Two Fashion Bloggers Walk Into a Store

I have two lovely lady friends visiting this weekend - Emily of Emily Kate Hargrove-Capital Style and Laura of, well... number one commenter on EWP. 

So what happens when two fashion bloggers and their friend decend on Chicago's shops?  Only time will tell. 

Here's hoping I save something in the ol' piggy bank for my Europe trip.

smart idea of the day

To give a single cupcake as a gift, package it in a clear plastic cup like below:so easy, but so smart!

Report Tracks ‘Dramatic Changes’ in the U.S. Jewelry Market

Pam Danziger
The U.S. jewelry market emerged from the recession to post a 7.5 percent increase in consumer expenditures from 2009 to 2010, after two successive years of negative growth. Yet the jewelry market today is very different than it was in 2006 and 2007 before the recession, according to a recently released report. 

Unity Marketing's Jewelry Report 2011 notes that jewelry makers and

baking baking

I've done my fair share of baking this week and I thought I'd share some pictures.
I started out with birthday cake fudge that I found here:And then I moved on to my version of a strawberry short cake:
These cream part of this recipe is amazing. I would make it and eat it with a spoon. So I felt like you should have the recipe. It would be a great dip by itself for fruit (or fingers...)

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. That's it!

‘Only Watch’ Charity Auction Raises $6.2M for MD Research

From left: Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones, Luis Garcia (Directeur de Recherche CNRS), Philippe Ferreyrolles, Monique Pettavino, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Tess Pettavino, Gaëlle Tallarida (Managing Dierctor Monaco Yacht Show), Peter Rigby (Chief Executive Informa), Paul Pettavino, Luc Pettavino (President AMM) - Photo: © Claude Charvin

The "Only Watch" charity auction raised more

Chicago Spotlight: Michelle Tan

Part of the fun of moving to a new neighborhood is discovering new stores. Yay new shops!!

On my shopping adventures I found a cute little shop called Michelle Tan. Then I found out that Michelle Tan was a real person, and she owned the shop and could often be found there. This is her next to one of her designs:

Michelle Tan the shop carries clothing by Michelle Tan herself and a few other local Chicago designers. I was rather gaga for this structured jacket. That collar made me swoon.
But for the more traditional types, this skirt would be PERFECT for work. Not to mention that fit isn't a problem since Michelle Tan will measure you and make a custom skirt just for you. And at super reasonable prices. This skirt was (I think, I have a terrible memory) $100 and the jacket was $250ish. Maybe. Don't quote me on that. I just remember thinking they were reasonable.


I, myself, decided to do something totally out of the norm for me and bought this vest. It adds such fun to a tank or a jacket or whatever. I foresee myself wearing it a lot. I've worn it twice already and gotten a bajillion compliments on it.

And to go with that whole custom thing, there was only one vest left in the store and it was a size small, which miraculously fit me everywhere except the belt around the waist, it didn't have as much hangy part as I wanted. So for at no extra cost, Ms. Tan made me a new belt.

I also picked up this dress, by one of the other designers carried in the store. I was looking for something casual and cute to wear around with BabyWP on our strolls that could also be thrown in the wash. This dress fit the bill. I love the applique! [I came back from one of those said strolls when this picture was taken, so please don't judge how gross and tired I look]
So if you're in the area, check out Michelle Tan at 1872 N. Damen.

This Chicago Spotlight was not compensated. All opinions are my own.

two year anniversary

I just realized I never posted about my two year anniversary that happened a couple weeks ago!(Victoria's Secret camisole, Urban Outfitters skirt, Badgley Mischka shoes)
He got me...two sets of flowersMarc by Marc Jacobs earringsthree wonderful movies!

happy monday

Michelle Williams for Vogue (as Marilyn Monroe)

Asian Consumers Demand Luxury Jewelry

Fleur d'amour by EJI of Hong Kong.

HONG KONG—While the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair has grown to become the largest fine jewelry show in the world, it is not the place to introduce jewelry design trends. Baselworld in March and Las Vegas Jewelry Week in June serve as the trade shows where trends are established.

