September 29, 2010

Christina Fan of C/FAN Designs

On Monday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chicago’s own, Christina Fan, of C/FAN designs. She truly is one of my favorite designers in Chicago and if you look at her collections, you’ll see why. She describes her aesthetic as effortless, luxurious and sexy. What more could you ask for? It’s perfection. Her designs are very wearable yet quite unique. She takes wardrobe staples and designs them her way, to create a beautiful C/FAN garment.

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I had the pleasure of meeting Christina at the Chicago Fashion Incubator Meet and Greet this past summer. She is part of this year’s CFI group along with 5 other designers. I had to ask her how her experience with the CFI has been going so far. She said it’s absolutely wonderful and it’s great to have a foundation for business (like financing, accounting, etc….all those things fashion people try to avoid). Because she was the only designer who already had her line going before she joined the CFI, she claims it has really helped her from a business standpoint.

Speaking of business, one of the most interesting things about Christina is that she has no formal training in design….she actually graduated with a degree in History from Northwestern University and had plans to go to law school. She even had a full ride to Chicago Kent. She traveled a lot and kept putting off law school, and that’s when she finally realized that she wanted to be a fashion designer.

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What’s so interesting about C/FAN is that because of Christina’s business/professional background, she wanted to design practical clothing. It’s difficult for a designer to go this route because sometimes it can be too practical where it’s boring. Christina has found that perfect balance of practicality and individuality.

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When I asked Christina, “who is the one celebrity you would love to see wear one of your designs?” she immediately responded, “Cate Blanchett.” Christina loves her style and her aesthetic and thinks Cate and C/FAN would be a great match.

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Christina has come a long way in the past few years. Starting C/FAN in 2008 with a line of outerwear sold at Akira, she is now in Sofia Vintage, Cerato, SHE Boutique and more. She is very happy where she is right now because she feels like her collection is being sold at places that fit her aesthetic.

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What’s next for C/FAN? Christina is showing her Spring 2011 collection at Chicago Fashion Focus next month. She also hopes to one day dabble in accessories, specifically handbags.

And of course the infamous ChiCityFashion question… “Why Chicago?” Christina was born and raised here so she knew it was at least a good place to start. Also, the Chicago Fashion Incubator program has provided her with a lot of support. Christina says, “If your product is good, you can be based anywhere.” So true….

For more C/FAN visit www.cfan-designs.com

September 26, 2010

My Interview with Nick Verreos

On Saturday (9/25), I attended the Macy’s Fashion Challenge, hosted by Nick Verreos from Project Runway season 2. Thanks to the lovely PR team at Macy’s, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nick. He was the sweetest, most enthusiastic and genuinely happy person I’ve ever met. I did not want to leave the interview…unless it was to go have drinks with Nick…he is a doll! A surprise twist…Peach Carr from this season (8) of Project Runway showed up to say hi and support her friend, Nick. How sweet! She’s just as much of a riot! I had such a blast talking to them both and it was quite a lovely Saturday afternoon.

I had to start off the interview by asking him how he got involved with the Florence program through my alma mater, Miami University. Apparently the head of the Europe program at Miami sent an email to all the contestants from season 2 of Project Runway to see if they were to do any challenges there. Nick was actually the only one of the contestants to respond to the email. One thing lead to another and Nick ended up doing a 2-day lecture series and tour of Florence “fashion spots” and has been doing this for the past 2 years for Miami students.

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To go along with the styling event at Macy’s that Nick was there for, I had to ask him what his favorite trends for Fall are. He responded, “Definitely metallics. Whether it’s a metallic pump or mixing metallics with jewelry. You find some great things here at Macy’s. One of my favorite designers, Rachel Roy…DIE! D-I-E. Rachel.” Yes it seriously went down this way…he loves Rachel Roy. “Rachel Roy has some fabulous necklaces. It looks like you’re wearing five necklaces, but it’s just one and it’s [all] attached. It’s just genius!” This is what Nick describes as “adding a Fall punch” to your wardrobe. Another one of Nick’s favorite Fall trends? Military of course! Not just any military…military jackets…and specifically FITTED military jackets….cargo pants oo. He states [with regards to cargo pants], “Don’t go for the typical baggy kind. Keep it skinny, and ladies…even if you’re not a size 2 you can still do skinny. I don’t want to hear it! I have seen some fabulous plus size ladies who WORK IT! It’s all about confidence…”

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Onto the next….Nick has taught at FIDM, he’s designed, styled, done TV hosting and much more…I had to ask him what is his favorite job or what his favorite part about his job is. He responded, “I know I’m lucky doing something that I love…and getting paid for it. I’m so happy for that. There are a lot of people who go through the world, go through life for years and years and years, stuck in a job that they don’t like and they just can’t wait for retirement. That’s kind of sad. For me, I just can’t wait what the next day brings to me.” I think that’s very important and I couldn’t agree more. It’s so important to do what you love because it’s better to enjoy life than to just “get by.” Nick then went on to talk about how he worked in the fashion industry for 12 years literally doing every job in the business. He always heard his “superiors” talking about how much the traveled and he was quite envious at the time. Now, he literally “lives out of a suitcase” but he loves to travel (especially when he gets an upgrade…and he thanks American Airlines for that).

