MICHAEL KORS ROCKS 900 SHOPS WITH OPENING PARTIES!

The Magnificent Mile turned into the “Magnificent Michael Kors Mile” recently for the VIP opening party and fashion show at The 900 Shops. The by-invitation only VIP party began at 6:30 p.m. and, by party standards, it was a pretty intimate affair. About 75 guests mixed and mingled with Michael (a real charmer!) and gorgeous store manager, Tory Beneke, who was beaming. Michael is my favorite designer: His clothes are not trendy but very chic and timeless. Some of the guests were even wearing 10-year-old Kors and you would have never known. The store itself is gorgeous and modern with white leather furniture and beautiful fur throws thrown casually over the sofas (Michael said he patterned it after his own apartment). At 7:30 p.m., the hosts – who included Linda Johnson Rice, Amanda Puck, Toni Canada, Julie Lampert and moi – and Michael took photos on the red carpet prior to being seated for the runway show. I was so excited to be included and even though we were all co-hosts, Amanda Puck and her crack team from Experiential did all of the heavy lifting to put the event together in very grand style! The crowd of about 250 was very excited for the fashion show and party segment. Finally, everyone was seated and the music began – it made me want to go immediately to a club and dance…lots of Lady Gaga. And then the models came out clad in gorgeous spring dresses in dreamy sherbet shades with zippers and plastic cut-outs accessorized with clear Lucite jewelry that captured the light and made you feel like you were in South Beach. The heels were strappy and high, some with gold accents and some classic with black and carmel. Information on the Lucite seats described the collection as “urbane renewal…sleek architectural shapes….the counterbalance of crisp and soft….slashed openings and translucency reveal the body….asymmetry and sharp angles….luminous Lucite and silver accents, architectural clutch…sculptural sandals, pumps and oxfords….the rites of spring.” The men's clothes were interesting but I couldn't think of any male friends who could wear them. Lots of sleeveless jackets that you needed big guns to carry off with any effect. Click here to view more photos!

Overall, the show included so many wearable and chic looks that the women at the intimate brunch the following morning with Michael were literally throwing their credit cards at darling sales manager, Gregg Zgonena. The brunch was hosted by Whitney Lasky and included 34 of the city’s most sociable women.  They included Michaela Parillo, Dusty Stemer, Lynn McMahan, Robin Berger, Rebecca Besser, Noren Ungaretti, Toni Canada, Mary Lasky, Melissa Babcock, Sophie Bross, Marsha Brenner, Gale Gottlieb, Sherren Leigh, Vonita Reescer, Sherrill Bodine, Sarah Stratton, Amy Koch, Shauna Montgomery, Shelley Farley, Natacha Isaacs, Mary Kay DeMaio, Mary Ann Murphy (who flew in from LA for the occasion), Sheryle Bellick, Marty Higgins, Micah Materre, Jennifer Oppenheimer, Kristina McGrath and Dori Wilson. The brunch, catered to perfection by Rachel Schwanz and The Entertaining Company, consisted of yogurt with granola, lavender honey and fresh berries served inside a golden eggshell, lemon ricotta pancakes, cranberry currant scones, chocolate filled croissants (baked onsite), smoked salmon with dill crème fraiche and caviar. After brunch, the resort line was shown. This collection included dramatic patterns, one-shouldered flowing gowns that you could wear to a black tie party or to the beach as well as oversized hammered gold necklaces and Nefertiti style bracelets. Michael offered three different dress lengths and said the length you choose depends on whether or not you like your legs and also your heel height. He demonstrated how you could change the look completely with the addition of a wide gold belt or a slim black belt as well as throwing a shrug over a cocktail dress and instantly making it daytime chic. I wanted to buy everything I saw but settled for some of the beautiful oversized gold jewelry and his latest version of the little black dress which I wore the night before for the opening. Guests at the evening event included Gale Gottlieb, Gretchen Jordan, Sugar Rautbord, Chaz Ebert, Shauna Montgomery, Helen Melchior, Nicole Jacob, Cindy Burns, Judge Mary Pat Burns, Greg Hyder, Jim Smith, Christopher Conway, Coco Meers, Barbara Kipper, Paul Iacono, John Regas, Astra Gamsjaeger, Corinne Melchior, Margaret O'Connor, Jan Melk, Noren Ungaretti, Michaela Parillo, Rebecca Besser, Sharyl Mackey, Lynn McMahan, Dusty Stemer, Sophie Bross, Jannie and Elliot Pearlman, Ricardo Santiago, Trevian Kutti, Rochelle Smith with Chef Charlie Trotter, Connie and Katherine Saville, George Fuller, Gwen Callans, Dawn Mattozzi, Rhonda Sanderson, Samantha Amato, Amalie Drury, Graham Kostic, Mary Kay DeMaio, Mary Ann Murphy, Andrea Schwartz, Melissa and Rich Gamble, John Walcher, Tina and Jeff Weller, Scott Bobek, Peggy Martay, Dorothy Whealan, Shia Kapos, Laura Barnett,  Dennis Minkle, Lyndsie Jackson, Lynne Bredfeldt, Maureen Lampert and David Lampert among others. Welcome to Chicago, Michael Kors…we are thrilled you’re finally here!!!!! (Additional photos by Caitlin Saville and Rush Zimmerman.) Click here for more images!

