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.

C/FAN

Ever since meeting Christina Fan, we’ve known the woman’s got “it” - that indescribable factor that makes someone stand out from the rest. After graduating from Northwestern and ditching her aspirations for law school to pursue her love for fashion, she launched C/FAN. The spring 2009 collection opened the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show last October. From the garments to the daring cone hairstyles (that she worked with our stylists to create), Fan’s visionary personality shone. We’ve been “FANs” ever since.

We were super excited to team up with Fan again in February for a Gen Art Preview of her autumn/winter 2010/2011 collection that combines ethereal silks, crisp wools, unique furs and rich velvets. At the event, the live model installations remixed with a runway presentation practically blew the roof off of the West Loop’s Dubhe Carreno Gallery.

The Event: February 11 - C/FAN Fall Fashion Preview.

The Wardrobe:

Marcia's Look: The Pierce Dress

Lauren's Look: The Aoyama Dress

The Interpretations:

Marcia: Lauren and I showed up in our load-in clothes and nothing to wear for the event. Yes - that’s right - nothing (except a pair of heels). We knew that we would love anything that Christina had for us backstage. Once we were set up and close to doors [opening], she pulled out a few options for us. I practically dove for The Pierce dress, a short sleeved dolman dress that functions as either a tunic or dress. Being notorious for short hemlines, I obviously wore it as a mini-dress. The classic C/FAN silhouette (fabricated in an olive sueded silk for the season) made me feel instantly sexy when I slipped it on right before guests arrived.

Lauren: I wanted to go for something a little more delicate and feminine, so I chose the Aoyama dress instead of a tunic. Since Marcia was going for the moss green color, I decided to accent the dress with a rich wine-colored sash. I secured the sash so that side panels of the dress were separated just enough to expose part of my black lace bra underneath, creating a sexy but demure look. A pair of black heels and leggings and voila! Simply chic. But my favorite part of the evening was supporting Christina in her design on her big night!

TRACEY MAYER

When we stumbled across Tracey Mayer 950 silver jewelry, it stopped us dead in our tracks. The designer (who has been making women’s jewelry for ten years - and still does) shifted her focus to men’s collections just four years ago. Mayer’s latest venture, “Have Links, Will Travel”, is a gift program where the beautiful blonde herself visits recipients in their own offices with a variety of her cufflink designs for a consultation and selection of their own gift set. Since we both love daring androgyny, when we spoke with Mayer, we didn’t hesitate to inquire about both men’s and women’s pieces.

Tracey Mayer is truly an artisan jeweler; much thought and handcrafted work goes into each piece. Asian influence inspires much of Mayer’s creative process. She uses 950 silver (which is slightly more pure than sterling) from South Asia and then transports materials to Indonesia for stone-cutting, carving and metalwork by some of the best gemologists in the world. As her website a states, her line is created by artisans using “cutting-edge techniques hand in hand with the noblest traditions.” Mayer doesn’t stop there; she packages each piece with the story of its creation. When our order arrived, it felt like a silver Christmas!

The Event: February 25 - Advanced Screening of The Good Guy.

The Wardrobe:

Marcia’s Look: Breeze bracelet, Soar necklace and Diva ring

Lauren’s Look: Flex necklace and Ruby Rock ring

The Interpretations:

Marcia: It was such a pleasure shopping with Tracey Mayer! She walked me through every step as I chose the perfect designs for Lauren and me. I initially contacted Tracey after seeing her Breeze bracelet. The dramatic 4″ hand-woven cuff with faceted aquamarine is a real show stopper. It drew several “Wonderwoman” comments from the crowd and was perfectly complimented by the men’s Soar necklace: a dimensional eagle head with black sapphire eyes. (I was especially drawn to this piece because Lauren and I regularly use the term “eagle eye” during events.) But wait - there’s more! Tracey recommended I try the Diva ring. Sold! This beauty is encrusted with white topaz and topped off with pink tourmaline. I loved it so much that I wore it the next day to a photo shoot with Paradis. I have worn it many times since, and Lauren has even borrowed it too. It’s perfect.

Lauren: Who doesn’t love a bold piece of jewelry? Especially badass cocktail rings! Whether masculine or feminine, Tracey Mayer’s designs are always powerful. My Starburst ring is definitely an attention-getter and always wins rave reviews from friends and passersby. Being such an animated and enthusiastic talker though, I have to be a little careful when my hand starts flying. I almost knocked someone out in Miami with this sucker! But all the drama this ring creates is well worth a little danger. Pairing the Starburst ring with Mayer’s men’s Flex dog tag necklace was a great choice. I was attracted to the necklace’s texture which is dramatically fused with black spinel. I thought the Flex contrasted nicely against the Starburst ring in shape, but were tied together by their little gems and sparkly brilliance.

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

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.

CFA Entry #1: “THE PENCIL LADY”

To kick off the first column of the Chicago Fashion Authority - and our first event of 2010 - we wanted to feature something totally unexpected.  The fresh and irreverent jewelry designs of Sue Lowenberg were the inspiration behind the looks that we created for Gen Art’s advanced screening of the film Youth in Revolt.  Lowenberg’s new jewelry line is the latest addition to her expansive collection of pencil artwork and functional furniture, including a line of recycled console tables adorned with rows of pencil segments graphically laid out to resemble quilt patterns.  After being manipulated by tools ranging from sharpeners to hand-saws, old pencils take on a new life as Lowenberg adds small charms, jewels and a bright aesthetic: earning her the name “The Pencil Lady.“ Folk-meets-pop-meets-found art with the pencils’ sharp lines, bold colors, and dazzling details.
The Event:

January 6, 2010 - Gen Art Advanced Screening of Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera (who attended Gen Art’s L.A. screening that same night).  The after-party was held at Angels and Kings.

