Kelly Ryan O’Brien, Kelsey Kreiling, Jena Gambaccini, and me

My PinkMemo post about the Tory Burch fashion show I attended went up yesterday! Sorry for the delay, there was this little holiday called Thanksgiving that got in the way. Yes, ritualistic communal binge eating comes before fashion blogging in my book, every time. The event was held in the soaring atrium of The Field Museum. Models donned the Spring 2012 Tory Burch collection to strut down the catwalk under the shadows of Sue, the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. Glistening marble walls formed the perfect backdrop to the shimmering sequins and flirty silhouettes – inspired by Deauville, no less – that dominated the show. 

Tory invited me backstage to interview her right before the show began. We chatted about her first ever runway show this past September when she showed her Spring 2012 collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Hard to believe she’s always done presentations, right? She said it was finally the right time. In an industry obsessed with speed, youth, and the transient, it’s refreshing to meet a designer who appreciates patience, hard work, and establishment. Tory told me she also felt it was the right time to open a true flagship store in Chicago to properly serve her strong client base. I can attest to this as I see women of all ages rocking her pieces across the city. Chicago loves Tory and she loves us back, which is why she partnered with American Express to produce such an extraordinary show.