Fresh Faces in Fashion = Fierce & Fab!

GenArt's Fresh Faces in Fashion event last night kicked off Chicago's annual – and ever-growing – fashion week, with a huge bang. The party, set under a massive tent in Millennium Park, got rolling with a pre-party cocktail hour where everyone who's anyone enjoyed mixed Stoli drinks, schmoozing and a lot of elbow rubbing. In attendance was an array of the city's most fabulous – but not overly pretentious – people in fashion, entertainment, nightlife, publishing and more. The runway show got underway promptly at 8:30 – and UR Chicago was front and center, seated right along the catwalk, surrounded by our pals from Barneys New York, Blake Standard (Pierre Colorado), DailyCandy, CS, Jake, Fine Living Network's newest show – the Shopping Detective with Lindsay Gladstone, TimeOut Chicago, Hejfina, Half Acre Beer, Leo Burnett (which works with Blackberry, one of the event sponsors -- and maker of my Curve, which was used to take these pix), Dom Perignon/Moet Hennessy and more (sadly absent was Travel & Leisure's J. Graham Hickey, who was definitely missed).

The sold out event, featuring hot sounds from DJ Matt Roan, showcased seven emerging local designers -- Abigail Glaum-Lathbury, Apparatchik, Dieter Bennet, Nora Marcella, Biasline by Soo Choi, Moire Conroy and menswear designer Wrath Arcane, who added a needed edgy slant to the night. There were lots of oohs and boos (ok, maybe not outright boos, but some of the pieces failed to impress) from a standing room only crowd. The fashion wasn't so-much groundbreaking as much as a lot of the pieces -- both men's and women's -- built on the current '80s revival. But there were some great tops and dresses in vibrant colors and fantastic outerwear that would be perfect for fall.

Following the event, the party shuffled over to the James for a soiree that raged until 1 am. Drinks flowed at the many bars (sponsored by Stoli, Smart Water, Chambord and more) and a smoking lounge was set up in a third floor suite, sponsored by Dunhill, who was celebrating a big anniversary by bringing back a multitude of tobacco flavors.

And anyone who was able to hold their own made it to J Bar for the after-after party, thanks to James marketing director Joel Morales! UR stuck it out but left mid Champagne sip – bed was calling and we needed to crash. Overall, the event was a huge success and we congratulate our dear friend, GenArt Chicago director Amanda Nosal (who looked uber hot with her sexy black outfit and straightened hair), for pulling it all together with her amazing sidekicks Jessica Murnane and Chance Woodward.