Holiday Pop Ups Galore for Fashion-Forward Giftees

This Week’s Top Story

The Tie Bar Holiday Pop Up (thetiebar.com) opens at the Kimpton Gray Hotel (122 W. Monroe St.) today. On the lobby level, the dapper shop stocks the Tie Bar’s latest collaborative collection with Dwyane Wade. You’ll find silk ties in jewel tones, along with colorful bowties __and pocket squares. What makes this pop-up even more enticing? A signature cocktail from the onsite Vol. 39 is available for purchase. The shop is open on Thursdays, Fridays, __and Saturdays through December 10. And while you’re there—if you really want to pamper a special gent—the upstairs Petrosino’s Parlor offers a super-lux straight razor shave.

Top Sales This Week

Rag & Bone (25 E. Delaware Pl., rag-bone.com) is holding a sale in store and online, and discounts are hearty. Men’s and women’s pieces are going for up to 50 percent off. Look for discounted skinny jeans (reduced from $225 to $115), a slouchy baby tee (reduced from $150 to $75), and suede ankle boots (reduced from $495 to $250).

Several Oak Street stores will offer discounts during the Oak Street After Hours (oakstreetchicago.com) event on Tuesday. Running from 5 to 8 p.m., the event lets guests get their “passports” stamped at participating retailers; the more stamps they collect, the more entries they get in the evening’s raffle. (The big prize is a $500 gift card.) Participating shops include Agent Provocateur, which is doling out champagne and gifts with purchase; Madewell, which will take 20 percent off purchases of $125 or more; and Rebecca Minkoff, which will have 15-percent discounts and serve festive cocktails.

Pop-Ups

Local jewelry designer Susan Wheeler (susanwheelerdesign.com), who specializes in ethical pieces made with recycled gold or platinum, is hosting a pop-up shop at the former Butterfat Studios (3129 W. Logan Blvd.) through December. The shop is open Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The “Boss Babe” Pop-Up Shop is open at Block 37 (108 N. State St., blockthirtyseven.com) through January 1. Curated by Lindzi Shanks of The Trendy Sparrow, the temporary shop sells merchandise from local, women-owned businesses including See Song Designs, Vo Yourself, and XO Marshmallow (there’s always room for marshmallows).

ENAZ (enaz.com), a boutique with three suburban locations, has opened a holiday pop-up shop in Lincoln Park (857 W. Armitage Ave.). The festive shop stocks clothing and accessories suited to holiday bashes. Look for goods from local designers such as Rita Ratskoff Designs; ENAZ also has a house label that makes floral tops and cozy knits. The shop is open through December 24, and will hold weekly trunk shows.

Trunk Show

Local jewelry designer Maria Ress, who helms Kastel (kasteljewelry.com), will showcase pieces from her holiday collection at Neiman Marcus (737 N. Michigan Ave.) on Saturday. The show will take place on the retailer’s first floor from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Look for glittering pieces set with precious and semiprecious stones.

 

Sales and Shopping News

The Best Black Friday Sales and Upcoming Shopping Events

This Week’s Top Story

Fashion Outlets of Chicago (5220 Fashion Outlets Way, Rosemont, fashionoutletsofchicago.com) hosts its 24-hour Black Friday shopping event starting at 10 p.m. Thursday night. Dubbed “Fashionably Late,” the event will offer discounts at some 130 designer outlets. Need some energy to last all night? DJs Lani Love __and Mother Hubbard will be on hand to spin party tunes.

Top Sales This Week

M2057 (833 W. Washington St., m2057.com) is hosting a seasonal promotion. Starting Friday __and running through Cyber Monday (November 28), the promotion will award $25 in store credit for every $250 spent in store or online. The store is also hosting its fall sale, where items by Maria Pinto include a sheath dress with an A-Line skirt (reduced from $575 to $400) and a bright orange mini-dress (reduced from $295 to $195).

