“For the Love of Color” – Ebony/Macy’s Tribute to the Style of Eunice W. Johnson

I don’t normally enjoy afternoon parties but the Macy’s/Ebony magazine party “For the Love of Color,” which honored the life and style of Eunice Johnson, was quite an exception. You know when these two dynamos team up, it will definitely be something you won’t want to miss. Johnson Publishing Chairwoman and all-around cool chick Linda Johnson Rice mingled with guests and spoke eloquently about her mom, Eunice. You could see the apple didn’t fall far from the style tree with Miss Linda since she was wearing a very chic black Todd Oldham with safety pins from the Fashion Fair vaults. In case you didn’t know, the Ebony Fashion Fair was the world’s largest traveling fashion show (and might still be!). Former Fashion Fair model Bethann Hardison had this to say: “She (Eunice) had the chutzpah to go to Europe to get couture clothes. That to me is a genius story itself. Not a lot of Black people had the money or the ability to do that. She was successful, and money talks. She saw the vision and made a difference.” Designer Stephen Burrows recalled, “She exposed Black Americans to a view of the world they would not have seen without the Ebony Fashion Fair at the time. It was a chance to see what was happening in the world outside the United States because they showcased a lot of Italian and French fashion. We went every year.” The exhibition, which will be at Macy’s State Street through Monday, February 7th, showcases the designs of some of the world’s most renowned and critically acclaimed designers from Mrs. Johnson’s personal vault that were featured in the famed Ebony Fashion Fair runway shows including Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Krizia, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy and Marc Bouwer to name a few. To reach the 7th floor private party, you followed the red carpet past WVON radio’s live broadcast with Emilie McKendall into the glamorous Narcissus Room which was draped in red with bars at every corner, Fashion Fair Cosmetic stations showcasing the limited edition lip color (For the Love of Color), a DJ playing hot mixes and a delightful photo opportunity which allowed you to “appear” on the cover of Ebony. I even saw Macy’s Regional VP Ralph Hughes taking advantage of this fun idea. This retrospective fashion exhibit debuted in NY at Macy’s Herald Square in January and will tour 10 locations across the country throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month. The designs are breathtaking and the exhibit is well worth the visit. What a trailblazer Eunice Johnson was and what an inspiration she is to so many people! The party was packed with fashionistas and lots of recognizable faces including Amy Barnett (Ebony’s editor-in-chief), Neal Zucker (who will be featured in the March issue of Chicago Magazine), FOX TV’s Robin Robinson, Park 52’s Marc Brooks, SAIC’s Fashion Dept. Chair Nick Cave, Merri Dee, Lynne Bredfeldt, Dori Wilson, LeAnita-Ragland Brooks, Sr. VP of Johnson Publishing Rodrigo Sierra, Mathell Givens, Bernada Baker, Macy’s Midwest Media Director Andrea Schwartz, Media Relations Manager Kamal Bosamia, Regional VP Ralph Hughes, Brenda Davis, gallery owner Andre Guichard, Liz Kores, Cheryl Whitaker and Chicago Mag’s Rich Gamble, wife Melissa and darling daughter among many others. For more information about this truly wonderful event, please visit www.Macys.com/celebrate and for more on the life and style of Eunice Johnson, please visit www.Ebony.com/style (To view ALL event pics, please visit my Chicago Now site.)
 
You would think in this awful weather AND after having to reschedule the event, that the crowd might be a little thinner than you would hope but this certainly wasn’t the case with the Kick-Off Celebration for Hearts-a-Bluhm at Neiman Marcus Thursday night. Even Chicago’s First Lady Maggie Daley was there smiling for photos and looking beautiful. If you haven’t seen the 100-plus hearts dotting Michigan Avenue and many side streets then you are wearing a blindfold! Each heart is beautifully unique and most hold sponsor logos like Lyn McKeaney’s colorful heart celebrating the eternally hot pub, Mother’s. There was a live performance by the incredibly talented artist Elliott From, who painted images of Mayor Daley and the skyline on a unique heart with BOTH hands! I can barely scratch out my name with ONE! And did I say the place was PACKED?! OMG! I could hear the 4th floor crowd as soon as I entered the front door! There was dramatic lighting on many of the walls illuminating heart motifs and everyone seemed to be wearing red, just like event founders Kathleen Henson and Julee White asked us to do! There were specialty cocktails as well as tasty hors d’oeuvres and lots of laughter with pats on the back for a job well done. This campaign, launched by Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, will remain throughout the month of February to celebrate National Heart Month. Neil Bluhm and Dr. Patrick McCarthy seemed quite pleased with the success and the turnout on this snowy evening. I can’t wait to wander down the avenue and check out each and every heart as well as read the heart-healthy tips on each one…but it might be a while from the looks of things :( (For more event pics, please click here.)
 
