feathers, ruffled.

ruffle some feathers this new years eve with this number, courtesy of diane von furstenberg. $367, and worth every penny.

palais pump.

indulgence at its finest. get these ysl palais leather platform pumps @ net-a-porter.com.

give.me.this.now.

rachel by rachel roy pearl grey metallic romper. perfect for a night on the town. love it.

seeing spots.

according to the new york times, alexander wang is having a sample sale at his mercer st. boutique. i've been eyeing this cher large siamese clutch in leopard. originally $820, it's now $328. just perfect for my budget. happy shopping!

fall fashion | jackets + things

take 2

top: Forever 21, $13.50
silk skirt: thrifted, Treasury DC, $30
accessories: aforementioned 

fall fashion guide | pt. 1

dress: Forever 21, $13.50
platform python slingbacks: ABS, $130
lucite beaded necklace: $30
belted bracelet: free
rings: various

dress: Forever 21, $13.50
platform python slingbacks: ABS, $130
lucite beaded necklace: $30
belted bracelet: free
rings: various
floral military jacket: JCrew, $13 

give.me.this.now.

michael kors midsize ceramic watch with glitz. it's slick. it's subtly flashy. it's $495.

eastern market series | mann made designs

if you love bright colors + geometric designs + ecclectic jewelry, look no further than mann made designs by sterling silver jewelry designer jimmy mann. i got the chance to check out his booth at eastern market, and karen (morethanaruby.wordpress.com) and i were impressed with what the chief designer had to offer:

earrings, cufflinks, pendants, galore... more after the jump!

window shopping

photographer rebecca martinez captures the best of bergdorf goodman's window displays. my god. if i could do this for a living, i would. fabulous!

eastern market series | buji bag

designer ana russell might have a million dollar idea on her hands. after quitting her corporate job after the recession, she decided to get back to her artistry in designing handbags, jewelry, apparel, and my favorite, "booties". if you visit her stand in eastern market, an open air market for fresh goods and crafts by local designers, you will be amazed at her level of creativity.

"booties" are leather and lace covers for your heels. you insert your shoe, and wrap the cover around and under the sole of the shoe, and it completely revolutionizes the wearability of your shoe wardrobe. they come in many assorted leathers, but my personal favorite is the lace series (pictured on the right). The prices range from $40 - $60, depending upon the materials used for the bootie.  one of my dear alumni friends and fellow blogger karen attiah and i (morethanaruby.wordpress.com)  were able to chat it up with Ana and snap more photos of her wonderful musings! More after the jump.

give.me.this.now.

miu miu matelasse leather shoulder bag. $1450. Net-a-Porter.

neo-leo

why i love @juneambrose. her opulent twitpics. enjoy!

YSL Leopard Trib-Too Pumps. Canary yellow brassiere.

madhatter | goorin bros.

Goorin Brothers & Accessories | 1533 N. Milwaukee Avenue

West Coast based hat company Goorin Bros. has made it to the Second City. Straw fedoras, flap caps, and cadets, otherwise known as the  essentials of cool can be purchased here at their Bucktown location. I was most impressed with their hand-crafted feathered headbands, priced at roughly $18.

the silver room

The Silver Room |  1442 North Milwaukee Avenue

The Silver Room...a cute little jewelry store, juice bar, and art gallery wrapped up into one. You'll find a variety of silver necklaces, bracelets, watches etc. But perhaps the most notable aspect to this Wicker Park hidden gem is it's selection of killer sunglasses ($15) and the rings of a particular Chicago based designer by the name of John Clayborn.

sir + madame

 Friday, Isaiah (dynasteeshop.com) and I got the opportunity to attend the Sir and Madame release party on 938 N. Damen Ave. If you've ever shopped at Soulmates Chicago, you'll quickly realize that this is the sister store to that establishment. Sir and Madame offers funky ecclectic fashions and accessories with moderate pricepoints. The set-up is small, temper your quickness to assume that the selection is vast. Varied maybe, but not vast. I got a chance to chat with one of the buyers for womenswear, Autumn. She was wearing the store logo tank with a fierce bowtie ring that's to die for.

 

I also found these cute textiled Osborn oxford shoes, priced at $140.

fashionfwd4th

I'm sure many of you will be dipping in and out of the waters of rooftop pools, lakes, and oceans. Refinery 29 gives a great guide to fashion-forward swimwear for all your best foot forward on the 4th of July.

lenny + me

Lenny + Me Home | 1459 North Milwaukee Avenue

an interior design buff's heaven. doctor's sacs. suitcases, typewriters, stylized light fixtures, aprons, chairs, etc. orgasmic overstimulation for the eyes.

it all started in heaven

1550 Milwaukee Avenue | Heaven Gallery

artist space. music performance. occasional vintage sales. heaven on earth. if you are in chicago july 3rd, as much as it pains me to inform you of my new haven for fashion, you must visit their blowout sale. they've invited tons of vendors, slashed prices, etc. it will be amazing. below are some of my favorite snapshots from my visit with Alma, a chicago-based fashion designer and curator of style.

The space normally functions as a gallery. It was such a delight to see a multi-disciplinary approach to the curation of art and culture.

Jewelry, hats, accessories galore!

A Chanel-inspired floor-length chiffon gown. to die for. It's a vintage reconstruction from the fashion director's fall line. love it.

$22 handcrafted earrings. I will be going back Saturday to pick these babies up.

 Shiaparelli-inspired frock with mink overlay.

Shoes. shoes. and more shoes.

 My favorite purchase. A fox collar for my winter escapades. D.I.E.

Heaven it truly was.

the v spot

Traveling and exploring is growing into one of my favorite pastimes. The caveat to this passion of mine, is that I often encounter great places to just vibe and shop. Chicago, my second home, is no different. To chronicle my return to the windy city, I'll be posting a series of features on vintage shopping in one of my favorite areas of the city, Wicker Park. And it all started with this one special place in mind. Updates soon!