One of my fave stores to visit in Chicago is the unique and special Robin Richman. Robin has a terrific eye and it always feels just a little bit like walking into an art gallery when you walk through her door. On a couple of recent visits, I discovered 2 new obsessions:  jewelry designer, Jean-François Mimilla, and clothing designer, Marc Le Bihan. I fell in love with each of them on a different visit and came to find out that these 2 are actually a couple. And from their design aesthetics, it seems to be a match made in Heaven.

Jean-François’ jewelry is a little bit like clothing — decadent and ornate pieces that beg to be the focal point.

I died over this piece at the recent jewelry show at RR. It felt so good when I had it on, I was kind of prancing.

And on the clothing side, Marc Le Bihan creates pieces that are really a lot like accessories — sheer detail, tulle, collars, and tons of drape — just begging to be played and experimented with.

I actually scored a really awesome Marc Le Bihan piece that I absolutely adore. It’s a black tulle dress with a drawstring waist and endless styling possibilities. I’ll try to remember to have Arlene snap a picture the next time I wear it (which will probably be tomorrow, since I’m wearing it all the time).

Now if only I could figure out how to get that feather collar…

{image sources: all images by Cécile Guyenne (except the ones of me, obvs, taken by Arlene) }

Marc Le Bihan and Jean-François Mimilla available at Robin Richman in Chicago.

It is no secret to anyone who knows me, I love to shop. I love things. And it’s not a materialistic thing, I just love things that are beautiful or unique or awesome in some way. I buy things because they speak to me, generally with absolutely no thought as to what I will do with them.

I also really enjoy the art of shopping. And there definitely is an art to it. (I actually know a number of people who say they don’t like to shop. What? That is so foreign to me.) Shopping is like a hunt, an adventure. To find the perfect item, the perfect bargain, the hidden gem, that one little something special. I think it gives me endorphins or something, because it definitely gets my heart pumping. I joke that I could actually enjoy shopping at CVS (the local drug store). I could, though.

So here’s just a few of my latest acquisitions:

For the office we picked up another dress form, a couple of Argentinian mid-century chairs and the most awesome pony hair ottoman…

FInally found the perfect "trying on shoes" pouf

for home, I picked up another ottoman and a vintage hat box for my boudoir…

And maybe my favorite new item of all, the new crown jewel of my accessories collection, this amazing and unique vintage collar…

I see amazing things just about everywhere I go, so I think I’ll make this Favorite Things post a regular feature. Tune in next week to see what else I’m obsessing over

{vintage wire dress form, pony hair ottoman and tapestry ottoman from Revision Home; leather and metal chairs from Architectural Artifacts; vintage hat box from Study Vintage; vintage collar from Hazel }

I am a big fan of anything unique that makes a statement, so it was love at first sight when I first laid eyes on New York-based jewelry line, Falconiere. A collection filled with collars, cuffs, leather, feathers and chains, there isn’t a piece with which I’m not obsessed!

Loved seeing the entire collection at the showroom. So fun to try it all on!

And with some help from the lovely ladies at the awesome Maryam Nassir Zadeh showroom, we were able to get our hands on a few of these babies for our latest punk/grunge-inspired editorial shoot.

It was so much fun to play with it all and figure out all the different ways to style it.

Can’t wait to share it all with you in our July cover story, so stay tuned.

Falconiere: that’s what I call fashion!

An extra big shout-out to Jen at Maryam Nassir Zadeh Showroom for giving us the hook-up. Thanks, Jen! Love you and love that awesome showroom!!

{all images by twentythirtyforty}

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 :)

I’d like to thank Santa. Or more appropriately, my husband, Tracy. And also David, owner of beloved Chicago boutique, Hazel. Here’s what I got for Christmas…

I love jewelry. All kinds — silver, gold, vintage, costume, fine, big, small, necklaces, bracelets, rings. I think it might come from my father. He used to buy my mother jewelry for every occasion. It got to a point where she had to ask him to stop buying her jewelry because she couldn’t wear it all. My parents were married for 53 years, so she really wasn’t exaggerating — she amassed quite a bit over the years. Anyway, suffice it to say that I always check out the jewels when I am shopping. Recently, when I was in Hazel, David turned me on to yet another new designer: Saundra Messinger. Similar in sensibility to lines like Me & Ro, Saundra’s pieces are classic, yet modern; delicate, yet packed with style.

The matte, uneven finish and artfully-placed tiny diamonds provide just the right amount of shine.

And she gets a little chunkier, too. I’ll be hoping for even bigger pieces in the future!

Let’s face it, diamonds are a girl’s best friend…

Saundra Messinger jewelry is available at Hazel in Chicago or online at KatyBeh.com (all images taken from katybeh.com)

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!

I would most definitely give some serious consideration to the new FW09 fine jewelry collection designed by German designer Michael Zobel for Acne. Giant chunky rings, cuffs and pendants that make me drool. Each piece is a showstopper in itself and is guaranteed to make a statement no matter what you may be wearing. The collection debuted back in February but just now came across our radars. I am a sucker for a great piece of costume jewelry and typically shy away from the finer pieces because they are usually so dainty — the bigger they get, the more expensive, obviously (Don’t get me wrong — I do love and own fine jewelry and wear a diamond-chip studded chunky “B” around my neck on an almost daily basis.) Leave it to Acne to say, screw it if it’s expensive, we’re going BIG!!! In my dreams, I will be sporting these gorgeous baubles all around town. Actually, all around the world — I mean, if I can afford a $60,000 cuff then surely I can afford to flaunt it in Lake Como with George Clooney and Ibiza with Jade Jagger.

The big disc ring with the diamonds running through it??? Um, YEAH! And I’ll take one of these diamond box rings, too, please

I’d also like to point out the plastic pant in the background of shot #1. Nobody does it like Acne.