CHICAGO FASHION NIGHT OUT

Evening Dress

Be a caterpillar by day and a butterfly by night, counseled the legendary designer Coco Chanel. "Nothing could be more comfortable than a caterpillar, and nothing could be more made for love than a butterfly." This high priestess of style understood what the well-dressed woman has always known: There's something special that goes on after dark.
While daywear must be practical, versatile,
and appropriate, the evening is open for interpretation, offering designers the rare opportunity to indulge their imagination and sense of festiveness and frivolity. A tribute to fashion's highest art, Evening Dress chronicles glamorous attire from ancient times up to the latest season, featuring photographs and sketches of hundreds of exquisite gowns. A celebration of this most elegant form of the sartorial arts, this lavish edition will engage, amuse, and inspire.

Model = Brandis
Hair = Tetsuya Yokozuka
Makeup = Olga N.;
Asst. = James Kloiber;
Photography & Wardrobe = Christine Taylor
Location: New York

Lighting: No tricks here. It is natural, mid-day light streaming in through a window. We had been using bright strobe throughout the shoot for a very hot washed out hard light look; but I'm always a sucker for soft natural light so could not resist taking a few pics after we were done with the initial shoot.

Location specifics: Harlem area in Manhattan, NY in a studio apt. Who says you need fancy spaces to create beautiful fashion portraiture/photographs?

Dress is purchased in a Soho boutique - will get those details asap! Hat is vintage from collectible antique shop in Shegoyban, Wisconsin.

Gear:
Canon 5D
Mother Nature

Model = Brandis
Hair = Tetsuya Yokozuka
Makeup = Olga N.;
Asst. = James Kloiber;
Photography & Wardrobe = Christine Taylor
Location: New York

Lighting: No tricks here. It is natural, mid-day light streaming in through a window. We had been using bright strobe throughout the shoot for a very hot washed out hard light look; but I'm always a sucker for soft natural light so could not resist taking a few pics after we were done with the initial shoot.

Location specifics: Harlem area in Manhattan, NY in a studio apt. Who says you need fancy spaces to create beautiful fashion portraiture/photographs?

Dress is purchased in a Soho boutique - will get those details asap!

Gear:
Canon 5D
Mother Nature

Crochet just got chic.

From the runways of Paris to the sidewalks of small towns, crochet has emerged as a cool and sophisticated fashion trend.

And nothing is cooler than doing it yourself–quickly and easily. Inspired by vintage patterns, Doris Chan presents twenty fresh, fantastic designs for beginner and advanced crocheters alike. Chan’s designs brilliantly translate old-fashioned lace patterns into fun, funky attire by substituting bright, chunky yarns for delicate fibers and increasing gauge and hook sizes. The result is a lovely, intricate lace pattern that only looks like it was difficult to produce. And because almost all the patterns are designed to be crocheted from the top down seamlessly, there is little to no finishing, piecing, or sewing required.

If you’ve never tried to crochet before, Amazing Crochet Lace is a wonderful introduction to the charm and beauty of lace. And if you’re a pro, you’ll be thrilled with the lovely, fresh designs you can create with the skills you already possess.