Shaun Rajah is breathing new life into the Drake Hotel’s Palm Court. He is a one-man marketing team and he has so many ideas I can’t imagine when he ever sleeps. For one particular event, I was lucky enough to participate. Shaun organized a special afternoon tea and fashion show that celebrated women age 50 and above from all different walks of life called “50 & Beautiful.” The event honored Breast Cancer Awareness Month and proceeds benefitted the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Featured fashions included Mira of Mira Couture, Elizabeth M., Quinton de' Alexander, Lily of Trieste, Joy Scott Milliner with jewelry by Sophia Forero. It was a fun day and it was nice seeing fellow models Sheryl Dyer, Dorothy Whealan, Cookie Cohen, Juell Kadet, Michelle Sutton Yeadon, Marlene Laport, Joan Sosano and Jolanta Reuge. Also on display this day was the photography by breast cancer crusader, Maude Metcalfe. The Palm Court began serving afternoon tea during 1982 and has served dignitaries such as the late Princess Diana and Hilary Clinton. In 1958, Queen Elizabeth had tea at the Drake as well as the Empress of Japan in 1970. Shaun is continuing this tradition and adding his own special touches too. “Catwalk Fridays” have been held every Friday during the spring, summer and fall and introduces new designers as well as more established ones from our area. “Palm Court Holiday Happenings” start November 27th and runs through January 3rd. There will be live entertainment with holiday carolers as well as their legendary tea service. Huge congrats to my friend Shaun Rajah for all of his hard work and great ideas! For more info and to book a reservation, please call Shaun at 312-371-0231. (Additional pics by Steve Starr.) View more photos here!
 
For the first time in its 53-year history, The Joffrey Ballet offered one-of-a-kind costumes to the public during its “Costume Vault Sale” earlier this month. More than 200 men’s and women’s costumes were sold with prices beginning at $25. Executive Director Christopher Clinton Conway said, “My favorite was a royal blue jacket circa 1920 that was one of two pieces owned by the company from a production of a ballet by Russian choreographer Leonide Massine. It had these beautifully decorative closures and would cost between $8,000 and $9,000 to have that jacket made today.” It was priced at $100! Many of the elaborate costumes also had the dancer’s names stitched into them for a personal connection. Buyers at the event reminded me of the Filene Basement’s wedding dress sale. The beautiful pieces flew off the racks and believe me, buyers all got great deals. I saw some of the garlanded headpieces and I wished I had arrived earlier….they were all gone by the time I got there. Some lucky little girls will be getting wonderful Christmas presents from the Joffrey Ballet! The event was, obviously, a big success with almost 580 shoppers during the two day event and raised $27,300 for the Joffrey Ballet! Congrats to co-chairs Corinne Melchior, Gretchen Klotz and Nico Rodriguez for the wonderful job they did for their first event for the newly formed Joffrey Circle Associates Board. Don’t miss the next Joffrey performance, “The Nutcracker,” beginning on December 12th.

