What’s Next in Chicago Fashion

Have some Fashion envy seeing your New York friends’ pictures of Fashion Week right now? Don’t fret: Chicago will have a week of their own next month! It’s called Fashion Focus Chicago and will show off some of Chicago’s own design talent.  Here’s a look at one of the big events of the week, Next Fashion Chicago.

So here’s the deal: it’s a fashion show, party and after party all in one.  And jam packed with some Chicagolebrities.  Marco Foster will host the red carpet… he hosted the official Fashion’s Night Out after party at The Underground Chicago last week… which by the way was a raving success!! Check out the recap and come out tomorrow night for the 2^nd installment of the Style Series: Inspired Fashion.  Plus, NBC 5 Chicago’s, Marcus Riley and Chicago Tribune columnist & blogger, Candace Jordan will MC the main event.

And here’s a list of a few designers rockin’ the runway:

• Akira
• Cory Tan
• Mark Roscoe Design
• Studio Alade
• Sahar Dada

Tickets for the event range from $20-$85.  If you shell out the money for VIP, it includes complimentary cocktails, exclusive reception with designers and media and some swag.   A portion of the proceeds also go to PAWS Chicago.  Fashion plus helping puppies? Yes please!

Now I’m sure you’re picking out your outfit right now, but sorry, you’ll have to wait a month.  Next Fashion Chicago is on October 16^th and starts at 6:30pm at the Germania Place.

-Grace Sweeney

Tags: akira, Candice Jordan, candid Candice, Chicago benefits, chicago fashion, Chicago red carpet, Chicago shows, fall fashion shows in Chicago, Fashion Focus Chicago, fashion in Chicago, fashion week, mandel productions, marco foster, marcus riley, paws Chicago, style series

Gala at the Zoo?!

Friday, June 1^st promises to be a one-of-a-kind night at Lincoln Park Zoo.  The zoo’s auxiliary board is hosting their signature fundraiser, Zoo-ologie, in the heart of the Zoo.  All the proceeds raised during this unique event will go towards helping care for the animals, keep up exhibits, as well as continue education initiatives all while keeping the zoo free to the public.  Lincoln Park Zoo is currently one of only three free zoos in the entire country – and we want it to stay that way!  If you live anywhere near Chicago, chances are you’ve enjoyed the beautiful grounds of the LP Zoo at some point in your life.  As a DePaul Alum, I walked through the zoo countless times on my way to and from the beach just because I could; not much is free these days, so you have to take advantage and enjoy those few things that are.

The Auxiliary Board for the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the most popular fundraising groups in Chicago and certainly knows how to host a fun party!  The lineup for the evening promises to be quite memorable.  The VIP reception kicks off at 7pm, followed by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 8pm.  Some of the featured food stations will include: Sunda, Rockit Bar & Grill, Rockit Burger Bar, Tavern on Rush and “Top Chef” alum Sarah Grueneberg’s Café Spiaggia.  AKIRA is the proud fashion sponsor for Zoo-ologie to make things event better!! A silent auction, raffle and dancing under the stars kicks off at 9pm and goes until midnight.  Rock Candy will be on hand as the live entertainment from 9pm until midnight as well.  As if that wasn’t enough, the (after) party continues at Underground from midnight until 5am.

Tickets to the event start at $110 for general admission and VIP tickets are available for $150.  Be sure to get your tickets while they’re available for this awesome event that supports an even better cause!  See you under the stars at Lincoln Park Zoo on June 1^st!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: akira, Alum, Café Spiaggia, chicago, dancing, DePaul, free, fundraiser, Lincoln Park Zoo, LP, party, proceeds, raffle, reception, Rock Candy, rockit bar & grill, Rockit Burger Bar, Sarah Grueneberg, silent auction, sunda, Tavern on Rush, top chef, underground, vip, Zoo-ologie

Covering Chicago Fashion: AKIRA Spring 2012 Fashion Show

Less than a decade ago, AKIRA opened the doors of its first women’s clothing boutique in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. Since then, they have taken Chicago by storm with their unique clothing, great customer service, and breath taking fashion shows.

AKIRA, held their Spring 2012 Fashion Show, “Valley of the Castles,”  at the Lyric Opera House in late March. I had the privilege of attending and had an absolute blast. Here’s a glimpse of the magical night:

-Amanda Rivera

Tags: akira, chicago, fashion, fashion show, Lyric Opera House, Sneak Peak, Spring 2012, Valley of the Castles

Akira Hall of Mirrors 2011 Fall Runway Show at Grossinger City Autoplex

Want to see some of the best new fashion from awesome Chicago-based store AKIRA? Well, you could try sneaking into their stock room late at night, but a better, more legal option would be going to the AKIRA Fall Runway show this Sunday.

This year’s show is being held at Grossinger City Autoplex (1500 North Dayton Street) which will provide an industrial-chic backdrop to compliment AKIRA’s newest crop of metallic mini-dresses, shiny blazers, and textured blouses. And even better, proceeds from the show go to Imerman Angels, a Chicago based cancer support organization.

Tickets for one of the best Chicago fashion events of the year are only $15 which guarantees you access to the runway show, pop-up shops, live entertainment, and a cash bar plus you’ll have an opportunity to sample food and get complimentary admission to the after party. $125 gets you VIP access which allows you entrance to a special lounge and unlimited free food and drinks all night. But also look out because our CEO, Billy Dec, is giving away tickets on twitter & facebook.

