Last Tuesday evening a well-dressed crowd of (mostly) women came out to benefit The Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society. They shopped, noshed on sushi and drank bubbly. What a perfect combination! Much of Nordstrom's designer floor was transported to the Chicago History Museum for the evening, complete with sales staff and dressing rooms.
Some of designer clothing from the archives of the Chicago History Museum was on display. Too bad you couldn't buy it!
Left to right: Looks from Burberry Prorsum, Nina Ricci, Missoni, Andrew Gn, Marni, and Marc Jacobs. Photos: Second City Style
Then it was into a tent for the Nordstrom fashion show, which included Burberry Prorsum, Peter Som, Nina Ricci, Missoni, Andrew Gn, Marc Jacobs, Tuleh, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Marni and Oscar Del Renta. Changing lighting and video images set a different mood for each designer's line. It was a beautiful and technically exciting show.
With a department retail fashion show such as this, I like to see what actually made it the stores from fashion week. Additionally I like to get a pulse on the Midwest crowd's response. I heard positive and audible response during Burberry, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, and Oscar De la Renta. I heard a bit of silence during Marc Jacobs. His new shapes, muted colors and longer hemlines may take some getting used to by the Chicago crowd, yet Nordstrom edited wisely from his collection.
I loved this long sleeved Lurex silk chiffon Stella McCartney dress. My overall favorite line in the show was Marni for it's brilliant color and modern shapes.
Photo: Robert F. Carl
This Oscar de la Renta gown was so stunning the crowd applauded! During the finale all of the models from each of the last three lines, Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta and Marni came out in three rows flooding the runway with beautiful color and fashion. I seriously almost had a tear in my eye. Walking out I heard a woman say, "Now I want to buy something!" This was obviously a successful show and event. And the good news for her...the shop was still open!
—Carol Calacci
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