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FASHIONABLE INVITE: Macy’s State Street Hosts Fall Bridal Sample Sale

WHO: Macy's State Street
WHAT: A fall Bridal Sample Sale Extravaganza
WHEN: Saturday, October 13th – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, October 14th – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: Macy’s State Street – 111 N. State St, Chicago, IL 60602 – 7th Floor, Narcissus Room
WHY: The exclusive clearance event will feature 500 sample gowns all available for $500 or less for a savings of approximately 60% to 80% off original prices! Brides-to-be can browse through dresses from top designers, including Demetrios, Cosmobella, Augusta Jones, Lazaro, Tara Keely by Lazaro, Watters & Watters, Watters Wtoo, Jorge Perez and Judd Waddell.

FASHIONABLE INVITE: Luxury Garage Sale, Designer Warehouse Sale

WHO: Luxury Garage Sale
WHAT: Designer Warehouse Sale
WHERE: 329 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60616
WHEN: Friday, Oct 5, 12-7pm and Saturday Oct 6, 10am-6pm
WHY: They will be selling around 10,000 designer items - all under $250, starting at just $10

FASHIONABLE INVITE: Lafayette's Autumn/Winter 2018 collection

WHO: Neiman Marcus
WHAT: Lafayette 148 New York's Autumn/Winter 2018 collection
WHERE: Neiman Marcus, Michigan Avenue, Third Floor
WHEN: Wednesday, September 12, 1pm
WHY: Fashion expert, Brooke Jaffe, talks about the collection inspiration by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

FASHIONABLE DISCOVERIES: Artists Frame Service

WHO: Artists Frame Service
WHAT: Opens a River North location, just one block north of the Merchandise Mart
WHERE: 433 N. Wells St, Chicago, IL
WHEN: Now open
WHY: The store has an impressive variety of stocked photo frames – which includes their own frames manufactured here in Chicago- as well as a custom framing services. Here you can find unique handcrafted made to order frames that have been sourced from around the world. They also sell local art, custom mirrors, and both pre-designed or custom gallery walls. But most exciting is their professional digital photo and art printing services. That is right you can print images straight from you phone.

FASHIONABLE INVITE Glossier

WHO: Glossier, the beauty brand from Into the Gloss
WHAT: Favored by millennials, the cult brand, has opened a temporary retail experience in West Loop
WHERE: 114 N Aberdeen St, Chicago, IL 60607
WHEN: Now till the end of October
WHY: Housed in a former firehouse the space draws inspiration from not only the city’s iconic architectural history but the vibrant art scene. Inside, visitors will be able to test and shop the full Glossier product line and also discover the brand through highly interactive installations.

FASHIONABLE INVITE: Everlane Denim Pop-up

WHO: Everlane
WHAT: The online brand has opened a pop-up store launching its new "Authentic Stretch Denim” collection.
WHERE: 160 N. Morgan St. Chicago, IL
WHEN: September 5–16, 11am–7pm
WHY: Three new styles, a mid-rise skinny, a high-rise skinny, and a cigarette pant with a button fly and a wider ankle, all have been added to the denim range. Also unlike typical denim manufacturers, which are notorious water-waster, Everlane's factory is able to recycle 98% of the water, as well as repurposing byproducts and using alternative energy sources. Now, why wouldn't you want to support that! The brand's ethos has always been focused on being a transparent company regarding its business practices.

FASHIONABLE DISCOVERIES: Bentley Hair and Beauty Salon

All my life I have struggled with frizzy hair, it’s something that has always been difficult to control even after trying countless assortments of anti-frizzing products. So I was excited when the owner of Bentley Hair and Beauty Salon, Jennifer Long Riordan, invited me to try a hair-smoothing treatment called the Brazilian Blowout.

The brilliance behind this blowout is that it is a fully customizable depending on your needs. Whether you wear your hair straight or curly, there are varying degrees of bespoke finishes, but the treatment will smooth, fight the frizz and increase manageability.

First, your hair is washed with a clarifying shampoo making sure it’s completely removed of any excess oil or dirt, and the cuticles are fully opened. Next, the solution is brushed onto the damp hair. Your hair is then blow-dried, and flat ironed before the treatment is rinsed out –which I know sounds counterintuitive. A hair bonding spray is applied before your hair is blow-dried once again. And that is it, you are ready to go.

Depending on the length of your locks the whole process is around two hours and lasts 12 weeks. To maximum the results you'll need to up your product game. Using a sulfate-free and sodium chloride-free shampoo and conditioner will help extend the results of the treatment.

