[Chicago Fashion] Randolph Street Market "Spring Fling"!

It's that time of month again folks! Join me this weekend March 23rd & 24th for Randolph Street Market's "Spring Fling".  It might still be freezing, but this weekend's market is going to be all about Spring.  Shoppers who don their finest Easter bonnets will get free admission into the market plus there will be hidden Easter Eggs containing Market Bucks, Season Passes, sweet treats and more.

Here are all the deets:
When- March 23rd & 24th from 10am to 5pm
Where- Beaux Arts Plumber's Hall, 1340 W. Washington Street (plus there's free parking)
Price- Get all ticketing info here

Visit Randolph Street Market for more info!

[Chicago Fashion Event] Randolph Street Market Winter Market!

The Randolph Street Market's 2013 winter markets are all about "Passion & Vanities".  I'll be hitting the market early on Saturday, February 2nd to pick my top market finds and will have an 'Editor's Choice' ribbon  on the items letting you know that it's CSM Approved.

Get all of the info about tickets here, and definitely come prepared with your walking shoes because once you enter the market gates you will end up spending the day there discovering all of the amazing treasures that it has to offer!

[Chicago Fashion Event] Fashion Focus Chicago: Maison De LaCour's Spring 2013 Collection!

This past Tuesday, Julius LaCour Jr. presented Maison De LaCour's Spring 2013 Collection as a part of Fashion Focus Chicago at the historic Murphy Auditorium.  Having only been exposed to a few of Julius' pieces and not being too familiar with his work I was very excited to see a full collection.  Once the first procession of models entered and sat lined up across the stage in Medieval-Renaissance style chairs the tone for the show was set and I was captivated.

The palette of the first collection were of monochromatic blacks, whites, greys and beige.  This palette allowed the zippers, buckles, and other trim details coupled with the strong lines and architectural shapes of the silhouettes tell the story of "The Immaculate One".  Each piece seemed to have a universal and transitional approach to the clothing that blurred the lines of definitive "menswear" or "womenswear".  It's absolutely no shocker to anyone that I have a love affair for the genius of Rad Hourani, so to be immediately reminded of his unisex pieces while watching Julius' presentation is a definite compliment.

Transitioning from the first collection his second collection filled with a color explosion as the palette, it was a definite stark contrast to his first.  Yet through the details of the print and silhouettes you were pulled back into a sense of familiarity.

Kudos to the great team who pulled off one of the best Chicago fashion presentations I've had the opportunity to witness: Richard Sebastian of Luxury Management  & Yana German of Yana German School of Walk.

Check out my favorite looks from Maison De LaCour's Spring 2013 Collection:

[Chicago Fashion Event] Randolph Street Market: Shop for Charity!

Each month one of the biggest vintage markets in the country is held right here in Chicago.  Last night I had the opportunity to not only get a sneak peek of what the Randolph Street Market vendors will be showcasing at this weekend's show, but most importantly I was there to participate in the "2nd Annual Editor's Choice for Charity" event.

I couldn't turn down the chance to help market-goers by doing the initial ground work and select 5 'Editor's Choice' picks ranging from hard to find fashion accessories that are on-trend to key furniture pieces that are sure to add instant personality and style to any room in your home.  The best part is that when all of my 'Editor's Choice' picks are purchased a portion of the sales will be donated to the "Girls in the Game" charity.  This nonprofit organization focuses on empowering more than 3,000 girls in Chicago to make healthier choices and develop the confidence and leadership skills they need to succeed on and off the field.

So as you are heading over to the Randolph Street Market this weekend, remember to shop for a great cause and look out for my 5 'Editor's Choice' picks (pictured below) as well as any other of the blue ribbon picks!  

Vintage Tomatoe Box Clutch

Vintage DKNY Waist belt

Refurbished industrial wood & metal bar 

Vintage low-rider bikes

Vintage 1970's Dressing Mirror

[Chicago Fashion Event] Foot Fete with Akira at the InFashion Lounge at Water Tower Place!

