. Fashion trumps food...always.

My typical favorites, DRAPES, Luxury Garage Sale and Lisa Spagnolo, did not disappoint. They offered up the best in jewelry, accessories, designer goods and vintage wares.  Also, I was finally introduced to vendors such as Twentythirtyforty.net, Sofia Vintage, Cities in Dust and Artfully Disheveled. There was so much good stuff under one roof.  The measly budget that I set that day couldn't even begin to finance all the purchases I wanted to make. Le sigh.

Of course I couldn't pass up the chance to sample some of the food vendors. My sweet tooth led me to Truffle Truffle and BullsEye Baking Co. The cookies at BullsEye Baking Co. looked so amazing, I had to make a purchase. The Hokie Pokie Pinwheel cookies tasted just as good as they looked!

In addition to the fashion and food, I fell in love with the Suitor stationery and notebooks, the Sprout Home floral arrangements and the Gentleman's Boomboxes created by ArtPentry.

Click HERE for all of the photos!

Dose Market plans to switch up the vendors each month to ensure that every installment will showcase fresh faces and new products to try and taste. That means you have to make it a monthly "to-do"!

And don't worry if you can't make them all. The Dose Market website keeps track of every participant (including links to their website) on the Market Info page. There, you can also find the remaining 2011 schedule.

Can't wait for the next one? Don't worry, the July edition is THIS Sunday, July 10th. Grab your wallet and a shopping partner (or two) and head to Dose Market. I know I will.

Dose Market
July 10, 2011
10AM - 4PM
Admission: $10 ($8 online)

River East Art Center
435 E. Illinois

Linking Up: Chicago street style; a Chicago summer brunch crawl; the DIY pedicure

Chicago Street Style snaps a photo of a stylish chap! (click HERE to be impressed)

Trés Awesome captures the beauty of another local street style photographer. (click HERE to see why I love Isa so)

Refinery29 is hosting a Brunch Crawl. Shopping and eating? Sign me up! (click HERE to get in on the fun)

Swa-Rai breaks down how to get the perfect DIY pedicure. (click HERE for some great tips)

The Randolph Street Market: Chicago's treasure trove

As much as I adore the Randolph Street Market, I was shocked when I realized I had never covered it on my blog! I have written several recaps on its affiliate event, Modern Vintage. But nothing about my "first love"? Preposterous!

So, when I visited the Randolph Street Market for the season opener in May, I was determined to capture the vast amount of goodness. From the antique and vintage dealers, you can always expect to find one-of-a-kind treasures: clothing and accessories for the fashion lovers; furniture, trinkets and home decor for interior design lovers; and everything else in between! There's also the Indie Designer Market which always includes the best in local emerging talent! It's always great to have them all available under one roof.

This time around, I was lucky enough to attend the Randolph Market's first blogger event, "Happy Hour", which was hosted by the lovely Sally Schwartz (founder) and Nena Ivon (creative director).  Bloggers mixed and mingled over cocktails the night before the opening. The event allowed us to witness the set-up process and provided us with the opportunity to scope out the items we were going to purchase the next morning.  After the event, I had visions of bakelite earrings dancing in my head. Needless to say, that was one of my first purchases the next day!

Despite the gloomy weather the next morning, the vibe at the market was uplifting! The antique and vintage dealers were enthusiastically sharing the stories behind each item in their collection, while the aroma and persuasion from the food vendors made it difficult to decide on whether to shop or eat. The Indie Designer section included some of my favorites, SWABY and K-Fleye, as well as some market newbies like Exploding Library and local designer Anna Fong.

Here are a few of my discoveries:
















Click HERE to view the complete set of photos!

Side note: I was glad to see so many of the Bill Cunningham Chicago attendees using their free passes that day! There really is nothing better than sharing the Randolph Street Market experience with others.

As usual, I set a budget for myself. Can you believe I actually stuck to it?!

There were a couple of items I regret not purchasing.  But thanks to my "shopping ADD", I'm sure I'll get over it once I see the slew of merchandise on hand this month.

Visit RandolphStreetMarket.com for more info, including the full schedule.

So, tell me! Did you attend the Randolph Street Market season opener? If so, what did you find?