Thursday night, the 7th floor of Macy’s on State Street was transformed into a high-fashion showcase for some of Chicago’s most talented fashion design students. The room was filled with people eager to get a sneak peak of what’s in store for the next generation of Chicago fashion, and PLRG is happy to say that this upcoming class did not disappoint.

The event was the 3rd Annual Chicago Fashion Foundation (CFF) Scholarship Benefit, with a new theme this year - “Chicago’s Sister Cities“. Chicago’s 28 “sisters” span the globe, and according to Mayor Daley, the program will strengthen our city’s economic and cultural ties with each one. From a fashion point of view, the theme was perfect for Chicago design considering how Chicago is really a city of immigrants and has been influenced by cultures from around the world.

Each of the ten student finalists created ensembles based on one of the cities and were judged by a panel that included Stacey Jones, Fashion Director for Chicago Magazine; Steven Rosengard, Project Runway Designer & Assistant Curator at the Museum of Science & Industry; Tracey Tarantino, Producer/Director for ZZAZZ Enterprises, Inc.; Erikka Wang, co-owner of AKIRA; and Andrea Schwarts, Director of Media Relations for Macy’s North & Midwest. At stake this year were three scholarship prizes - $500 for 3rd place, $1,000 for 2nd place and $5,000 for the first-place winner.

PLRG got the chance to talk to three of the finalists and get the inside scoop on the designers’ inspirations.

Michael Schellenbach, Illinois Institute of Art
Sister City: Moscow, Russia
Third Place Winner

Michael Schellenbach was one of two male designers in the competition, but the only designer to create a men’s wear look. Besides the fact that Schellenbach’s model was easy on the eyes, this was one of our favorite looks in the competition. Schellenbach designed and created the shirt (Italian cotton), jumpsuit (bottom weight cotton/poly blend with faux fur cuffs and collar) and belt (metal auto-inspired buckle).

PLRG: Why did you choose Moscow to be your sister city?
MS: When looking through pictures of Moscow, the architecture really just spoke to me.

PLRG: Tell us about the outfit - who might wear this or something like this today?
MS: The look is a combination - a marriage if you will - of Moscow’s heroes. Imagine - Russian cosmonaut meets modern business man. The look is meant to be worn in the fall, and definitely is not something for the average male. I would say a fashion-forward man would be the most likely person to wear this look in today’s world.

PLRG: Well, your model sure does wear it well ☺. Now, we don’t have many male readers on PLRG, but we’d love to know what your number one tip is for men’s fashion on a budget?
MS: It’s all about fit for men. If it fits well, no matter if it’s from H&M or your mom’s attic, you can create a look that’s better than any ill-fitting high-priced item.

Eunyoung Joo, International Academy of Design & Technology
Sister City: Moscow, Russia
First Place Winner

Eunyoung Joo was the winner of the first place $5,000 scholarship and was overjoyed with her victory. Joo also was inspired by Moscow, and created a women’s winter look made of wool and faux fur that she says is a contemporary take on a very traditional Russian look.

PLRG: Congratulations! So, first things first…why did you choose Moscow?
EJ: I chose Moscow because the relationship between Moscow and Chicago has recently been growing and it’s very interesting to me. You see lots of non-stop flights now being advertised heavily by American Airlines, so I think people are intrigued by this city. Also, the weather is similar to ours here in Chicago.

PLRG: Oh yes! We’ve seen those billboards for sure. Who do you imagine would wear your look in today’s world?
EJ: Any woman from her mid-teens to 30s, in winter cities. She would wear this outside, as it is wool and very warm.

PLRG: Warm is good these days for sure. Last question before you go celebrate - any tips for our readers on how you save money on fashion without compromising your style?
EJ: I think that basic designs will always be in style. Also - alterations are a key. It costs less to alter your looks than to buy new pieces. I don’t throw anything away because I always find new ways to alter and wear items by mixing them with other things.

Caitlin Lindell, International Academy of Design & Technology
Sister City: Prague, Czech Republic
Finalist

Although she didn’t place in the competition, Caitlin Lindell was definitely a crowd favorite at the show. Her ensemble made an impact as her model unwrapped the ultra suede beige cape lined with a rust-orange rayon lining, to reveal a chic dress made of antique satin and cotton/poly blend lace that she hand-dyed a dark brown color. The look was ready-to-wear and was surely sophisticated beyond Lindell’s 20 years.