Local women’s designer Anastasia Chatzka, who owns an eponymous boutique (1001 N. Damen Ave., anastasiachatzka.com), will offer discounts on her made-in-Chicago pieces from Friday through Monday. Past collections will be 50 percent off, while current collections will be discounted by 20 percent. The designer will also take 10 percent off custom orders.

Jax & Debb (1849 W. North Ave., jaxanddebb.com) will offer deals throughout Black Friday. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., everything in the store will be 20 percent off. From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., shoppers can buy one piece to get a second at 50 percent off. Clearance will also be marked down by an additional 20 percent all day.

This Friday through Sunday, Sorel at the Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center (4905 Old Orchard Ctr., sorel.com) will take 25 percent off all footwear and accessories and 40 percent off apparel. As an added perk, staffers will dole out free hot chocolate.

Market

The One of a Kind Show (oneofakindshow.com) will return to the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza) December 1 to 4. The show features handmade products from some 600 artists, and shoppers can stock up on everything from accessories to fashion items and handmade soaps.

Opening

2nd Time Around (2ndtimearound.com), an upscale consignment boutique, has opened a Gold Coast location at 43 East Oak Street. The shop stocks pre-owned clothing from labels such as Chanel, Gucci, and Rag & Bone; it also sells shoes, handbags, and accessories. Pieces sell for up to 80 percent off their original retail prices.

 

Sales and Shopping News

Win with Premier Tax Free this Christmas

Enjoyed your recent trip to Singapore? View the offer below to WIN a return trip in 2017 with Premier Tax Free.

To enter the Lucky Draw simply spend a minimum of SGD100 in a Premier Tax Free partner store to receive your eTRS ticket and claim your GST refund, you can then use the Document ID from your eTRS ticket to complete the online entry form.

Lucky Draw Terms and Conditions

The Lucky Draw will be conducted on 9th January 2017.

To participate, complete the online form HERE with the DocID found on eTRS ticket any time from 28th October - 30th December 2016 (both dates inclusive) to be eligible for the draw.

Other terms and conditions apply.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Biondini

Parisians certainly know about this "secret" address as well as all those passionate about shoes and accessories from the most beautiful, luxury brands.

Biondini’s reputation for its eclectic and luxurious selection of shoes is legendary and it has become a go-to destination for handbags, jewellery and accessories in exclusive limited edition designs.

It was in 1985 that Patrick Melloul opened his first boutique at 78 Avenue Champs Elysées. Initially the boutique was intended only for men, but his success was so great that he began to introduce a collection of women's shoes with a single appeal: luxury and glamour.

Today Biondini has three stores in two historic shopping galleries on the Champs Elysées and has concessions in the famous French department stores.

But Biondini's point of difference is undoubtedly the exclusivity and concentration of beautiful brands in one store; Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Burberry, Alaïa Paris, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Oscar De La Rent, Versace, Valentino ...

Many of the designs stocked by Biondini are not even to be found in the flagships stores of these brands. This exclusivity has been won since Biondini became a must-have address in Paris for those who adore shoes and enjoy an excellent in-store service with experienced and highly competent sales advisors.

Their customers come from all over the world knowing that they will find prestigious brands and an extremely refined selection.

This selection of products ultimately forms the "ideal" closet of shoes that every woman or man should have... From vertiginous pumps to comfortable ballerinas or modern sneakers and moccasins. The accessories follow suit, with some truly unique jewels for grand occasions to everyday luxury backpacks and totes.

Boutique Women's Biondini Paris

78, avenue des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris

+33 (0)1 43 59 11 59 78

Boutique Women's & Men

26 avenue des Champs Elyses

+33 (0)1 45 62 27 40

Hip Eyeware Company Warby Parker Opens Two New Shops in Chicagoland

This Week’s Top Story

Warby Parker (warbyparker.com), the hip eyewear company, will open two new stores this month. The first shop will open in the Gold Coast (1123 N. State St.) on November 19. Furbished with terrazzo-style floors __and marble-top tables, the space also features a mural depicting local landmarks. The brand—which began as an online store—is known for its affordable eyeglasses __and sunglasses. The new “Editions” collection, which will be available at local stores, also includes items such as glasses cases, lens cloths, and sleep masks. The next store to open will be at Oakbrook Center, so stay tuned for news on that.

