It was quite cold during the first weekend of December. Temperatures dropped to the numbers we Chicagoans don’t usually have to deal with until mid-January; however such was not the case this season. Yet we as Chicago residents are used to braving the cold, bundling up in layers, and refusing to be shacked in by the Midwestern weather.

Therefore nothing could stop us from venturing out to the first ever Fashion & Shopping Extravaganza held in the trendy Wicker Park space, The Creative Lounge. Hosted by Fashion Rocks Chicago and See More Shopping, designers spanned the enormous space with tables and racks for their items, while we shed our coats and layers to get down and dirty with fun and fashion.

Attendees received complimentary homemade goodie bags upon entering the event along with free snacks and refreshments. And if trying on pretty clothing and jewelry wasn’t enough to get over the cold, mini makeovers and hair styling was provided for guests courtesy of Sugar & Spice.

Designers included the wondrous talents of Evil Kitty, Anastasia Chatzka, 5p1t, CC Bella, Rosina Mae, K-Fleye, Mr. Tastees and Poise.cc. Partners included Sugar & Spice, SeeMoreShopping, Smashing Darling, Liberation Prints, We Give to Get, Rock Uniform, MaZi Dance Fitness Center, and Janet Jewelry.

We also received a lovely preview of the TOYOTA i-REAL, TOYOTA’s newest concept personal mobility device. The TOYOTA i-REAL collaboration was established in 2008 with designers Agga B., Anna Fong, Melissa Serpico, and Lidia Wachowska, to create fashions inspired by the i-REAL design and concept. This is an image during the event of a model donning an Evil Kitty dress (designed by Lidia Wachowska) with the i-REAL.

It promises to be a long winter ahead of us in Chicago-land! But when there is such fabulous fashion to be had, we’ll make sure to bundle up for it!

Photos: Aza from Sugar & Spice

If you’re a fashion entrepreneur or just a lover of new design, don’t miss the sale happening next week at Fashion Business Inc in the California Market Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

FBI will be sponsoring an evening for twelve new designers to showcase their lines. You’ll have the chance to browse, shop and mix with other members of the business. Cocktails will be provided, of course. But bring cash and business cards! This sounds like a fun event. Let me know if you’re planning to be there. I’ll look for you.

Happy Shopping!

Date: December 8, 2009

Time: 5:00-8:00pm

Location: Fashion Business Inc; California Market Center; Ste 786

Cost: FREE for all shoppers!

Matt Haines of OneThousandUmbrellas.com is one of our favorite fashion photographers to in L.A. His family and lifestyle photos are award-winning! And now he has brought his strong talent to fashion. Click here for our original post about Matt! So, I knew I could call on Matt to help us get great shots at the recent Delise’ Anna Fashion show in Hollywood. Below is the post by Matt with his take on the show…

by Matt Haines

Last night I attended the Delise’ Ana show at Boulevard3 club in Hollywood. A smokin’ club! I’ve never been there before, and it was really nice. The fashion show was quick, as most solo shows tend to be. I did have the good fortune to shoot the models in the dressing room before the show. I met Delise’Ana about a year ago and we’ve been in touch off and on, so I jumped at the chance when Little Designer Book asked if I could cover the show. It was a little insane going to a show that starts at MIDNIGHT…hey I’m not 23 anymore! But it was fun and worth the experience. Below are more images from the show, and some from the preparation beforehand.

As always, if you leave a non-spam comment on my blog, I’ll donate one canned food item to the local food bank.

]]> http://littledesignerbook.com/index.php/delise-ana-fashion-show/feed/ http://littledesignerbook.com/index.php/we-love-our-new-arizona-contributor/ http://littledesignerbook.com/index.php/we-love-our-new-arizona-contributor/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:04:02 +0000 Andrea http://littledesignerbook.com/?p=3390 Meet Elizabeth! Maybe a little shy, but loves color, allowing her to let her real side show through. You can see it when you look at her gorgeous jewelry designs. She is the goofy girl who still has those fun-colored notebooks, her cell phone case is hot pink and her nails are always painted in vibrant colors. She loves to keep her hair red. She just can’t seem to get enough of color! You’ll see this in her jewelry line, too. Great fun little pieces that jump with color!