PLRG: Caitlin, amazing job! We really loved your look. Tell us - why did you choose Prague?
CL: I’ve never been to Prague myself, but I was very inspired by many things about this city. In Prague there are many silk scarf vendors that sell scarves in beautiful colors. The scarves inspired the rusty orange color that lined the cape. Also, it’s very foggy and wet in Prague so the cape is for protection and would keep you warm. The dress was inspired by the architecture of the city - the common white buildings with rusty tops, I feel the city has uniformed chaos, lots of asymmetry, and an antique/textural feel.

PLRG: That sounds beautiful just in your description. So who do you picture wearing your look, and to what type of event?
CL: The woman who would wear this look might be going to a fashion event or silent auction…somewhere where the crowd is dressing to impress. I like to mix high-fashion couture with ready-to-wear looks, which this is. This entire outfit would retail for probably between $300-$400.

PLRG: Not bad! As a young student new to Chicago (CL hails from Des Moines, IA), how do you keep up your own fashion while staying on a budget?
CL: Outlet shopping! IADT is across the street from Nordstrom Rack which is nice. Also, patience. I will wait to buy things I love until the end of a season when they are marked down. I am on a tight budget since I’m a student so I make sure to find the best quality garment on the sale racks or after the season, and usually it’s not that hard if you take the time to look and wait for it to be marked down.
If these students are any indication of the future of Chicago fashion, then we are for sure excited. Here’s a look at all of the finalists’ competition looks from the show.

Stay chic, Chicago.

(Noelle Provencial)

It’s early March and although this winter hasn’t been completely unbearable, it’s still 30 degrees outside and the non-option of “Spring Break” in your life has led you to actually contemplate whether or not your office copy machine could double as a tanning bed if you photocopy your face enough times.

You need a fix. Fast. Where do you turn? Caffeine? Chocolate? Wine? Perhaps. Shopping? Definitely. Easy access is yours with PLRG fave and Battle of the Boutiques 2010 competitor, Dress Up Boutique.

We love knowing that there are always new, cute and affordable pieces, and if you spend $100 or more, shipping is free. Here are a few of our current faves…

(Shown at Battle of the Boutiques) BB Dakota Lola Dress in Black, $78; BB Dakota Shearer Coat in Manila Yellow, $92

Fada Elastic Flower Belt, $24

17" Gold Zipper Leggings in Black, $76 From Lindsay Lohan's new leggings line inspired by and named after Marilyn Monroe.

Dress Up was this year’s only online boutique in the show, and they proved to be fierce competition. The site was launched in 2008 by two sisters with an ambition to create a place where women could find trendy, unique and high quality clothing and accessories without the designer price tag. In addition to the usual online shopping experience, Dress Up offers exclusive shopping services including shopping parties, personal shopping and house calls.

This month’s spotlight falls on an exclusive offer that was included in the programs at Battle of the Boutiques, and now is available to all PLRG readers:

Enter BOTB2010 on Dressup-boutique.com and get 20% off your entire purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offers/promotions, expires June 1, 2010

Now, slowly walk away from the copy machine and nobody will get hurt.


(Noelle Provencial)

It’s been a week since Battle of the Boutiques, the hangover has finally worn off and we’ve finally caught up on our sleep. The event was a huge success and we have lots of people to thank and lots of things to catch you up on. If you missed the show, check out this video for a little recap….

First, a big thank you goes out to Showbiz Shelly from B96 and our judges Jessica Sedgwick, Fashion Columnist for The Chicago Sun-Times; Steven Rosengard, former Project Runway Contestant and especially Marcia Callaghan and Lauren Hurley from Gen Art Chicago!

We’d also like to thank our sponsors, Honda on Grand, Hub 51, Ulta, Ultimate Vodka, PAMA Liqueur, Studio-808, Brynn Capella Handbags, Vavoom Pinups, The Chicago Bulls, Moxie, Red Ivy, Korbel and Lumen for all of their help getting this event of the ground.

