What do Malcolm X glasses, a boldly constructed white blazer, a belted blue chiffon dress, knee socks, oxford shoes, and an oversized mustard knit scarf mixed together equal?
Perfection. Elizabeth recently left Chicago Social (CS Magazine) for a position at a new firm. Best of luck!


I had an amazing time socializing with socialites, fashion writers, professional models, boutique owners, philanthropists, and of course Nicole Miller herself! My research interests revolve around ethics and philanthropy amongst fashion consumers, so this was the perfect way for me to officially kick off my academic career. I am planning to apply to Ph.D. programs this fall because I am passionate about finding ways to integrate sustainability, fair-trade, and pro-social consumer behavior into the fashion industry. I am studying these issues as a full-time graduate student at DePaul University’s School of Public Service. You see, my blog isn’t just for fun – it’s research!

Nicole Miller is a huge inspiration to me. For her to donate ten percent of her sales that evening illustrates a strong commitment to humanitarian issues. She demonstrated the utmost integrity with her decision to disclose exactly how much she would be donating to Mercy Home. Many companies claim to donate a sizable percentage of their profits to charity, but often times the amount is less than 1%. It truly was an honor to be invited to attend such a fashion-forward charitable event and to meet Nicole herself. She sets an example – not only within the fashion industry, but for the entire private sector – on how to integrate charitable campaigns ethically into commercial events.
The following thirteen streetstyle photos were taken at this party. I met so many fabulous people that night. I hope to run into at least a few of you this week at Chicago’s runway shows in Millenium Park!
Diana Dittmer, Iya Bakare, and Bian “Bee” Li
This past Tuesday I was invited to attend Me: In Focus magazine’s September 2010 issue release party. The issue celebrated Chicago women who make a difference through their entrepreneurship, philanthropy, creativity, and drive. I was featured in the 30 Under 30 Rising Stars of Chicago story for my work here on Chicago Streetstyle Scene. We threw back bubbly, made new friends, and gathered in support of Breast Cancer awareness. Brittney Payton (Walter Payton’s daughter) was the guest of honor and the issue’s cover girl. Luckily for me, there were several streetstyle-worthy outfits for me to capture for your viewing pleasure pictured below.