Top Sales This Week

Billy Reid (845 W. Randolph St., billyreid.com) is hosting an ongoing sale that takes up to 40 percent off select pieces. Also running online, the sale offers a navy pea coat (reduced from $695 to $549) and slip-on loafers (reduced from $450 to $299).

High-end beauty brand Tatcha is offering 20 percent off its entire website now until November 20. Bestsellers to stock up on include the Dewy Skin Mist (normally $150) and the Ritual Discovery Kit (normally $59), which comes with cleansing oil, enzyme powder, serum, and moisturizer.

Market

Randolph Street Market (1340 W. Washington St., randolphstreetmarket.com) will host three holiday markets in November and December. The dates are: November 19 and 20, November 26 and 27, and December 10 and 11. At the November 19 market, Luxury Garage Sale (luxurygaragesale.com) will be on site with vintage duds and a “styling clinic,” which will teach guests how to incorporate vintage pieces into their existing wardrobes. Each version of the market will feature some 125 vendors and sell everything from vintage fashion and accessories to holiday décor. Find ticket info here.

Opening

Nordstrom (55 E. Grand Ave., shop.nordstrom.com) opens a new, in-store sneaker boutique today. Dubbed Nordstrom x Nike, the shop will sell limited-edition shoes along with sportswear, accessories, tech goodies, and more. On Saturday, the shop will drop 50 pairs of limited-edition Nike Air Max90 shoes with laser-engraved icons inspired by Chicago. On Sunday, the boutique will host the global launch of the Nike Beautiful X Powerful Collection Jacquard, which is the brand’s first footwear collection inspired by female athletes.

Pop-Up

Cuyana (cuyana.com), a San Francisco–based brand, has opened a pop-up shop at 840 West Armitage Avenue. Open through Christmas Eve, the store stocks women’s apparel and accessories. The brand specializes in clean, timeless pieces; its bestsellers include an oversized alpaca sweater ($160) and a cropped wool coat ($395).

 

Sales and Shopping News

Tory Burch New Accessories Boutique

Tory Burch announces the opening of a new boutique in London just in time for the Christmas shopping rush.

The first accessories-only store in the UK will open on 23rd November at Westfield London shopping center, further complementing the boutique on Bond Street which carries the full Tory Burch collection including ready-to-wear and home.

The store’s facade is distinguished by a green awning and brass accents, signature Tory Burch design details. In keeping with the aesthetic of the brand’s stores, the interior has a residential feel. With basketweave floors, chandeliers and oak panel walls offering a neutral backdrop for a sophisticated mix of furnishings in vibrant colours, including teal mohair sofas, blue embroidered pillows and seafoam silk drapes.

A wide assortment of Tory Burch accessories will be available at the Westfield boutique including handbags, shoes, jewellery, small leather goods, watches and eyewear. To celebrate the opening, the boutique will exclusively carry the new Croc-Embossed Mini Backpack crafted in crocodile-embossed Italian leather and inspired by a vintage handbag Tory found in a shop on Portobello Road in London.

New Store Details

Unit 1128

Westfield London

Ariel Way

London W12 7 GD

United Kingdom

Opening 23rd November 2016

Stella McCartney Launches Debut Mens Collection

Stella held a star studded event last Thursday night at the famous Abbey Road music studios in London to launch her first ever mens line.

The collection is made up of pyjama-like shirts and shorts combo's and oversized outerwear. Stella puts a twist on the classic suit with patterned detailing and loungewear is given a fashion upgrade.

Speaking after the presentation, the designer talked about how she felt now was the right time to introduce menswear to her portfolio following mans years of successful womenswear.

She also mentioned that her dad had provided lots of inspiration for the collection and when asked if he would be wearing the new line Stella responded, "He better be..".

Discover Stella McCartney menswear in stores from early 2017.

News taken from Reuters

http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-fashion-stellamccartney-idUKKBN1352R3

Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Jane Witherspoon