Last, but not least we’d like to thank all of the boutiques who came out to compete and showed us that the local boutique scene has plenty to offer a PoorLittleRichGirl! And, of course, a special congrats goes out to our winning boutique, which swept the People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice categories, 2 Sisters Boutique (the real sisters behind the boutique are pictured above, collecting their prize). Check out our favorite look from 2 Sisters, along with our fave looks from the other boutiques, below:

WINNER!: 2 Sisters Boutique- Dress, Fumblin' Foe, $184

Hubba Hubba- Leggings, Sugarlips, $34.95; Top, Free People, $98.95

Re.Stock Shop- Dress, JLee Silver, $89; Vest, JLee Silver, $82

Le Dress- Dress, Frock by Tracy Reese, $175

Wolfbait & B-Girls- Hat, Squasht, $54; Tank, Bruiser, $56; Pants, Bruiser, $98

Dress Up Boutique- Dress, Lani, $49; Blazer, Lani, $79

Photos from the event are now posted in our Gallery, so check them for pics of you and all of your besties at the show or to see the all of the looks put out by each boutique.

And, for all of you savvy ladies who saved your programs, don’t forget about the special 20% discount off your purchase at select boutiques. Details are inside the program!

We all love Beta Boutique’s famous “Stacked Rack” sale and all of their other fabulous, traveling sample sales. Well, it’s not just us, but all of Chicago, that goes gaga for these sales, and so with that, beta has decided to close the doors to their permanent location to focus on bringing you even bigger, better and more fashionable events!

But, as sad as we are to see them leave their Bucktown outpost, we are always happy to shop a “closeout” sale. Now, through Sunday, March 14 you can score discounts from 40-90% off their selection of designer duds. 90% off? Talk about a dramatic discount, er, I mean exit!

Beta Boutique
2016 W. Concord Place in Bucktown
Thur & Fri: 11am - 5:30pm
Sat: 11am - 5pm
Sun: 12pm - 5pm

(Lacey Brenly)

After this weekend, the Battle of the Boutiques will have come and gone and what will a PoorLittleRichGirl do then to get her fashion fix? How about scope out some of Chicago’s best up and coming designers at The Chicago Fashion Foundation 3rd Annual Scholarship Benefit!

Three lucky (and talented) designers will win scholarships, but they’re not the only lucky ones. Even though you’re not a CFF member, PLRG has hooked you up with the member price for tickets. That’s just $30 when you purchase ahead of time online (non-member tix cost $40+). All you have to do is enter “PLRG” in the Comments section when purchasing your tickets and they’ll take care of the rest!

Meet Lauren Hurley & Marcia Callaghan. Together they are the powerhouses behind the fabulous events that make Gen Art Chicago, and now the authority when it comes to fashion at PLRG. From curating to directing, this dynamic duo sleuths for creative talent and inspiration in the city of neighborhoods. At the beginning of each month Lauren & Marcia will take us on a ride as they look back on the (always) eventful month they just had and narrate the highlights - where they went, what they wore and who they met…all with their personal commentary. We suggest you buckle up.

Sundance 2010

The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States where filmmakers from around the world come to showcase some of the best talent in cinema. Every year, Hollywood takes over the little mountain town of Park City, UT with lights, cameras, and of course - fashion. Sundance style= casual red carpet + film geek chic + lots of warm layers!

We returned to the festival this past January to join the Gen Art production team on a sleepless adventure of producing seven events in three days. Since we knew the only time that we would have with the photographers would be spent reviewing the event shot lists, we thought that we would take you PoorLittleRichGirls along on our Sundance shopping trip that we scheduled a week before takeoff.

THE EVENTS:
Gen Art Daytime Lounge (3)
7 Fresh Faces in Film presented by 7 for all Mankind
Kenneth Cole Vintage Black Party
K-Swiss Ping Pong Tournament
Entertainment Weekly Discussion Panel

THE CFA MISSION:
Bring our Chicago style to Sundance by shopping locally at two of our favorite boutiques.

THE BOUTIQUES:

Bonnie and Clyde’s

This is hands-down the most bad-ass boutique in Chicago. Lines are blurred between menswear and womenswear at this seriously hip Bucktown shop that has a take no prisoners approach to fashion. The statement pieces lured us in and the sale prices (that allowed us to score some unconventional staples at very reasonable prices) didn’t hurt either.

