Second City Style Fashion Blog - Style, Luxury, Beauty & Shopping

Fashion Columbia 2008: The Future of Fashion At Columbia College Chicago

It is always fun to check out the student fashion shows and see what the next generation of designers is up to - who knows, you could see the work of the next Marc Jacobs or Anna Sui!  It was in that spirit of discovery that Second City Style  attended the Columbia College student fashion show last night. 

Produced by the school's fashion merchandising students, the show was directed by Nena Ivon, the Manager of Public Relations Special Events/Fashion for Saks Fifth Avenue.  Twenty-two students exhibited the designs they spent the past nine months creating, and the production (music, lighting, and the overall flow of the show) was impeccable.  This year's theme fused fashion and technology in the form of computer-generated graphics and animation, and the students also created eco-friendly looks from raw muslin stock.

Every year the Columbia College show features a signature color, and this year's was a bold shade of violet.  The majority of the designs included this vibrant hue - it worked especially well when paired with charcoal and rich blues. 

Several award winners were also announced last evening; Leah Fagan recieved the Vivian Price Fashion Design award, Disha Mehta the Nena Ivon Fashion Management Award, and Sean Krueger and Paul Wesolowski won Dreihaus Awards For Fashion Excellence.  Congratulations to them, and all the students at Columbia College for a fantastic show!

—Jacqueline Zenn

Stars of the Future: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fashion Show

Chi-Lai Cherry Yuen

Last Friday Second City Style got the chance to check out some of the industry's future stars at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's annual student fashion show.  While the overall production was heavy on the conceptual and artistic creations (the designers' inspirations included traditional Japanese cabinetry and Dante's Divine Comedy), the level of skill and attention to detail displayed could easily translate into ready-to-wear. And besides, aren't runway shows supposed to be highly dramatic?

Mariko Golden

Tyler Coughlin

Some of our favorite designs included Maia Semmes' industrial-chic deconstructed pieces, Tyler Coughlin's fiery super-hero gowns, Mariko Golden's softly elegant pale green frocks, and Chi-Lai Cherry Yuen's black and blue sculptural dresses.  That said, all the students' efforts were unique and creative - Chicago fashion definitely has a bright future.

You can find out more about the SAIC's talented students at their website.

—Jaqueline Zenn

Springtime Brightest Event. A Roslyn Fashion Show and Cocktail Party Benefiting Bright Pink

Steven Rosengard from Project Runway Season 4 and Bright Pink kick off the show.

Last Friday, Vanille Royale and Roslyn, an exclusive Bucktown boutique, joined forces to benefit Bright Pink, a non-profit organization that provides education and support to young women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Climax Lounge in River North hosted the event, and the place was absolutely packed in anticipation for the night's main event: the runway show. While enjoying the complimentary Vanille Royale Pink Promise, a cocktail that was created in celebration of the efforts of Bright Pink, event attendees were introduced to the very latest daytime, cocktail, and evening looks from Roslyn's sophisticated, edgy collection of both emerging and established designers from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Europe. Looks from Vera Wang dominated the runway, which kept its momentum thanks to the excellent and unexpected soundtrack (MC Solaar, Tori Amos, and that one song from Can't Hardly Wait that plays during Jennifer Love Hewitt's "intro").

Floor length was the theme of the show, ranging from Grecian-like with halter ties, to ultra-voluminous (the No Dress Code black, maternity-like, floor grazing dress did NO justice, even for the 5'11 model. Imagine it on one us...eeech!!!) However, both Vera Wang and Erica Davies were right on the money with the gun metal, whether in solid or print.

The other looks from C. Deane and Elise Bergman were very pretty, but the show fell just on the other side of boring. I know my colleagues at SCS feel differently, so in order to clarify myself: it was an excellent event that supported an incredibly important cause. The night was a huge success, not to mention how tasty those Vanille Royale Pink Promise cocktails are!

—Emilie Furda

Chicago Event. Bright Pink Fashion Show with Roslyn This Friday

Driehaus Awards For Fashion Excellence Gives Chicago Students A Boost

The rain in Chicago last Friday evening did not put a damper on the Seventh Annual Driehaus Awards For Fashion Excellence. As well as giving Chicago student designers a boost in their careers with monetary awards, this year the event also raised $100,000 for "The Bottomless Closet", a Chicago not-for-profit which provides business attire and career skills training to women in transition - enabling them to interview with confidence, gain employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. 

The Driehaus warehouse, lined with double layers of beautiful antique cars, was transformed into a lively cocktail party setting for over 400 guests. A separate room was set up complete with tables and a runway for guests to relax in a nightclub atmosphere while they enjoyed the show. The event was hosted by Richard H. Driehaus, a philanthropist who's interest in architecture (and obviously auto design!) has led to supporting yet anther art form: fashion design! Linda Yu of ABC 7 was Master of Ceremonies, and judges included Cathy Bush of Sotheby's, Sheryl Dyer of Van Cleef & Arpels, Steven Rosengard of Project Runway Season Four and Ann Wallace of Escada.