An Arizona native, Elizabeth moved around as a child. She has since moved back to Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. She designs jewelry out of her home studio so she can have the ability to be near her kids.

Previously, she worked in graphic design and visual communications for over 10 years but was never happy with it. She wanted something that allowed her to express more creativity. With the encouragement and guidance of a friend, she soon discovered that jewelry design was the perfect fit and AOD (Alizabeth O Designs) was born.

Elizabeth will be covering Arizona fashion events and all things style in the Southwest! For more about Elizabeth and AOD, click here.

Bryant McLemore Smith Vintage

by Rachel Yeomans

Photos by Abigail Harenberg

I remember when being “green” accompanied the chime “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Over the past few years it has become much more. The building industry brought forth LEED certification, cars are going hybrid, and the term “organic” has gone from food to fashion.

When eco-fashion was first introduced, it caused some skepticism that it may tout the description of “granola” versus “grandeur”. However, throughout the years and through the efforts of some passionate designers, the skepticism can now be happily disregarded. And Sunday’s Vert Couture “Springtime in Chicago” runway show was a fantastic reminder that green has gone couture.

The Chicago Cultural Center housed the event that marks the first time eco-fashion has been a part of Fashion Focus Chicago. Before the runway show began, belly dancers from local restaurant Alhambra showcased their talents and reminded me of how much I love it when fashion shows mix fashion and entertainment. And as a side note, the gift bags (in environmentally friendly reusable bags of course) contained by far the best swag of the week.

Bryant McLemore Smith Vintage

Vaute Couture opened the runway show with the fashion-forward jumpsuit, statements of color, and jackets that would make any wardrobe cry out with envy. Bryant McLemore Smith Vintage mixed some fantastic menswear ensembles alongside looks worthy of a cameo spotlight on the AMC show Mad Men. Seven students from the Fashion Institute Student Collective followed touting looks of ingenious construction, texture, and many a one-shouldered show show-stopping ensemble. Next came the Frei Designs collection that took the shift dress from baby-doll cute to evening glamour. Mountains of the Moon ended the runway show with a collection full of sexiness, style, and a whole lot of fun.

Accessories were provided by Mohop Shoes, Kailia Footwear, Fanta Celah and McGowan and McClain. Following the show, Michael Irving of Nudie Jeans (a longtime denim obsession of mine) announced the winner of The Recycled Denim Maniacs Project, a creative project to produce new creations from recycled denim samples. Irving announced Paul Sisti as the winner, whose look will be shown at the Project Trade Show in Las Vegas, and will be featured in select Barney’s and specialty stores throughout the country.

Fashion Institute Student Collective

It was a night to be remembered for its entertainment, fashion, and for the exciting emergence of Chicago serving as a worldwide leader in environmentally friendly fashion.

Fashion Institute Student Collective

Frei Designs

Mountains of the Moon

Mountains of the Moon

Mountains of the Moon

Paul Sisti

Vaute Couture

Vert Couture Executive Producers- Michael & Bianca Alexander

Nicholas Clements-Lindsey recently took the stage in Los Angeles. This Dallas-Fort Worth native showed a Spring ‘10 collection that was larger than life! Think bows, trains, satin, raw silk, faux buttons and COLOR!  This is exactly what you’ll get with a NCL design. Nicholas Clement-Lindsey has been described as a “dark horse designer”. His Criminal collection, is inspired by the minds of Christian Dior and Edith Head. This collection is a cross-blend of the films The Great Gatsby and To Catch A Thief, where the fashion-forward characters set the tone of what fashion should be during the roaring 1920’s and the 1960’s.

