CSM has a new home!

CSM is all grown up and even has a new grown and sexy makeover to match!  Follow the new link to check out the new digs and make yourself at home!  www.csmstyle.com

Spring Makeovers!

First and foremost I want to apologize to my CSM community and readers for not being my regular self by staying up to date with fashion and style tips, inspiration and happenings in and around the industry with regular blog posts.

As I've alluded too in a number of previous posts CSM is going through a major spring makeover.  With any makeover it's taken time to perfect the right look that fully embodies my signature style of Edgy, Comfy, Chic.  The final touches are coming along nicely but in true CSM fashion it all started with inspiration from a new pair of shoes.

So please don't feel like I've abandoned any of you, I'm still here and can't wait to share with you all the big reveal!  So in homage to spring makeovers, start your own personal spring overhaul by introducing these beautiful babies into your shoe closet: 'Justine' Boutique 9 pointed pumps!

Celebrating Punk Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

The spring 2013 exhibition organized by The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be PUNK: Chaos to Couture.  The exhibition will be open to view starting May 9th through August 14th and takes a deep dive into examining punk's impact on high fashion from the movement's birth in the 1970's through it's continuing and prevalent influence today.

One concept that I'm ridiculously excited to see explored and portrayed is punk's enduring contribution to high fashion via do-it-yourself or known best as DIY.  The four galleries of DIY are Hardware, Bricolage, Graffiti & Agritpop and Destroy.  With the renowned Met Gala being held tonight, May 6th  I'm looking forward to seeing what attendees will be wearing.  This year's theme of PUNK: Chaos to Couture, mean the ensemble possibilities are endless.  I'm expecting to see alot of Rick Owens, Comme des Garcons, Gareth Pugh, Martin Marigela and Vivienne Westwood on the red carpet.

Check out some of the looks that epitomize Punk Fashion by the pages of Vogue Magazine:

Spring Temps mean Print is a Must!

With temps in Chicago reaching 80+ degrees it's definitely safe to say that we are finally in the Spring season and knocking on the door of Summer.  With warmer temps all I can think about are prints.  But not just mixing of prints, I've been drawn to the incredible statement one unified all over print ensemble makes.

Perusing my usual street style sites I immediately stopped in my tracks when I came across Phil Oh's picture of Christine Centenera at Australia Fashion Week in Sydney.  This strong print by Josh Goot is absolutely stunning, but the impact and the power of the print is just so much more incredible with Chrisitne pairing the matching top and bottom.  Needless to say, the age old adage  that you don't want to be 'matchy-matchy' is totally wrong in this case.

Photographed by Phil Oh for Vogue 

Love this look? Check out how you can get a head to toe singular print look for less with the following:

Products featured above: Top/Pant/Shoes/Cuff/Bag

[Chicago Fashion Event] Get Spring Ready at FashionChicago!

Get your Spring wardrobe ready at StyleChicago.com's FashionChicago this Saturday, May 4th.  Shop some of Chicago's most notable designers all while supporting the local Chicago fashion industry.

Get all of the details here and the big bonus is it's Free Admission!  P.S. You will most likely find me playing dress-up in the Crystal B. Designs booth so come join me! xo

#CSMTravels for the month of April part 2!

More from my Hong Kong, China travels earlier this month.  One of the most stand out experiences I had this trip was visiting the Sha Tin Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery.  In part 2 of my Photo Diary of my travels this month see if you can find all of the Buddhas that are so skillfully placed in the mountainside (here's a hint it's a double digit number).

P.S.  I have the correct total at the end of the post....

Part 2 of my Photo Diary April travels to Hong Kong:

There were 22 Buddahs! Hopefully you were able to find all 22! xo

#CSMTravels for the month of April part 1!

The month of April seems like a total blur now that I'm finally back after spending the last 2.5 weeks in Hong  Kong, China for my '9 to 5'.  Being on the apparel production side of the business, the best part of my job is working directly with my vendors and mills hammering out all of the details for each season's line.  This trip was all about the upcoming Fall/Winter assortment and like the rest of the retail industry a huge chunk of our annual sales are done in those few months so naturally it's my biggest assortment and buy of the year.

Even though it was all about work I did manage to squeeze in a lot of retail therapy, noshed on a number of amazing meals, naturally attended a fashion event or two, played tourist and all while wearing chic'ified ensembles that ooze my style mantra: Edgy, Comfy, Chic!

Check out part 1 of my April Hong Kong Photo Diary: