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CFI Meet & Greet Recap
macys.com
Last Wednesday I attended the Chicago Fashion Incubator (CFI) Meet & Greet at Macy’s on State street. This event was an opportunity to meet the six resident designers Jonnie Rettele, Leah Fagan, Stephanie Kuhr, Miriam Cecilia Carlson, Donaldo Smith, and Christina Fan.
CFI was started in March 2008 and every year provides six emerging Chicago-based designers with the resources to launch their careers in fashion. The year long program provides resources, workspace, showroom, curriculum, and mentoring for the lucky chosen six. As a designer in residence you have the opportunity to network in the community and show your line at local events and fashion shows. One of the goals of the program is to provide the designers with business acumen to successfully launch their companies.
This year’s designers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring unique style to the table.
Christina Fan’s brand C/FAN is full of luxurious fabrics including silk, suede, and fur. Her color pallet is dark with pops of color. Her designs are easy to wear and fit into your existing wardrobe.
Christina Fan
Miriam Cecilia Carlson’s brand m.c.c. includes both ready to wear and couture collections. Her designs include mostly structured dresses. Some are quite simple while others are avant garde. One thing is for sure, you are going to get notices in one of her designs.
Miriam Cecilia Carlson
Stephanie Kuhr’s brand Dottie’s Delights is self proclaimed vintage. She designs exquisitely detailed burlesque style lingerie. While her unique variety of garters and bustiers aren’t meant for everyday wear, they are quite beautiful.
Stephanie Kuhr
Leah Fagan’s brand Peloton includes lots of versatile and wearable separates. Her designs have great lines, structure, and cuts. Leah wants her designs to be comfortable and easy. All of her pieces are washable and made of comfy fabrics. You could easily wear one of her designs to work and still feel comfortable lounging around in the same outfit at home.
Leah Fagan
Jonnie Rettele’s brand Nonnie Threads is one of two men’s wear lines in the CFI this year. Her designs include great shirts, pants, vests, and jackets. They have a certain structural appeal that makes them unique, while simple enough for everyday wear. Her inspiration for her collection was her husband.
Jonnie Retlle
Last but not least is Donaldo Smith with his brand Killian Gui. Donaldo is the only male of the six designers and is the second men’s wear line in this year’s CFI. His designs consist mostly of ready to wear tailored shirts.
I cannot wait to see what else is to come from these six fabulous designers. To find out more about the CFI follow this link.
Leah & Stephanie
Upcoming Events
I hope you had as much fun at all of the events last week as I did. Look for upcoming posts highlighting some of those events.
This week’s big event is the Summer Blowout Sale at Dress Up Boutique.
When: NOW through August 31st, Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 12-6pm
Where: 1937 N. Damen Ave.
What: Save up to 90% on designer merchandise. Shop from a variety of pieces between $10 and $35. Shop popular brands including Alexia Admor, Aryn K., BB Dakota, Chan Luu, Free People, Jack, Kersh, Siwy, Veronica M., Zoa, and more!
Check out Dress Up Boutique’s website for more information!
Week at a Glance
This is a HUGE week in Chicago fashion. Here is a quick overview of what to look forward to this week.
Tuesday
- Sidewalk Sale at Daley Plaza sponsored by Fashion Focus Chicago
Wednesday
- Sidewalk Sale at Daley Plaza sponsored by Fashion Focus Chicago
- Chicago Fashion Incubator Meet & Greet
Thursday
- Style Chicago’s “An Evening of Modern Beauty“
- Kathryn Kerrigan Grand Opening Weekend (more info to come)
Friday
- Kathryn Kerrigan Grand Opening Weekend
Saturday
- Kate Boggiano’s Semi Annual Early Bird Sale
- Indie Designer Market
- Summer Sidewalk Sale (more info below)
- Kathryn Kerrigan Grand Opening Weekend
Sunday
- Indie Designer Market
- Summer Sidewalk Sale (more info below)
- Kathryn Kerrigan Grand Opening Weekend
Summer Sidewalk Sale
Must or Bust?
The Romper
Named one of this summer’s hottest trends the romper is everywhere. It is marketed as being fun and versatile. Rompers come in a plethora of patterns and styles so they can easily be dressed down for a day of shopping with your best friend or dressed up for a night out. A romper can easily go from day to night with the right accessories. Flats and colorful jewelry can make the perfect afternoon shopping look. While heels and a bold metallic necklace can spice up the same outfit for the evening. You can find them in just about every store around town and they come in a variety of fabrics including cotton, jersey, denim, and silk. Long? Short? Tight? Loose? Strapless? Strapped? With sleeves? Without? Anyway you want it, you can find it!
So what do you think? Is the romper a MUST BUY? Or a BUST in summer trends?
J Crew silk romper $98 www.jcrew.com
Arden B $59 www.ardenb.com
Exciting Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Sidewalk Sale at Daley Plaza
Daley Plaza
Sponsored by Fashion Focus Chicago
7/20/2010-7/21/2010
Tue-Wed 9am-3pm
50 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 744-3315
This two day event features a fashion show at noon on both days. Find everything from shoes to clothes to jewelry, to one of a kind pieces, anything tailored to your style will be at this fashion event.
The following designers/boutiques will be featured: Audey, Zamrie, Erin Gallagher, Objects d’ Envy, Kate Boggiano, 1154 Lill, The Nature of Things, Kreative Soul, Afrika Designs, and much much more……..
Fashion Focus Chicago supports and promotes Chicago designers through various seminars, events and city programs. The city of Chicago is home to more than 400 designers and 375 independent fashion boutiques.
Kate Boggiano’s Semi Annual Early Bird Sale
http://kateboggiano.com/
Save up to 60% off at the Kate Boggiano Pilsen Studio (2150 S. Canalport Ave.3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60608) on Saturday, July 24, from 8am-4pm.
Join Kate Boggiano for the warehouse sale were her classic pieces are 30-60% off. Based of off your arrival time the discounted prices will adjust as listed below:
- 8-9am-60%off
- 9-11am-50% off
- 11am-12pm-40%off
- 12pm-4pm – 30%off
P.S. In addition to the Early Bird Sale 20% is taken off all purchases of Kate’s Fall 2010 line.
Upcoming Events
“An Evening of Modern Beauty”
W Hotel
StyleChicago.com & W Hotel presents an upscale girls night out in a gorgeous downtown hotel! Partake in cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, and treat yourself to complementary services such as spa & beauty treatments from more than 20 top salons, spas, and beauty & lifestyle brands that Chicago has to offer. The first 250 VIP ticket buyers will receive a StyleChicago.com signature Goodie Bags with an estimated value of $250 that includes 40+ brands inside. Some of the onsite vendors and goodie bag participants include: Red Door Spas, H20 Plus, MAC Cosmetics, KIND Snack, Still Waters……and more!
Date: 7/22/2010
Time: Thu 6-9pm
Location: 172 W. Adams St
(Great Room 1-Ballroom)
Chicago, IL 60603
Reserve tickets online https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/117655
or order via phone at 1-800-838-3006
You Don’t Want to Miss These Great Events
Horacio Nieto
Horacio Nieto
Horacio Nieto Fashion Show: “Flirting for Disaster” Red Cross Benefit
Where: The Underground – 56 W. Illinois St.
When: Thursday, June 24th 7-10pm
Tickets: Minimum required donation of $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
On Thursday, June 24 from 7-10pm, Chicago fashion designer Horacio Nieto will be presenting his designs at the American Red Cross’ ‘Flirting for Disaster’, a summer social with festive fashions at The Underground in Chicago’s River North. The event will include cocktails & wine, an hors d’oeuvres reception from 7:30-9pm, music by DJ Sombra, and raffle prizes & more!
All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.
Zamrie
Zamrie’s “Catwalk Fridays” Fashion Show
Where: The Drake Hotel in The Palm Court – 140 E. Walton St.
When: Friday, June 25 1-3:30pm
Tickets: Free – Please RSVP to Shaun.rajah@hilton.com.
Join Zamrie designer Ashley Zygmunt for “Catwalk Fridays” on June 25 from 1-3:30pm for an exclusive fashion show at The Drake Hotel in Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Guests will be viewing pieces from Zamrie’s Spring / Summer 2010 Collection during afternoon tea in The Palm Court at The Drake Hotel.
Guests must RSVP to this event. Guests who arrive between 1-1:30 will see the showcase from 1:40-2:10. Guests who arrive between 3-3:30 will see the showcase from 3:40-4:10.
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Studio-808, Inc. is the brainchild of Erin Creaney, a PR executive with a near-athletic enthusiasm for emerging designers. Finding herself searching the city for great designers with new and different looks, she knew a larger operation was in order. What's more, she felt the world needed to know about the fashion percolating in the Windy City. Thus was born Studio-808.com.