If you love large designs you’ll love NCL! (I’m thinking bridesmaids’ dresses for the Southern Belle)

Because it was October, Nicholas asked his good friend (and model) give a very touching testimony about her current (and very real) fight with breast cancer. Although it was a little unexpected, it was memorable and very appropriate for an October event celebrating women’s fashion. We applaud you, Nicholas!

A touching show. Best of luck…

Dorsia

by Rachel Yeomans

Photos by: Stefan Klapko and Collin Pierson of Collin Pierson Photography

The bars, clubs and restaurants were shockingly scant of crowds this past Saturday evening. That probably was because all of Chicago was crammed into the fashion tent that was about to showcase the final runway to strut Millennium Park during this year’s Fashion Focus Chicago.

For the seventh year, Gen Art Chicago hosted its annual “Fresh Faces in Fashion” runway show. But before the six designers showcased their collections, an accessory designer reception distracted show-goers attentions. An hour before the models strutted down the runway, we were able to see the types of accessories they would be flaunting from designers Emma Carroll (emmacarrolletc.com) , Fab Studio (http://fabstudiodesigns.com/home.html) and Kling Handbags (http://www.klingbags.com/index.php).

Imaginary People

With the tease of the fantastic accessories, we were finally ushered into the giant tent cast over with a blue hue from the giant Gen Art sign backing the runway.  And before we were able to dig through the blue tissue of our swag bags, the show began.

C/Fan (http://www.cfan-designs.com/ ) featured light muted neutrals with the recurring racer back vest statement piece while Kristin Hassan (http://kristinhassan.com/) went the opposite route with loud colors paired with metallic gold and even a hat or two. Next came the menswear line of the evening, Dorsia (www.dorsiacollection.com), which conveyed the fashion-forward attitude of a businessman “letting loose.” JLee Silver (http://lookbook.jleesilver.com/ ) followed suit not with looks that didn’t personify a businessman letting go, but rather a fashionista working it up. Exposed zippers and the molding of the jump suit and the flowing dress kept me wanting more.

Imaginary People (www.imaginarypeopleonline.com ) followed with halter dresses, bright spring colors, and leggings that I would have loved to pre-order directly after the show. And to end this year’s Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion runway show was Red Doll (http://www.reddollbytm.com/). Red Doll designer Tatyana Merenyuk took the concept of fairy tail and made it modern and made it become a dream come true. When the lights came up, we were taken back to reality. But the fantasy fashionably lives on.

Imaginary People

JLee Silver

Kristen Hassan

Red Doll

Red Doll

Red Doll

Photos by: Abigal Harenberg

5p1t

Chicago has been faced with a profound conundrum. The Marshall Field flagship store on State Street was officially taken over in September 2006, and is now known as Macy’s on State Street. Chicago is a stubborn city, and does not take to change well. As a Chicagoan myself, I admittedly still call the flagship Marshall Field’s, just as I replace U.S. Cellular Field with Comiskey Park, and most recently Willis Tower with its rightful namesake: Sears Tower.

However as stubborn as Chicagoans may be, fault was incredibly difficult to find during the Macy’s runway show to kick off the local fashion week, Fashion Focus Chicago. Twelve designers sent down their Spring 2010 collections within the crowded tent in Millennium Park this past Thursday, and I found myself thanking Macy’s for its fashionable contribution to showcase these fantastic Chicago fashions (at least under my breath). 

Lara Miller (www.laramiller.net ) ingeniously crafted the merging of the infinity scarf and necklace via rope adorned on her garments.  Blake Standard (www.blakestandard.com ) used black sequin berets and bright hues to add a Parisian flare to his exemplary collection. The 5p1t (www.5p1t.com ) collection didn’t use adornments, however. Those would be much overshadowed by the Kelly green peplum jackets and multi-colored ruffled frocks, which spoke loudly and enthusiastically for themselves.  

