October 27-November 2

Just when you thought fashion week was over, here are the goods on Chicago Latino Fashion Week, coming up at the end of the month. As is our custom, we present it in their own words, with all their hyperbole fully intact. Proceed accordingly.

For event and ticketing information, please visit chicagolatinofashion.com.

MONDAY, OPENING NIGHT: Latino Hair Production Platform Showcase (Show/Competition/Club Event) Chicago Latino Fashion Week 2008 will officially launch on Monday, October 27 at The Latino Hair Production Platform Showcase with host Nina Chantele (KISS-FM), held at Religion Night Club (720 N. Wells Street). This juried competition will challenge top Latino cosmetologists and stylists from Chicago on their skills at dramatic hair design and make-up artistry. The panel of judges will include local celebrities and industry experts. Doors open at 6pm, 7pm-8:30pm hosted cocktail reception by Diageo, competition begins at 9pm; Ticket price: $25.

TUESDAY: Stepping into the Spotlight, Student Designer Showcase (Show/Competition) Students from Chicago design schools will step onto the stage on Tuesday, October 28 to win the title of top Latino student designer as determined by a panel of celebrity and industry judges. Part of the Chicago Latino Fashion Week student designer competition, this exciting evening featuring four designs from each student finalist will give you a glance into fashion future! Held at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts (777 N. Green Street), doors open at 6pm, presentation at 7pm; FREE event. Official After-party at Salsa Lounge Tuesday, Green Dolphin Street (2200 N. Ashland Avenue). No cover before 10pm.

WEDNESDAY: Rising Stars of Fashion (Show/Club Event)
AOL Latino and UNSCENE Magazine play host on Wednesday, October 29 as we showcase the designs of Chicago’s rising stars of fashion design including Susi Garcia and Freddie Rocha. A hip and sleek fashion show in the cool club setting of Crobar Nightclub (1543 N Kingsbury Street) will feature top
trends in designer prêt-à-porter. Doors open at 6pm, 6pm–9pm cocktail reception by Crobar Nightclub and Diageo, show starts at 9pm; FREE event.

THURSDAY: San Juan Fashion Group Show (Show/Club Event) The tropical heat of San Juan comes to Chicago as we present the design vision of some of the most recognized fashion designers from Puerto Rico on Thursday, October 30 at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts (777 N. Green Street). Featured designers will include Felix Poll, Stella Nolasco and Tommy Hernandez. Doors open at 6pm, 6pm–7:30pm cocktail reception by Diageo, presentation at 7:45pm; Ticket price: $40. A portion of the proceeds to benefit MANA of Illinois. Official After-party at Tropical Thursdays, Excalibur Nightclub (632 N. Dearborn) hosted by Lisa La Boricua.

FRIDAY: Cinema Masquerade Ball (Club Event) Friday, October 31 marks the date for the most fashionable Halloween party in the city! Featuring theatrical masks and costumes with a cinema theme, event goers are highly encouraged to dress in their best masquerade attire. Silvia Perez (ABC7) to host. Doors open at 8PM at Club Mannequin (306 N. Halsted), 8pm–10pm cocktail reception by Diageo; Ticket Price: $35 individual, $60 couple.

SATURDAY: International Showcase (Show/Club Event) Top designers from across Latin America will join on one stage to showcase their new collections in Chicago on Saturday, November 1. Join host Tsi-tsi-ki Félix (Telemundo Chicago) as the fashions from Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, and Argentina shine in the impressive ambiance of Alhambra Palace (1240 W. Randolph). Doors open at 6pm, 7pm–9pm cocktail reception by Diageo, fashion show at 9:15pm; Ticket price: $40/VIP $60. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Mujeres Latinas en Acción.

SUNDAY, CLOSING NIGHT: “El Fin” Grand Finale (Show/VIP After-party) Chicago Latino designers will debut their Spring 2009 collections and couture design inspired by their favorite Hollywood Screen Icons including Rita Hayworth, Maria Felix, Dolores Del Rio, Rita Moreno, and Linda Carter during the grand finale show, Sunday, November 2 at the Drake Hotel (140 E. Walton Place). Doors will open at 11am where guests can visit the vendor showcase featuring jewelry, apparel, beauty products and much more! Silvia Perez (ABC7) will open the fashion show at 1pm with featured designers James de Colón, Louis Verdad, Orlando Espinoza, Anna Fong, Elda de la Rosa, Carol Pineiro and Horacio Nieto. Confirmed celebrity guests include legendary actress and tribute icon Rita Moreno, actor Freddy Rodriguez, celebrity stylist Samy, and model Jaslene Gonzalez. A portion of the proceeds to benefit the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago and the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Latino Film Festival. The VIP After-Party is presented by Macy’s Department Stores, 4pm-6pm at Macy’s on State Street (111 N. State Street). Ticket Price: $75 Show only, $100 Show and VIP After-Party. For a sneak peek of some of the fashion from our Chicago designers, be sure to visit the Chicago Latino Fashion Week exhibit in Macy’s on State Street—available October 20 through November 2.

1880 N. Damen, (773)321-6685, malabarboutique.com (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...
Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories, a small section of clothing for men. Designers: Cyndi Chan, Orlando Espinoza, Jefferson Kulig, Angel Sanchez, Nicolas Felizola, Betsey Johnson and Penguin Black Label. Owner: Claudia Kleiner, a Venezuela native, opened her boutique to introduce Chicago to South American style. Vibe: The bi-level shop is flooded with sunlight and clean, neutral colors. Decorative accents like a photo of Claudia’s grandmother make it clear that she put a lot of heart into Malabar—the shop sparkles with warmth and personality. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: Subdued and striking at the same time. The Malabar gal is on top of fashion, but doesn’t succumb to trends. Perfect gear for a young, creative professional who dabbles on the cocktail circuit—picture an off-duty architect or gallery owner. Shopper’s Perks: Claudia’s quartz-and-silver jewelry designs are sold exclusively at Malabar. Claudia learned to make jewelry in Brazil, where quartzes are believed to bring healing power. Look out for anything in black coral—it may just bring you prosperity. The Thing for Spring: Malabar is stocking the entire spring collection from Cyndi Chan, and they’re over the moon about the cocktail dresses from new line Iodice.

Malabar

It all started with the Michigan Avenue dress forms. Cesar Rolon was interested in purchasing one of the garden-inspired, student-designed frocks displayed along the Magnificent Mile. But when it came time to buy, he hit a dead end. “I specifically requested that I have a Latino student designer, and I was told that they couldn’t find one,” Rolon says. “I thought, ‘What are you talking about?’ There are three schools involved.”

Aware of the active and talented pool of local Latino designers, Rolon went in search of our city’s Latino-designed fashion, only to come up empty-handed. He found that just one department store (Macy’s) carries only one local Latino designer (Orlando Espinoza), while a search of neighborhood boutiques was equally as grim. So he hit the ground running. He contacted local Hispanic-owned retailers, Latino designers and those in the style community and in just over a month Rolon had organized the first-ever Chicago Latino Fashion Week, where our city’s most stylish Hispanic talent will get a chance to shine. Designers such as Ximena Valero, James De Colon, Orlando Espinoza and AOL Fashionista winner Anna Fong will showcase their pieces at trunk shows, cocktail receptions and a runway show at Galleria Marchetti. Each night features a swank shindig celebrating Latino fashion, and there will even be several celebrities making their way around the stylish circuit including model (and Humboldt Park native) Jaslene Gonzalez, former Ms. Universe Cynthia Olavarria and Nadine Velazquez from “My Name is Earl.”

With seven days of shows, events and parties, Latino Fashion Week is shaping up to have an unforgettable inaugural year. But Rolon is anticipating more than just a good time. “I’m really hoping that an awareness will come out of this,” Rolon says. “Latinos do shop on Michigan Avenue and State Street, we do have Latino designers.” But his ultimate goal runs much deeper. “We want to provide an anchor and a supportive arm for our designers and students here in Chicago,” he says. And if Rolon can build this foundation, Chicago Latino Fashion Week will undoubtedly be a hit for years to come. (Molly Each)

Chicago’s first Latino Fashion Week runs from October 29-November 4. Find out about event locations and times at chicagolatinofashion.com.

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.