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.

Came across this wonderful video from The Bedlam of Beefy and thought it would be a great way to start the week….with some laughs & inspiration.  Enjoy!

A favorite sign of mine in my neighborhood.  The window at Julius Meinl on Irving Park Rd.  Have a great weekend!

As fate would have it, fellow Chicagoans were skipping with happiness to sunshine & over 70 degree weather, while my family & I found ourselves in snow up to our knees in Utah.  BUT we all agreed, we’d happily do it all over again and it was the perfect place (cold & all) for our much needed family down time.

Park City, Utah. CHARMING home of the 2002 Winter Olympics AND The Sundance Film Festival.

loved the bridges and chair lifts that ran through the town.

You can't have a charming little town without a trolley! Voila! Trolley!

My daughter, Kit, before ski lessons.....

After ski lessons......

I've always loved the ski/snowboard fashion mantra....the more color, the better!

It was fun seeing a couple of skirts up on the mountain...

and a couple clowns!

fashion up on the slopes is also all about the gear.

I'm not a boader, but a definite fan. Maybe next season :)

My son, Simon, taking a break after a few runs.

“]

Big shout out to Simon's buddy, AJ and his family for the invite out to Utah :

Park City Mountain Resort...till next season!

Since we were only able to hit 1 night of Fashion Week, we sadly missed The New Garde presentation, featuring talented and innovative up-and-comers, Gar-de. So bummed that we missed it, but at least we’ll get to see them in person next week. Here’s a sneak peek:

all images via WWD

image via starworksny

Fashion Week officially kicks off tomorrow, and Arlene and I are lucky enough to be there. We’ll be heading out to NYC on Thursday morning (Arlene’s 9-year old daughter, Kit, in tow. Can’t even begin to tell you how excited she is. She started crying the minute Arlene told her — started saying it was going to be “just like the day we went searching for Rodarte for Target!” She LOVES to hang out at our studio — playing dress-up, waiting on imaginary customers — and she loves fashion. Oh, and she really, really wants to have her picture on our blog. She is a serious fashionista-in-training.)

Anyway, while we were able to set up a few appointments for Thursday and Friday (Sonia Rykiel inlcuded, we’re happy to announce!!!), the main reason for this trip is the Rachel Comey show. We just adore Rachel Comey’s easy, quirky, yet feminine style and are super-excited to be adding her to our shop this Spring. Can’t wait to see what she’s got on deck for Fall. Here’s a quick look back at Fall 09.

Love her knits, her furs, her prints, her layers, her shoes. Just love everything about her whole vibe. So easy and so cool, right? We’ll definitely give an update upon our return. And maybe even include a picture or two of Kit.

all images via Style.com

As we have established, I am a big, big fan of old Hollywood and all that sort of Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, Bette Davis sort of glamour. So, one of my most favorite modern celebrities is the gorgeous Dita Von Teese. I’m not going to lie, once I saw those eyebrows I was hooked. If there is an aesthitician in the world who can make my eyebrows look like that (without surgery), I need her (or his) number!! 

Recently, I stumbled across these images of the stunning Dita wearing Gaultier. 

That last one kinda reminds me of this movie still of Bette Davis…

C’mon, she looks fantastic, doesn’t she?? Love the black and white photography. And the menswear look just kills me — I need that strappy, corset-y thing. Perfect.

When we launched, we worked with a very small number of showrooms and reps. One of the very first showrooms we went to was Steven Alan. We had this amazing rep. Liz. Like seriously, Liz was ah MAYY zing. Arlene and I have this ongoing unofficial game we play whenever we send a request or question to a rep to see if they can beat Liz’s record of Most. Attentive. Ever.

One of the many things that made Liz such an amazing rep was her honest and no-bullshit way of telling us what she thought we needed and what she thought we didn’t. And Liz knows what’s what. She steered us toward Lemlem, she steered us toward Demylee, she steered us toward that insanely perfect Boyy bag that drops in March, and… she steered us toward Sunshine & Shadow.

From the moment we were steered over to the mesmerizing wall of tie-dyed scarves, we were in love. Until now, we’ve only carried these bright and beautiful gems. Well with Spring two thousand and 10, that’s all about to change. For Spring, Sunshine & Shadow is offering some enchanting silk shifts in a gorgeous array of color-blocked combos. l.o.v.e. LOVE!!  

  Last week we shot our upcoming February cover story and featured a number of these darling little numbers.

Clearly our styling and vibe for the story are a little bit different from the S & S lookbook, but that only goes to show you how truly awesome these little shifts are! Here’s a little more of the goodness to come. 

We just loved the quirky styling in all these images — so cute with all the colored knee-highs and colorful sandals. And also love the creative uses of the scarves. So refreshing to see something that feels new. 

all images via Sunshine & Shadow Spring 10 lookbook. Check out the rest here.

Happy Holidays from our little family to yours.

XOXO,

Arlene and Brandon