fierce creatures

that kind of day.

sharpie nails

Ever draw on your nails when you were in grade school? I admit I did!

Well, this tutorial from the beauty department gives us a new and improved reason to draw on our nails - and the best part?  Your friends will never know the difference!

All you need now is one solid gold sharpie!

Source: thebeautydepartment.com

feeling blue

Loving my new limited edition blue-mirrrored Ray Bans! 

Makes me feel like I'm ready for the snow beach on this chilly Chicago day...

touch of this, touch of that

A touch of skin, touch of leather accents, touch of sparkles...can we ask for more from the Jason Wu Pre-Fall 2013 collection?

casual friday by fashionchowchicago featuring mini satchel handbags

nothing lasts whatever

can't get enough

day dreaming of G.E.Bistro

christmassy

'Tis the season for holiday parties galore and with all these festivities going on, it's time to get playful with your winter wardrobe (because bundling up isn't always fun!)

Repossi Berbère Cuffs

Obsessing over this Berbère 18-karat gold diamond ear cuff from Repossi, which has been seen on a variety of celeb fashionistas (Rihanna, Diane Kruger, Alicia Keys, & Halle Berry).

Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After via Jen's Pirate Booty. Follow her on Instagram.

RiRi x Vivi

If any of you caught the VSFS last night, you know that one of the biggest showstoppers was Rihanna’s performance  wardrobe.  The starlet added some couture details to her seductive black Vivienne Westwood satin corset/skirt combo via a chunky pearl choker and vintage Chanel sunglasses.

Made with Love

Remember this post on Belly Q?

Well, I have started my own Etsy shop selling some of my handmade, reworked pieces (as seen above).

 Visit me at my store on Etsy now!

Affordable Bites I Bib Gourmands 2013



The Boka Group’s Giuseppe Tentori, Stephanie Izard, & Paul Virant with founders Rob Katz & Kevin Boehm have more Bibs than the Pampers baby

 Did you hear?  The Bib Gourmands was officially released for the Chicago MICHELIN Guide 2013!

And, well, you may find yourself asking what the hell is the ‘Bib Gourmands’?

“The Bib Gourmand designation denotes good cuisine at a reasonable price in a variety of comfort categories. Defined as “Inspectors Favorites for Good Value,” Bib Gourmand restaurants offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (tax and gratuity not included), and are often of most value to a city’s residents, who regularly dine in neighborhood restaurants.”

Creating the List:

MICHELIN inspectors work throughout the year to analyze restaurants in a given city, regularly eating two or more meals per day, every day, always under the cloak of anonymity. The results of their tireless research have been collected and curated into the MICHELIN Red Guides, your gastronomic reference to the best of the big city.
MICHELIN inspectors designate the restaurants they feel deliver the most value to consumers. These are Bib Gourmands. They are an ideal resource for consumers looking for the perfect meal at a reasonable price.

What you need to know:

64 Chicago restaurants made the 2013 list
19 restaurants earned Bib Gourmand recognition for the first time
11 of last year’s Bib Gourmand recipients were cut from this year’s list…ouch
First-timers on the list include: Au Cheval, Balena, Jam, Maison, Marion Street Cheese Market (Oak Park), Pump Room, Slurping Turtle & Urban Union.

2013 Bib Gourmands Chicago (* denotes new addition)

Ada Street *
Ann Sather
Antique Taco *
Au Cheval *
Avec
Balena *
Belly Shack
Bistronomic
The Bristol
Browntrout
Ceres’ Table
Chilam Balam *
City Tavern *
Cumin
Deca
De Cero
De Colores
Frontera Grill
Gemini Bistro
Gilt Bar
Girl & the Goat
Green Zebra
GT Fish & Oyster
Han 202
Jaipur
Jam *
Jin Thai
Kabul House
Kai Zan *
Lao Hunan *
Lao Sze Chuan
La Petite Folie
Los Nopales
Maison *
Marion Street Cheese Market *
Maude’s Liquor Bar
Mixteco Grill
Nana
Nightwood
Opart Thai
Owen & Engine
Paramount Room
The Publican
The Pump Room *
Purple Pig
Q BBQ *
Raj Darbar
Riccardo Trattoria
The Savoy *
Sen
Slurping Turtle *
Smak-Tak
Smoque BBQ
Sol de Mexico
Spacca Napoli
The Storefront Company *
Twin Anchors
Untitled *
Urban Belly
Urban Union *
West Town Tavern
Wood *
Xni-Pec de Yucatan
Yolo