The Wardrobe:

Lauren’s look: Blue Eraser Necklace with matching earrings, plus a yellow bracelet.

Marcia’s look: Pink Slot Machine necklace, pink bracelet and mismatched earrings.

The Interpretations:

Lauren: I don’t like to take myself too seriously, so I think it’s really important to experiment with fashion and step outside of my comfort zone once in a while.  I love taking on the challenge of styling unusual pieces for myself, finding the answer to the question, “how would I wear this piece?”  In this case, “how would I wear the pencils?!”  I love the look of my necklace because it’s fun and playful, but with a very simple, classic shape.

Marcia: Yep, this one was my pick.  I’ve always been drawn to artisan jewelers, but the way that Sue transforms the familiar pencil is exceptionally innovative.  Repurposed art is also of great interest to me, so when I discovered Sue, I felt like a kid in a candy shop…or school yard.  The “youthful” tie-in with the film made this the perfect occasion to integrate Sue’s designs into our looks. I chose the elaborate “Pink Slot Machine” necklace that was dripping in cheerful charms along with a pink bracelet to match.  To pack an extra unconventional punch, I wore one black pencil earring and one pink eraser earring.  Symmetry is overrated.

CFA Entry #2: “R E D D O L L”

As we sorted through designer applications for Gen Art Chicago’s 2009 Fresh Faces in Fashion show in July, r e d d o l l’s designs literally had us jumping up and down and squealing with delight like little girls.  It was love at first sight.  From the planning process to the moment of the grand finale of Chicago Fashion Focus Week (where her finale gowns drew audible gasps from the 1,000 guests at Millenium Park), Tatyana Merenyuk, the “red doll” behind this label, kept us wanting more, more…more.  Her ruffles, pleats and textured fabric combinations will leave any PoorLittleRichGirl feeling like she tip-toed right off of the pages of a fairytale.

Merenyuk graced Chicago with her whimsical yet powerful designs when she emigrated to the U.S. from Kiev, Ukraine in the early 90’s.  When we caught up with Merenyuk over a styling session for Gen Art’s recent gallery event, we were yet again overwhelmed with her stunning new designs and always charming personality.  How she strikes a balance between such crisp structure and delicate femininity still has us in awe.

The Event:

January 13, 2010 - Gen Art Collector’s Circle @ Packer Schopf Gallery featuring artists Jason Lahr and Tim Vermeulen.

The Wardrobe:

Lauren’s look: The black French Maiden Dress.

Marcia’s look: The white (and previously untitled) Marcia Dress.

The Interpretations:

Lauren: I am completely obsessed with every r e d d o l l creation, so choosing one for this event was quite difficult. In the end, I fell in love with the French Maiden for its strong Elizabethan collar juxtaposed against its graceful ballerina silhouette. I felt like a dark little doll swimming in regal pleats and poufs. At the gallery, I tossed on a studded black elastic headband that I had in my bag to punctuate the tutu-like structure of the tulle petticoat.

Marcia: Naturally, I locked eyes with the most luscious confection in sight. I tamed the abounding white folds with a black patent leather belt — buckled in back to define my shape. Then, I roughed-up the ruffles with dramatic black eye makeup (painted on at my lash lines and eyelid creases) to add a linear contrast. My adaptation felt fantastically personalized, but it was Tatyana’s sweet design that was the frosting on my cake.

Bon Voyage,

-Lauren & Marcia

Originally published, January 28, 2010.

We couldn’t be more excited to announce the arrival of our newest- and hands down the most stylish- additions to the PLRG family- Lauren Hurley and Marcia Callaghan, the dynamic duo behind the fabulous events that make Gen Art Chicago the mecca of all things fashion in our city (not to mention art, music and film). After meeting in 2008, the ladies joined forces as Gen Art powerhouses, producing special events showcasing emerging talent in fashion, film, music and the visual arts - their latest work of art being the grand finale of Chicago Fashion Focus Week in October, 2009. From curating to directing, these PoorLittleRichGirls (they really are, we promise) sleuth for creative talent and inspiration in the city of neighborhoods.

Meet Marcia Callaghan (left) and Lauren Hurley (right), your new M.F.F.'s (most fashionable friends).

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. When it comes to style, Lauren loves boutique-hopping in Bucktown while Marcia prefers swimming in racks of vintage treasures. They distinguish their joint personal style as “ClassicEdgy.” Lauren is more classic and Marcia more edgy; together, they find the best that Chicago has to offer. Get ready for a first-hand review on local trends (hot or not), events and tips on how to achieve overall style in your life on any budget. They’re the real deal who we consider the authorities when it comes to Chicago fashion, hence the name of the column and why we should all pay attention. First stop? The ladies rep Chicago and do some fashion hunting at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and are going to tell us all about it in their February review.

(Want a reminder? We’ll send you one.)

Noelle Provencial

Originally published January 12, 2010.