A new cover story is up and this one definitely makes it into our favorites.   We all kinda pushed the boundaries of our comfort zone and came out with a real beauty

Check it again here

photography by Erika Dufour

hair & makeup by Maggie Kerr

styled by Brandon Frein & Arlene Matthews

model - Stasia, Ford models

**special thanks to the following students of The School at The Art Institute Chicago for use of their amazing pieces:  image 1 & 2: leather capelet - Bree Williams, image 3: dress - Irem Soyak, last image:  cropped knit sweater - Samantha Brunson

Very exciting Art + Fashion day today!  And one of our favorite’s of the year.  Today is The Walk, the Annual Fashion Benefit Gala in support of the student scholarships at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago AND {one must mention} one of the premier cultural events in the city   For the first time in the school’s 77 years, the benefit gala will take place outside of the Art Institute at Chase Promenade in the beautiful Millennium Park.  Gala festivities begin with a cocktail reception at 6pm, followed by a runway show honoring Ikram Goldman at 7pm and concludes with an elegant post-show dinner at 8pm.  Meet fantastic people, mingle in Millennium Park, enjoy an amazing runway presentation from the students of SAIC and most important, come support!  Please call 312.629.6897 for availability or questions regarding ticket purchases.

A big thanks to our friends over at Erika Dufour Photography for introducing us to Red Shift…BTW ladies, thank you for the lovely lovely meeting!  Look at this leather vest…..ooohh, this would be incredible with any of the pretty white Gary Graham dresses (or shorts from Rachel Comey or seersucker trousers from Vanessa Bruno!) we bought for S11.

with my striped tee & Rachel Comey shorts...oooooo, San Rafael here I come!

More to love about Red Shift…designer, Kristin Mariani Frieman, is a local Chicagoan & a graduate of The School of The Art Institute of Chicago.  She created Red Shift in 2000…you go girl!

check out Red Shift tees on flickr

WOW.  What a really amazing evening of fashion at this year’s Annual School of the Art Institute NightWalk 2010 benefit.  It was a gorgeous evening, a gorgeous event and everyone in attendance came out in full force to support the school.  Another big WOW for the all amazing streetstyle that night.  That was by far what made the evening so fun for me, next to meeting Gary Graham  Everywhere I turned was another fantastic look!  With 76 years of fashion, art & design education and with alumnus such as Halston, Matthew Ames, Cynthia Rowley & Gary Graham to just name a few, no surprise that the Fashion Department at the School of the Art Institute Chicago could gather so many lovers of fashion & art into one room.  I’ve already marked my calendar for next year’s event!

Always lots of fun running into Ms Candace Jordan at these events.

Too cute. Glasses and nose ring never looked better together!

This year's event was held in Renzo-Piano-designed Griffin Court of the Art Institute's amazing new Modern Wing

Here we are both in our pieces by Gary Graham. A little homage to this year's SAIC Legend of Fashion Honoree.

This woman's dress was one of my favorites. I loved it paired back to her flat lace up boots.

I just loved this woman jacket...look at the great knit insets under the arms.

Me, Gary Graham, Eliane from Gary Graham, Brandon & Amanda of SassafrasChic.blogspot