Brandon and I had such a fun time at the Rag & Bone event this past week…Thank you Intermix!  Thank you Elle!  We had a lovely time meeting the founders/designers of Rag & Bone, chatting it up about the next big things with Intermix owner Haro Keledjian (genius I tell you!!), “tucking in” some champagne as Marcus Wainwright from Rag & Bone had described it and to top it off, we even had our picture taken  All in all a very fun night!  I have and wore that evening this cool piece from Rag & Bone, a classic blue/white seersucker blazer.  I love it, I love the way it fits & feels on and I love a classic seersucker.  You can throw on something completely wacky and a cute seersucker blazer can balance it all out…shocking, but true.   My outfit that evening (inspired the very next day’s outfit and possibly, maybe, also the compliment David Nevill paid Brandon & I on our style that evening  Yep, that might be it)

Brandon (Sophomore Tee, Rag & Bone white blazer, Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone, me (Rachel Comey top, Rag & Bone seersucker blazer, David Neville of Rag & Bone

the next day inspired a white oversized tee, Nobody Rue Jean, Mason white blazer, Chloe bowed pumps.

funny thing...I actually got a compliment on my hubby's tee! It's got this great stretched out neckline.

Intermix owner, Haro Keledjian, Model Dana Taylor, David Neville, Model Amelia Poole, Intermix owner Khajak Keledjian, Model Cecily Rodriquez, Marcus Wainwright

last image via ChicagoNow.com

Many thanks to our good friend & painter, Kelley Shields for giving us yet another obsession…Revision Home.  I would save my pennies all year for one of the quarterly sales at Revision Home.  Owner & founder Katie Ernst has the most unbelievable eye.  Her hand picked furnishings and home accessories are sophisticated and playful…they add just enough glam and personality to any setting.  Tonight is a special preview and opening reception for Ms Kelley.  What better plans for a Thurs evening??  Definitely stop in before all the fabulous goods (and paintings!) have been scouted and scooped up.

Brandon has her eye on these most adorable stools

I would love to get my hands on any/all of the hand printed pillow

and this would be perfect for the hundreds of art projects stashed throughout my home

My favorite work from Kelley. See it up close @ Revision Home

Revision Home May Preview and Opening Reception for Kelley Shields

Thursday, May 13 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

SALE DATES:

Friday May 14 & Saturday May 15 - 11 am to 4 pm

2132 W Fulton Chicago, IL 60609

Exciting weekend this weekend!  Lots of great style happenings all around town from home to fashion.  We’re doubly excited about Gary Graham coming to Chicago and showing his F10 collection at The School of the Art Institute’s annual fashion show, NightWalk….then again the following evening this time, up-close-and-personal, at Robin Richman.  Gary Graham creates some really incredible pieces that we find completely irresistible!  We love his lux materials, the handmade construction, all the unique embroidery details & prints.  All beautiful worn individually or layered, layered, layered.  Needless to say, we’ll be at both events We can’t be more thrilled to be offering some of our favorite Gary Graham pieces in our Shop this fall.  Here’s a little taste of spring and fall10.

and Fall….

images via Gary Graham.  Thank you Eliane!

I was on the fabulous style blog, style/SWOON, the other day and she posted about the beautiful world of Sloan Hall, an incredible gift shop in San Antonio, TX.  I whole heartedly agree with Ms. style/SWOON…”really good gift shops should be coveted and rewarded”.  I do covet my favorites and love to reward whenever I can  Hazel on Montrose is still my #1 in Chicago, but my other #1 is Lill Street Art Center (and how nice, just one block from Hazel!).  For all you lovers of ceramic work, paintings, drawings, jewelry, textiles, prints, etchings, glass & digital media (phew!), Lill St is it.   Lill Street is this super cool combo of art classes and gallery all set in this great, warm, inviting space.  Check them out this weekend for their faculty exhibition.  I snuck a few pics while they were setting up the show…..