What the Hong Kong show has established is that it serves as the

Emmys 2011: Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab
I am officially an Elie Saab convert as two of my very favoritest looks from the Emmys were both from the designer. One being red hot Kate Winslet's, and the other being this just screen siren glamour gown worn by Evan Rachel Wood. And, in accordance with my edict that gowns are great with sleeves, ERW had the designer add sleeves to the dress which originally was sleeveless. I've seen it both ways and the tiny cap sleeves do SO MUCH for the dress. It's kind of insane how much of an impact they made for the look. And the sometimes goth and garish ERW did just the right vintagey hair and makeup to really make this a stunner. LOVE LOVE LOVE

A

Emmys 2011: Heather Morris

I really love Heather Morris. She's one of my favorite things about Glee. [Which was totally a snore on Tuesday, don't you think? How did such a great show get so very boring so very fast?] But this look has me as confused as her character on the show. Why is her hair so high? Why does this dress make her look painfully flat? Why so many ruffles? And why oh WHY does she only have one earring on?

D

Emmys 2011: Colbie Smulders

Colbie Smulders in Alberta Ferreti
If you don't watch How I Met Your Mother, you should start immediately. The show is just hilarious and one of the major reasons is the beautiful and very funny Colbie Smulders. I feel like she doesn't get as much attention as she should. And apparently she felt the same way and decided to attend the Emmys in this gorgeous, show-stopping, grecian number from Alberta Ferreti. This was hands down one of my favorite looks of the night. The color isn't for everyone, but I think it dazzled on Miss Smulders, whose hair and makeup accented the look perfectly.

A-

Emmys 2011: Jane Krakowski

Actress Jane Krakowski gave birth around when I did, so I give her major kudos for the rocking post-baby bod, but this silver creation is just too... shiny... and boring. What do you think?

C-

Emmys 2011: Melissa McCarthy

I'm sure it is very hard to find red carpet dresses when you are a plus size actress in Hollywood. But I still don't think that's any reason to resort to designing your own, as Melissa McCarthy did. I get that you'd want sleeves to cover up problem arm fattage, but this is just a giant purple muumuu. She must have a better figure than that hidden under there, right? Or if she doesn't, she could have thrown on a corset or spanx or something to make it better. And what this sad sack of purple needs is definitely some large statement jewelry, that piddly little necklace is just throwing all the proportions off.

F

First Impressions of the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair

HONG KONG—From the lion dance welcoming visitors to the second part of the two-tier event, to the mad scramble at buffet tables during the evening reception, the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair kept me very busy. Unfortunately, I didn’t see much jewelry. That will come tomorrow.
The weeklong event, held in two venues (September 19-23 at the Asia World-Expo near the Hong Kong

Emmys 2011: Jennifer Carpenter

Jennifer Carpenter
Why so serious, Jennifer? That sourpuss looks like someone spit in her wheaties. Oh, who am I kidding, she doesn't eat carbs. She looks like someone spit in her weird cayenne/maple syrup/hot water cleanse. But all that cayenne cleansing was worth it, that dress fits her so nicely. And while ombre hair is something I often make fun of, I really do like it on her.

B+

Emmys 2011: Cat Deeley

Cat Deeley in Monique Lhuillier
I'm pretty sure I've seen this dress before, but am much too ambivalent about it to even bother to access the EWP mental dress files to figure out where else I've seen it. So instead I will just complain about its pretty but averageness, and her really horrible messy hair. But, hey, she's just a reality tv host so she's winning just by not showing any of her lady bits. Good on you, Cat.

B-

Emmys 2011: Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch in David Meister
I love aubergine. It was my color for my wedding to Mr. EWP. So really any aubergine gown makes me very happy and bubbly and nostalgic. But I can't get totally bubbly about this David Meister dress. It just doesn't fit Jane right, and that large expanse above the neckline needs a necklace or something to fill it. But Ms. Lynch's makeup is positively to die for.

B

Emmys 2011: Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul
I never thought the day would come - Paula Abdul looks... sane! Well, in a picture at least since she can't speak. I love this blue mermaid gown with cascading ruffles. With the sparkly belt and sideswept hair, this look is positively ravishing.

