Dress Code - Fashion Focus Chicago - 2010

 Thursday, October 21, 2010:
Chicago's Fashion Focus events were in full swing by Thursday and I had the chance to join some of Chicago's finest at the Dress Code runway show in Millennium Park.  I arrived with Paige Ann Peterson and Kiran Advani showed us to our seats in the press section.  Dress Code is one of my favorite shows during Chicago's fashion week, as I get to have a look at the design work from the four top local art colleges to see who is up-and-coming on Chicago's fashion radar.  This year, the theme of Dress Code was "Off the Grid", and the students were to design "sustainable, repurposed clothing that blends fashion and the environment."  The four schools represented were The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago and The International Academy of Design and Technology.  The entire show was produced by none other than Chicago fashion icon (and my dear friend), Nena Ivon, and I was honored and excited to get a look at each collection.

The show began right on time and I put my camera to use almost immediately to catch some images of the designs for you.  I was able to capture most of the looks by each designer and was impressed with the creativity and talent seen on the runway.  Below is a look at the collections produced by each designer - but this time, I want to know what YOU think of the designs.  Comment below and tell me who is your favorite and what college deserves the top prize for overall fantasticness!

*click on the photos to enlarge*

SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO:

Katie King:

Seth Meyerink-Griffin:

Talia Elinoff:

Adrienne Guariglia:

Luis Rodriguez:

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO:

Christina Yi:

Elizabeth Weidner:

Dana Farella:

Sara Perez:

Maureen Sullivan:

THE ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF ART - CHICAGO:

Claudia Macias:

Amanda-Michelle Olson:

Suzanne Anderson:

Audra E. Kaske:

 Michael Schellenbach:

THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY:

Toni Pescatore:

Van Dang:

Ashley Huston:

Hakeem Gayden:

 Alexandre Chandoa:

So - what do you think?!

Who deserves the top prize for the most impressive garments?

Congratulations to all of the designers who worked so hard to create a collection for the Dress Code show.  I hope to get to know each of you as pave your way in the Chicago fashion industry - and beyond.  Great work, Chicago!

Truly,

R.M.B.

The Mayor's Fashion Council of Chicago Presents: The Fashion Focus Kick-Off Event at 'The W'

Monday, October 18, 2010:

After a long Monday at the Agency Galatea office, it was time to begin the madness:  a week-long celebration of the fashion that our fine city has to offer.  To kick-off Fashion Focus, now in it's sixth year - the Mayor's Fashion Council of Chicago held a swanky soiree at the W Chicago - Lakeshore, located on the 33rd floor in the Altitude Room.  The view was brilliant - boasting cityscape views on the west side of the circular space, and offering a spectacular look at Lake Michigan from the east.  I arrived early with my fabulous boss, Marie P. Anderson and we took in the scenes and the fashions that were displayed around the room.  The party began to quickly fill up with the 'top dogs' of fashion and industry in attendance to begin the celebration.  Many faculty from my alma mater, the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, had attended the event as well and it was so good to catch up with Michael Johnson, Jill Hinrichs and Karen Janko.

Justin Meister, Chicago Fashion Incubator 2010 Designer-In-Residence 

Miriam Cecilia Carlson of Miriam Cecilia, Ryan M. Beshel and Marie P. Anderson:

 DJ Matt Roan:

Photography by Patrick Pyszka, City of Chicago

As we sipped our 'fashion-tinis', we were treated to a stellar set of tracks spun by none other than DJ Matt Roan - one of Chicago's best DJ's (and quite the snappy dresser, if I do say.)  I scanned the room and was overwhelmed with the amount of people I wanted to talk to - it was as if all my industry buds were in one place - yet so little time!  I was so glad to run into James Goeke - sporting a killer emerald green leather coat - and his friend Royce Oliver, who looked dashing as well.  Around another corner I spotted the wonderful Tenisha Anderson - Queen of Qlix Magazine, and Jada Russell - Head Honcho for High Style Marketing.  Across the room I saw one of my mentors, Barbara Glass of InFashionChicago.com with Tracey Tarantino (Zzazz Productions) and Andrea Schwartz (External & Media Relations - Macy's North Division) - all looking lovely.  Before I slid out into the cool October evening, I got a chance to give Kiran Advani (Spokesperson for the Mayor's Fashion Initiative) and Borris Powell (Owner - Borris Powell Designs) a big hug.  (P.s.  Kiran should get a medal for all the work she has done to keep Chicago fashion moving forward - and for being so cute.)

Tracey Tarantino, Andrea Schwartz, and Barbara Glass:

 Royce Oliver, Jada Russell, and James Goeke:

 Photography by Patrick Pyszka, City of Chicago

After a few more goodbyes (and am impromptu chat with adorable freelance writer, Molly Each), I hopped the elevator back down to the city streets, excited for the week ahead.  After all, there were six more events in front of me and thirty two more hours in the office to tackle...

Fashion Focus was off to a strong start.

Truly,

R.M.B.

  Kiran Advani, Ryan M. Beshel, and Chicago Designer Borris Powell:

Joey Grant (Publisher - Mint Male Magazine), 

Josh Shores (Director of Fashion - Mint Male Magazine), and Justin Meister:

Photography by Patrick Pyszka, City of Chicago