Lauren’s favorite purchase: The Tool Belt by Ivan Grundahl. Marcia and I are always fantasizing about fierce event production gear, so this tool belt caught my attention right away. Fashionable AND functional…talk about a statement piece!

Marcia’s favorite purchase: The black woven jacket by Kaylee Tankus is my new favorite blazer. The construction is perfection, but the embroidered jewels and chains on the right pocket make it absolutely irresistible.

Koros

Located in the West Loop, Koros is well worth the trip out west since it will leave you feeling as though you’ve stepped right into NYC’s meatpacking district. One of the best parts of visiting Koros was bumping into Chicago designer Tom Bynum of Bynum & Bang, who has partnered with Koros to launch his first women’s collection - after designing menswear for the last eight years. Owner Kristen Skordilis spent some one-on-one time with us during our styling appointment to show us the inaugural designs. On our way out we charmed the shy and modest Bynum into taking a photo with us. Later Skordilis whispered, “Tom is a true artist whose designs have become coveted by my clientele and have garnered a loyal following of fashion darlings from across the globe. Chicago should be very proud of him.”

Lauren’s favorite purchase: I love blouses that open in back because they can be seductive and demure at the same time. The gathered neckline on Bynum & Bang’s silk brocade Kate Top is sweet and innocent in front, but the satin ties are head-turning from behind. I rocked my Bynum with tight black skinny jeans and knee-high boots in Park City, but the look is killer with super high heels.

Marcia’s favorite purchase: Bynum & Bang’s silk charmeuse Sienna Dress captivated my attention immediately. The collection’s signature ant print looked especially stunning on the mustard-gold hue of the strappy bubble dress. The combination of the meaningful ant graphic on the tailored bubble-shaped hem made this garment an extra special item in my Sundance luggage.

SPOTTED AT SUNDANCE:
In Park City, our production pace was as high-speed as expected, but thanks to lots of double-dirty chai lattes and sugar-free Red bulls, we were sharp enough to notice some recurring trends.

Lauren: The challenge at Sundance is to be super cute without looking like you tried too hard… and to avoid freezing. Think fashionable details and interesting pieces mixed with casual-cool basics like plaid and denim. Statement coats are always a great choice because it might be all people see you wearing! I’m a fan of the thermals under ripped jeans that Kevin Zegers was sporting at our 7 Fresh Faces in Film event. Hot.

Marcia: Sundance is all about winter accessories. Whether it was hats, scarves or gloves, we saw knits everywhere. We spotted a lot of fingerless gloves along with statement scarves (that were also worn indoors). Interesting headwear was expectedly abundant on Main Street, but my favorite look was at our K-Swiss Ping Pong Tournament where our referee (and Gen Art family member), Matt Wise, sported a black fedora with his black and white striped jersey uniform.

OUR SUNDANCE STYLE:

Lauren: I like to travel with one color family, black or brown, to cut down on the number of matching pieces I have to bring. So a lot of my Sundance wardrobe revolved around black. I picked dark pieces with really interesting details - they aren’t loud and attention-seeking, but they show a TON of beautiful detail up close. I mixed dresses with layers of fishnets and tights, and finished all the looks with different styles of boots. And of course, I always top-off my serious production look with a walkie and blackberry holster.

Marcia: When I was inside the venue, I paired blazers with dresses for polished looks that were easily thrown together. I spent a lot of time outside of the venue at Check-In, so I also styled my dresses with layers upon layers of long sleeves, leggings, necklaces, sweaters and socks. My black Hunter Women’s “Lady N” boots were easily matched with everything (rule: there are no heels at Sundance.) I kept extra clothes in the production office so I could easily shift from indoors to outdoors at a moments notice. As long as I had my walkie, I was in business!

DISCOUNTS/DEALS: Follow us on Twitter! @Chicago_Fashion

SPECIAL THANKS: M.W. Krueger, Kristen Skordilis, Tom Bynum, Stephen Naparstek, Corey McCue, Alex Razzano, and Rebecca Gonzales.