We in the Midwest proudly tout the description of “melting pot”. All shapes, all sizes, we embrace them all. Thus how refreshing was it when Tennille White (http://www.tennillewhitechicago.com/) showcased somehttp://www.laurenlein.com/) who boasts the skill of taking a simple garment and making it her own - and her Spring 2010 collection showcased her craftsmanship beautifully.  

Lara Miller

 amazing plus-sized designs amidst her fashion forward collection? Following White was the genius of Lauren Lein (

And what is a fashion spectacle without a little bit of show? Lee Allison (www.leeallison.com) and The Tiebar (www.thetiebar.com) showcased their latest collection of pristine shirts and ties that were so fantastic they decided that the addition of pants would just get in the way. Jermikko (www.jermikko.com ) took the comedic break in stride with jackets, bubble hemmed dresses and a tweed halter gown with ribbon train that would turn any head. 

Anna Hovet (annahovet.com) brought some punk to the runway with her color blocking and creative workings of the hooded sweatshirt. Every model showcasing the designs of Zamrie (http://www.zamrie.com ) not only flaunted statement red pumps, but also sashayed ever so elegantly in swing coats and silk gowns. Nora del Busto (http://web.mac.com/wolverine17/iWeb/Site/home.html) worked together champagne and lace to give the sleeveless dress the perfect amount of peek-a-boo attitude. Wood bangles and fashion-forward necklines flaunted the talents of Cynthia Ryba (cynthiaryba.com). And to wrap up the amalgam of fashion talents was Audey (www.audey.com), featuring petticoats the color of the rainbow accompanied by parasols to add the perfect amount of class that one would expect from a fashion-forward Chicago

woman.

Lauren Lein

Audey

Zamrie

Li Cari by Jazmin Whitley

Last weekend, I met my favorite Hollywood producer friend and gorgeous fashionista, Amy Cubillas, and photographer Matt Haines, for a night at the House of Blues in West Hollywood to get a glimpse of new talent in fashion, music and art. Project ETHOS celebrates new and emerging talent…a perfect night out for LDB! We saw some names we already knew like Li Cari by Jazmin Whitley, Cowgirl Heaven…and found some new favorites like Goci (amazing!).

Before the show, we had the chance to sit down with Li Cari designer Jazmin Whiley (also the subject of the MTV reality show, House of Jazmin). She opened up to LDB about the challenges of early success, love for all things design and her many recent accomplishments. With several major fashion weeks under her belt at 21 years old, I would say she is on the fast track! Certainly, we liked what we saw for such a young designer. This outfit was a favorite of ours. The bold colors, youthful, sexy, feminine looks are typical of the Li Cari line. These pieces had great color, were styled well and classic enough to be sellable in this economy come Spring 2010.

We speak to many young people with dreams of a career in fashion design, so I had to ask Jazmin:

LDB: What advice would you give to a young aspiring designer who wants to create her own collection and get it to market?

Jazmin: I would tell them that it is not glamorous. It is a lot of work. It’s maybe 20% glamour and 80% hard work. Fashion is a very tough business. You have to not just like fashion…but love it and have a passion for design.

<ASIDE: Great advice! With all of the fashion reality shows capturing attention from young people, more and more are considering a fashion career. But…be informed before you finance your life to make it happen.>

Goci

Another new designer surprise was Goci! I knew nothing about them going into the show. (In fact, I’m still trying to locate a website or contact info for them)…but I was blown away and had to share! Great draping and classic hues. So chic but with a modern edge…mostly brought on by the unconventional draping. But later in the show, they also showed some sculpted pieces like this one with lots of detail and texture.

We also saw Garden Party by Eleonore Santos, Rina Palma by Rina Palma, and Cowgirl Heaven by Tina Summers.

Altogether, Project ETHOS did an amazing job of bringing together the newest LA artists in one of the city’s hotspots for a successful event. I’m told that this is their 11th…and certainly won’t be there last. Follow Project ETHOS on twitter to get the inside scoop on upcoming events celebrating new talent.

Photos by Matt Haines

Photographs taken at Project ETHOS by permission of HOB Entertainment, Inc.