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The infamous question I ask everyone, because I am ChiCityFashion of course, is “What is your favorite part about Chicago?” and “Do you have any commentary with regards to Chicago fashion?” Nick immediately responded with how much he loves Chicago (good answer!) and claims it’s one of his top 3 favorite cities in the country. Nick goes on, “It’s one of the most beautiful cities architecturally. I love the downtown area. It has some of my favorite stores and boutiques. Everyone here is so wonderful.” Although Nick raves about how much he loves Chicago, he has never been here in the winter or in the super hot and humid summer days. So he definitely considers himself quite lucky with regards to the weather here. Nick says, “In terms of fashion, I think it’s a great fashionable city. I’ve judged Project Runway casting with Tim Gunn and we saw a lot of fashion here.”

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Nick & I after the interview

Nick with the first two contestants of the Macy’s Fashion Challenge (first challenge was to style a Red Carpet look in 2 minutes!)

Red Carpet challenge winning look

What a great photo of Peach and Nick

Peach & I after the event

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Nick’s last words of the interview… “Chicago is a very chic city.” I couldn’t agree more 🙂

August 28, 2010

Dana Rebecca Designs

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If you read magazines or watch TV, you have most likely come across a Dana Rebecca design. Gracing the ears, hands and necks of celebrities like Blake Lively, Faith Hill, and Anne Hathaway (just to name a few), Dana Levy’s jewelry line, Dana Rebecca Designs, is a celeb favorite. Why wouldn’t it be? Have you seen her jewelry? It’s incredible!

It’s difficult to find fine jewelry that is still unique and fun, but Dana Levy has really found her niche. Using colored gemstones and genuine diamonds, Dana creates immaculate jewelry, including one-of-a-kind pieces that sell out almost immediately on her website.

A new technique Dana has discovered is carving. This isn’t your normal carved stone…it’s actually carved underneath to get the same design-effect with a smooth top. The result is gorgeous!

What’s so meaningful about Dana’s jewelry is that she draws inspiration from the people around her. She does not design a Fall and Spring collection like most designers. She truly creates pieces based on her friends and family by using their first and middle names to name each piece of jewelry.

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When I sat down to interview Dana, I was pleasantly surprised by how young she was. Graduating college only four years ago, she has built a very reputable business and designs stunning pieces created with thought and care. I couldn’t help but be extremely impressed! Being the successful entrepreneur she is, Dana is quite humble with her great accomplishments. When I asked her how she feels about major celebrities wearing her designs, she says she gets excited but she cannot dwell on it; her entrepreneurial spirit tells her to move onto the next. She also claims, “press is fun, but I still want the average person to want to buy my jewelry too.”

I asked Dana who she’s dying to see have a DRD moment on the red carpet. Blake Lively was her first response. She’s young, she’s gorgeous and she has great taste…it’s the perfect match! Blake has worn DRD on the set of Gossip Girl but still has yet to do so on the red carpet. Sandra Bullock is another celebrity Dana would like to see wear her designs. “I want relatable celebrities to wear my jewelry.” Dana claims. So does that mean Lindsay Lohan is out of the question? 🙂

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So how did Dana Levy from the ‘burbs of Chicago get to where she’s at today? Growing up with a father who has been in the jewelry manufacturing business her whole life, jewelry was in Dana’s blood. At age 15, Dana traveled to India with her father on a business trip. She was interrupting his meeting so he sent her out. She wandered into a store where she began creating her own jewelry, which is where she really found her passion. Before Dana Rebecca Designs came to be in ’07, people called her jewelry ITSADANA. When people would ask her friends and family who designed the jewelry they wore, they would respond, “it’s a Dana!” and it just stuck. After four years the University of Texas in Austin and 6 months at the Gemological Institute of America, Dana Rebecca Designs was born.

As for the “ChiCityFashion” question I must ask everyone…Why Chicago? Dana claims, “It’s my home.” And why blend in somewhere where there’s hundreds of jewelry designers trying to make it? It’s better to stand out than blend in, right? Right.

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For more information visit www.danarebeccadesigns.com. You can purchase her jewelry from the site as well.

Keep up with DRD on Twitter @DanaRebecca

DRD in Chicago/Chicago area:

Cy Frederics (Glenview)

Enaz (Highland Park & Northfield)

Frances Heffernan (Winnetka)

Marshall Pierce & Co (Chicago)

Sofia Vintage (Chicago)

**Please note that all photos not credited are courtesy of Dana Levy

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August 8, 2010

Damen + Division Jewelry

I discovered Damen + Division jewelry on a recent trip to Sofia Vintage. I saw this bracelet [see below] and I was immediately hooked. I obviously bought the bracelet…and I wear it almost everyday!

I knew I had to know more about this new brand, so I decided to check out the website. Here’s how the jewelry collection is described:

Damen + Division jewelry was born in the colorful, glamorous 70’s and 80’s. Rock n’ Roll and Disco culture inspired jewelry companies to create big, bold costume pieces. These statement pieces were the most desirable- the more oversized, the more overstated, the better.

