This time of year there is a Christmas song lurking around every corner waiting to strike and lodge itself into our mental playlist of songs to absentmindedly sing out loud. Call me a Grinch if you must, but personally I find the idea of decking my closet much more appealing than decking the halls. It’s something to consider, but if on the 6th day of Christmas your true love gave to you, 6 new pairs of heels instead of 6 geese a-laying, would you really mind all that much? Which is why a trunk show on a Wednesday evening, featuring the season’s most opulent and fabulous far suppressed any urge I may have had to stay at home watching Christmas specials on TV; ‘tis the season to be shopping, and what better way to find out what you should be buying?
a diverse selection of yummy holiday treats
I had the pleasure of attending the Holiday Trunk Show hosted by Cityblue Apparel; an uber-cool shop on North Wells Street in Chicago in the Old Town community owned by Miss Mallory Ulaszek. For those who do not know what a trunk show is, it is a sort of fashion debutante, an event introducing new clothes and designers into society. For those who are not familiar with Cityblue, it is a very cozy, extremely stylish apparel shop that houses clothes for both men and women. The interior of the shop has the rustic soul of a chic cabin with its earthy tones, abundant use of wood and nature-inspired impressionist artwork decorating the walls. Cityblue offers anything from distressed flannel shirts and jeans to intricately embellished skirts, shoes and jewelry. What I like best about Cityblue is that it is inspired by so many things. There are a variety of different influences all working together to create a one of a kind atmosphere and it carries a well balanced product offering of both classic and avant-garde styles that are rarely found elsewhere in the city. One reason the styles found in Cityblue are so exclusive is because the shop showcases the talents and creations of fresh, local designers. A jewelry line and a fur collection were the focal points for the evening’s festivities. The designers were gracious enough to speak to me about their work and the catalysts that served as inspiration.
the rustic decor
The genesis of the Jules jewelry line designed by the lovely Jules was four years ago. She has a variety of different styles to offer and uses an eclectic and refreshing mix of materials to get her point across. Probably her most inspired and also most dear collection, she explained to me, is the one influenced by a spine infusion procedure she had a while back due to health issues. She took a year off from designing because of her injuries, but used her experiences and her spinal x-rays as a muse for many of her pieces. Jules has built up an impressive reputation with her clientele among which are A-list celebrities like fellow designer Jessica Simpson and the ever-so-spicy Food Network star Miss Rachel Ray.
Jules the jewelry designer the inspired spinal fusion necklace
Hands down, one of the most eye-catching and covet-worthy items in the shop were the slouchy fur hats sprinkled on every sales associate’s head. They were they most stylish nod to Santa’s famous cap I ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on; and in the most supple looking fur! The young lady responsible for the hats and the entire fur collection on display goes by the name of C/Fan. C/Fan also known as Christina Fan got her start in the fall of 2009 after she graduated from Northwestern as a history major. She planned on attending law school, but found herself continuously deferring, finally realizing later what her true calling was; design. C/Fan’s collections mainly consist of knit rabbit fur. She grabs the eyes with her choice of neon, highlighter colors she uses for each piece. Like me, she adores her neutrals, her beiges, blacks, and grays; but she felt that her furs have even more personality with their fun pop of color. Christina would love to eventually expand into larger retail outlets, but is experiencing quite a bit of success within smaller, more private boutiques. While nothing combats the freezing cold better than a warm fur in a hot hue, Christina is already looking forward to introducing her new spring collection which will feature chiffon silks printed with a beautiful, light inspired ‘K’anchaypacha print’ which means “light” in an ancient Incan language. The print is created through the interaction of oil paints, water and light, photographed and then printed on the delicate fabric, which will make for a very effervescent and effortlessly cool spring ensemble.
the artist also known as C/Fan the exquisite furs in a variety of flavors
Keep your eyes and ears out for both Jules and C/Fan as you finish up your holiday shopping as it is a unanimous consensus that jewelry and furs make excellent holiday gifts. And if you have not already done so, check out Cityblue in Old Town for a rare experience and the opportunity to find some unparalleled statement pieces to add to your repertoires and under those holiday trees you’ve been trimming and decking!