Removed from list

Arami
Fogon (CLOSED)
Hopleaf
La Creperie
Lula Café
Mexique
M. Henry
Mundial
Cocina Mestiza
Perennial Virant
Taste of Peru
Thai Village

Flight Club

Flight Club by fashionchowchicago featuring a long sleeve t shirt

T By Alexander Wang long sleeve t shirt
shopzoeonline.com

Current/Elliott mid rise jeans
matchesfashion.com

MAC Cosmetics beauty product
nordstrom.com

Superga 2750cc-Gry
$70 - gravitypope.com

Man Repellers

Packing for a much-needed vacation to Playa, and bring these loved ones with me! I think I’ll pair them with my Jen’s Pirate Booty Señorita tunic – pictures to come.

Twisted Farm Food

With locations in Vegas, Connecticut, and now here in Chicago, Hash House a Go Go (1212 North State Parkway, Chicago, IL 60610) is keeping their guests wildy entertained and FULL! (cc: the Sage Fried Chicken & Waffles)

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood by fashionchowchicago featuring a couture costume of my dreams!

Bow blouse
sans-online.nl

Marni cape coat
net-a-porter.com

Marni cape coat
net-a-porter.com

AllSaints low rise pants
allsaints.com

Yves Saint Laurent black boots
ssense.com

Balenciaga pocket wallet
$555 - balenciaga.co.uk

Hermès black bangle bracelet
usa.hermes.com

Celebrity Bedrooms

Ever wonder where your favorite celebrity’s shop for their personal homegoods?

Elle Decor featured 21 stylish slumber-worthy spaces, and we picked our favorites from the litter – which ranged from Sarah Jessica Parker’s serene master to Roberto Cavalli’s exotic oasis.

Come take a look at their shag-worthy bedrooms, and what designers helped them create a perfect space for their most intimate moments…

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Master Bedroom

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s laid-back Bridgehampton master bedroom mixes crisp white walls, bedding, and curtains with colorful accessories, including an aqua Christopher Spitzmiller lamp and apple-green vintage armchairs. Designer Eric Hughes grounded the room with a sisal rug and hung grommeted IKEA curtain panels for a relaxed, beachy feel.

Special Delivery: Spooky Cupcakes

from left to right: vanilla, red velvet, chocolate, & pumpkin mini cupcakes

Shop Sprinkles Cupcakes

Unstoppable

Ever since Rihanna’s ultra-exlusive interview with Oprah, I have been utterly in love with America’s most powerful popstar/Time’s most influential people in 2012/best dressed singer (in my opinion).

This month, she is featured in Vogue magazine with photographs taken by Annie Leibovitz.


Desert Storm



Rihanna kicks up some dust in a Valentino lace dress with leather bodice on location at Tejon Ranch in Lebec, California. Gaspar fingerless gloves.



Something Wild



“Spur of the moment,” Rihanna says of her pixie cut, unveiled to the public at the VMAs. Dior Haute Couture hand-embroidered silk cutoff dress. Céline mules.

Sun-kissed

“My dream was to make music that people could listen to all over the world.” Michael Kors crimson embroidered floral-lace dress.

Body Heat

“I don’t like to live a calculated life. I don’t do anything for the reaction.” Rosamosario bustier bodysuit and Revillon lace pencil skirt with mink-and-fox trim.



Only Girl in the World

The six-time Grammy award–winner tweets to almost 26 million followers—nearly six million more than the president. Marc Jacobs sequined silk top and skirt.

Desert Rose

The singer on set in California.

Source: vogue.com

Cruzin’ to the Maxi

BOULEE Cruz Maxi Dress is a must-have staple that can transition from day to night, and emphasizes a very feminine hourglass shape and cut out at the lower back.

Balenciaga Finger Rings

Snap shot from Paris Fashion Week of some killer Balenciaga rings.  I'll have one of each, please!

Alexander McQueen Spring 13

In case you didn’t catch all of the trends used in the A. McQueen show, we provided some of them for you:

beekeepers’ hats
double-peplumed jackets
cagelike pannier dresses
hard, tortoiseshell-resin harnesses and bras
deep gilded-metal chokers with bejeweled bees
the hourglass silhouette
flower-embroidered evening gowns
hollow Lucite wedges with golden crystals rattling in the heels

Photo Source: vogue.com