Bon Voyage,

-Lauren & Marcia

Best Friends for your “Girls”

We've all been there- Some of the world's most beautiful, put-together women have had their BGW moment/s.

They’re called hooters, fun bags, ta-tas and cans, among other things. But to the woman that’s wearing them, breasts are part of who she is and what she can wear. It’s not uncommon that women who are “blessed” in the boob department wish they had less and those less endowed would do anything for more.

Either way- every woman wants the chest she has to look great no matter what she wears, even if it’s something backless, strapless, low-cut or sheer. Easier said than done, right? You could easily spend hundreds of dollars at big-name lingerie stores buying specialty bras that work for just one type of top. Don’t get us wrong - we are FIRM believers that spending money on quality bras is a must. Having your boobs in the right place with the right support can make you look thinner and will always make your clothes fit better. That being said, the array of specialty bras made just for halter tops, tube tops, t-shirts, etc. or just for one type of support (push-up, padded, etc.), each priced between $40-$58, can get overly pricy very quickly.

Other options? You could skip the sexy backless top you’ve been dying to wear, but that’s no fun. You could try and jerry-rig the bras (or boobs) you have to make an outfit work - i.e., tucking the straps in or use masking tape to secure the girls. Come on, we’ve all done it at least once before. Anything to avoid the nightmare-come-true scenario that every woman fears - Boobs Gone Wild, or BGW for short. Big or small, if your “girls” are out of control, people will notice. People will notice and tell other people. We are all about being noticed, but not for this reason.

Ok let’s get to it - this month PLRG was introduced to a line called PURE STYLE Girlfriends - an over-the-counter, inexpensive, hypo-allergenic and easy to use breast “accessory” line that we are now obsessed with.

We tested the following 4 products:

-Stay Put: Double-sided Fashion Tape (36 strips of clear disposable tape, $12)
Chances are, you’ve used some sort of double-sided tape before. This is pretty standard stuff, the “Mr. Fix-It” of the line that can be used for a number of things - here are just a few: stop bra straps from falling, close that “between-the-buttons” gap on your botton-down shirts, “hem” your jeans when you’re wearing flats instead of heels or keep revealing necklines in place.

-Pick-Me-Up: Breast Lift-Up Tape (Set of 3 disposable pairs, $17)
Basically, this tape is an instant boob job minus the price and the pain. The adhesive strips are waterproof (read: “sweat proof” for you dancing queens) so they actually stay in place all night. Better yet, the center part that actually covers your nipple doesn’t have any adhesive on it, so you don’t have to worry about a painful situation when taking them off.

-Smooth’em: Reusable Nipple Concealers (1 pair re-usable 20 times, $17)
Especially during winter in Chicago, it’s nice to know your “high beams” aren’t on just b/c of the chilly temps. These mini silicone discs are much easier to use than we expected, and they really do create a completely seamless silhouette. You can wash them with soap & water, which seemed to work just fine. Note: Unless you are working with a smaller cup size, wearing these concealers does NOT give you a free pass to go bra-less. Your nipples might be smoothed, but there is still potential for a case of BGW here.

-Gather The Girls: Adhesive Strapless Shaping Bra (1 re-usable pair; available in cup sizes A-D, $42)
If we had to skip any of the products this would probably be it. Not because it didn’t work well, but because you only can use it up to 10 times. But we’re not complaining - this “bra”, without any straps at all (clear adhesive wings stick to your skin beneath your armpits), really does wonders for cleavage. You even have a bit of control over just how much cleavage you want, since you put on each silicone cup separately, and then clasp the center hook together. The more work that clasp is doing, the more boobalicious you will be. Oh - we took the advice on the packaging and used a little bit of the fashion tape (see above) for extra security on the side flaps…and recommend you do the same.

All in all, we were fully impressed and think that every woman should have these accessories on hand…if not for herself, then for the “girls” in her life.

**You can find the line in stores around the city, including Akira, The Dressing Room, Handle With Care, Pump and Scoop**

(Noelle Provencial)

Do the words “Kate Spade” and “half price” never quite seem to go hand-in-hand? I’m with ya, fella PLRG’s! I love Kate Spade but gosh darn it, I can’t seem to ever find her fabulous items on sale.

