Style

Sip & Shop // Event Recap

Sip & Shop // Event Recap
Sip & Shop // Event Recap

All photos via. Westfield // Photobooth by Fotio

A few weeks ago we celebrated summer with Westfield Old Orchard. The event was full of exclusive shopping & italian inspired entertainment, while Wine Channel TV brought it to the next level with Master Sommelier David Glancy's blind tasting. You all know I love wine & I have a huge respect for sommelies, but David did a great job at breaking down the tasting process to make even the least experienced of us feel like connoisseurs.

The evening was decorated with fun workshops and live entertainment throughout the shopping center. Artist, Kelly Maryanski was there creating beautiful portraits within minutes– that girl is seriously talented!

Food pairings were provided throughout the shopping center, as well as at the VIP rooftop party that followed.

Special thanks to Wine Channel TVSouthern Wine and Spirits- Illinois, Westfield Old Orchard, San Francisco Wine School and Binny’s.

To experience more of the fun, be sure to watch the video below...

Sip&Shop Old Orchard June 2014 Highlights from Wine Channel TV on Vimeo.

This post has been brought to you by Westfield, however, all opinions remain my own. The integrity of this site is far more important to me than any compensation or brand partnership. – S

SAIC // Part 1

SAIC-31-e1400734918927.jpg
SAIC-2014-37-e1400734255196.jpg
All images courtesy of Christopher Macsurak

A few weeks ago, accompanied by the surreal soundsuits of Nick Cave’s modern multi-media performance, the fusion of fashion and art was explored in Millenium Park. In addition to serving as a demonstration of students' talent, this year's theWALK fashion show & benefit gala was a celebration in 80 years of success for the institute. Previous School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates include Halston & Cynthia Rowley, with WALK guests lists including such names as Jason Wu & Jenna Lyons.

This was my first time attending the event & I'm happy to say I was highly impressed. In a three part production with performance interludes by Nick Cave's famous rainbow-colored soundsuits, students showcased looks that embodied a combination of sculpture, performance, design, technology, architecture, and installation to create one-of-a-kind looks.

In a sum of nearly 250 designs, SAIC'S Fashion Design department presented their talents for a sold out crowd. Seniors presented complete collections, while juniors showcased three designs, and sophomores one avant grade look in muslin. I know this sounds like a lot of formal jargon, but let's just say the show started with the sophomore class & left me speechless at that, so you can only imagine my awe once the senior collections wrapped around the runway.

In conclusion of the show, SAIC honored Nick Cave, internationally renowned performance artist, professor and former chair of the fashion design department, with the Legend of Fashion Award. The annual benefit gala supports the production of student work and scholarships and serves as 
the premier fundraiser for SAIC and the Fashion Design department. In his speech Cave thanked many, stating that he wouldn't be recieving this award if it wasn't for the scholarship program.

Following the event, guests were invited to an after party at Millennium Park's Harris Theater, where we enjoyed delicious bites inspired by the collections showcased that evening.

I had the pleasure of attending theWALK with co-chair Debbie Jagel, who we'll be chatting with in part 2 of this recap, so stay tuned ;)

xoxo

Traveling Tailor // Indochino

IMG_3324-e1397757814156.jpg

Chicago gentlemen, this one's for you...

Today, we're turning to custom menswear and giving Indochino a warm Chicago welcome! If you're familiar with the online shopping models of Warby Parker & Trunk Club, you'll quickly come to love Indochino's convenient custom suiting system.

Indochino's goal is simple: provide the modern gentleman with convenient & affordable custom suiting. This includes custom tailoring, unique product customizations, made from the finest materials for lasting quality. After a quick 10 minute online measuring session, all Indochino products are hand tailored and delived to your home within 4 weeks.

With headquaters in Vancouver, Canada, the Traveling Tailor is Indochino's way of meeting the client & showcasing it's modern user experience in a luxurious & festive manner.

Lucky for Chicago, Indochino is hanging out at Block Thirty Seven until the 27th, and their stying space is all you would imagine it to be & more.

Chicago gentlemen, it's time to suit up!

// To view Indochino's Spring Lookbook click here. //
ttchi-family-friends
ttchi-family-friends

TGIF // Giveaway Reminder

This just in, our giveaway is twice the value we thought it was! I'd love to write your name on that line, just fill out the info in the handy app below.

