Announcing the 1st RLT Collection Trunk Show

My good friend, Emmy Award Winning AIDS activist, Rae Lewis Thornton is having her very first trunk show for her RLT Collection.

The RLT Collection is a line of fashion bracelets designed and handcrafted by Rae. After selling her collection online for three years, Rae is ready to debut her best new designs to date at her trunk show.

I invite everyone to come out for a night of yummy desserts, drinks, and of course selecting the perfect RLT Collection bracelet for your wrist. Rae's motto is "a bracelet for every woman" and I can certainly attest to that. There are bracelets for the girl next door, the over the top glamour girl, the natural woman, and even something for the men in your life. The invite above has all the information you need. Please click here to RSVP. 

Hope to see you there! 

My fall uniform

My fall uniform by alifeofstyle featuring a bracelet watch

Cotton sweater
$26 - tillys.com

Dorothy Perkins long sleeve t shirt
£7 - dorothyperkins.com

Alexander mcqueen
£425 - selfridges.com

Rsq
$30 - tillys.com

Anna Sui leather boots
$498 - shopsavannahs.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors tote
$350 - net-a-porter.com

Michael Kors bracelet watch
$195 - neimanmarcus.com

The Dyson Technology Experience: Keep Cool In Style!

I was invited to the Dyson Technology Experience this weekend at the Gold Coast Art Fair in Grant Park. I was not about to miss an opportunity to check out the Air Multiplier™ fans and see if a bladeless fan could truly deliver a nice cool breeze.

Look Ma, No Blades!!!

By Saturday afternoon, the weather had already reached the upper 80s with a steadily rising heat index. The sun was scorching and don’t even get me started on the humidity!

When I got to Grant Park, I could not find the Dyson demonstration quick enough. As I entered the Dyson tent, I was met by a blast of cool air from one of the pedestal fans. I walked around to see the other models and was surprised by how cool it was inside the tent.

As everyone knows, traditional fans do nothing more than blow the hot air around but this was not the case with the Air Multiplier™. It was as if there was a cooling system built within. I spoke with one of the reps who explained how the fans work. The bladeless Air Multiplier™ draws air in through a mixed flow impeller – a combination of the technologies used in turbochargers and jet engines.

Pretty impressive! Everyone inside the tent was excited about the fans. One little girl asked her dad if the fans were magic. Don’t you just love the questions kids ask? Another small child had a curious look on her face as she slowly raised her hand to feel the air. I could tell she wanted to stick her hand in the Air Multiplier™ but was afraid to do so. One of the friendly reps assured her the fan was safe as he stuck his hand inside. She followed his lead and looked completely amazed.

If you have small children or pets the Air Multiplier™ would work well in your home and is so worth the investment.

For the summer of 2011, Dyson is continuing to cement its place as the leading technology company in design and development. I definitely think they are an industry leader. The products are like none on the market. The Dyson Technology Experience is a great way to learn more about Dyson products.

Haute Bag Lady Bag of the Week: Canvas & Leather Totes

Sturdy canvas gets trimmed in cool leather to make the most stylish bags of the season!

Cooperative Canvas Bucket Bag

This week's Haute Bag is the current and so apropos for the season, canvas and leather tote. I saw a few styles on Nikia aka ChiTown Fashionista's blog.

In the early part of spring when I began planning my summer wardrobe, I added a canvas and leather tote to my shopping list. To date I have yet to add one to my bag family. Trust me, that will change sooner rather than later.

I am coveting two by Urban Outfitters (the leather is faux or vegan, if you're a hipster, lol!).


Deena & Ozzy Chain Tote

I love the casual cool of canvas and leather totes. They can work with a variety of looks and judging by the size, they would make great work and travel bags.

Hayden Harnett's Ibiza Flight Tote has always been a personal favorite.


Waxed canvas and saddle leather trim











pictures courtesy of Urban Outfitters and Hayden Harnett

MP3 player Flat Iron by InGlam



As seen on ABC's The View

 An MP3 Player Flat Iron... What will they think of next? I received information about InGlam's clever hair tool yesterday and I just had to share it with you all. How cool is this?

Turn up the heat & listen to today's hottest musical artists as you style your hair with the ONYX Ceramic Digital 1" Hairstyling Iron with built in MP3 player by InGlam. 

Bring Billboard's Hot 100 into your next heat styling experience as you straighten, curl, flip, and wave your hair.

Holding up to 500 songs for a customizable playlist, this music centric iron not only brings hairstyling to life but features advanced ONYX Ceramic Technology for superior salon results. Effortlessly smooth strands and create a brilliant shine with the tool's Ceramic Floating and Beveled Plates which produce Negative Ions and Far Infra Red, sealing in vital moisture and repelling humidity for a static and frizz free style. Plus, the ONYX Ceramic Digital 1" Flat Iron reaches up to 420°F due to an advanced MCH Heating System which provides instant heat up with immediate heat recovery for a tool that finally remains at the constant temperature of your choice.

Product Description:

Built in High Quality MP3 Player plays with or without plug

2GB Memory fits up to 500 songs

ONYX Ceramic plates produce Negative Ions and Far Infra Red to seal in vital moisture and repel humidity for unparalleled shine

Onyx Ceramic Heat helps eliminate static and reduce frizz

MCH Heating elements provide instant heat up with immediate heat recovery to maintain even temperature to 420°F

Squeeze Sensitive Floating Plates grips hair for even control on all hair textures

Anti Slip Grip and Beveled plates help control the hair for endless styling possibilities

9ft Professional Swivel Cord and hang-up hook

1 Year warranty

USB cable included to easily download and customize your music library

Suggested Retail Price: $149.98 via Ulta.com, Ulta Stores, JC Penney Salons and Regis Salons

For additional information on INGLAM, visit http://www.inglam.com/

I'd love to know your thoughts, would you try an MP3 flat iron? Leave your answer in the comments section!!

Event: Paella Parade

Paella anyone?

This Thursday I will be at Millennium Park Rooftop Terrace sampling Paella at El Coto de Rioja Paella Parade^TM, a celebration of Spanish food and culture. Following last year’s successful Paella celebration, seven local chefs and restaurateurs will come together to compete and showcase Chicago’s top Paella-making skills, vying for the titles of Best Use of Ingredients, Most Creative, Prettiest and the top prize: Paella Parade Pleaser.  

Guests will have an opportunity to taste each chef’s unique version of Spain’s most beloved signature dish during the competition while sipping delicious wines from El Coto de Rioja. Good times!!!!

Why not skip cooking and join the festivities this Thursday, June 23 from 6-9 p.m. at Millennium Park's Rooftop Terrace, 205 E. Randolph Street. Click here to purchase tickets.

Participating Restaurants:

Province Restaurant

161 N Jefferson

Chicago, IL 60661

www.provincerestaurant.com

Chef/Owner: Randy Zweiban

Emilio’s Tapas Restaurant (2 locations)

215 E Ohio Street

Chicago, IL 60611

www.Emiliostapas.com     

Chef/Owner: Emilio Gervilla

Socca Restaurant

3301 N Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60657

www.soccachicago.com

Chef/Owner: Roger Herring

Four Corners Tavern Group (7 locations)

3258 N Southport

Chicago, IL 60657

www.fourcornerstaverns.com

Chef: Demonthenese Davis

Carnivale Restaurant

702 W Fulton Market

Chicago, IL 60661

www.carnivalechicago.com

Chef: Mark Mendez

Whole Foods Market Lincoln Park

1550 N Kingsbury Street

Chicago, IL 60642

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Chef: Won Kim

Tapas Gitana (2 locations)

3445 N Halsted

Chicago, IL 60657

www.tapasgitana.com

Chef: Andy Novak

Click here for more information about Paella

Haute Bag Lady Bag of the Week: Isabella Rosellini Bulgari Bag

Legendary actress and style icon, Isabella Rosellini teamed up with Bulgari for a handbag collection last year. This spring 2011 design was created by Matthew Williamson. The satchel style and varying hues of green lace chevron leather pattern makes this bag a very modern classic. For a mere $2,850 you can call this bag yours.A very haute and expensive bag...

