Well here in the studio, at least. New fall merchandise has been arriving at a rapid pace for the last month. We’ve been styling and snapping and cropping like crazy to get it all up on the site, which means that we’ve been staring at all our new goodies for hours on end. It’s truly not glamorous, but it sure is fun to play with a bunch of amazing clothes every day!!! Some of my favorites so far…

First, 3 of my favorites all in 1 outfit! The dress makes me feel… well, ethereal is the word that comes to mind. And the booties are so light that I’ve even been wearing them during our incredibly humid weather. But the leather shirt. The leather shirt just makes me crazy. So soft, so versatile and just so freaking cool. LOVE it.

SFRD leather shirt vest, Gary Graham pintuck dress, Rachel Comey Memo booties

The Ruse dress from Rachel Comey. I ordered this, but it doesn’t fit SOOO disappointed.

I am always on the lookout for a great pair of pants, and these Vanessa Bruno Athe pants are just the best pair EVER. I wasn’t supposed to own these, but fate — and my dog, Kuma — lent a hand. Arlene and I were trying them on when they first landed and were in the process of telling ourselves and each other that they weren’t for us and that we needed to save them for our customers when over walks Kuma (he doesn’t like to be left out). He looks up at me and then gives me a giant lick on the leg (he’s a black lab, so his licks are pretty big), leaving a giant stain on the — now mine — pants. BAD dog.

Vanessa Bruno Athe soft trouser, Gar-de leather jacket, Sophomore tee, Loeffler Randall pumps

And the coup de grace, the Navy faux fur from SONIA by Sonia Rykiel. Knocks me out, it’s so good. Arlene and I actually both bought this, which might be a problem since we do everything and go everywhere together. We’ve had matching outerwear before, but nothing like this. But how could we resist? It feels so delicious when you’re all wrapped up (and you don’t even have to worry about those pesky animal activists!) And it’s navy. I mean, come on. How many times in your life do you come across a great navy fur???

SONIA by Sonia Rykiel faux fur, stripe tee and zipper leggings, Prairies de Paris pumps

So many other amazing things, but if I list them all here I won’t have time to actually do my work! We’ll be back, I promise.

The start of a new season is always such an exciting time of the year….not Christmas, but close  It’s so much fun seeing the new trends hit the stores and hit the streets!  Fall is unfolding with the most amazing pieces!  We love all the cozy knits, the incredible outerwear, but our favorite item of this season has to be the amazing pant.  The amazing pant is taking on some new (wearable!) shapes and in a wide variety of fabrics & prints.  Here is just a sampling of what to look forward to….are you ready?

How fitting! This is a drawing from my daughter, Kit, when she was 6 yrs old. It hangs in our studio. My favorite is the pant with the built in belly button!

Check out The Shop.  Amazing pants arriving daily!!

images via (from top) Marie Claire, Surface to Air, Rachel Comey runway show, Loeffler Randall.

I live on the North side of Chicago in a lovely little neighborhood that has no name — for locals, it’s not Ravenswood, it’s not Lincoln Square, it’s not North Center, but it’s kinda all of them. My particular block/corner is very familiar and small-town-ey. It’s probably because there is a Starbuck’s about a half a block from my front door. And I’ve met many interesting and really lovely people at my neighborhood Starbuck’s.

One of the many lovely and interesting people I’ve met is a woman named Linda. After a number of chats over late-morning weekend lattes, Linda made a couple of suggestions to me. One was to get Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point, which I promptly downloaded onto my Kindle. The other suggestion was to check out a local photographer by the name of Erika Dufour. Well all I have to say is that my neighborhood Starbuck’s has yet to let me down.

Erika’s work often has a very physical element to it. She is a trained ballet dancer and also studies a form of Chinese Martial Arts called Wushu. Her interest in the way the body moves and the shapes that it can make are evident in her work and are undoubtedly part of what draws me to her. That and her ability to be super-girly (see those gorgeous beauty shots above!) As I’ve mentioned here many times, I am a very big lover of all things dance and I’ve been absolutely dying to do a studio shoot with a dancer — maybe Erika is the girl I’ve been looking for! 

all images lovingly borrowed from ErikaDufour.com

It’s almost fall, which means that it’s time to get back to work. It also means that it’s time to kick off the fashion season here in Chicago, which means… Macy’s Glamorama! Always a fun fashion and entertainment filled event, Glamorama also supports a very worthy cause: the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

This year’s ambassador is 6 year old Max Herrick, who will officially celebrate his 6th birthday at the Chicago Theatre this coming Friday, August 13th.

Little Max underwent numerous heart surgeries before he could even walk and had a heart transplant at the age of 2. It is a miracle that he is even alive and the Ronald McDonald House provided an opportunity for Max’s family to be with him — and be together — as he bravely took on all of these challenges. Everyone involved that I’ve spoken to has much to say about Max and is super thrilled to be able to give back to this amazing cause.

As if Max wasn’t reason enough to attend, this year’s Glamorama has an over-the-top opening number designed by Chris March. The beloved finalist from season 4 of Project Runway is notorious for sleeping during one of the challenges and for using hair in his final collection. But most recently he’s gotten accolades for dressing Meryl Streep and propelling her straight from the worst-dressed list to the best-dressed list.

At the 2010 Golden Globes in a March design. She looks amazing, right??

and luminous in another March creation at the 2010 Oscars.

Though Chris’ designs for Meryl Streep are very chic and sophisticated (he cites classic Dior as a huge influence), he’s also got a crazy side (he also cites Vivienne Westwood as a favorite), so I honestly don’t know what to expect. All I could get out of Chris and the show’s producer, Mike Gansmoe, is that there will be people flying and over 70 yards of fabric. Hmmm. I’ll admit it, I’m intrigued. A little scared, but intrigued.

Macy Gray and Eric Hutchinson will also be performing, as well as dancers from my all-time favorite show, So You Think You Can Dance (yes, I’m a big dork, but I LOVE that show!) And I’m excited to see the fashion — Fall collections from Sonia Rykiel, Issey Miyake, Gaultier, Marc Jacobs — and the local style. A fun show and an even fun-ner after-party on the 7th floor of Macy’s State Street. We will definitely be there and are looking forward to it!! Hope you can make it, too. And be sure to sport your best style — we’ll be on the lookout for you!

Tickets may be purchased through Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana at 630.623.2309, through The Chicago Theatre box office, or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 1.800.745.3000.

Meryl Streep images via Project Rungay.