A-

Emmys 2011: Julianna Margulies

Julianna Margulies in Giorgio Armani Prive
I don't understand how such a successful, beautiful woman can make SO MANY TERRIBLE red carpet choices. JM is a serial red carpet offender. I dont' think I can remember ever seeing anything she wore that didn't make me want to rip my eyes out with a seafood fork. And this white, colum, bejeweled number definitely has me reaching in my silverware drawer. [Yes, I own seafood forks. Doesn't everybody?] I'm pretty sure this was a 7 year old's craft project and she got some plastic bobbles and some glue and put this together.

F

Emmys 2011: Sarah Hyland

Sarah Hyland in Christian Siriano
Normally I would be freaking out about a teenager wearing both hooker heels and a slit up to there, but then I saw what her 13 year old co-star wore and this really is just fine to me in comparison. Still looking for a pic of that dress.

C+

Emmys 2011: Claire Danes

Claire Danes in Oscar de la Renta
The Latisse spokeswoman displayed her creepily crazy lashes along with a creepily crazy sequined gown at the Emmys. The patchwork makes her look like a hobo, more than her shilling for an eyelash growing serum already does. Are you so hard up that you had to raid the scraps bin at Mood to piece together your gown for the night? So sad.

F

Emmys 2011: Lea Michele

Lea Michele in Marchesa
Damn you, Lea. I want to hate you so much. Your ego bothers me to no end. But you make it so hard by always being such a red carpet darling. And your look at the Emmys was no exception.

Love the red. Love the column gown with a hint of train. And, good lord, LOVE LOVE LOVE those rose ruffled sleeves. I'm telling you people, sleeves on gowns are gorgeous. And a rosette ruffled sleeve is just so chic against the otherwise very simple gown. *swoon*

A+

Emmys 2011: Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler in Peter Som
A lot of the funny ladies of tv are so very smart and witty, but sadly very clueless on the red carpet. Amy is usually one of these ladies. So it was a major surprise to see Amy in such an eye-catching look. Sure, on another actress I'd call it not that great, but for Amy it's fantastic. Love the cobalt. Cobalt is just so yummy. Love the sleeve. As I've been saying, sleeves are so very chic on a gown these days. And the belt breaks up the dress so it isn't one big blob. Only problem: the material/shine. It seems rubbery. Like she's in a giant cobalt, shiny wetsuit. Ick.

B-

Emmys 2011: Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang
Sofia Vergara is one of my major girl crushes. She's one sexy lady. I guess I have a thing for curves in my lady crushes. What can I say, I'm a breast gal. But sadly this look is just not working for me. The makeup seems harsh. The earrings don't go with the bangles. And the tulle hanging out at the bottom is just killing me. I do like the cut of the bodice. It could've been a good look but just fell short.

B-

Emmys 2011: Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet in Elie Saab
Oh daaaaaamn. Kate Winslet looks smoking hot. Seriously. The red. The cleavage. The stance. The hair. That is some in your face hotness. EWP approves.

A

Emmys 2011: Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly in Dior
Wow, Minka Kelly must be taking her breakup from Derek Jeter. That can surely be the only reason to don such a sad grandma lace curtain of a dress. Poor thing. Don't worry, Minka, you'll find someone soon.

C+

Emmys 2011: Christina Hendricks

Christina Hendricks in Johanna Johnson
Christina Hendricks doesn't seem to be able to dress her extremely curvaceous figure. I know it must be hard to get those triple ZZZs into a dress (seriously, she has the biggest breasts I've ever seen), but I know there is stuff out there that would be flattering. I mean, she looks fantastic on Mad Men on literally every single episode, so why can't she bring a little Joan to her red carpet? Something with a higher neckline? Something with rich jewel colors? Something that doesn't make her thighs look ginormous? *sigh* She really is a gorgeous woman. But I'm sorry to say she has very very poor taste.

C

Emmys 2011: Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne in J. Mendel
I've decided I love J. Mendel. And I knew I loved aubergine. So this is one winning combo. Too bad Kelly's hair is more silver fox than young fox. What a strange color. But I do love the styling and makeup.

