From the monthly archives:

October 2010

Chicago Independent Fashion Community

by Mo on October 8, 2010

Just a moment in our blog here to share a lovely feature and interview with Tracey Glibowski owner of Cerato Boutique in Chicago. Cerato carries some Darling designer lines, as well as other local Chicago designers. If you are in Chicago you can shop for Kristin Hassan, Kate Boggiano, and Brynn Capella at Cerato (all pictured below), no matter where you are you can shop their designs on Smashing Darling. Read the feature in ME: In Focus (pages 22-23), their tagline is just so darling: Where Runway meets Reality, Style meets Substance + Haute meets Heart. Anna Hovet and other Darlings are also featured in the Thirty Under Thirty feature in that same issue (pages 14-17). While we’re at it, Chicago darlings have a Fall Trunk Show tonight, read on below… and happy Friday!

Not many people get the opportunity to wear something by a great designer and have the designer standing right next to you at your grand opening party…

It’s about growing relationships with our Chicago designers–it’s not just a transaction, it’s a partnership.

Who:
Kate Boggiano , Objets d’Envy, Cole Haddon Showroom, Jess Audey, and Anna Hovet

Date & Time:
Friday, October 8, 2010, 5:30pm-8pm

RSVP:
RSVP kindly requested. For more info call 773-474-7987.

Location:
2150 S. Canalport Ave, between Halsted and Cermak, in the Pilsen neighborhood, Chicago

What:
It’s time to think fall! Local designers have wonderful knits, tailored jackets, sculptural dresses, and all the extras to style-up your fall wardrobe. Enjoy a relaxing shopping experience with personal attention from the designers. We’re excited to show you our new collections.

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The Daily Independent Fashion Find: Orb Double Post Earrings

by trish on October 7, 2010

Orb Double Post Earring

… because sometimes a chunky, silver, oxidized earring is all you need.

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Philadelphia Fashion Week: There’s an App For That

by Mo on October 7, 2010

“I think that the Fashion Weeks happening in cities like Philadelphia, Portland and maybe even Los Angeles, really encourage designers to be courageous, to open up the American mind to something different,” (Pamela) Ptak said.

Read the full article here.

Pamela Ptak

Philadelphia Fashion Week kicked off yesterday and runs through this Saturday night featuring local independent designers, students, as well as couture designers from around the globe. The team behind PFW has really pulled their local fashion/arts community together and we like it. They have connected with local Philly boutiques to bring small pop-up shops to the nightly events, pulled in local music and performance artists to entertain; now they have also created an app so you can stay on top of all the events happening over the rest of the week. Download it here. Rock on Darlings! All of the events are open to the public. Follow what is happening via Twitter, Facebook, and their blog: BeyondRunway.com. Below are some of the designers we are bummed to miss, see the full line-up on their website.

Marina Makaron Moscow

spring11_003

Nary Manivog

ourclothes

Ban Thor Pan

Strangefruit

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Shop Local, Chicago: Evil Kitty Fall 2010 Trunk Show

by Mo on October 6, 2010

Darling cheers to all the local boutiques across the country supporting and promoting independent designers! We wish we could be in Chicago tomorrow night to drop in and see the new Fall collection from Evil Kitty at a new(ish) Chicago boutique – The Local Lookbook. Here is a sneak peek of what is coming soon to designer Lydia Wachowska’s Darling boutique later this season. Read more about The Local Lookbook over at Violet Revolution.

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View the newest pieces from the FALL 2010 collection while enjoying complimentary sips and nibbles.

When: Thur. Oct. 7th, 2010 5-8pm

Where: Local Lookbook
1211 W Webster Ave, Chicago IL 60614

Guests who spend $100 and above will receive a free gift bag.

