Couture and Cocktails - Celebrating with 90210's Ryan Eggold

90210's Ryan Eggold and Chicago socialite Candace Jordan

The 2008 Couture and Cocktails party last night was one not to be missed. Maria Pinto dazzled guests with her clothing collection on the runway as models strutted to deliciously hip beats wearing cocktail dresses and gowns covered in a variety of beautiful, sparkling beads and feathers. Jackets covered in luxurious fabrics were modeled over beautiful flouncy blouses and skirts paired with hot pumps.

Guests were absolutely delighted by Maria Pinto’s fashions from the minute they hit the stage and strived to get as close to the runway as they could for the spectacular show. After the show, 90210’s newest star, Ryan Eggold took the runway by storm for the night’s live auction, and raised over $1000 in auctioning off an original 90210 script signed by the entire cast. Other auction items included the Wimbledon 2009 Package with tickets for two on United Airlines, the Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend Package that consisted of 2.68cts. colorless diamond Van Cleef and Arpels Cosmos earrings surrounded with gold, and The Suite Life Package which allows the winner to live like a celeb for one night in the Peninsula Suite with massages, cooking lessons from Master Chef Curtis Duffy and dinner at the Avenues Restaurant.

The silent auction took place over cocktails with magnificent prizes including a glamorous Louis Vuitton Vernis rolling luggage piece, a Personal Tour of Art Collection at Playboy, a CS Shopping Connoisseur, a Pratesi luxury robe, Dinner for 8 at Sepia, a Guggenheim Partners gift basket, a 7-day Caribbean retreat, Prince Dimitri Cufflinks, and Dinner at the Opening Night of The Joffrey. The night’s proceeds went to benefiting the new Chicago Joffrey Ballet and its hardworking and graceful dancers.
-Jackie Medler

Get ready for lots and lots of photos of the show because, of course, we love Maria Pinto!

photos by Alyssa Blanchard

Michelle Trachtenberg Wears Botkier's Zoe Pumps

photos courtesy StarTraks

We couldn't be more happy that Ms. Monica Botkier decided to create shoes, alongside her ultra fabulous handbags. We think Michelle Trachtenberg agrees, as she was recently spotted wearing the Zoe pumps on September 11th during New York's most fashionable week. The shoes retail for $425 and can be bought in black, electric blue, gunmetal patent, and liquid metal. Check them out at www.botkier.com

The 82nd Annual Rush Fashion Show

Photos by Alyssa Blanchard

Color, texture, and design all became magnificent ‘Silhouettes’ when one hundred seventy five models took the stage for The Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center’s 82^nd Annual Fashion Show. Beautiful fashions were modeled by the beautiful people of Chicago including: Taylor Miller from All My Children, Steve Baskerville from CBS 2, Kathy L. Brock from ABC 7, Anna Davlantes from NBC 5, Mike Leonard from NBC, Megan Mawickie from CBS 2, Bill Zwecker from CBS 2, and Robin Robinson and Margaret Shortridge-Werd from FOX News Chicago. The staged event consisted of 19 scenes that showcased the latest fashions. The Incognito Orchestra played along with the musical stylings of Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Chris Bennet, Lynne Jordan, Rich Parenti, and Robin Pluer.

Women’s, men’s, and children’s fashions all shared the spotlight throughout the night. Macy’s was all about black and white, Saks Fifth Avenue displayed deconstructed cut-outs, and Loro Piana kept warm with a variety of fur trimmed attire for their men’s and women’s collections. One-of-a-kind clothing was unmatched in its unique entirety by Sotheby’s Chicago Fashion Design Students: Nora del Busto, Tyler Coughlin, Emily Marxer, and Rachel Frank. Sophisticated women’s fashions were showcased by Tory Burch, McElroy Furs, The Lake Forest Shop, Luca Luca, Francis Heffernan, Jake, Ultimo, and with stunning Bohemian/Russian Aristocracy-inspired gowns by Neapolitan.

Children’s tartan jumpers, corduroys, peter pan collars, and big buttons were a constant theme in children’s wear by Papo D’ Anjo and Penny’s From Heaven. Tween clothing was also magnificently put on by Phoebe & Francis. Towards the end of the night, JP Morgan partnered with Tiffany & Co. for a sparkling diamond display in which each model became Holly Go Lightly from the famous “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

Fashion Show Chairman, Catherine King, and Woman’s Board President, Consie Pierrepont, considered the show a success among their efforts to raise $10 million for the Rush University Medical Center Campaign that includes building a new state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary Heart and Vascular Center. Larry J. Goodman, President and CEO of Rush University Medical Center, opened the show with words that will continue to resonate in the audiences’ hearts,” Silhouettes – appropriately signals this groundbreaking year for Rush, when the plans for the entire transformation of our campus are moving from outline to concrete forms and foundations.”
-Jackie Medler