Gamma Player Introduces...

Gamma Player introduces the Firma All-Day Shirt! Visit them at 2035 W. Division in Chicago or online at www.gammaplayer.com

Local Boutique Owner Collaborates with "What Not to Wear" Host

Local fashion boutique owner, Janice Moskoff, is collaborating with "What Not to Wear" host Stacy London on the "Find the Look, Keep the Look" program that is striving to educate consumers on the proper ways of cleaning your clothes to help them keep looking like new.

Sponsored by Woolite, the Find the Look, Keep the Look Program will be making its' debut in New York on March 10, 2009. Moskoff and London will be there to help kick off the launch of this Program. During this economic roller coaster we are going through, this program is aiming to help that fashionista stay up to date by not burning a hole in her pocket. One of the easiest and most cost efficient way in achieving this is to properly clean your clothes to keep them in mint condition. Too many people aren't taking the time to carefully read the care label on garments. "Find the Look, Keep the Look" is going to help consumers keep their styles looking fresh and in good condition in order to save a penny or two.

RUNWAY TO RETAIL: Tell us about "Find the Look, Keep the Look"!
JANICE MOSKOFF: It is an innovative program designed to help the savviest of shoppers stretch their fashion dollar further. It assists the fashion-conscious find the right styles with its comprehensive online look book which features 10 fashion boutique owners from around the country. And within the look book it provides invaluable fabric-care tips that help today's budget-pressed shoppers preserve and gently launder their most-beloved pieces from high-end designer denim to paper-thin cotton tissue-tees. Women spend a lot of time finding the look; Woolite helps them keep it. For more information about the program, visit: www.findthelookkeepthelook.com.

RTR: What was it like being chosen as the only Chicago boutique?
JM: It was an honor. I join an elite team of 10 boutique owners around the country that have been designated Woolite's Style Stars. It is an opportunity of a lifetime - especially as the Woolite and Beta Boutique message of stretching a shopper's fashion dollar further is so perfectly aligned. Beta Boutique shoppers love a good deal. They especially love high-fashion at an affordable price. And although many of my shoppers are already die-hard Woolite fans, by participating in this campaign I will be able to remind the rest of them that there is a high-quality alternative in caring for their most prized fashion finds.

RTR: What is the biggest tip you can give to women while dressing in a recession? JM: The three c's - 1) clean your closet, 2) chuck the items you don't wear and 3) carefully shop for well-priced investment pieces such as coats, dresses, cashmere sweaters that indulge the shopping bug while standing the test of time.
-Katie Davidson

Recessionista Shopping! Warehouse Sales, Online Deals, Trunk Shows and more!

Lots of cures for recession depression by shopping major discounts and sales this weekend and through to March 18-20 for Shecky's Girls Night Out in Chicago! Enjoy!

She Boutique's HUGE Weekend-only Sale
Get 50% Off starting February 26th to Sunday, March 1st by entering in special code SHEFEB09. This will get you half off on EVERYTHING (even merch already marked down)! Visit ShopSheBoutique.com

Peacock Boutique’s One Year Anniversary Party
Celebrate one year of style with hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, gift bags and a spring fashion preview! Enjoy special discounts and complimentary waxing by Clique.
Friday, February 27 from 6-8pm at 2828 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky

Multiple Personalities Hat Trunk Show at
Wolfbait & B-Girls!
Featuring Squasht By Les and Gross Millinery
Saturday, February 28th from 11am-4pm at Wolfbait & B-Girls, 3131 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
Join them for an afternoon of shopping and light refreshments!

Cheap Thrills Warehouse Sale
Featuring Eskell, Penelope's, Veruca Salt, Hayden-Harnett, Tangerine, and In God We Trust
Saturday, February 28th from 11am-5pm at Around the Coyote Gallery located at 1935 - 1/2 North Avenue (second floor) in Chicago

Evil Kitty Trunk Show at Wolfbait & B-Girls!
Featuring Evil Kitty and designer Lidia Wachowska, who will be presenting her new Spring 2009 collection. View new styles and purchase Evil Kitty at a discounted price!
Saturday, March 14th from noon-5pm at Wolfbait & B-Girls, 3131 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago

sponsored event: Shecky's Girls Night Out!

UPCOMING EVENT ALERT

Cure Your Recession Depression at Shecky's Girls Night Out!

Economy got you down? Grab your BFF's and de-stress at Shecky's Girls Night Out – the only event where you can sip complimentary cocktails all night long, grab chic fashions at amazing prices, sample new products and score up to $100 in free swag inside Shecky's Famous Goodie Bag – all under one roof!

Date: Wed.-Fri., Mar. 18th-20th, 2009
Time: 5pm-10pm
Place: The Great Hall at Chicago Union Station 210 S. Canal St. (entrance on Jackson Blvd.)

General Admission Tickets: Free for Shecky's Insiders
(Insiders are subscribers to Shecky's)
Famous Goodie Bag Tickets: $25 in advance

For more info, click here!