Please RSVP to
lidia@evilkitty.net

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Darling Giveaway: Comment at BurdaStyle to Win $100 E-Gift Card

by Mo on October 6, 2010

Skirt made from BurdaStyle pattern

Who doesn’t want some extra cash in their wallet to snatch up unique, independent designer goodies you have been coveting? Here’s a chance Darlings! We are running a giveaway with BurdaStyle; the prize a $100 e-gift card for your shopping pleasure here at Smashing Darling. Just share a comment on the BurdaStyle blog, or in Twitter (make sure you use their handle @BurdaStyle) that answers the following question: Which BurdaStyle-created pattern would you use to launch your own fashion line? Go peruse the pattern candy store at BurdaStyle so you can make your choice, good luck Darlings!

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Fashion Illustration, Design, and Film Collide

by trish on October 5, 2010

DR NOKI for 123

I was on my daily round of searching for new and interesting finds in the fashion world and wanted to share this awesome stop motion fashion video I found on The Square Project blog. Love how the fashion illustration comes to life in it. It is always fun to step outside the daily norm to watch something new to spark a new curiosity.

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New Arrivals: MinnaK Silk Dress Collection

by Mo on October 5, 2010

Maybe we just told you about Minna’s little silk dress presentation, but we like when you can feel like you were right there in the room with us; check out the video below from Minna’s show that night at the Norwood. The dresses have landed in her Darling boutique and we just had to share a few of these great lookbook shots for you to enjoy like we did.

<a href="http://www.vimeo.com/15464557">http://www.vimeo.com/15464557</a>

MinnaK Spring/Summer 2011 Capsule Collection from niteowl on Vimeo.

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Toni, $410

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Nicole, $410

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Chloe, $485

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The Daily Independent Fashion Find: Blue Baby DiscGlo

by trish on October 5, 2010

Buy Baby Blue

Love, love, love the meshy sheer quality of this handmade knit by KRELwear. The fact that part of the knit glows in the dark … awesome. I can think of many fun places to where this little number. I think it would look amazing layered with other items for a more toned down, casual, street look too. Make sure to take a look at the rest of the KREL DiscGlow collection, just to make sure you’re not missing another piece that needs to be yours. All of the pieces are one of a kind and handmade, once they’re gone, they’re gone. Won’t that make you sad if you miss out. You don’t want to have your girlfriend come up to you and say, “Look what I got!” you know in that sing songy way that screams … “and you didn’t”. I’m just sayin’.

… and can’t you see Katie Holmes with her new modern, rockin’ hair wearing one of these?

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Darling New Collection, Stacie May: San Diego

by Mo on October 4, 2010

We love seeing new collections pop up on the site; take a gander at the gorgeous new items from Stacie May that turned up over the weekend. Even better go submit an idea for what she should name her new collection and you may win a piece – we love it! The contest is running over on her Facebook page and ends this Wednesday, October 6th, submit as many names as you like!

Painterly Romper, $198

Roller Skating Jacket, $78.00

Tulip Wrap Skirt, $108

Satin Wrap Dress, $208

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Darling Fun At Maker Faire

by trish on October 1, 2010

Ok, so we know we are a bit late posting our round up from last weekend’s Maker Faire. It doesn’t lessen the message that Maker Faire was awesome and if you ever get to the opportunity to attend, do yourself a favor and go. The atmosphere is scientific and techie but there is also a boat load of creativity out there in the world most of us don’t get to see on a regular basis. It is good to see life through the eyes of a person that says: well, what if we did it this way?

Just a stripey snapshot, see them all in Flickr.

We teamed up with Burdastyle to help run their booth in the Bust Craftacular portion of Maker Faire, representing not only their company but independent fashion as well. Myself, Trishdarling, along with another designer Desira Pesta were asked to use Burdastyle’s open source, downloadable patterns to create pieces to show and sell at the fair. We had a blast hanging with Desira in the booth for two days and met lots off great people from far and wide. Sharp Shirter who was directly across the way, provided us with lots of laughs… and is now, I am happy to say, one of our newest designers to join Smashing Darling.

One-of-a-kind, Desira Pesta … went home with a lucky shopper.