We shot our upcoming cover story (party dressing!!!) at the Raffaello.  I was completely taken by this gorgeously sexy hotel and once again, completely taken by our fair city….this time 18 floors up.  The Rafaello sits perfectly in the heart of the Gold Coast neighborhood and all around was just a treat for the eye.

a peek at North Ave Beach

something bout those fire escapes...just love them

the famous John Hancock

ahhhh.....gorgeous

great old vintage buildings like this one are sprinkled all over the city

a couple of behind-the-scene shots....Amelia & Karl

Amelia & Karl

and....Amelia & Karl :)

many, many, many thanks to Jared Galbut and the Rafaello Hotel, Mr Karl Rothenberger, the beautiful Amelia Pool.  AND last but not least (we could never do it w/o you), Katie & Kelcey!!

Last week, Chicago lost a retail icon and trendsetter, Joan Weinstein. Joan was the founder of beloved Chicago boutique, Ultimo. I didn’t know Joan personally, but her legend is widely known.

Joan got into the retail industry completely by accident, having taken over a floor in her and her husband’s Oak Street men’s boutique. 

Joan’s passing has gotten me thinking a lot about the difference between fashion and retail. They really are 2 separate camps but they truly couldn’t exist without the other. Designers really have to rely on tastemakers and trendsetters to launch and sustain their careers. Clearly celebrities make a very public percentage of this group, but the retailers and boutique owners around the world make up a much larger percentage. And Joan was one of these tastemakers. Designers really listened to her and respected her opinion. In an article from WWD, it is mentioned that Manolo Blahnik was a huge fan and designed exclusive shoes for Ultimo although she was not buying at the level of a Saks or Neimans. 

Ms. Weinstein was known for having a terrific eye, being credited with bringing the likes of Armani, Sonia Rykiel and Gaultier to the attention of Chicago. Those who worked with her have said that she truly appreciated the artistry of clothes and that she trusted her instincts. Chicago — and the fashion world at large — were lucky to have her. Her legacy will live on, but she will be missed.

image by Fairchild Archives, via WWD

And as readers of this blog will know, one of those models is Michelle Hicks. Well, apparently, we’re not the only ones who love her…

Michelle has been spending a lot of time in NYC and she’s been busy. You can catch her in this month’s issue of Nylon Magazine. Here’s a sneak peek…

Arlene and I are like proud mothers over here. We worked with Michelle for the first time back in February of this year and she blew us away right from the start. She is a total professional who clearly studies her craft and does not take her success for granted. She works as hard as anybody I know and she is only 19 years old. We had her freezing her tuchas off at the beach a couple of weeks ago and she took it all in stride. When we went to get the first shot…

…we were fussing with her hair, tweaking things, etc. and then went to take off her coat. We took it off of her and she was clearly freezing and we said, “Are you okay?” And she promptly replied, in the loveliest of tones, “I’m fine. Now get out of my shot!” Arlene and I hustled to get our asses out of there lickety-split, and the minute we were out of the frame, that girl turned it on and got her shot.

We just absolutely adore working with her and love everything she brings to our site. Here are just a few of our faves from over the months.

I wish!  No…this is favorite editorial #2.  Kaze No Uta Wo Kike (translated-’cover up, it’s cold outside’) from Jalouse this past Sept09.  It’s been posted on my board for a few to many weeks now.  Everything about this editorial is very near & dear …. the layers and layers of knits & scarves, nature + city, Asia & the Far East and the piece de resistance…the cute bebe.

images lovingly borrowed from Jalouse, Sept09

La prisonnière photographed by Xevi Muntane, featuring model Angelika Kocheva and styled by Elisa Malan and Eleonora Panzetta.  Let’s just give kudos now to those due!  There are two editorials I have been obsessing over lately…this being one of the two.  The couture is captured perfectly with all the playful light details throughout and of course, look at that Margiela comb dress and ooooo The Chanel!!  love.

images lovingly borrowed from Crash

As most of you know (or maybe don’t know) about us is that we are huge proponents of ‘wear what you love, lots of different ways’.  This past week was another week of making outifts  We fell in love with many things, but right now anything big and cozy gets our vote and as always, so does a great shoe.

LOVE the idea of grabbing your “boyfriend’s” sweater to throw over just about anything….gives you that great effortless vibe.

The Wendy bootie.  What other shoe do you know has styling options of its’ own??  Folded, scrunched, rolled, to-the-knee…all fabulous!

Here we are styling yet another favorite….the Gar-de tux (in navy!!  Just doesn’t get any better!).  Coming to The Shop soon!

We shot our Nov cover story this past week and unlike the West Coast or down South, it’s cold here in Chicago.  We got completely gypped out of summer AND our indian summer!  The forcast that day was a tropical 60 degrees.  We maybe got close to 50?  Then there’s the wind that takes that number down another 10 degrees.  The wind just whips off the lake and…#@%)^T*($!!  But like those killer shoes, we do it for some fashion  I have to say, the fashion, the photography and the weather did make our hearts beat that much faster

The dynamic duo, Karl & Michelle

There’s Ms Nicole, our hair & makeup artist, trying to stay warm in a doorway and ‘guarding’ all our gear.  Who says fashion isn’t glamourous?

ahhhh….there’s a better picture of Nicole 

many thanks to…

Karl Rothenberger, photographer extraordinaire

Michelle Hicks, model extraordinaire

Nicole Schimel, hair & makeup artist & security guard extraordinaire

Katie Piotraschke, intern extraordinaire