An Oscar Spotlight on Chicago Designer

Really exciting news for Chicago designer Sam Kori George! Sam's gown was chosen out of seven designers on Oscar night and worn on stage during the award show! Two other designers were also from Chicago including Moire Conroy and Maria Pinto.

Link It! It's Fashionable Links from Around The Web, The Week in Chic!

Factio Magazine is still obsessed over Angelina's tresses from the Oscar's. Get the step-by-step guide from her stylist here!

The Fashionable Housewife has the Secret To Isla Fisher’s Perfect Body In “Confessions of A Shopaholic”

Fashion Fille discovered an amazing photographer with stunning work. Come see it with your own eyes!

Fashion Pulse Daily is still starry-eyed over the Oscars, weighing in on the fashion with our Academy Awards/Oscars Best Dressed of 2009 list.

The New York Fall 2009 fashion shows forecast a shiny and happy season, reports Fashiontribes.

Runway To Retail is checking out some of the coolest sales at Urban Outfitters this week!

Vogue's Sally Singer says: buy less, buy betterThe Curated Life.

FAME 2009

Sponsored by: The Illinois Institute of Art

Welcome to FAME 2009 - the fashion and media extravaganza on March 6!

This year’s Fashion and Media Extravaganza promises even more innovative fashion, edgy animation, imaginative filmmaking and eye-popping visual effects by students from The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.

FAME is in its fourth year and for the third year in a row they have chosen Harris Theater for Music and Dance as the venue to best showcase work by students in every area of study from the college.

On March 6, 2009, guests will have the opportunity to see their students’ talents firsthand. We invite you to join ILIA in the heart of Chicago’s Millennium Park for an unforgettable evening!

To purchase tickets, call 312.334.7777, or click here.

H&M Goes to South Korea

H&M is doing better than ever! Despite the current economic mess we're experiencing, H&M is at the top of their game and is looking into even more expansion. The retailer is now operating more than 1,700 shops throughout the world and doesn't plan to stop there. After recent success with the opening of their store in Tokyo, plans to open another store in South Korea within the next two years are in the works. The Tokyo store was getting volumes of around 8,000 people a day coming through their doors and H&M saw that as another opportunity to expand. With moderate priced goods that are similar to the styles seen on the runway, H&M isn't feeling any crunches this season. Although the lines are much smaller in Tokyo, there is still a variety of styles to choose from. H&M sees this as one of the hottest markets right now and is determined to utilize this as another step in taking over the world, one store at a time.
-Katie Davidson

Cool Sales This Week from Urban

We can't shop enough at Urban Outfitters- for the home, for our wardrobes - it's just plain cool! Here are a few of our favorite things from Urban this week! Happy Shopping!

We used to buy Lacoste button down sweaters from thrift stores like crazy! We love this Lacoste sweater dress.
Was $165, Now $119
We love to mix a little masculine touches with our feminine flowy frocks. Try these Oxford's!
Was $88, Now $59.99
We love the easiness of this tapestry tote - a nice break from logos!
Was $38, Now $24.99.

Urban Outfitters Free Shipping On Orders Over $250
(scratch that, now you only need to spend $150 for free shipping)

Luxe Links! Luxury Stories from Around the Web!

Bloomacious is mapping Christian Dior from 1949 to Miley Cyrus.

Factio Magazine is giving away a luxurious pair of pants from Italian label Dismero! Sign up (for free) to win!!

Runway To Retail Catches up with Stylist David Babaii! He tells us how to get Angelina's Oscar hair step-by-step.

Tracy Porter shows us how to do high-end five minute fashion with table scarves and throws! Watch the video...

Yves Saint Laurent Sale Enlivens the Art World. Visit Luxist to find out more.

Celebrate London Fashion Week by Shopping Their Designers!

Celebrate London Fashion Week by shopping all of our favorite London designers including:

Adidas by Stella McCartney NET-A-PORTER.COM

Aminaka Wilmont NET-A-PORTER.COM

Aquascutum NET-A-PORTER.COM

Alexander McQueen NET-A-PORTER.COM

Burberry NET-A-PORTER.COM

Burberry Prorsum NET-A-PORTER.COM

Christopher Kane NET-A-PORTER.COM

Erdem NET-A-PORTER.COM

Eun Jeong NET-A-PORTER.COM

Issa NET-A-PORTER.COM

Luella NET-A-PORTER.COM

Matthew Williamson NET-A-PORTER.COM

Mulberry NET-A-PORTER.COM

Nathan Jenden NET-A-PORTER.COM

Pringle of Scotland NET-A-PORTER.COM

Roksanda Ilincic NET-A-PORTER.COM

Stella McCartney NET-A-PORTER.COM

Temperley London NET-A-PORTER.COM

Vivienne Westwood NET-A-PORTER.COM

Vivienne Westwood Red Label NET-A-PORTER.COM

Get Angelina's Hair from the Oscars

We absolutely loved Angelina's hair (and emerald jewels for that matter) for the Oscars, so we caught up with stylist David Babaii for a step-by-step how to for achieving the look at home.