Thodos Dance Company’s 2011 Winter Concert is going to be a blockbuster when it premieres on February 19th (at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie) and on Friday, March 4th (at the Harris Theater)! I went to their White City Benefit this week and met Tony Award-winning, legendary dance legend and Honorary Event Chair Ann Reinking who, along with Thodos founder and Artistic Director Melissa Thodos, created the company’s first story ballet in its 19 year history. This world premiere and epic story ballet makes full use of the company’s talented ensemble of dancer/choreographer/educators to tell the story of Chicago’s legendary 1893 World’s Fair through contemporary dance, period costumes, video projections, a live on-stage string quartet and a full libretto. This evening’s benefit, hosted by Event Co-Chairs Cheri Lawrence and Jennifer Tengelsen along with fellow TDC Board members, artists and staff, introduced excerpts from this production in the magnificent Grand Army of the Republic Hall. This room took my breath away and even had lights strung back and forth across the space to emulate the boardwalk décor of the 19th century. Th
e strolling dancers in period garb welcomed guests upstairs and downstairs for this gala evening celebrating dance. The event held many delights such as an extravagant silent auction, an open bar, wine roulette, a cabaret, a delightful theme-inspired dinner plus dessert and “Dancing with the Thodos Stars” and raised over $75,000 for the evening. The performance in the Claudia Cassidy Theater featured the Thodos/Menomonee Club Youth Ensemble followed by a sneak peak of “The White City: Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893” which will be the centerpiece of the Winter Concert. This concert will also feature two other world premieres including “Shift” by Ron De Jesus and “Getting There” by Melissa Thodos along with audience favorites from the dances of 2010, “Quieting the Clock” by Francisco Avina and Stephanie Martinez Bennitt and “Dancer, Net” by Wade Schaaf.  I hope to see you at one of these two performances…that’s right, ONLY TWO! For tickets to the North Shore Center on Saturday, February 19th, please call 847-673-6300 or visit www.NorthShoreCenter.org. For tickets to the Friday, March 4th, performance at the Harris Theater, please call 312-334-7777 or visit www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org. (For more event pics, please click here.)
 
The Fourth Annual Chicago Fashion Foundation’s Scholarship Event will be on Thursday, March 3rd and will be hosted by Project Runway’s Peach Carr at the Chicago History Museum. Local fashion design students will compete for three scholarships by creating a one-of-a-kind ensemble that reflects Chicago music. The ensembles will be judged by some of Chicago’s fashion contributors and enthusiasts including local designer Lara Miller, 24/Chicago’s Catie Keogh, Amanda Monteiro of Georgio Armani and moi. Scholarships will be awarded to the second and third place winners as well as a $5,000 fashion design scholarship to the first place winner for this evening. Nine contestants will compete this year including Ana Laura Leon, Elaine Hoang, Emma Bottari and Meilin Schneider from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Rebecca Lopez from Columbia College; and K’Lynn Kennedy, Caitlin Lindell, Jasmine Mitchell and O’ Ron Manson all from the International Academy of Design & Technology. Ensembles will reflect all types of Chicago music including electronica, jazz and alternative. There will be cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres, silent auction and, for the first 50 to arrive, goody bags. Tickets begin at $20…for more info, please visit www.chicagofashionfoundation.org. Don’t you love livin’ in Chicago? 🙂

You can still catch stylish man-about-town, Morris Gearring’s, one man show, “Something About Oscar! Brown, Jr.” at Park 52, located at 5201 S. Harper Ave. at 52nd St. in Hyde Park, on Wednesday, February 9th and 16th beginning at 7:30 p.m. These shows, directed by Chuck Smith, will feature Koco Brunson & His Quartet as well as special guest, Maggie Brown. The final show on Thursday, February 24th, will also feature a special appearance by Nikki Giovanni. Show cover is $25. For reservations, please call 312-401-7414. Can’t wait, Morris!!!
 
There’s so much more going on around town so please check in next week! Hope your team won the Super Bowl…mine didn’t get to play… :(
 
Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
 
P.S. Why can’t we go for a walk, Mom?