This sounds like the definition of everything I could ever ask for in a piece of jewelry. So, because I am absolutely in love with this jewelry line, I knew I had to interview the woman behind D+D. Meet Chicago-based jewelry designer, Sonia Barrett…

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1. When did you start designing jewelry?

I made my first ring when I was a Sophomore in high school. It was the height of the grunge era, and I took an old ring I got from a thrift shop, chipped out the stone, and replaced it with a cardboard cut out of a sea monkey. I think I sealed it in with clear nail polish.

2. And when did Damen + Division emerge as a brand?

D+D was born in November of 2008.

3. Where do you draw inspiration from when designing your jewelry?

Mainly from the vintage materials I use. Whatever comes in really has a voice, and we try to listen to that. We listen to a lot of 70’s rock in the studio.

4. Are there fashion designers or other jewelry designers you draw inspiration from? If so, who?

I have a huge Kenny Lane collection- his good stuff, and also the schlock he sells to Avon, QVC… I like some of Bittar’s earlier work too. I have an amazing Bittar vermeil ring with a black skull on it I wear at least once a week since I bought it 7 years ago.

5. Why did you choose Chicago to “set up shop”?

No question. Chicago is my home. As a business owner my business should be where I am, not vice versa.

6. Where can Damen + Division be purchased?

Sarca; 710 N. Wabash and Sophia Vintage; 72 E. Oak St. in Chicago

7. What’s next for you and Damen + Division?

I want to do more cufflinks for men- and use butterfly wings!

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So basically, I am obsessed with Damen + Division jewelry. I am not exaggerating when I say I would like to own every piece. If you take a peak into my jewelry collection, it’s very colorful, bold, vintage/vintage-inspired (specifically from the ’70s)…almost all costume jewelry. This is exactly what D+D is all about. Each piece is unique in its own way which is why this collection is so amazing.

For more about Damen + Division, check out www.damen-division.com

August 4, 2010

Meet Corri McFadden from E Drop Off

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Corri McFadden, owner and founder of E Drop Off. If you are not familiar with E Drop Off, they are a Chicago-based company that sells your designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and accessories through eBay. They also take care of all the “dirty work” such as writing the descriptions, taking photos, shipping/handling AND they offer free nationwide pick up…so you don’t have to live in Chicago to be a customer!

I originally met Corri in December when she was still at her Clark Street location. I was immediately impressed with her business. She is very customer service-oriented and you can’t help but love her. She is such a happy, positive and driven woman. What’s not to love?

The inspiration behind E Drop Off…

“It just happened,” Corri explains how E Drop Off came to be. She went to school for fashion design and created a business plan as her senior thesis project to start an eBay store. Immediately after graduation, Corri implemented her business plan and started an eBay store selling “everything from Chanel to electronics.” As her business grew, she decided to stick with what she loves…high-end luxury fashion items. Now, 6 years later, E Drop Off has expanded and recently moved to a new (and quite beautiful) location at 2117 N. Halsted.

Why Chicago…

Chicago actually was not part of Corri’s original plan. She originally went to Kansas State to study crime scene investigation and picked up fashion design on the side for fun (because every FBI agent needs to look good while doing their job, right?) After graduation, she planned on going to New York but timing was unfortunate and 9-11 happened so she landed on Chicago as it was closer to home. I must say, though, I am very glad Corri chose Chicago for her E Drop Off destination because as we all know…I love bringing fashion to Chicago 🙂

The one item E Drop Off has received that just blew your mind…

Get ready for this…a 63 karat Cartier diamond necklace! The way Corri described it…I thought I was going to pass out. I didn’t even see it in person and it made my heart race. Because E Drop Off sells about 700 items a week, it takes a lot for Corri to get blown away by an item…and this necklace can definitely do that to ya!

The one designer you’d like to have lunch with…

Diane Von Furstenberg was Corri’s choice. Why? Well, who wouldn’t? Diane’s “ultimate class and timelessness” was the backing behind Corri’s response…and I couldn’t agree more.

What’s next for Corri and E Drop Off…

E Drop Off’s sister-brand, Influence is currently a blog offering styling tips and fashion updates but soon it will be an e-commerce sight offering discounted designer items. There are some other things “in the works” right now, according to Corri, but new business ventures will be rolling out within the next 6 months. So stay tuned by following both @ShopEDropOff and @ShopInfluence on Twitter and check out their websites www.shopedropoff.com and www.shopinfluence.com.

Along with E Drop Off’s free nationwide pick-up and designer consignment, they offer an array of services to cater to your needs including:

*Closet cleanout—they will send a consultant to help you decide what to keep and what to sell

*Retail overstock consignment—consult retailers, boutique owners and designers regarding overstock inventory for consigned sales

*Try before you buy—if you live in Chicago, you can go to the store and try something on before you put a bid on it

*NEW: Authenticity Guide—E Drop Off has put together an online authenticity guide to point out the differences between real and fake designer items

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Click here for the full video interview (Warning: This video is not edited and the last minute and a half is me talking about how much I love Ginger + Liz nail polish)

See my Personal Style feature on ShopInfluence