Glamourcon 48 will be held in L.A. on November 14th and 15th at the Hilton LAX. Described as pinup and glamour at its finest, you may recall from past info, that it was also held in Chicago in August. For the LA convention, there will be the largest line-up of Playboy Playmates ever, 39 and counting. There will be eight Playmates of the Year including Patti Connors (1977), Karen Velez (1985), Kathy Shower (1986), India Allen (1988), Julie Cialini (1995), Brande Roderick (2001), Kara Monaco (2006) and Ida Ljungvist (2009). Playmates attending from the Golden Age of Playboy, the 70’s, include Julie Woodson (4/73), Patti McGuire (11/76), Sondra Theodore (7/77), Debra Jensen (1/78), Sylvie Garant (11/79) and moi (12/79). There will even be two Playmates from Playboy’s early days, Dolores DelMonte (3/54) and Arline Hunter (8/54). Irina Voronina and Penelope Jiminez just confirmed too. It will be great to see Hef and my fellow Playmate friends again! BTW, Hef Twittered recently that Holly Madison will have her own reality show set in Las Vegas called “Holly’s World,” which is due to air after “Girls Next Door.” For info on Glamourcon, go to www.glamourcon.com. Amy Koch gave me a great L.A. restaurant recommendation, Phillippe, which I can’t wait to try! Thanks, Amy! If YOU have a favorite, please e-mail me and let me know!)
 
The Chopping Block was the venue of choice for this year’s “Taste of TCW.” It was emceed by Steve Dolinsky of “The Hungry Hound” and organized to perfection by Managing Editor Cassandra Gaddo, Lauren Rafferty and Rebecca Michuda to benefit the TCW Foundation. There was a chef competition between Radhika Desai, Jennifer Gavin and Elaina Vasquez and Radhika was judged the winner by Carol Haddix (writer for the “Good Eating” section of the Chicago Tribune), Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Café
and Ken Norgan. As part of her prize, Radhika will be featured in an upcoming issue of TCW. There was a great turnout and guests included Tiffani Kim and Brad Griffith, Victor Skrebneski, Susan Ellefson, Brooke Skinner (who will be featured in the upcoming Fabulous Singles article), Charlene Gorzela, Carrie Lannon, Joy Germont, Brenda Sexton, Dennis Minkel, Greg Hyder, Tsi-tsi-ki Felix, Andrew Hayes, Pat Borg, Dori Wilson, John and Christine Garcia, Sarah Levy, Rebecca Taras, Matt Lee, Millie and John Simon, Lindsay Hays, Laura Westgate and Adel Tarakdijian. For more photos, click here!

And now a personal note….my friend Jim Smith will be climbing all 103 floors of the Willis Tower on Sunday, November 15th in support of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause and his efforts on its behalf, please click here for more information. Congrats Jim and GOOD LUCK! 
 
Congratulations are in order for Kate Gaynor on her wedding to Tim Dickey. They were married last month at the Fourth Presbyterian in a lovely ceremony. She announced the happy news at the Service Club of Chicago’s annual gala – La Bella Notte – Saturday night which was chaired to perfection by Kathy Crane and Cathy Smith. Congrats Kathy, Cathy and Kate– you make a beautiful bride, girlfriend! :)
 
And speaking of congratulations, WGN’s own Micah Materre has officially assumed the 9 p.m. anchor spot as of November 5th! She was formerly the noon anchor and is also the host of “Chicago’s Very Own.” We are so happy for you Micah and we’ll be watching!! :)
 
Please don’t forget the Stepping Up in the City event on Thursday, November 13th at the Hotel Sax (333 N. Dearborn) from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. As I mentioned last week, this is a wonderful and much needed national mentoring program for women and girls. Come on Thursday to learn more about it. Tickets are $35 and for more info, click here.
 
I don’t normally like to use ads for my video closers but this one was just too creative to pass up! I hope you enjoy it because let’s face it, who doesn’t need a bit of whimsy in their lives? It also serves as a warning if you’re ever around Loch Ness!
 
That’s it for this week! Candid Candace will return on Tuesday, November 24th with lots of fun news and photos so stay tuned! 
 
Love,
Candace 🙂
Candace@CandidCandace.com