The city-sponsored Fashion Focus event returns for its fifth year, and while it’s down to just four days, they’re packed with runway shows, shopping events, seminars for industry hopefuls, and more.
Style Stop Each day during Fashion Focus, this space hosts trunk shows, receptions, and displays, offering a chance to meet and talk with designers and check out their work. Also: some discounts. Today it’s Lesley Tempe of Squasht by Les (trendy separates and hats for women, 11 AM-1 PM) and Elda de la Rosa (bridal and evening gowns and special-event dresses, 4-6 PM) Chicago Tourism Center, 72 E. Randolph, squashtbyles.com, eldadelarosa.com.
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Abigail Glaum-Lathbury, “Invention and the Obsolete” Known for her conceptual approach to clothes, Abigail Glaum-Lathbury presents her spring collection in a show that addresses “the ideas of identity and sameness” and “the relationship between the audience and model.” Reception at 8 PM, show at 9, Prairie Production, 1314 W. Randolph, $25 in advance, $30 at the door, abigail-glaum-lathbury.com.
Grainger Hall of Gems The museum has polished up its Grainger Hall of Gems in time to reopen today for Fashion Focus. The rehabbed permanent exhibit shows droolworthy jewelry by contemporary designers, including locals Lester Lampert and Ellie Thompson, as well as ancient pieces, Tiffany designs from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, rare stones, and uncut gems in their natural state. The most popular of gems are explored in a temporary exhibit, “The Nature of Diamonds” (through March 28, 2010; advance tickets available at the museum’s Web site). 9 AM-5 PM, Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org, $15, $13 for Chicago residents, diamond exhibit $29 (includes general admission and two other special exhibitions), general admission free on 11/9, 11/11, 11/12, 11/19, 12/2, 12/3, 12/9, 12/10, and 12/14.
Dress Code Generally the most avant-garde of the Fashion Focus shows, Dress Code brings together students from the city’s fashion-design programs— Columbia College, the Illinois Institute of Art, the International Academy of Design & Technology, and the School of the Art Institute—to show their no-holds-barred experiments on the runway. 7:30 PM, Millennium Park, Chase Promenade North, 201 E. Randolph, RSVPs closed, general admission as space permits at the door.
Style Stop See Thursday; today’s featured designers are Julie Liu of TZEN Boutique (jewelry inspired by “fashionable women around the globe,” 11 AM-1 PM) and Kahindo Mateene of Modahnik (African-inspired women’s clothing, 4-6 PM, RSVP required to rsvp@modahnik.com). Chicago Tourism Center, 72 E. Randolph.
Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion Always the most anticipated and popular of Fashion Focus events, the show features emerging designers that Gen Art has singled out as worthy of support. This year they include women’s lines C/Fan, Imaginary People, Kristin Hassan, JLee Silver, and Red Doll by Tatyana; menswear line Dorsia; jewelry lines Emma Carroll Etc and Fab Studio; and Kling Handbags. All tickets include an afterparty at Enclave, 213 W. Institute. Reception at 7 PM, show at 8, Millennium Park, Chase Promenade North, 201 E. Randolph, seated tickets $80-$85 for Gen Art members, $110 for nonmembers, standing tickets $65 for Gen Art members, $75 for non, genart.org.
