Gen Art’s “Fresh Faces In Fashion” the Grand Finale of Chicago’s Fashion Focus

On Saturday evening, Gen Art, a leading non-profit organization promoting emerging talent in the arts and entertainment, hosted “Fresh Faces In Fashion.” The annual event celebrated its seventh year with the ‘hottest’ new designers premiering their best and eclectic spring 2010 collections. Fresh Faces has already launched many successful designers like Zac Posen, Vena Cava, Rebecca Taylor and even Lara Miller –who was featured in Thursday night’s Fashion Focus kickoff show, “Macy’s Presents The Designers of Chicago.”

The Fresh Faces In Fashion runway show debuted three accessory designers, five women’s wear designers and one men’s wear designer: Kristin Hassan, Christina Fan of C/Fan, Jenna Lee Fowler and Melanie Manego of JLee Silver, Telo Dunne and Olivia Shanks of Imaginary People, Tatyana Merenyuk of Red Doll, Andrei Savtchenko of Dorsia, Matt and Emma of Emma Caroll Etc., Asia Borycka of Fab Studio and Natasha Kimling Kwan of Kling Handbags.

Upon first entrance guests were greeted by four models wearing Fab Studio’s jewelry of ‘harmony and grace.’ Semi-precious stones, metal necklaces and chains uniquely decorated the model’s black outfits, outrageously outlining their figures; perhaps they should be called ‘body’ laces, as the jewelry can be worn in a variety of ways to contour the figure. Emma Carroll Etc. displayed leather jewelry and other accessories; the jewelry in particular is made with vibrant veg-tanned leathers and can be custom-made by design and dye color.

The runway show began with C/Fan’s women’s wear, which featured loose, flowing dresses in pastoral hues and contrasted with Kristin Hassan’s outfits of bright gold, silver and neon pink hats and dresses. Dorsia’s men’s wear is what I hope to see my new boyfriend in: flirty and fitted knee-length shorts, white bow-ties with slacks, tuxedo jackets, stonewashed jeans and dressy vests over plaid shirts.

JLee’s tailored look caters to the fashion forward working-girl, and thank god. Who isn’t getting tired of Express’s overpriced Editor Pants? While JLee’s line includes jackets and pants, my favorites were the block dress with V-back, the grey A-line dress with a sexy front-zipper and the patterned pencil skirt with long and skinny blue tie.

Imaginary People’s line was inspired by active lifestyles. The clothes, while comfortable, are also functional for elegant evenings: black flowing dresses, snug black and white diamond-patterned pants, short black and white waist-cinched dresses, and my favorite— A-line dress with bright red and yellow flowers.

To view Red Doll’s collection of fun and flirty girlie prints and ruffles, for a look at Kling’s hobo evening clutch and other handbags, or to see more of the above-mentioned designers’ clothing lines, logon to GenArt.org. http://genart.org/fashion

The Magnificent Mile: Victoria's Secret Grand Opening

I cannot think of a better time of the year for a Victoria’s Secret Grand Opening than during the week of Chicago’s 2009 Fashion Focus. And, in what better location than downtown’s Magnificent Mile? But you know what would be even better, given the spirit of Halloween? If an angel flew in from up above—wings and all—to celebrate with guests. Wait a minute. That did happen! Well, almost.

While Victoria’s Secret Angel, Supermodel Marisa Miller, wasn’t wearing her wings, but instead, a pair of tight black jeans, platform heels and a pink t-shirt with the words, “Victoria’s Secret Chicago,” it still felt like our prayers—whatever they may be—were answered. Despite the wet weather, both men and women lined-up around Michigan Avenue anxiously awaiting autographs, and decked out with the pink VS striped umbrellas the store provided.

At first, I was taken aback, annoyed even. Not just by the angry crowds, ‘He told us to wait out there, so why do they get to wait in here?’, but by the bodyguards wearing earpieces. ‘Surely Obama is not back for fashion week, and surely Marisa does not think she’s the president, does she?’ I thought. But, the moment Marisa floated out, everyone—myself included—praised the lord (or maybe cursed him).

Her nose was so perfect and tiny, her forearms so skinny and toned; even her dirty-blonde hair looked like a halo rose high above her head (someone must have handed her ten of those umbrellas this morning). The women wished they’d worn heels today and the men wished they’d either worn heels too or done 500 crunches. At least some of us remembered to wear our Body-By-Victoria’s Secret push-up bras (shhhh…it’s a secret).

As Marisa sat down to sign autographs and we all did back flips with each of her hair flips, there was too much Grand Opening action to ignore. Make-up artists not only painted faces but gave cheekbone consultations, sales women handed out gift cards in excess of $100, and orange juice in champagne glasses danced around waitresses’ heads. Hmmm…perhaps they were really mimosas – I never got my hands on one so I can’t be sure.

