Jessica Herman

Going to a fashion show or a beauty consultation are easy activities on your wallet, but when the bevy of Fashion Focus Chicago 2005 events tantalize your shopping taste buds for eleven days straight, you're going to want to know where you can buy it all.

From September 19-October 31, Marshall Field's (111 N. State) pushes aside its contemporary sportswear in one of its third floor show rooms to make way for Marshall Field's Chicago Designer Shop, featuring wares by twenty-one local designers. In order to select the designers, Marshall Field's asked local design schools such as the School of the Art Institute and Columbia College to nominate their top fashion design students; the department store's buyers then whittled down the candidates into categories of casual, evening, business and menswear, and accessories. The final lineup includes familiar names like Lara Miller, Gen Art's 2005 "Fresh Faces" such as Tom Bynum and Shane Gabier and a few designers whose work has recently sprouted up in boutiques around town.

"I like to see how many new faces are designing in Chicago," says "Fresh Faces" 2005 designer, Michelle Tan. "Other than Lara Miller, I didn't recognize any faces at the [Marshall Field's] photo shoot." Spending the last three years focused on selling to the New York market, Tan says that she's planning on turning more attention to Chicago after seeing its nascent design community under the spotlight.

There's no shortage of events at the department store to promote fall fashion: Between an appearance by Sarah Jessica Parker to promote her new fragrance, Jennifer Lopez's personal debut of her boutique, The World of J. Lo, and talks by "What Not to Wear" beauty experts, the Magnificent Mile will be flocking with fashionistas.

Marshall Field's, 111 North State, (312) 781-5454.

(2005-09-20)

Also by Jessica Herman

More Baggage
In the case of Lincoln Park's new boutique Valise, it's what's on the outside--not the inside--that counts
(2005-09-13)

Body Chemistri
"Life is too short to use cheap soap," says Body Chemistri owner Heidi Sauhammel. Sauhammel spreads the message at her Southport shop with shelves of grapefruit-scented soaps, Parisian loose tea leaves, Japanese body cloths and other highbrow items that contribute to the store's "simple pleasures" concept
(2005-08-30)

Body Carnivale
It's not everyday that you see a Portuguese poster detailing about a dozen "cuts and styles" for the hair in your nether regions
(2005-08-23)

The New G-Spot
As of today, Wicker Park just might have tapped the male g-spot
(2005-08-16)

Open for business
(2005-08-09)

Bette for a day
(2005-08-02)

Big Designs
(2005-07-26)

Runway Rundown
(2005-07-21)

Talking shop
(2005-07-19)

Antiquing 101
(2005-07-05)

Gardening 101
(2005-06-24)

Fresh aerobics
(2005-05-31)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment