1872 N. Damen, (773)252-1888, michelletan.com 
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Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Local up-and-comers Sap studio and Serpico, separates and handbags by Michelle Tan, and imported necklaces from Tokyo and Hong Kong. Owner: Design whiz Michelle Tan, who won Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion 2005. Vibe: Silver and white hues flood a minimalist space where Tan’s merchandise dangles from floating racks. But there’s none of that pretentious “gallery vibe” here; Tan is chatty, fun and full of energy. Price Range: Expensive, with some moderately priced accessories. The Look: Cutting-edge but still extremely pretty. This sartorially curious gal loves finding new ways to wear a garment. She loves subtle feminine frills and has a thing for ribbon. Shopper’s Perks: If you see something you need, but it isn’t in your size, Tan will custom make it for you. The Thing for Spring: Versatile tops from Hong Kong-based line Ming, and dresses from designers around the world.
As Fashion Focus Chicago kicks off this month, there’s no better place to check out the brand spankin’ new designer talent than at the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show. The young designer showcase (in its fifth year in Chicago, sixteenth in New York) has garnered a reputation as the place to view up-and-coming talent, and has helped designers like Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor, Michelle Tan and Orlando Espinoza to the next level. According to Gen Art Chicago director Amanda Nosal, fashion designers are definitely in need of extra support.
“One of the main things for designers is to show their collections during fashion week. Doing that in New York costs $50,000 and up, but it’s the only way to get collections in front of everyone all at once,” she says. The Gen Art solution? Sponsorship. Each sponsor’s logo graces the stage behind one of the collections, allowing them to showcase ten young designers, many of whom would have remained undiscovered without the helpful boost.
To create the show Nosal spends the year scouring the scene for buzz-worthy designers. A few months before the final selection she contacts in-the-know shops like Jake and Hejfina to see what new local lines they’re excited about. With many of this year’s designers on only their second or third collections, the pool of talent will undoubtedly be fashionably cutting-edge. “I think this year we’re showing designers that I haven’t heard a lot of talk about [outside the fashion industry],” Nosal says. “They’re really new and really fresh, which is exciting” Included on the list are womenswear designers Abigail Glaum-Lathbury and Moire Conroy, menswear line Wrath Arcane and accessories collections by Winifred Grace and Kinsley Handbags.
While the short-term goals of the show focus on exposing our local talent to the fashion world, their long-term ambitions involve turning Chicago into the next great designer haven.
“Chicago has great designers, but not a ton to pick from. I hope as the show and Fashion Focus grow that more designers are encouraged to stay and create their business here,” Nosal says. “That’s what the goal is.” (Molly Each)
The Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show takes place October 9 at 7:30pm at Millennium Park. For ticket information check out www.genart.com or www.fashionfocuschicago.com.
Before Michael Blossom gets the chance to welcome you to Florodora, his new South Loop shop on the first level of the Monadnock Building, old-fashioned charm leaps out to greet you.
To decorate Florodora—which is named after a musical comedy from 1899—Blossom sourced era-appropriate fixtures from antique shops. “The chorus girls of Florodora were famously sexy and beautiful,” Blossom says. “Millionaires would go to the show to find wives, so the turnover rate for chorus girls was really high.” With silk, tasseled lamps, a red-velvet chaise lounge, floors shellacked in floral paper and a display of sweet-smelling soaps perched in an antique sink, the shop feels like it could be the apartment of one of these turn-of-the-century temptresses. And the clothing selection—defined by silky, touchable fabrics, dainty bits of lace and velvet and fine tailoring—is perfect gear for a modern Florodora girl.
Of the current offerings, standout pieces include a lilac-hued, linen jacket from Twinkle by Wenlan, Yoana Baraschi’s cotton and silk Dreamland Flower Dress (very “Midsummer Night’s Dream”), Nara Camicie’s cap-sleeve, linen blouse with a gathered front and a pale green, empire dress with floral embroidery from Nougat London. Florodora has the Chicago exclusive on Sofada, a line of bright, whimsical pieces made of intricately textured fabrics—check out the pink microdot dress coat.
Local designers, artists and even confectioners make cameos throughout the shop. Michelle Tan’s lacy dresses dangle from the clothing racks. Later, Michael will carry stylish handbags from local designer Joelle Nadine. At the cash wrap (made of a set of drawers from an old English store) find made-in-Chicago Translucent Chocolates, caramels by Katherine Anne and note cards and candles by Snow & Graham.
The opening of Florodora serves to resurrect some of the neighborhood’s grand past: “In the early 1900s,” Blossom says, “everyone shopped in the Loop.” But his affection for the South Loop goes beyond a historical interest—in 1917, Blossom’s grandmother was an office girl on the seventh floor of the Monadnock Building. “And that didn’t hurt when it came to choosing a location,” he confesses. (Jennifer Berg)
Florodora, 330 South Dearborn, (312)212-8860