Last Friday I had the very cool opportunity to participate in Akira's, "Foot Fete" fashion event that was held at Water Tower Place's InFashion Lounge.  While summer technically still has a few weeks left, now is the time to begin planning out your fall wardrobe.  So with the event's central focus all about Akira's Top 4 Footwear Silhouettes (i.e. wedge sneakers, pumps, booties, and the floating heel) for this fall season, it was a definite must.  The extremely refreshing perspective though was the approach that Water Tower Place's InFashion Lounge had to the presentation of the fashions.

For the few individuals who were able to snag a free RSVP ticket to the event, they got the rare opportunity to not only attend but participate in an intimate fashion preview.  Akira presented their top footwear silhouettes for fall while showcasing fun and fashion forward ensembles that paired well with each shoe style.  Myself and Akira's footwear buyer, Sadie Strausbaugh were the drivers of the fashion conversation, but due to the amazing setting of the InFashion Lounge attendees were able to chime in and interact immediately with questions, comments, and swoons.

Check out my pics from the event & get prepared for the upcoming fall season with Akira's one stop shop!

[Chicago Fashion Event] Lady Foot Locker's Fashionably Fit!

Sleek countertops, vibrant assortment of apparel, and the latest trends in footwear, no I am not describing Barney's but I am talking about Lady Foot Locker. Now, you may be confused why you are reading a blog post on Lady Foot Locker on a fashion blog. Well, it’s simple...if you look good you will feel good. Who has gone to the gym in dingy shirts and sweats ready to burn calories only to realize you look terrible? (raises hand shyly). Just like finding the right pair of pumps can change your attitude on life, so can the right pair of Nikes!

Kirta Carroll, Brand Marketing Director for Lady Foot Locker, described the changes that LFL is going through to bring the science of sports and combining with fashionably conscious women. To kick off the rebranding LFL hosted a series of events this past weekend to highlight their awesomeness! On Friday LFL teamed up with Fly Wheel Chicago and hosted a 45 minute ass kicking spin class. The Fly Wheel Chicago studio is gorgeous itself. The entire ambience of the studio puts you in the mindset of “I’m here to do work, push myself and achieve greatness". The instructor had put together the greatest playlist to motivate you to keep moving! There were a lot of runs, sprints, climbs and weight lifting! I think LFL teaming up with Fly Wheel Chicago was a great partnership and I will definitely be checking Fly Wheel again!

On Saturday I got a chance to sit down with the fabulous Adrienne Bailon, of Style Network's ‘Empire Girls’. Talking with Adrienne reminded of talking to an old friend that I’ve known for years. Her confidence and kind heart was very welcoming and made it easy to talk to her.  Here’s what this stunning beauty had to say about her involvement with Lady Foot Locker:

CSM: What was it like partnering with LFL?

AB: I loved all the great workout clothes and a hot pair of Asics running shoes. Statistically if you look good working out it will lead you to feel good as well!

CSM: What is your favorite piece of workout clothes?

AB: I’m a huge fan of the classic Adidas track suit. I love the versatility of the outfit. It could be worn working out or running errands!

CSM: What’s your favorite playlist while working out?

AB: Running with the Holy Spirit in you! I’m a huge fan of powerful gospel music while working out.  It’s uplifting nature of the songs and how it really keeps me going on the treadmill!

CSM: What’s some advice you have for young girls?

AB: Love your body! Growing up I was always skinny and tried really hard to have curves but I had to set realistic expectations for myself. Now, I’ve turned my focus on getting washboard abs with the help of my favorite workout which is kickboxing, and I eat a raw food diet!

CSM: What’s your last piece of advice for all of CSM’s readers?

AB: Your body is your temple! I believe that we all have been given a gift with our bodies and that we should always strive to preserve it and keep it healthy! Treat your body with respect and reap the benefits!