Designs by Beth Minnery

Designs by Rachel Frank (left) and Emily Marxer (right)  SCS photos

This year, 25 students representing five local schools were selected to have their collections modeled in a runway fashion show. Participating schools included Columbia College Chicago, Dominican University, the Illinois Institute of Art, the International Academy of Design and Technology and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Emily Marxer with Richard Driehaus - 1st place

Beth Minnery with Richard Driehaus - 2nd place

Rachel Frank with Richard Driehaus - 3rd place
Three winners (above) photos: Robert Carl

 Typical of most student shows, the level of creativity is always there but can sometimes go over-the-top. However, the craft and execution from this group of students was very professional. The award winners were Emily Marxer for 1st place, awarded $3000, Beth Minnery for 2nd place, awarded $2000, and Rachel Frank for 3rd place awarded $1000. Paul Wesolowski won the $500 Steven J. Rosengard Award for Creativity and also received a $500 Honorable Mention prize. Three  other Honorable Mention prizes were awarded to Sean Krueger, Glenn Glass and Hector Monarrez. Judging must have been since the students' lines varied greatly from one another, from swimwear to casualwear, leather to bridal gowns, comic book heroes to bumble bees to the homeless...yes, there were some unusual themes!

I had little stars scribbled next to the names of top three award winners in my program, as well as noting several others, so I will have to say that I agreed with the judges selection. A few of the names I recognized from last year's event, and was glad to see how they have evolved.

—Carol Calacci

Fashion Shows. Brooklyn's Fashion Week{end}

Did you even know Brooklyn had a fashion weekend? I didn't until just now. If you are into underground indie fashion that's full of a range of scanty bathing suits to over-the-top ball gowns...this is for you! Here are some of the better designs (and that was far reaching).

Catalin Botezatu


Duroseau Couture


Joan Vaccianna


Keneea Linton


Duroseau Couture


Duroseau Couture


Duroseau Couture


Duroseau Couture

For more information Brooklyn's Fashion Week{end}

Photos: WireImage
  

On Safari at The Underground with Roslyn

The Underground was quite the ideal place to hold a "safari chic" fashion show this past Thursday night. With waitresses and doormen alike sporting khakis, camouflage and combat boots it appeared as if they were part and parcel of the show Roslyn put on showcasing a portion of their spring/summer collection. 

While the shows premier pieces may have been a little ridiculous, balloon type bloomer shorts should not be something anyone should wear, I found the show to be a bit disappointing. Though it is true that white, brown and olive are the three colors to be expected at a safari fashion show, I was hoping to see something to get me excited about summer clothing. Instead I found ensembles that were rather mismatched and uninspiring. Many of the individual pieces would have been great on their own.

On a positive note there were some very pretty, long and loose flowing dresses. These looked very comfortable and could easily work for day or night. But the true stars of the show were not the clothes themselves, but the accessories! Each model walked down the runway carrying beautiful brown leather handbags and some wore fun flirty hats. As it seems with a lot of fashion shows in Chicago this season, accessories are the things to stock up on.

— Bonnie J. Brown

Go On Safari at Roslyn, 2035 North Damen Avenue, 773-489-1311

Roslyn's 2008 Spring/Summer Designers: A. Lawless, Bensoni, Carolann Wachter, Christensen & Sigersen, Christina Hattler, Christopher Deane, Clu, Collection K, Demy Lee, Erica Davies, Elise Bergman, Falls, Frenzii, Jovovich-Hawk, Liz McClean, Mads Norgard, Miranda Bennett

Safari Chic made possible by:
- Stoli - Roslyn and Rosie Dulyapaibul - Beauty on Call - The Underground
- Stitches Fashion Program (Jason Felger and Stephanie Niedespial)

Fashion Weak. Lauren Conrad at LA Fashion Week.

What can I say? Other than looking like something I could find at Kmart (no offense to Mr. Blue Light) I have nothing against the designer. Wait, except for the fact that a designer who is actually talented and trained and, well, interesting could have had her space to show and the budget and publicity to promote decent work. The fact that this line even made it this far is an insult to buyer and fashion lover alike. Let's just say that this line makes the Olsen Twins' work intellectual. Yeah, its that bad. Maybe some poor Parson's grad made some money on the side. I'm hoping someone other than a reality TV star benefits from this...

Paris '08 Fashion Week. Lanvin Keeping in Parisian Tradition.

Elegance, refinement, and luxury are all words that come to mind upon seeing Lanvin's fall collection. The black satin dresses were both sexy and classic, while the one shoulder pieces gave the same look an exciting and dramatic edge. Paired with black gloves, the garments exuded elegance and opulence. The nipped waists showed womanly curves, while the horizontal stripes and metallic embellishments showed serious edge, and the result was a seductive and powerful collection.  Incredibly sophisticated overall, I can't help but acknowledge the tasteful regard for Parisian tradition. Jackie O would be so proud.

—Emilie Furda

Images: NYmag

Paris '08 Fashion Week. City Meets Country at Chloe

Between the edgy, iridescent black looks and the sweet, floral day dresses, Chloe suggested an urban meets country-side for fall. The glen plaid blazer paired over a pastel print dress and flower embellished tights with hints of violet was only something Chloe could pull off this effortlessly. The prominence of the pointed toe was a pleasant surprise, especially the teal shoe boot, while the white heel was all wrong as it came off cheap and unappealing. Still, the layering suggested that lovely femininity that Chloe is so famous for and the deconstructed black leggings paired with fur and jeweled embellished coats and frocks did exactly what a spectacular collection is supposed to do— keep us wanting more.

—Emilie Furda

Images: NYmag