Event: Havaianas Beach Pop-Up Shop

HAVAIANAS IS BRINGING CHIC BRAZILIAN BEACH STYLE TO CHICAGO WITH THEIR FIRST EVER BEACH POP-UP SHOP

Chicago, IL (June 17, 2011) – Havaianas, the world’s most stylish and comfortable flip-flop, is bringing Brazilian chic to the Midwest with the opening of an exclusive beach pop-up shop in Chicago, IL.

The Havaianas Beach Pop-Up will be located at 1600 North Lakeshore Drive, at North Ave Beach, situated right near the North Ave Beach House.  The convenient location will allow beachgoers to have access to the official footwear of the summer and indulge in their favorite prints and patterns.  The beach pop-up will be modeled after a traditional Brazilian fruit stand and will exclusively feature “Make Your Own Havaianas.”  

“Make Your Own Havaianas” will offer swimsuit-clad consumers the opportunity to customize their own color combinations with a choice of 10 different flip flop straps and bottoms to mix and match with over 20 different pins styles. 

Once available only at VIP functions and for celebrities, the “Make Your Own Havaianas” beach pop-up will offer guests the opportunity to customize their own flip-flops just like some of their famous celebrity idols, including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Ivanka Trump, Nicole Richie, Natalie Portman, Kourtney Kardashian, Maria Menounos, Ke$ha, and more.

With the success of the first U.S. Havaianas boutique in Huntington Beach, CA and the highly-anticipated demise of a very drawn out winter, it was the perfect time to open a beach pop-up.  Having a location in Chicago will not only cater to the warm weather shoe needs of Midwesterners, but the unique design of the beach pop-up will also provide an innovative and stimulating atmosphere for customers to express their own personality through their customizable Havaianas footwear.  From the sneakers to the flip flops, shoppers will have the chance to experience the unique collections inspired by Brazil’s vibrant culture.

Store Hours: Open on Thursdays-Sundays from June 30^th through July 31^st, 11am-7pm

 

About Havaianas:

Havaianas flip-flops are truly the best rubber flip-flops in the world.  The ultra-high quality of Havaianas is due to a top secret rubber recipe that makes the flip-flops as soft as marshmallows.  While there are many copy-cats in the marketplace, Havaianas fans know there is no substitute for authentic comfort and style.  Havaianas are continuously showcased on fashion show runways around the world and can often be spotted at some of the world’s highest caliber events.  An affordable luxury since 1962, every pair is still lovingly designed and manufactured in Brazil – offering hundreds of unique colors and patterns to fit your every style and need. 

www.us.havaianas.com  and follow @Havaianas on Twitter and become fans on facebook.com/havaianas

The Makeup Show Chicago

I attended the first day of The Makeup Show on Sunday and had a blast. The show was well attended by beauty industry professionals and the truly makeup obsessed. In addition to the popular brands showcasing their products, there were seminars and plenty of networking opportunities.
There was so much too see between the two levels of Venue One. I wanted the chance to check out Inglot Cosmetics but the beauty lovers were completely surrounding the booth the entire time I was there. I couldn't even get close enough to see anything! Inglot was clearly a show highlight for many attendees.

I was able to chat with David Klasfeld, founder of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) and I am now in love with Lip Tar and OCC Tint (reviews coming soon).

This was the first Makeup Show for Chicago and I'm guessing from the eager attendees and overall positive reception of the two day event, they will be back next year.

 



David Klasfeld, OCC founder & the back of my head, lol.







Reggie Wells



  

Beyonce's Latest Essence Magazine Cover & The Makeup Show Winner

The dreadful blonde weave, the black eyebrows (the overly arched left one is REALLY working my nerves), and that bright lipstick...

Was Joan Crawford the inspiration for this cover???

Not feeling this cover at all... Anyhoo, without further ado, the winner of the ticket to Sunday's show is... Brandy!!!!  Email me ASAP :)