Salvaged Sequin

The goods:
• vintage sequin shirt
• pants from Anthropologie
• pumps from Aldo 
• gold bangles from Forever21 and Barneys 

Who says sequins has to be reserved for special occasions? I saw this piece at Eskell, and sure it's a size large, but the more sparkle the merrier! Instead of keeping those bright, shiny pieces tucked away, I say throw them on with something as simple as a pair of jeans and rock it.

Back to Camp

Well only in Chicago do you get sunny skies teasing you while it snows, so let's focus on something brighter ... sweet, sweet summer. Nothing says summer like camping – but here's the thing about camping – set up is painful, tear-down is even worse, and the outhouses/spiders/fear-of-snapping-sticks-in-the-middle-of-the-night can be kind of awful. So I would jump at the chance to try out this vintage camp resort, sorta like sleepaway camp for adults! Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin is just that – with everything from canvas tents stocked with vintage Pendleton blankets, a cozy one room cabin overlooking the water, to glamorous touches like a magnificent antler chandelier in the Tree House. And it's just a short drive from Chicago ... sounds like a picture perfect summer weekend to me.

 

Go back in time by visiting the Camp Wandawega site.

Photos from Wandawega, Chicagomag

Pop of Poppy

The goods:
• orange top from Forever 21
• jacket and jeans from Zara
• wedge heels by Christian Louboutin   

Nothing says spring like a pop of color! ... well, it may not be spring yet, but I sure am ready for it. This orangey-red color makes this gray day just a little brighter, I even took it one step further and swiped on a pop of red lipstick in Passion from Chanel. Never mind the dreary weather, in here it's red hot.

Runway Recap: Elie Saab

Elie Saab showed us once again how perfectly he uses texture and fabrics to create flattering feminine pieces. His Paris runway show was full of flowy gowns, beautifully structured day wear, and intricate lace detailing in shades of navy, black, chartreuse and magenta. See below for some showstoppers ... and inspiration for striking a balance of sexy and sophisticated. 

 

See his entire collection here.

Have a Great Weekend!

Happy daylight savings weekend! It's supposed to be a "balmy" 45 degrees this weekend, so we hope to get out and enjoy it after being cooped up inside this dreary Chicago winter. We've got some fun family dinners planned and hope to chill out a little too.

Also this weekend ...

• Dose Market is up and running this Sunday. Check out Homer's Ice Cream for their tasty sweets, and Little Goat (hopefully they offer tastes of their delicious "Sloppy Goat").

• Speaking of tasty treats ... Gilt Bar, one of our fave restaurants in Chicago, opened their lower level spot, The Library. It will serve items from the Gilt menu, as well as their delicious cocktails, all the in the intimate setting of a cozy, dimly lit library.

• Don't forget to set your clocks ahead this Sunday for daylight savings – a sign that spring really is right around the corner.

Have a great weekend!

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Chic in Chambray

The goods:
• chambray dress from Marshalls
• white shirt from Banana Republic 
• sweater from Nordstrom
• necklace from Forever21
• platform booties by Report   

I often dip into my summer dress collection to create winter ensembles. This chambray dress is great in warm weather with simple sandals and a hint of tan, but paired with warm tights and some added layers, it's a subtle nod to summer in the middle of winter weather. There's just something sweet and summery about chambray fabrics - maybe that's my subconscious reason for snapping up all the fun pieces I find.

Is This Real Life?

I've been hearing bits and pieces about the new Fashion Outlets of Chicago coming this year to Rosemont ... but we're not talking about just any old outlet mall, this place will be a fashion feast!

Below are some of the stores slated to set up shop in this amazing mall ...

Bloomingdale's Outlet, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, Forever 21, Prada, J.Crew, Halston, Herve Leger, Hugo Boss, Allsaints, Andrew Marc, Brunello Cucinelli, Cole Haan, Georgio Armani, Michael Kors, L.K. Bennett, Gucci, and more ...

Let the countdown to savings begin! (which you can follow minute by minute on the mall's site).

Naughty and Nice

The goods:
• blouse from Forever21
• sweater by Velvet
• faux leather pants from Urban Outfitters
• pumps from Zara
• necklaces from Stitch Chicago  

I'm all for the edgy look of leather-like pants, but to avoid a biker babe ensemble, you have to balance them out with something softer. I paired these tight pants with a feminine flowy top and cozy open-weave sweater. Add a few sparkly accessories and just a hint of sweet pink lipstick, and I've steered clear of being mistaken for a member of Hells Angels.

A Rosy Outlook

Speaking of Miss Dior, perhaps you saw the splendor of the new perfume ad during the Oscars last week. The dreamy new spot, titled "La Vie en Rose", was directed by Sofia Coppola and stars Natalie Portman in pretty pale dresses, driving around in vintage cars with a handsome fella, and falling into a bed of roses ... pretty much all things that makeup the perfect girlie day dream.

Watch the "rosy" short below and see the making of the film here.

Have a Fashionable Weekend!

When it comes to shopping, I'm always thinking ahead, so right now I'm in the thick of spring styles. I'm a longtime fan of Emerson Made – their styles are always simple but sophisticated, and with clean lines and timeless silhouettes, their spring line doesn't disappoint. You can shop the entire line here.

Also this weekend ...

• Anthropologie opens in Lincoln Park today ... that, along with Nordstrom Rack and Sephora slated to open nearby, Fremont and North Avenue is quickly becoming my new fave shopping area.

• Speaking of store openings, the vintage accessory authority, Lulu's at the Belle Kay, will open their second location right in the 900 North shops on Tuesday. So no more trekking it up (far) north to score her carefully curated vintage jewels.

• Finally! My favorite fasionistas are back on TV this week. The Rachel Zoe Project starts up again Wednesday on Bravo, followed by (err .... her once loyal assistant) Brad Goreski. I. Can't. Wait.

• And finally, an interesting breakdown (complete with charts!) of what runway trends will actually translate to the street.  

Have a fantastic weekend!

Photos courtesy of Emerson Made