To purchase tickets visit: http://www.shopakira.com/categories/AKIRA-Events

-Dave Lauer

Tags: akira, billy dec, chicago, fashion show, Hall of Mirrors, jon cotay

March Madness Benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago

Good morning readers! Amanda Weir from Billy’s office here today – March Madness is finally here and what would this month be without a party at Rockit to celebrate and give thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago. Big Brothers Big Sisters has become a cornerstone of community service to help youth mentoring programs. They have made more than 20,000 one-to-one mentoring matches since 1967, with around 3 million hours of contact between “Bigs” ( mentors) and “Littles” (mentees).

Come celebrate on Sunday, March 27 from 4-6 p.m at Rockit Bar and Grill (22 W. Hubbard) with cocktails, appetizers and a variety of raffle prizes including one night stay at The Wit Hotel, Signed basketballs from Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, East Bank Club membership, Akira certificates, tickets to Cubs and Joeffrey Ballet and dozens of other goodies!

Ticket prices are $35 for individuals, 5 ticket pack for $125 or 8 ticket VIP booth for $400 for more information visit www.bbbschgo.org.

Tags: akira, big brother big sisters chicago, big brothers, big sisters, billy dec, bulls, charity, chicago, chicago bulls, chicago events, cubs, derrick rose, east bank, east bank club, joakim noah, joffrey ballet, march madness, ncaa, raffle prizes, rockit, rockit bar and grill, tickets

Style Wars 2010 Strikes Back!

STYLE WARS 2010 from PROJECT VYNE on Vimeo.

Just when you think the economy might have us down, and the market might be slowing, the ever resilient talent of the great city of chicago fashion & design community strikes back w/ “Style Wars!” I just love that name.. and I love for what it stands for!  Style wars is a new runway competition concept giving innovative designers a spotlight in chicago to show their top designs…. crazy, innovative, avant garde,.. art, fashion couture, visual performances,.. featuring artists, designers, models, socialites, media,… bringing light to socially sustainable issues through art, culture and high fashion, on earth day!  See, that’s a lot!

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Tags: agency pr, akira, americas next top model, Art, avant garde, becoming nikkie lynette, candace jordan, candid candace, chanel, chicago twenty something, clothes, clothing, competition, couture, earth day, factor models, fashion, fgs-inc, fig media, gap, gordon wood, heather kuzmich, jane stewart, k.amato, kristen amato, manor, models, nancy good, nikki lynette, nv penthouse, priano, project vyne, runway, sciortino, stewart model and talent, style wars, style wars 2010, sugar and spice cosmetics, surreal chicago, the palace, timothy priano agncy, underground, vyne

victoria's secret "sexiest in chicago" w/ "angel" alessandra ambrosio!

If follow me on twitter (click here if you don’t), you were in nyc w/me for the actual live Victoria’s Secret show!  Thought I would show you a small video I took after the show from my flipcam above… the look on my face is pretty stupid I know, and I really had nothing to say, but that’s just how good the show was! (and as you can tell, the girls were just shockingly stunning all out there at once strutting so close to me)

On the home front, Victoria secret angel alessandra ambrosio flew out to host the private vip tv launch of the fashion show right here in chicago a couple days ago at my club “the underground” handing out awards to “chicago’s sexiest” winners from their online contest!  Here are the results below… and having won for “sexiest club” the underground & “sexiest restaurant” sunda…  my super hard working team of 500 & I humbly thank all of you who allow us to serve you!

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Tags: akira, alessandra ambrosio, allyu spa, chicago, chicago bulls, derrick rose, ferris wheel, flipcam, green mill, guiliana rancic, hub 51, lupe fiasco, north avenue beach, sexiest nightclub, sexiest restuarant, sofitel hotel, sunda, the modern wing of the art institute, the signature room, the underground, twitter, victoria's secret, vince vaughn, water tower, wicker park

Chicago Fashion Maker Akira! by guest blogger : Bo Osacky, Team Rockit Ranch

Its seems as if “fashion” in America primarily celebrates its achievements in NYC and LA, but after an amazing fashion focus week here in chicago last month, I have a whole new respect for our fashion talent that is finally emerging around the world as future leaders!  I think it has a lot to do with great designers like maria pinto, organizations that give a platform to new designers like gen art, and all the amazing business leaders in entertainment and fashion that are just going for it!

One group of such fashion business leaders are my friends from the local clothing chain of stores, AKIRA.  akira has been determined to change the mindset that fashion strength only exists on the coasts from their opening in 2002, with original thinking and a strong emphasis on local designers.  Akira has woven its way into Chicago mainstream by being everywhere it seems at once – from doing fashion shows weekly at various nightlife venues to teaming up with wonderful philanthropic groups like “imerman angels.”

What I love best is that AKIRA will always be run by good hearted local Chicagoans and will always be about Chicago fashion.  Jon Cotay, part owner of Akira, says “We love having fun, meeting new people, helping others in anyway we can, and hopefully come up with some good ideas along the way.”  This formula seems to grow year after year to where Akira is becoming recognizable not only all over chicago, but across the country, now finding its name in magazines like LUCKY, People, Crain’s, Teen Vogue, to name a few.  

I am such a fan that my rockit ranch team and i decided to produce a fashion show with AKIRA, their amazing new fashion looks, a bunch of superfun model friends,… all tonight at the Underground… and we would love to invite you to join us to check them out, support chicago fashion, and celebrate what’s to come!  Please spread this to all your friends who love chicago fashion!  and join us on our vip list before 1030p by emailing vip@rockitranch.com by today at 4p… see you there!

Tags: akira, crain's chicago business, gen art, imerman angels, jon cotay, lucky magazine, maria pinto, people magazine, teen vogue, the underground