To see a couple of my favorite pieces from this spring collection click here. Giveaway closes Monday night, but trust me you don't want to procrastinate on this one ;)

Happy Friday, everyone!!

xo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Into the Sun // Event + Giveaway

IMG_2882-e1395722691651.jpg

Top, c/o | Pants | Hat, c/o | Necklace | Bracelets | Shoes (sold out) - similar | Bag | Aviators

Welcome back! Today I'm particularly excited to catch up, because I'll get to see some of your faces at tonight's event!!

I have to warn you, this post is full of detail, but I promise every last bit will be worth the read...

Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Annie Hurlbut, co-founder of Peruvian Connection, and her story is the perfect combination of awe and inspiration.

Peruvian Connection's history begins when Annie was only 19, doing anthropological research in the Andes of Peru.

Fascinated by the textiles she saw and the women who wove them into intricate mantas & ponchos, Annie began learning everything she could about the alpaca fibers used in these pieces. Annie studied everything from the spinning and dyeing, the warp-faced weaving techniques, and the ancient tradition of which these fibers were a part.

Not long after, Peruvian Connection was born. Nothing big, just a small collection of sweaters designed by Annie and sold out of her mother's home in Kansas. The goal was simple: offer artisan made, original designs in native Andean luxury fibers.

Though displayed at a much larger scale today, this concept remains the core of Peruvian Connections's values, and while there are now design teams in place the pieces continue to be made by the skilled Andean artisans whose time-honored textile tradition remains an art form.

Thanks to Peruvian Connection's extreme generosity my favorite pieces from this season's collection will be available tonight at 20% off!

In addition, Annie is giving one lucky Glitterary reader a $50 gift card! This email was just received, so the giveaway will be live through Monday, 3/31. All you need to do to enter is head to Peruvian Connection & comment below with your favorite selection. 

So, what are you waiting for? If you haven't sent in your RSVP, it's not too late, just email the address in the invite, and join me as we style and shop these incredible pieces!

See you soon! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To read more on the story of Peruvian Connection, click here.

Forehead Kisses are Underrated

IMG_1813-e1392414898514.jpg

Top: goodhYOUman, c/o | Jeans | Bracelets, similar | Earrings

Yesterday I stumbled across an article reviewing Taylor Swift's relationship advice as discuses through various interviews over the years. One comment stood out. Taylor said that she had reached a point where she felt "the only love worth being in is the love worth singing about...I think that for me, when you experience something that's worth writing a song about, chances are it's the same kind of intense feeling that someone else has felt".

Taylor elaborated explaining that she craved a mad kind of love... Who can blame her?

In a culture where we're so overstimulated if it's not dramatic it doesn't faze us. Particularly in a city landscape where time is money we can often overlook simple kindness, and the little things don't get their credit.

Today I could have dressed up, I had my favorite satin & lace little black dress in mind, but the truth is this is what most days look like.

The hubs and I have been married for almost 5 years, and while we make it a point to have "date nights", most nights it's takeout and redbox or a late night gym date. Don't get me wrong we absolutely love hanging out together, I think that's my favorite part about our relationship– we're so happy just being together!

That said, because of the simplicity of our day to day our love is often not dramatic. All the contrary, its quite normal and in that normalcy it's the little things that mean the most. By that I mean the day to day love, the little texts at work, the selflessness shown through house chores, the time spent cuddling on the couch while crushing through a newly discovered show on netflix. It may not seem like much to some, but I wouldn't trade this love for anything!

Tonight we could have planned a night out on the town, but instead we're throwing a valentines party at our place. There will be ice cream, champaign, games, and a movie, single friends, and couples. Sure we could have gone out for a fancy dinner, but this kind of sounds like more fun.

Tomorrow morning we 'll likely be at the gym and heck maybe next Tuesday after fixing our Plated dinner we'll head out for a cocktail at our neighborhood bar, just us two. Who knows, we'll see how the week plays out, but one things for sure, getting to do life with your best friend is the best gift of all & forehead kisses are totally underrated!

Thanks to the generosity of the kind folks at goodhYOUman, one lucky reader will win this tank with my favorite little quote, "Forehead kisses are underrated".

GoodhYOUman is an LA clothing company grounded on the values of their founder, Brett Novek, who believes that "EVERYONE HAS A STORY.” Every season good hYOUman features an inspirational story on all of their hang tags. Stories are submitted by other good hYOUmans, here.

xoxo

a Rafflecopter giveaway