Located in the Gold Coast, Bentley is not your typical salon, for starters, the hand-selected team is made up entirely of senior stylists to ensure each customer the best quality of service. Also, Jennifer and her two lead stylists, Danielle Reilly and Stephen Donovan, are from Europe, which is always head of the US in both style and technique. And lastly, the salon is only one of five in Chicago to carry the exclusive hair care brand, Shu Uemura Art of Hair, a range routinely praised in magazines such as Allure, Vogue, and Elle.

Brazilian Blowout, $350+, Bentley Hair and Beauty Salon, 43 East Oak St, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-624-9315.

FASHIONABLE DISCOVERIES: The Goop x CB2 Collaboration

(left to right) Britt Pattner, Creative Consultant / Diana Ryu, Director of Content Operations (Managing Editor) / Gwyneth Paltrow, Founder + CEO / Jean Godfrey-June, Beauty Director / Megan O’Neill, Senior Beauty Editor

WHO: CB2
WHAT: Launching a limited edition collaboration with GOOP
WHERE: CB2.com and in CB2 stores with limited products available on goop.com.
WHEN: TODAY, August 30th!
WHY: The goop X CB2 collection merges CB2’s modern approach to design with goop’s sophisticated aesthetic, offering elegant, yet laid-back pieces that you’ll want to live with. The collection ($9.95 - $5,796) is a true representation of Gwyneth’s design aesthetic and CB2’s creativity - think a mid-century Curvo pink sofa, intricate parisian-inspired china and comfy meditation pillows.

FASHIONABLE INVITE: Rent the Runway Sample Sale

WHO: Rent the Runway
WHAT: Chicago Sample Sale
WHERE: Water Tower Place 835 N. Michigan Ave, Level 5 Chicago, IL 60611
WHEN: Saturday August 18th - Saturday, August 25th; Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm Sunday, 11am - 6pm
WHY: 90% off retail prices on designer clothing, handbags, and accessories, including designers like Badgley Mischka, Elizabeth & James, and ML Monique Lhuillier.

FASHION CONFESSIONS: Brian Atwood, shoe designer

Brian Atwood, made his name designing exquisite heels worn by many stars like Kate Hudson, Taylor Swift, and Lady GaGa to name a few. A former fashion model, he began his design career in the 90's working for the legendary Gianni Versace. As the first American designer hired by the Italian fashion house, he quickly rose to the position of Head Designer of Accessories. In 2001 he launched his namesake shoe label specializing in glamourous sky-high heels, which soon became a fixture on the red carpet. I chatted to Atwood at the Chicago History Museum where he was being honored at their spring fundraiser luncheon in support of the Costume Council, the sold-out event raised over $30,000.

WHAT’S YOUR FASHION ADDICTION?
Shoes, of course! I’ve collected around 1500 shoes from every shoe designer you can image.

WHO ARE YOU STYLE ICONS?
Besides my mom, classics like Lauren Hutton

Brian Atwood and his mom Dusty Stemer, event co-chair

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Life of the party

LAST TIME YOU DANCED?
Last week at a karaoke party

LAST TIME YOU WERE LATE?
Today

LAST FILM YOU SAW?
My girl Melissa McCarthy’s new film Life of the Party

LAST BOOK YOU READ?
I’m currently reading The Power of Now

LAST TIME YOU WERE STARSTRUCK?
At the Oscars, everyone was there from Nicole Kidman to Madonna.

BIGGEST FASHION FAUX PAS?
A corduroy flared suit

LAST TIME SOMEONE MADE YOU LAUGH?
Last night on the phone with my brother Zak (Stemer).

Brian Atwood with his brother Zak Stemer

FAVORITE VACATION HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
Anywhere in Greece

BEST SHOE ADVICE?
If you don’t know what shoe to wear with an outfit my advice is select something simple, stay away from anything too trendy. So often I see a woman in a great outfit but with terrible shoes.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR ICONIC MANIAC SHOES?
Maniacs were inspired by the movie Flash Dance, I remember I was at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party. Brad Goreski was dressed as Jennifer Beals and said: “You should do a red pump called a Maniac.” And I said, “You know, that’s a good idea!”

Maniac Shoe

YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH GROWING UP?
Tom Cruise

LAST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?
JLo in Dubai

YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE?
Tequila on the rocks with a lime

WHAT’S ON THE LIST DO LIST WHILE YOU ARE HERE IN CHICAGO?
The Wieners Circle with my brother

In-conversation with Susanna Homan, editor and chief of Chicago magazine

Event photos by Mila Samokhina