But, it looks like our luck has changed. Check out the Kate Spade sample sale happening online NOW through February 26th! It features Handbags from $40, jewelry from $30 and other great finds.

Might I suggest the Jane Street Neda wallet (pictured left). It simply is the most functional and stylish wallet I have ever owned. You will not regret it. It retails for $195 and is on sale for a whopping $99. Log onto this site as fast your fingers can type! Happy shopping!

Pam Sherman, is the founder of Chicago Anytime Assistants, a flexible ‘anytime-you-need-it’ personal assistant service for the busy Chicagoan. She is constantly hunting down deals and sales for her clients and is now sharing them with PoorLittleRichGirls as a contributor.

Originally published February 23, 2010.

All Fasionistas know that accessories are sometimes what makes an outfit, and while we at PLRG love a pair of classic diamonds studs as much as the next girl, what we love even more are unique, vintage pieces that are one of kind! Enter Ritzy Couture Vintage Jewelry, located in the heart of downtown on the Mag Mile.

Ritzy Couture has only been in business since 2006 but they boast the best selection of costume jewelry and fresh water pearl designs. They carry a great assortment of items from modern pearl designs to estate pieces to quirky items such as their Owl Jewelry line, so there is definitely something for everyone.

If your interest is peaked and you would love an evening of shopping, wine and networking, Ritzy Couture has you covered. On Saturday, February 27th from 5-9pm they will be hosting a jewelry trunk show at Galleria 1712 on West North Ave. Enjoy a night with the girls and grab your own one-of-a-kind, custom designed jewelry piece or pieces while sipping on glass of Merlot.

Also if you can’t make it to the trunk show, never fear because this week’s spotlight falls on Ritzy Vintage Couture!

Offer #1: Get 25% off your entire purchase at RitzyVintage.com when you enter code PLRG25

Offer #2: Get free wine and hors d’oeuvres when you host a jewelry party with 5 or more fahionistas. Email events@ritzyvintage.com or calling 866-306-2006 to book and mention code PLRG25.

Ritzy Couture is located at 875 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 3124.

Please welcome Vince Hickey, aka “Cousin Vinnie”, from Chicago.com. You may recognize him from their neighborhood tour videos (we featured their Rush & Division tour on PLRG). You may also recall that we are producing a video together, highlighting local businesses in Bucktown. Well, Vinnie wanted to bring you the scoop on a boutique we filmed at which, may or may not be familiar to the ladies but, he thinks every guys should know about.

If you happen to have caught a case of some Chicago Fashion Illness, like mixing denims and wearing white after Labor Day, head straight over to Personal Privilege and get a dose of stylish threads. Owner Tracy Lemke is no stranger to the fashion scene. This celebrity stylist has dressed dozens of huge names like White Sox player Octavio Dotel, Lakers player Shannon Brown, Golden State Warriors Corey Maggatte and many, many more. Tracy stocks her shelves with everything from Diesel, Affliction, Steve Madden, and tons more designers that satisfy even my picky Chicago fashion needs. These trendy threads won’t keep you tied to the catwalk or strutting the sidewalks of the Gold Coast. Their styles are sensible, affordable and fashion-forward. When I hear the term “boutique”, I immediately think it will be too expensive and strictly for the ladies. However, free fashion consultations with Tracy and staff included in the purchase and free alterations for any purchases over $60 make this joint a hit.

You and your man can shop together at Personal Privilege.

My trip to Personal Privilege surprised me. They had a wide range of prices and a good selection for both men and women. This place is definitely for men who are looking for something different (or a little less standard) from what’s hanging on the racks at Express or H&M. If cool clothing, honest fashion advice, and grade A customer service are important to you, then you won’t be disappointed at Personal Privilege. Customers receive complimentary drinks on weekends while you get your shopping done. So girls if you want to pick up a killer pair of jeans and don’t want to torture your boyfriend, let him grab a drink, watch some music videos and shop your hearts out.

Sincerely,
Cousin Vinnie

Have a question you want to ask Cousin Vinnie? Need a handsome guys point of view? Send him an email to Vinnie@Chicago.com. When Vinnie is not scoping the streets for new threads and great deals, He is a business developer for Chicago.com. Also to read more from Vinnie check him out at www.chicago.com/blog.