success-sketch

The right side is what my week feels like and I’m still not sure when I’m going to reach the “success” part…I guess that’s the “joy” of being an entrepreneur.

CBN

So about a year after I first learned about them, and 6 months after the sent me a short e-mail asking me basic questions, I finally replied and joined the Chicago Blogger Network!

Procrastination for the win!

Seriously though, I’m trying to get better about being a functioning, organized adult.  Though judging by the current state of my condo the success of that goal is, um, debatable.

Anyway, I’m really excited to participate in the events that the CBN organizes.  I’ve been following them on tumblr and facebook for a while and they’re always cooking up something fun and it looks like a great way to meet other bloggers.  If you’re a Chicago Blogger you can check them out here.

~Maggie

Spring/Summer Trend Roundup

It finally seems as if the Chicago weather might actually be turning toward summer temperatures (though we still have to figure this whole “sunshine” thing out) so I thought it was time to talk summer fashion.

Here are a few of the trends I’ll be wearing as the summer starts.

Summer Black-This might be the easiest, most wearable trend ever.  After several seasons of white being a trend its time to break out your LBD again!  The best think about this trend is that there really is a little black dress for every shape and every occasion.

In fact, you probably already have one in your closet.  But, just in case you want to buy something new, I’d check out this DVF dress on ShopBop.  I love the drop waist and you can wear this day or night depending on how you style it.

DVF Drop Waist Dress

DVF Drop Waist Dress

 

Stripes- The obvious way to wear this trend is nautical, and you really can’t go wrong with a little striped sweater or t-shirt.  However, if you want to do something different I think that this Hive and Honey dress on Piperlime is a great choice.  Not quite stripes, not quite chevron but very modern.

Hive and Honey Dress from Piperlime

Hive and Honey Dress from Piperlime

 

Floral Prints- Florals are everywhere this year.  If you think that you’re not a floral girl you can take a riff from the more graphic versions seen on the runway like this Asos one that mixes a kaleidoscope like pattern with a little black color blocking to toughen it up.

Floral Bodycon Dress from Asos

Floral Bodycon Dress from Asos

 

Skater Skirts-This one is from Bloomingdales but I also saw quite  a few at Urban Outfitters the other day that were a little more casual.

Skater Skirt from Bloomingdales

Skater Skirt from Bloomingdales

 

What trends are you loving this season?

~Maggie

Finally downloaded an Uber app.

I know, I know.  I’m the last person on earth (or at least Chicago).

I think I’m a mere 2 years away from being cool enough for sidecar.

Friday Finds

Here’s a quick roundup of the things that I’m loving this week.

These Steve Madden shoes.  They are totally, inappropriately high and I am aware that I will look sort of absurd in them but I don’t care.  I bought these (on sale!) at the Steve Madden store in Bucktown.  You can look for me tottering around Chicago in them all summer.

Steve Madden Xternal

Steve Madden Xternal

 

Nars is always my go to for lip gloss and this has become my trusty new color for spring.  There’s a reason they call it “larger than life lipgloss” but don’t be afraid.  Though you can layer this lipgloss to a very bright and bold finish, you can start out with just a dab and use your finger to blend it into more of a sheer stain like look which allows you to use this gloss for both day and night looks.

 

Nars Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Place Vendome

Nars Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Place Vendome

 

 

At $580 this Missoni swim suit isn’t exactly in my budget (and no, I didn’t buy it) but I spotted it on Net-a-Porter and it was too cute not to buy.

Honestly, at this point I’d be glad to glad to drag out my Target swimsuit if it meant that it was warm enough to wear it in Chicago.  Currently at 42 degrees as I’m typing this.  Sigh. A girl can dream.

Backless Missoni Swimsuit

Backless Missoni Swimsuit

What were your favorite finds this week?

~Maggie

What could be more chic than custom shoes?

 

 

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Sort of a trick question because of course, the answer is nothing-unless you answered custom shoes at half price.

Living Social has a deal for Chromatic Gallerie this week-50% off your order.  I’d never heard of this company before but as a shoe lover it seemed like it was my duty to check it out.  The shoes come in three different heel heights, 45 colors, and 4 different materials.

Although the styles are more basic than groundbreaking, they would be perfect for brides and bridesmaids -they even offer discounts when you buy multiples of the same shoe!

scarlet-fever-4-inch-front

 

Photos from the CG website

The Chic in…

I know I’m The Chic in Chicago but some days, mostly when work is tough, I think about being

Unknown

 

The Chic in New York

images

Or maybe The Chic in London (I’d look so cute making a call in one of those phone booths)

paris_pic

 

Possibly Paris, that would make a good blog name on it’s own.

bora-bora-beach-bora-bora-wallpaper-beach-wallpapers-79367-900x562

 

Or maybe just a beach in Bora Bora.

A girl can dream, right?

~Maggie

Photo credits-1, 2, 3

 

Fashion Icons-Ikram

Ikram's Glossy Red Exterior

Ikram’s Glossy Red Exterior

I have a confession to make.  I have never been inside Ikram.  It completely and totally intimidates me.  Perhaps not even the store so much, I have no issue walking into Hermes or Chanel and I can’t really afford anything in there either, but Ikram herself.  For those of you who don’t know, she’s basically the Oprah of fashion.  The woman who single handedly legitimizes any claim that Chicago can have on fashion, and like Oprah, Ikram is a kingmaker.

Ikram may have come to national attention when dressing Michelle Obama but she was at the forefront of the fashion word long before that.

“The influence of a chain like Barneys is obvious, but a handful of other boutiques — including Colette in Paris, Maxfield in Los Angeles, 10 Corso Como in Milan and, of course, Ikram in Chicago — can do as much to establish a market for an emerging luxury brand as any national department store. At the highest end of the fashion industry, they are the gatekeepers and anointers. “Even if an account is from Russia, I always tell them I’m carried at Ikram,” said Stephen Courter of Ohne Titel. “They’ll have more trust in the label.””

Ikram Goldman

Ikram Goldman

In some ways, Ikram is not like most of the women I usually think of when I think of my personal fashion icons.  She doesn’t live to be photographed, or wear the outlandish clothing of Daphne Guinness.  And yet, she’s arguably shaping the world’s fashion scene more than any of the it girls on the covers of magazines.

Ikram and her eponymous boutique don’t follow trends, they set them.  But more then trends she has a high focus on quality and is known for being unfailingly rigorous in the standards for the clothing that she caries.

If you can afford to shop at Ikram, you’re bound to get clothing that will stand the test of time in both form and function.  And you might even catch a glimpse of Ikram herself.

Just don’t expect to see me there.  I’m still irrationally terrified of her.

Photo 1, 2