A-

Emmys 2011: Nina Dobrev

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan

I love a red dress on the red carpet. It's so very bold and glamorous. And this gown was no exception. I think the color looked fantastic on the Vampire Diaries star. Even if I do hate her for dating my fake bf Ian Somerholder. The dress fit her perfectly. Her hair was perfectly styled to accent the dress. And the folds, oh the folds!!!, in the skirt made me swoon. But I couldnt' shake the feeling that I'd seen it before. And my EWP catalog in my head quickly brought forth an image of another red dress on a red carpet, confirming that yes I had seen it before...

Eva Longoria at the 2009 Golden Globe Awards in Reem Acra.

Very similar, no? Right down to the clutch.

So while I did love Nina's look, it was so very 2009.

B

Emmys 2011: Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum in Christian Siriano
I love me some Heidi Klum. And I really love me some Christian Siriano. So I really really wanted to love this look. But I don't. I'm fine with the length, short to the Emmys is a-okay with me (as long as it's not too short). And I love a ruffle, but there's just so much ruffle. And the color is so bland. I feel like it's a sad quincinera dress she grabbed off some poor 15 year old on her way to the show. And don't even get me started on Seal's bare chest. Skeevers!!!

C

Emmys 2011: Katie Holmes

Katie Homes in Calvin Klein
Normally Calvin Klein's gowns are a little too staid and boring for my tastes. But somehow this simple Calvin Klein blue dress on Katie Holmes was one of my faves of the night. Maybe it was the belt, maybe it was the neckline, maybe I was just excited to not puke when I saw Katie Holmes doing her typical talking out of the side of her mouth thing. But whatever it was, this Calvin Klein creation was a winner in my book. Too bad her hair is a bird's nest mess.
B+

Emmys 2011: Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow in Pucci

Oh, Gwyneth. This dress is just... GOOP. Or whatever her strange acronym is. It could have been okay, the black on tan lace is really just fine. A little boring, but fine. And I do enjoy the cap sleeve. BUT WHY DOES IT HAVE A MIDRIFF BARING TOP??????????????????????? There are no early90s Britney-esque midriff tops on the red carpet. Gwynnie missed the memo I guess. And though this cleanse-aholic is extremely skinny, even she has oozy pudge coming out of the top of the skirt. And her midriff is all wrinkly skin from having been dieted one too many times. This is not a flattering look on anyone, not even Gwyneth. Add in the half circle design on the top that makes her non-existant breasts look super dressy, and this is just one mess of a dress.

D

Emmys 2011: Blueberries & Champagne

Finally getting to doing my Emmys posts. Sorry for the delay! It's hard to peruse dresses when you have a small human asking you to feed her cheerios and save her from eating electronic cables.

This year's Emmys were all blueberries and champagne, i.e. lots of blue and champagney/metallics on the red carpet this year. Get ready for some EWP reviewing!

Fashion's Night Out Chicago

I'm way behind in posting, so you're getting a post dump today in an attempt to quickly catch up so I can bring you Emmys red carpet coverage starting tomorrow.

A bit over a week ago, I was invited to Saks' Fashions's Night Out event. It was definitely a bigger party, and louder party, than the Brian Atwood event that morning.

I dragged my friend Niki along.

But I'm sure the free champagne at least was worth it

Saks had models wearing Brian Atwood shoes

even the ostrich-feather "it" shoe for fall. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I won't be wearing these this fall, or ever really.

We perused the shoes

and did some great people watching

Why didn't I wear my fascinator?

Then we got bored pretty quickly with Saks and moved along to the newly opened TopShop

It's gigantic and definitely worth a visit

Their theme for fall seemed to be "sequins"

Which is fine because I oddly have been having a hankering for sequins myself. Not that I bought anything because the line was ridiculously long.

This was me attempting to take a pic of the makeover stations they had going on for the public, but silly people stepped in my way. Boo!

From there we went to Neiman's where these lovely people were standing inside

and this fortune teller was sitting inside.

Sorry, Saks, but Neiman's definitely had you beat in the entertainment department. And hands down killed it in the food department. There were like 6 food and drink stations on each of their 4 floors.

But forget the food and drinks and even the fortune teller, Niki and I were very entertained by the hats.

I made Niki model some of the hats for you



But then I just had to try this one, for realsies, not for jokesies. I was in love. And then I saw it was made by Philip Treacy, aka milliner extraordinaire for the Royal Wedding. Ooo, I want.
How did y'all spend Fashion's Night Out?