LOOK at that VASE!!

WOW. How do they do that??

in the gift shop….great gifts…..

I love looking at their wall of mugs. I want to take them all home! All beautiful even on the inside.

just as many fabulous books to choose from

My favorites are the ceramics and pottery….

I can picture my Cheerios already

It gets better…there’s an extra yummy cafe too, The First Slice.

A big slice of chocolate crunch pie please!

There's a peek into the wheel throwing rooms through the windows of the cafe

Lill Street Art Center is located at 4401 N Ravenswood Ave Chicago 60640

We were recently in famed retail institution, Robin Richman.  Robin Richman is this fantastic one-of-a-kind boutique in bucktown that’s known in the city for it’s incredible & irresistible assortment.  I am always amazed by her eye.  Everywhere you look there is something to draw you in.  I was particularly taken with a line by local artist, Ryan Davies.  Love the unique natural elements that he creatively sculpts into necklaces, rings & earrings.

petrified wood earrings. Must be light as a feather!

Silver Cast Gemmy Calcite Mounted with a Myrtlewood Strap Handle

Carved Myrtlewood Ring, “Black Hole”

We love Robin Richman…..such a great store to visit!!

The Robin Richman "sign", a hanging metal wire sculpture by Lucy Slivinski

the most perfect minaudieres.

What a fun and too too short time at Intermix.  There’s never enough time for friends and jewelry! This collection was Jill through and through with her beads, stacking bracelets and diamonds thrown in here and there.  Brandon and I are definitely planning to visit her studio.  Here’s just a few favorites from show…..

I'd love to pile all these on all together!! Very Jill Alberts....brass chain with aquamarine colored pendant.

here's the one I fell in love with and brought home with me :)

Word is out that the classic and iconic trench has been retooled by no other than Christopher Bailey and Sarah Lerfel, of and exclusively for Colette.  Here are a few pics of the collaboration available next month and a few more pics….the classic done streetstyle, editorialized in Paris Vogue by the one-and-only, Carine Roitfeld and lastly, proof that this classic is fabulous at any age!

images via The cool hunter, Jak & Jil, Fashion Gone Rogue, Vanessa Jackman and Materialiste

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

That’s right, all!  Emma Fletcher of Lyell has reopened her shop in Nolita for fall!  That’s very exciting news for us for two reasons:

1.  we’ll be in NYC next month and

2.  now that our beloved Mayle has closed her doors and moved onto better and BETTER, Lyell will make the transition that much easier for us!  I’ve said it before, Jane Mayle’s mix of details and design are really unbeatable.   BUT Lyell’s femme fatale everyday fashion and subtle details, in my humble opinion, comes very very close.

Oooooo….and this is exactly something I would wear for Glamorama next week…

If in NYC, definitely stop in

Lyell

173 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012
newyork@lyellnyc.com
tel - 212.966.8484

store hours
Monday - Saturday 12-7
Sundays 12-6

photos lovingly borrowed from Lyell.

There’s one in every city.  You know, those great quirky second-hand shops with racks and racks of “OMG!!  I had a pair of those!” to tables of knick knacks that keep you entertained for longer than the 15min left on your meter.  Yea, those.

We think Chicago has one of the best of those second-hand shops, Hollywood Mirror on Belmont bt Halsted and Clark.  In a styling pinch, Hollywood Mirror can solve anything….

Hats?  Check.  Sunglasses in every color for every occasion?  Check.

belts in every pattern and style imaginable?  Check.

all this stuff in a perfectly merchandised store….hard to believe, but CHECK!

While you’re there, run to Ragstock upstairs (around the corner & down the alley) for the cutest $20 plaid shirtdresses you will ever come across!  $20!

Huge thanks to our friend and amazing stylist, Bernstein!!, for the stylist tip 

Hollywood Mirror is located at 812 W Belmont Ave Chicago, IL 60657