Taylor is one of my favorite people to spot on the street. Normally I see her in the Loop so this time I was surprised to see her on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.
Taylor wears all black so well, a skill not easily learned. People think dressing in all black is easy. That’s true, but making all black actually look good is much more difficult. Taylor integrates different textures and silhouettes, like the billowing burnout tee, to create a chic and aesthetically rich look without using even a hint of color. Her Sam Edelman “Zoe” boots, a perennial favorite among Chicagoans, adds the perfect dash of edge.
I was completely shocked when I saw the brand name Tory Burch subtly etched in the metal clasp on her purse. At first glance I thought her handbag was Alexander Wang or a similar brand. This is literally the coolest bag I’ve ever seen from the designer, and a welcome departure from the usual Tory Burch products that drip with her signature “T” logo. In retrospect I shouldn’t have been surprised. Taylor has excellent taste, and like all great fashion lovers, could care less about the “brand” of an item. The only thing that truly matters is the construction, quality and design of a piece.
Amy Creyer with fashion blogger friends Katie Schuppler, Taneisha Jordan, & Alia Rajput
Artrageous was the 2011 incarnation of Macy’s Glamorama. The show was themed around outrageous art. Famous artworks were prominently throughout different parts of the show. The most adorable children waltzed under Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and break dancers flipped through the air beneath iconic works by Keith Haring. Glamorama is produced in conjunction with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, whose international network of homes provides room and board to families of hospitalized children undergoing serious health problems. Without the Ronald McDonald houses, tens of thousands of parents would be separated from their children while undergoing what is often the most traumatic period of their lives.
I kicked off the evening downstairs at the media rope line. I photographed Glamorama chairwoman Candace Jordan, who is one of my favorite people to run into at events. Her blog Candid Candace and Chicago Tribune society column, The Chicago Scene, is a “must read” for anyone interested in Chicago’s social life. Above Candace is pictured with 12-year-old Alisha Christlieb and her mom, who are this year’s Ambassador Family. Alisha was born with a number of birth defects and her parents were told that she would never be able to walk, eat on her own, or even breathe on her own. 12 years later, Alisha is a 4.0 straight “A” student. Candace became visibly emotional when Alisha told the media about how much Candace and all her efforts to promote the RMHC means to her and her family. It was a really touching moment to witness, to see how much Candace truly cares about making a difference through philanthropy and volunteering.
The runway portion of the evening was kicked off by Sonia Rykiel and followed by Jean Paul Gaultier, whose Parisian-themed presentations were immensely popular with the Chicago crowd. The audience spontaneously erupted in applause for one of Gaultier’s fur coats, which was classic Chicago. Armani Jeans, Marc Jacobs, and Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse (Macy’s) also presented their Fall 2011 collections at the fashion themed extravaganza.
After the performance at the Chicago Theater, guests headed across the
street to Macy’s on State Street’s seventh floor for the official
afterparty. I was delighted to run into my aunt, Laura Howlett, whose
company provides McDonalds with cleaning products in over 32 countries.
She was there with her client, a McDonalds senior executive, obviously! I kicked back and relaxed with my good friends Corri McFadden and Jena Gambaccini. We celebrated Corri’s new reality TV show and my Bing video with Jena!
After much anticipation, I am so excited to share with all of you the video about our friendship Jena and I made with Bing. Jena was the first friend I ever made through blogging. I met her over one year ago in July 2010 at a coffee shop in Lincoln Park. She tweeted at me a few days after I created my twitter account. I thought it was literally the most amazing thing that ever happened to me since she had over 2,000 followers on twitter and her blog, ChiCityFashion, was full of exclusive interviews. Looking back, I remember how scared I was to meet her and how intimidated I was.
Friendships are like wine; they improve as they age. Over the past year, Jena and I have shared successes and disappointments, leaned on each other for support and sought out advice when making key decisions. Much of what you see on ChicagoStreetStyle.com is the result of Jena’s critiques and encouragement. She has influenced my decision to tell the story of the individuals who I feature on my blog instead of just throwing their picture up. Jena has also influenced my personal style as well. Since virtually day one, Jena has been my strongest supporter. I realize more and more everyday how lucky I am to have made a true friend in the fashion blogging world.
