Second City Style's 5th Birthday Bash

Last night, Andrea and I went to Second City Style's 5th Birthday Bash. The event was hosted by Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. I wore the Vena Cava Fellowship Dress with Magenta Joan & David peep toe platforms. Yes, you read that right. Magenta. Andrea wore the Velvet Burca Dress with leggings, a scarf, and black booties. She was the most stylish lady with a baby, by far!

PopChips were one of the sponsors and it was our first time trying them. They came in a few flavors, but the sea salt and vinegar were our favorite. For those of you who count calories, they are only 100 calories a bag and taste great! We also had chocolate and red velvet Alliance Bakery cupcakes. Yum!

The music was sponsored by Fig Media. If I ever have to throw a party in Chicago, this is who I am calling. They were great!

The fashion inspired games were tough! It turns out I'm not so good at Bozo Buckets anymore. Or throwing bangles on a mannequin hand...which is funny, because in college, I was the queen of bangle-mannequin tosses. Unfortunately, by the time they started handing out the big prizes, a lot of people had left. The winner of the Treesje handbag was so very excited to take home her 'Crave' Bag. I hope she loves it as much as we do.

Thank you to Lauren and Carol from Second City Style and of course, Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian from Treesje! We couldn't have been a part of this event without any of you!

If you were one of the people that left early, you still have a chance at owning a Treesje Handbag.

$595.00 at Basicboutique.com

Questions about styling or buying? Email info@basicboutique.com and you could be featured in our next post!

-Trisha W.

The Shoot

Photo Shoots are a lot like first dates. The only difference is that after a photo shoot, you often leave wanting more. You don’t know what to expect until you’ve been thrown into the mix. Will your date i.e. model be on time? Will your model look the same as her online profile? Will you have to return your model for curfew? How much is this shoot going to cost? What if it turns out to be a total disaster? One thing I have learned is to always have a backup plan. If something goes wrong, your responsibility as a stylist is to make it work.

Our most recent photo shoot included our late Fall and Winter merchandise. Below are my favorite pieces from Add Down. The shells are 100% nylon, filled with 100% European goose down, and feature a waist-cinching belt. Here's to hoping the temperature drops soon so I can wear my new Add Down jacket!


Add Down Short Hooded Puffer Jacket, *$350.00.
Add Down Long Hooded Puffer Jacket, *$394.00.
*Qualifies for Free Shipping

The Photographer

Patrick Fahrner is our beloved photographer. We asked and he answered!

How did you get into fashion photography?
Pat: I've always been a fan of studio photography. Ever since I learned the basics, I've been doing everything from portraits to product photography. Back in college, I started doing fashion photography for friends and also for a newspaper/magazine, The Buzz. I found it to be really fun to create editorial type shoots with the production and models.

What is your favorite part about shooting clothes?

Pat: I like that there is some variety and art in the clothes. Sometimes I have to shoot boring stuff over and over. But with fashion, the clothes themselves can be artwork. It's nice to be able to showcase that.

What is your favorite part about photo shoots?

Pat: I have a good time as long as I am being creative. I started doing photography because it was a really fun thing to do. I enjoyed it so much that I made it a career choice. Now I get to create images in a studio setting. I enjoy the whole process for the end result.

How do you think Photoshop has changed the world of photography?

Pat: With any new technology, people will take advantage of it. Photoshop opened up so many possibilities in terms of creating an image. I don't agree with the over-use of photoshopped celebrities and models to make them look unrealistically beautiful, but it will happen regardless. People have been manipulating images for centuries, only now we have a grasp on what things look like naturally. There are many ethical questions that come up from changing images in fashion to photo-journalism. In the end, it is the people behind the image that change it. Photoshop is a great tool that helps people create what they want in an image, and I love using it.

For more information on Pat's work, visit his website here.

-Trisha W.

Treesje Designers Laura Darrah & Sheila Nazarian

Tonight we will be attending Second City Style's 5th Birthday Bash downtown at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. We will be giving away the Treesje 'Crave' Bag to one lucky gal, valued at $595.00. If you can't attend or simply never win things, purchase it here. We are excited to play some fashion inspired games, eat Alliance Bakery cupcakes, and meet some fabulous people!

The coveted handbag line has been seen all over Hollywood on the arms of Tori Spelling, Lauren Conrad, Courtney Cox, Ali Fedotowsky, and Kristin Chenoweth, to name a few. Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Treesje designers Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian. Check out the genius(es) behind the brand.

What was your inspiration for the Fall 2010 collection?

L&S: Our inspiration was Rocker Chic. Our muse was Rock 'n Roll Icon Joan Jett, inspiring bags like our Crimson, a studded double zipper cross body. We used jewel tone & vintage foiled metallic leathers mixed with gunmetal hardware to make an edgy-luxe feel.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in the fashion industry?

L&S: To make sure to keep the love for fashion and creativity as their driving force! It is incredibly fast-paced, so it's easy to get caught up in the daily operations of running the business. Sheila and I love the time we spend designing. It is truly the best part of the job!

What are some Fall trends you love?

L&S: We loved the edgy, rocker vibe of early Fall but are loving the cleaner, more lady-like trend that’s going on right now.

What can we expect for 2011?

L&S: Our collection took a more bohemian and 70’s feel using whip stitch leather, tassle fringe details, clean hardware, and raw matte leathers.

What is in your handbag right now?

Laura: Iphone, our new mortale wallet (will be in stores Fall 2011), bottle of smart water, sketch pad, and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter chapstick (my favorite!)

Check out our other Treesje Handbags here.

-Trisha W.

Welcome to the Basic Boutique Blog

Welcome to our Blog!

In honor of Basic Boutique’s 4th Birthday last week, we thought it was fitting to add a new feature to the site.

Basic Boutique was founded in hopes of showcasing designers that were not seen in other area boutiques and certainly not those available at local department stores. Tired of the corporate life and ready to begin on a new adventure, Andrea opened Basic Boutique in 2006. After a few buying trips to New York City, Andrea became a professional buyer. Or shopaholic. Whichever you prefer. Her latest trip to New York Fashion Week was at 5 months pregnant. That, my friends, is dedication.

This blog will be your behind-the-scenes look inside a Chicago boutique. We will provide you with industry news, how-to guides for the latest trends, and a lot of favorable, but fair, reviews of our merchandise and designers.

Enjoy!

P.S. Don't forget to enter our Galsguide.com giveaway to win a pair of fabulous Baby B. Earrings! The last day to participate is October 31st, so enter now!

http://www.galsguide.com/gals-guide/2010/10/4/basic-boutique-october-giveaway.html

And if you are in town next Thursday, October 28th, RSVP to join us at Second City Style's 5th Birthday Bash! Today is the last day you can RSVP.

http://www.secondcitystyle.com/node/670

-Trisha W.