To continue the spirit of the season, the place was decorated like a scantily-clad Halloween—but better. Golden wings in the sky, flying bras, tassels, fringes, and translucent corsets. I even spotted baggy mom pajamas for the evening’s end; a perfect opposition to transition from hours of suffocating breast-pushing and stomach-squeezing.

But, as with all of Victoria’s Secrets, the experience is never quite complete without the creepy guy. Typically, he’s someone else’s boyfriend sitting in the only chair that happens to be right outside YOUR dressing room. It was my cue to leave when I asked creepy guy, ‘Here with the wife, ha?’ and he naively responded with, ‘Yea. Shopping with my wife and daughter.’ Gross. I’ve never ever gone underwear shopping with my dad. Not even while running errands at Wal-Mart as he’s in the automotive section.

Although the spirit of this holiday was over for me, I long to use my gift card another day, but mostly, for smaller forearms and a nose that does not move left to right while making facial expressions.

Meals On Wheels 2009 Celebrity Chef Ball

If you didn’t make it to the Meals on Wheels 2009 Celebrity Chef Ball Friday night, then too bad so sad. The real celebrities of the evening were the guests; my girlfriends and I felt honored as the best chefs of Chicago’s premier restaurants cooked for a cause while serving us their sexiest dishes and delicious desserts. Celebrity chef hosts included Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven), Stephanie Izard (Drunken Goat) and Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno). The annual event, held at Macy’s on State Street, benefits Meals on Wheels “to ensure Chicago’s seniors and disabled population retain a lifestyle of independence and dignity.” DSC00462

While tickets to the Chef’s Table sold out before Friday night, most guests came afterward for four hours of the fabulous Chef Tasting Party. Cocktails, gambling and music ensued on the seventh floor of Macy’s, and I spotted dresses and suits covered in guacamole, pork rib and lobster bisque soup before the night’s end. Favorites dribbling down my dress included the pequeno peppers stuffed with goat cheese from Tizi Melloul, butternut squash ravioli from Socca, sushi from Sunda, and ceviche from Adobo Grill.

Other featured restaurants included Boka, Vermillion, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton, Osteria Via Stato, Terragusto and the Gage. If you missed Friday night though, The Local Tourist says you’re in luck: there’s another, smaller ball in Ravenswood tonight, benefiting the Scleroderma Foundation.

Night at the Museum with Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern

“Hi, I’m Desiree, Gal about the Globe,” I excitedly shouted, as I was introduced to Andrew Zimmern, host of Travel Channel’s Bizzare Foods. Andrew, standing proudly in front of his “Strange Foods” table, smiled back, shook my hand and took my business card as I proceeded to flatter him, recounting why I love what he does and love to do it too. Well, the travel part that is; not really so much as eating chocolate- covered grasshoppers, scorpions, caterpillars or a stingray’s heart for breakfast.

Andrew, one of the “special guests” of last night’s Dos Equis "Most Interesting Academy," featured at the Museum of Science and Industry, was a sweetheart. His brown eyes were a bit glazed over from tirelessly greeting guests and plugging the goey-duck clams considered a delicacy in China (that’s pronounced gooey—duck). But he took a moment to ask how I got started in this “biz,” referring to the travel industry and working as a tour operator. “Well…” I realized that my story began when I up and moved to Rome to study in college, which followed up with me moving to London, Chicago and the rest is history. He laughed with that coy, famous smile and told me something very valuable about myself. While he’s met a few other tour operators traveling the globe, their stories are the same, “they all got hooked while studying in college.”

I conceded, asking where he’s actually from, and of course he responded, “New York City.” Although Andrew is from the center of the universe, I didn’t hold it against him, since, given his occupation, he’s probably the only New Yorker that makes it out of Manhattan. Likewise, he loved that I’m from Texas and recounted a show of his in the Austin Hill Country last year, just before we took a couple photos.

Andrew returned to his “Strange Foods” table, pampering the large, penis-shaped clams and enthusiastically posed for more photos. But, it was not our last encounter. Throughout the evening, I was dragged over for more pictures with various groups of friends, forgetting that, hmmm…perhaps Andrew would rather us just try the clams instead, and get on with it. Most guests stuck with blood sausage, another favorite of his, and watered it down with food located at a table nearby that should’ve been referred to as the “Safe Foods” table, as it included chips and salsa, as well as buffalo wings.

Footnotes: Thanks to Reggie Brown, fellow NBC Chicago Street Team member (and famous Barack Obama impersonator) for originally introducing me to Andrew Zimmern and taking some photos.