Aside from all the fantastic outerwear and pants for fall, fall market was also all about some awesome girl power!   We have met the most fantastic women on this trip!  The fun started the morning we left for NYC….we meet Ana & Mariana.  We first spotted each other in the security line at the airport, then at the same gate then, of course as fate would have it, on the plane.  They were seated directly in front of us!  That’s when Ana popped her head over her seat and introduced herself.  Enough with all the flirting and winking, right Ana is from Madrid and future showroom owner and Mariana is from Argentina and has an incredible handbag line, Mikai.  Mikai is the first line we bought for fall…right off Jet Blue!

awww....there they are, Ms Ana and Ms Mariana

I just had to pan back and get a full shot. How cute are they??

Below are a few shots of Mariana’s fabulous handbag line.  The leather and production is all out of Argentina.  Great everyday handbags that I would love to carry around well, everyday!

overnighter bag Look at that color!!

pompom bag. Love the size. LOVE the pompom.

small bandolera. Have you seen a cooler crossbody?? I don't think so!

Here we are after we ran into each other a SECOND time during our trip, right outside the Lyell store.

Happy March!  A new month, a new cover story  This months’ cover story idea started with the location hopes of the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden (I was hoping for some high heat and humidity… maybe in the tropical greenhouse??), but unfortunately (for my skin) and THANKFULLY we ended up at Phyllis Musical Inn.   It’s honestly so much fun for Brandon and I to collaborate with some crazy talented people!

Top billing goes to Karl Rothenberger who went above and beyond on this story.

The talented crew...There's Brandon sporting her Sonia Rykiel for H & M sweater and to the left is our amazing hair/makeup artist, Lynda. We were thrilled to have had the chance to work with Lynda. Lynda is originally from London, from there has lived in Paris, NYC, Miami and now our fair city :)

Nazik was absolutely perfect for this story

phyllis' equipped with DJ booth

and beer

trust me, the more knick knacks the better!

The lovely bartender at Phyllis' is buying this dress and tried on the leather sleeves!

Many thanks to Karl, Lynda & Nazik!!

Thank you to everyone at Phyllis Musical Inn!

Phyllis Musical Inn

1800 W Division St

Chicago, IL 60622

We are big Rachel Comey fans. To me she has that same quirky, lux, creative vibe that Ms Jane Mayle was so famous for.  I love the way she plays with her textures, colors and her irresistible prints!   Always current, always timeless.  We could not wait to see the collection first hand in her showroom.  The showroom was a treat in itself…very warm and special.

These are just two small shelves in her beautiful space...souvenirs, collections, books, pictures. Inspiration everywhere.

floor to ceiling bookshelves. LOVED the beamed ceiling.

great purple chaise tucked away off to the side :)

look at that awesome flap bag next to Spud!

my favorite were the huge windows with all the great plants lining the sills

Rachel has been doing clogs and versions of the clogs for many seasons

Rachel's beautiful collection

The fabulous Rachel Comey

Thank you Taisa!!  Thank you Rachel!

So sorry for the lag in posts, just needed to recharge and regroup  NYC was an incredible time to say the very least!  Fall looks really strong and everyone’s taking the basics to a new level. There’s so much to tell you all!   First off, much fun at LD Tuttle…..great shoe appointment topped off with some streetstyle.

LD Tuttle's famous platform wedges

Tiffany Tuttle also produced a great collection of rounded toes

You have to see this one up close...cool, right?

LD Tuttle shares her space w/some fantastic jewelry designers.

That choker is right up my alley

Outside LD Tuttle. Love those glasses (clear lucite) and those loafers, they look great on her.

Quick, quick post….we are having such a great time!  We’re back in NYC, this time to get down and dirty and go shopping!!  Shopping for twentythirtyforty.net.  NYC never changes…fabulous style at every corner, good coffee, food, food, food, fantastic reps and friends :)….topped with sunshine.  Couldn’t of been a better Sunday in NYC.

Great style sightings EVERYWHERE. I could not resist snapping this charming girl in purple coat and purple handbag.

I had to snap this one too. He layered his pants with shorts!

our most adorable rep, Amy with Loeffler Randall

our other most adorable rep, Jen with Gar-de

We just had to visit.... :[ I find it interesting that 2010 just disappears into the flowers.

we squeezed in a yummy late brunch at The Standard Grill

Kissing S & P shakers at The Standard Grill

Our last appt of the day w/the fabulous Gary Graham

Ms Eliane sharing with us the inspiration board at Gary Graham

and the most amazing collections to wrap up our day. Thanks Eliane!!

A couple of weeks ago on a chilly Saturday morning, we had the pleasure and honor of sitting down with Bill Leff on Chicago’s WGN Radio. Soooo much fun. Like, I seriously need my own radio show lickety-split. It would be such a great thing for Chicago, too. After we got off the air, we started receiving emails with style questions. I think we might be on to something! But, honestly, what a fun way for a couple of middle-aged Midwestern housewives to spend their Saturday morning!

Listen to the podcast here. And stay tuned, we may be on again soon!!

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!!

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

It’s no secret that I love me some accessories, and especially a good chunky piece of jewelry. During our latest buying trip to New York, we came across Greek-born, Italian-trained turned Paris-darling, Aris Geldis. Aris  has worked alongside some true fashion icons, including Alexander McQueen and the house of Chanel, with a most recent stint as jewelry designer for Christian Lacroix Haute Couture. He definitely knows what’s going on and has a design sensibility that has been recognized by some serious fashionistas. The thing that makes us love him even more is that he somehow creates his works of art at a price point that is actually attainable. We can’t wait to style these babies with our favorite Demylee cashmeres and those amazing graphic tees from Sophomore and Rogan. What’s an easier way to make a fashion splash than by throwing on a chunky necklace?? Look for Aris Geldis to hit the shop early next year. Trust us — you’ll be seeing a lot of this talented Greek!