A big ‘Thank You’ to the fabulous women over at Lady FootLocker & Fly Wheel Chicago for hosting such a fun and fashionable event.  Everyone seriously needs to head over to Lady Foot Locker and check out their beautifully redesigned stores. Trust me, just walking in will get you motivated to work-out and so will a cute pair of their yoga pants!

--Written by Fashion Contributor, Alexandra Evangelou (Follow on Twitter @AlexandraMariaE)

[Chicago Fashion Event] Chicago Fashion Events Galore!

As August draws to a close it's always bittersweet for me because it means that Summer is in it's final weeks but what keeps a smile on my face is knowing that a new fashion season is at bay.  Helping to usher in the kick-off the fashion industry's most buzzing month of September, two of my favorite shopping malls are hosting almost daily events to help you get ready for the fall season.  The Water Tower Place and The 900 Shops have some incredible events planned and I wanted you to get in the know because if you are anything like me you need a few days to not only let the excitement settle in but also some much needed time to schedule it all out.

Check out the event flyers below and links that will take you directly to more info:

Click here for more info:  http://watertowerplace.eventbrite.com/

Click here for more info:  http://www.shop900.com/events/

[Chicago Fashion Event] Barbour + Jack Spade Launch!

This post is all about the fellas.  This past weekend I got the opportunity to hang out and talk shop with the great Jack Spade team about their royally exciting partnership with the iconic British clothing manufacturer, Barbour.  Barbour is best known for their waterproof clothing, specifically their Barbour jacket which is synonymous for their trademarked waxed jacket.

One of their most notable and highly recognizable clientele is the British Royal Family.  The Barbour company was specially appointed as the the only company to supply "waterproof and protective clothing" to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh , and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

Needless to say, I couldn't turn down the opportunity to go and get the inside scoop & sneak peek to share with all of my dapper gents about this amazing transcontinental partnership.  The entire Barbour + Jack Spade collection is comprised of 3 bags & 2 jackets.  Having known a little bit of knowledge of the great reputation of the Barbour brand I was definitely not let down by the collection.  Both jackets lived up to the great Barbour reputation of stylish in silhouette and fit yet, multi-functional with a variety of pockets (including a variety of different ways to wear each jacket) and to top it all off both were made of the signature waxed fabric.

With the Chicago fall season creeping up, these 2 unique outerwear pieces should definitely be at the top of your list as alternatives.  Trust me, you will not regret it.

Check out my pics from the Barbour + Jack Spade event below as well as pics from the lookbook:

[Chicago Fashion Event] Happy 175th Anniversary Tiffany&Co.!

This past week I had the rare and amazing opportunity to help Tiffany&Co. celebrate their 175th Anniversary with Moet champagne and a private tour of their stunning collections, including a few pieces from their travelling collection: Treasures of Tiffany.

Getting a private tour and with champagne in hand, on top of having the opportunity to play dress up with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of diamonds-yes, I was experiencing every girls' fantasy and I was reveling every minute of it!

Previous to this tour I was so unaware of all of the rich history of Tiffany&Co.  One interesting historical fact I learned was that Tiffany&Co. redesigned the Great Seal of the United States of America (it's the one used on the dollar billl).  That was just one of the many instances over the course of their 175 year history that they have played a great role in adding a long lasting impression and a touch of brilliance to America's history.

Okay, enough with the history lesson let me get to the bling!  In honor of their 175th year anniversary they currently have the luxe collection, Treasures of Tiffany, being showcased in only a few select stores.  The Chicago location currently has a few pieces from the collection and I would highly recommend you get into the store immediately to check it out.  The pictures I have below do not do them justice because they don't showcase the full experience of seeing each and every single diamond sparkle and shine.  Trust me, you will not be disappointed!


Sneak Peek of the travelling collection, Treasures of Tiffany, currently here in Chicago:

Check out some of these other great collections that are currently at the Chicago Tiffany&Co. store-seriously, be prepared for more drool worthy pieces!

Jean Schlumberger Collection

Jean Schlumberger Collection

Rubedo Collection

Rubedo Collection

Enchant Collection

Enchant Collection