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August 7th, 2009
We loathe the onset of the slowing summer pace, a.k.a. the dog days of bittersweet August. We saw some fallen leaves the other day and nearly shed a tear. But cry we did not, for there are bigger issues to address. Such as, what to do about those light-hearted yet lingering summer flings? We would like to write a mini-guidebook for those of us who may need to say “Sayonara,” or take a chance with “Will you be my winter boyfriend?” (Which, as we Chicago girls know, basically means true love.) Has he ever taken you to his place? If not, time to ask about his digs. If he ends the sentence with "rat-infested" or "my mom is making a killer pot roast tonight," it's sayonara. Furthermore, if you have been batting your lashes and in doing so, managed to so sweetly ignore casual hints including things like "jail time" or "at least, that's what my therapist told me to tell you," you are better off elsewhere. On the flipside, if he wears good shoes, holds your hand, and splits his double popsicle with you, continue to see him, at least through football season. And if he opens your door, has cool friends, and initiates date nights, um, keep him. He might be the perfect snow-proofing, ice-repelling winter addish. |
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Chicago Picks: |
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| 1 | Your Inner Isabella Blow When you were in grade school, did you try to dress like "Clarissa" or perhaps even "Alex Mack"? Did you ever sport multicolored leggings, metallics, and crimp your hair into waterfall bangs? Did you ever get sent home for wearing something outlandish? If you agree that a baseball hat is not really a hat, you might have something in common with Tonya Gross. Tonya is an aspiring couture headwear designer and owner of Tonya Gross Millinery. She’s currently studying sculpture, construction and fiber arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her millinery work is fascinating. Gross offers couture millinery—meaning hand-blocking and hand-finishing headwear using the finest materials and trims. It truly is an art form that requires one to think outside of the (hat) box, as Gross says. She also uses recycled materials and creates headwear for runways, fancy parties, weddings, or for no reason at all. Like perhaps for a Mad Hatter-themed tea party with all of your best friends and a bottle of vodka? What could be more fabulous? |
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| 2 | Pristine Perfection For some, it's a coffee shop. Or a neighborhood bar. Maybe even a nail salon. And yes, usually your hair salon. It’s the place where people know you by name. They know the color you will choose, the latte you will sip, and the alcoholic concoction you must have every Friday at 5 pm. They're your secret collection of prized relationships. It's what makes a big town small. And sometimes it seems Chicago is the biggest small town around. Miss Priss, a lovely shop in Beverly, is known for that treasured customer relationship. From the day she opened, owner Stephanie Colson intended her shop to be purposeful and personal. It’s like having a BFF in the clothing business. Take your time, and choose from a carefully-selected batch of fun, funky brands. Look for finds from BCBG, Free People, Laundry, and Shoshanna, plus favorites like Joe's Jeans, Poleci, and Nanette Lepore, and don’t miss the colorful handbags, and Chicago-based jewelry line Juliet Jewelry. No stuffy salesgirls or overlooked shoppers here—nothing but smiles and sweet, fashionable finds in this delightful and beautifully-stocked shop! Miss Priss |
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| 3 | A New Orleans Saint Okay, so it's not exactly the Big Easy. It won't send you home hootin' and hollerin' all buzzed up on bourbon and Creole cuisine. You will leave with dignity, and not confusion over the loads of colorful beads around your neck. But you will leave Jumbalia boutique in a light and cheerful mood. This quirky, fun-filled store is packed with sparkling accessories and sassy, on-the-town, girly finds. (And the lacy curtains and colorfully arranged mannequins are certainly eye-catching.) It's a great place for gifts for the girls, and definitely a place to hit before a bachelorette party. There’s even a touch of retro-glam—maybe enough to bring your mom or fun aunt on a shopping excursion—but needless to say, every fun and fantastic female will find something lovely at Jumbalia. Check out their great scarves, fabulous bags and wallets, sparkly rings and necklaces, and zip a pop of color into any outfit! Best part yet? There are sales all the time. One can usually find 10–30% off in this adorable store. Don't wait for Mardi Gras to hit the jackpot at Jumbalia! Jumbalia Boutique |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | A Golden Ride “I love the way this country smells. I'll never forget it. It's kind of spicy.” We love our movies like we love our art—complex, moving, quirky, and made with magical talent. Like "The Darjeeling Limited." No wonder we like this little ditty by Natalie Bessell, out of San Fran. Bessell is one talented little teeny bopper, making cool art and gearing up for more formal art-school training in NYC. Oh, and we heard that her mom is cool, too. (Seriously—see the next Chick Pick for more.) |
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| 2 | Medieval Times “You're a heartbreaker. Dream maker. Love taker. Don't you mess around with me!” Pat Benatar totally knew how to call 'em like she saw 'em. And we've certainly heard more than our share of scorned tales of love from our girlfriends lately. Mostly we just offer up wine and companionship, but what we really want to do is offer a suit of armor to protect them from broken hearts. So how about a pair of "Hammer My Shield and Jump Me" earrings from Tahirih? (a.k.a. Natalie Bessell's fly mom—see above!) |
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| 3 | Bette Davis Eyes We’ve been pretty up front with you about our mascara addiction. We’ve tried them all, from drugstore bargains to designer “investment mascaras,” and frankly we’re not sure there’s that much of a difference. So we decided to try something else—actually renewing our lashes instead of glooping them up. neuLash to the rescue! It’s an active eyelash technology™ that can naturally improve the appearance of your lashes and brows… in as little as two weeks! It conditions and protects them, so they’re fuller and healthier. Love! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | S is for Stiletto We have been known to stop women in streets, restaurants, and bars (actually, just about everywhere) to inquire about a beautiful pair of shoes. Grab a friend and head to Divine Sole Boutique this weekend for a Fashion & Beauty Day featuring live music, open martini bar, food, giveaways, and of course, dozens of shoes and accessories to peruse! What: Fashion & Beauty Day |
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| 2 | You Know You Wanna Any chance you’re playing Russian Roulette this year with Lolla? Skipping the pricey ticket in favor of catching the after-party shows? Chances are good there are some interesting things going on past midnight! Catch sets by Chris Tomson of Vampire Weekend, Bjorn Yttling from Peter, Bjorn, & John, Lykke Li, and more! Check the website for more details. What: Lollapalooza After-Parties at Debonair Social Club |
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| 3 | Last Dance Summer Romance We cruised the summer festivals wearing colorful frocks. We breezed through baseball stadiums, made time at the beach, and hit the bars in style. But between the vino, ketchup, bar tar, and sometimes sandy terrain of Chicago, clothing can get, um, a little worn. Time to replenish with an amazing sale at Hubba Hubba—30–70% off all summer merch! What: Hubba Hubba Summer Sale |
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