by Rachel Yeomans

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