Last month, I returned to Atlanta to attend the TCFStyle Expo for the second year in a row! This year, I was part of the TCFStyle Squad so I attended all of the events and got a true VIP experience! Here’s my recap of the event, and these are my 5 favorite things about this year’s TCFStyle Expo!
Come see me on Friday, September 23rd as I help celebrate M2 Boutique‘s 10th Anniversary with Julie Hightower of the fun Chicago-based fashion and beauty video series, A Better Day With Julie!
For those of you who don’t live in Chicago, M2 Boutique is one of my favorite little boutiques to find amazing pieces of jewelry for great prices! I always find so many things I want that when I go to check out, choosing which pieces to stay and which ones will go home with me is like choosing to which hand to cut off! I’ve been a long time supporter of theirs and was thrilled when Julie asked me to help host the 10 year anniversary party!
Even though I wasn’t overly impressed with the StyleChicago.com’s The Art of Fashion event, I was happy with how my outfit turned out. lol. Does that sound awful??
I wanted to glam it up for the evening, so I went with classic black.This dress is an example of something that looked kind of boring on the rack…but, it was on clearance for around $10 at T.J. Maxx, so I took it to try on just in case. I couldn’t believe how much I loved it! The neckline and ruffled bottom save this dress from being a simple shift. And because it was freezing (and I don’t like showing my arms), I tied a sheer wrap around my shoulders backwards. This whole look turned out way more elegant than I expected. 🙂
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| Polka dot hose and blue platforms completed the look! |
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| I wore my hair in a side chignon and added a feather brooch as a hairpiece. |
The finale of Fashion Focus Chicago was StyleChicago.com’s The Art of Fashion. I usually try not to be negative about any of the shows, but truthfully, I just wasn’t that impressed. There were about 2 or 3 looks that were noteworthy, but overall, there wasn’t really anything new or showstopping to me. Here’s the video I made from the runway show. See if you can pick out 3 dresses/outfits that really impress you…I’d love to hear your opinions!
What’d you think? Am I just jaded and off-base? It is possible that I was experiencing fashion burn-out.
Here are the three dresses that DID impress me…
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| How adorable is this Borris Powell outfit? The 2 tones of yellow, the bright ruffles, the adorable blue pinstripe jacket with yellow button and matching belt detail….this look is so bright and fun and spring-ish. LOVE IT. |
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| Two other stunning Borris Powell yellow dresses. |
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| This Nora del Busto dress was the one that blew me away. When the model walked, the ruffles kicked up and showed their white insides. It was flirty and stunning…and totally unique. |
What do you think? Overall, it was a nice event, and the fashions were pretty…just a little uninspired, in my humble opinion.
The Vert Couture show proved that the answer to that question is YES. Last Thursday night’s headlining fashion show for Fashion Focus Chicago 2011 highlighted designers that are committed to creating fair-trade, eco-conscious, sustainable AND fashionable clothes.
Michael and Bianca Alexander, founders of Conscious Living TV, welcomed guests and explained the philosophy behind the event and the designers themselves.
It was also nice to hear from Chicago’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Karen Weigert, who briefly greeted the audience, before a dance presentation by Kelly Kane & Co.
What really set this fashion show apart from the rest was the video clips played before each line. The videos introduced us to the designer and his/her philosophy and processes. It was an enlightening glimpse in to the world of the sustainable artist, and I felt like I understood the clothes, designs, and the person/people behind them much better than in other shows. Way to go, Conscious Living TV!
So, without further ado, here is another slideshow/video of the fashion displayed at the Vert Couture Eco-Fashion Show. The music is Muse’s “Shine Acoustic” off of the Hullabaloo Album.
What did you think? I was literally BOWLED over by some of these designers!
For instance, how AMAZING is this dress by design collective known as Heart? I’m pretty sure it’s hand painted on silk! The design is unique and beautiful, and the dress is versatile and elegant.
And then…there was the most amazing coat in the history of ALL the world!!!! I am still crying that I couldn’t get a picture of the front of this heart-stopping upcycled coat from Brenda Abdullah designs! I would pretty much sell my right toe to get my hands on that coat!!!
Oooooeeeee. After this amazing coat, we were treated to some gorgeous, sexy men in Richard Dayhoff‘s line of recycled underwear! How can a girl get so lucky??
Did it just get hot in here????? lol
Then, I kept getting wowed by Silk Utopia‘s vividly colored silk evening gowns. The colors were so rich and bright, they didn’t look real!
My camera doesn’t really do these dresses justice, but they were magnificent!
The show concluded with Lauren Lein, a delightfully eccentric designer using re-purposed materials and natural fibers. I kind of felt like her designs were out of a fairy tale…or even out of Midsummer Night’s Dream!
I must say, this show was a blast to attend. The mood in the tent was exuberant and expectant. The crowd knew they were in for a treat, and we were not disappointed!
What do you think of the Vert Couture show? Is eco-fashion important to you?
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