Step 1: To achieve this romantic cascade of curls, I sprayed her entire head with David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray and scrunched it into the hair. This gives just the right texture and hold.

Step 2: Next, I dried her hair by dividing her tresses into 3 sections: top, sides and back leaving the nape area free. Taking small sections starting at the nape, use the David Babaii for WildAid Blow Dryer with the nozzle attachment and finish the drying process with a large round brush to smooth hair straight.

Step 3: At the crown area, I sprayed David Babaii for WildAid Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier to the root area and down the hair shaft. Then, I dried this section with a jumbo round brush to add lift and volume.

Step 4: Once dry, I sectioned the hair again using the same sectioning process as I did for blow drying. Using the David Babaii for WildAid Styling Iron, I once again sectioned the hair into 3 sections: top, sides and back leaving the nape area free. To curl, use the Styling Iron to create "ribbon curls" by taking small "V" shaped sections. To achieve, wrap the hair around and inside the styling iron close to the scalp area and pull the iron down (similar to curling ribbon). After curling the entire head, I smoothed some of the curls with a brush while leaving some intact.

Step 5: At the crown area, I back-brushed the hair at the scalp area only, sprayed some additional Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier and gently smoothed the surface not to remove too much of the back-brushing. Next, to create her half-up, half down look, I brushed the sides up and back and secured with pins. To complete the back, I ran my fingers up several curls to create volume and variations in texture. For a long but natural lasting hold, I used David Babaii for WildAid Mise en Plis Light Styling Spray.

There you go! Now go out and get that hair and score your Brad.

Oscar Night With Moët & Chandon

Oscar night was the perfect opportunity to pop the champagne and celebrate a year of filmmaking. Speaking of champagne, Moët & Chandon had more than just movies to toast to. The French label was dubbed the exclusive champagne of the 81st Academy Awards, and decided no better way to celebrate than with a nationwide party! Bejeweled Moët bottles graced the tabletops of Moët & Chandon Oscar viewing party venues throughout the country.

The 1028 Gallery in Chicago provided an Academy Award-worthy swank affair complete with a bank of floodlights, camera crew, red velvet ropes, and a step-and-repeat that recreated the red-carpet experience indoors. Chicagoans hit the red carpet dressed to the nines about the same time as the celebrities on Oscar night. Chicago-based rep for the champagne, Kimberly Burt, constructed the loft into the complete Oscar experience with rooms specifically designated for coat check, a red-carpet entrance, and lounge areas to watch the award ceremony. “I wanted to be sure that everywhere guests turned, they were experiencing the excitement of the Oscars,” she said. The invite only affair catered to some 150 tastemakers, business leaders, and media players. The open loft provided old-Chicago personality and style with its aged brick walls and dimly lit bar room. Guests sipped bubbly Academy Award-themed drinks from their chic seats as they enjoyed the show from flat screens near by.
-Jackie Medler

Our Top 10 Favorite Oscar Looks

We were surprising more pleased with Oscar fashion this year, although there were some disappointments (Reese and Nicole)! There were some new style stars in our book - we're loving Evan Rachel Wood's sophisticated style as of late and the multiple creamy gowns we saw on the red carpet - Evan, Penelope, Marisa, Anne and Taraj. Enjoy!

Evan Rachel Wood

We loved Evan Rachel Wood's Ellie Saab dress, Neil Lane jewels and Sergio Rossi clutch.

Natalie Portman
Pin thin actress Natalie Portman looked stunning in a hot pink Rodarte dress and Kwiat jewelry with a vintage Rialto clutch and Stella McCartney heels.

Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway took our breath away in Armani Privé and Cartier.

Penelope Cruz
Penelope Cruz wore a 60-year-old vintage Balmain gown and Chopard jewels and looked absolutely stunning while winning her Oscar for best supporting actress.

Marisa Tomei

Marisa looked amazing in Versace Atelier with Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie donned a basic black Ellie Saab dress and clutch, with not-so-basic emerald jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz. Want to copy her Oscar hair click here.

Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson looked gorgeous in a Roberto Cavalli gown and Fred Leighton jewelry and Mary Norton clutch.

Kate Winslet

Oscar winner Kate Winslet played it a bit safe in Yves Saint Laurent and Chopard jewels with Grace Kelly-esqe hair.

Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker channeled Cinderella in a Dior Haute Couture gown and Fred Leighton jewelry and a Ferregamo clutch!

Virginia Madsen
Virginia Madsen was a lady in red last night designed by Kevan Hall, jewelry by Loree Rodkin and clutch by Katherine Baumann.

Freida Pinto

She's so gorgeous, she would look good in a plastic bag. We thought the John Galliano dress might look better in person, however, with a face like that it doesn't matter. Her jewels were by Martin Katz and shoes by Judith Leiber.

-Chloé van der Wel