Ready for takeoff
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times September 2, 2004 From runway fab to budget-savvy lines, women can get top fashions easier than ever. Affordable fashion doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. Thanks to a slew of […]
Category: Style
Cut to the chase
Every season, women shudder at the thought of what New York, Paris and Milan will conjure up for us to wear. When designers are feeling particularly cruel, they insist we wedge ourselves into jeans that ride so low they make the plumber’s-butt pants appear demure by comparison. Thank goodness this fall is all about lady-like glamor and comfort. Skirts are long and lean. Pants are loose with wider legs. And dresses are delicate and figure-flattering.
‘Lady Marmalade’ steals the show
In the most visually stunning moment of the evening, a model languidly “flew” high across the stage wearing a luxurious red gown with a 45-foot train trailing behind her. Was she a bride or a member of Cirque du Soleil?
Fashion on fire
Look out for the lady in red. Make that ladies in red. At this year’s Glamorama, 30 of fashion’s top designers will showcase their one-of-a-kind red gowns, which will be auctioned off later to benefit the Art Institute of Chicago (see sidebar for more information).
She wears the pants — but not always that well
Marlene Dietrich knew how to wear one. So did Katherine Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. But do modern-day women such as First Lady Laura Bush, Elizabeth Edwards and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton know how to work a pant suit?
True blue denim
It’s every kid’s dilemma each school year. What should they wear that will satisfy their parents’ need for modesty but also pique their classmates’ interest? In a word — denim. Just remember, a little denim goes a long way, so spread the wealth and don’t wear your new denim jacket, pants and hat all together.
Lighten up!
There used to be a time when women were embarrassed to admit they colored their hair. (Remember how Lucy Ricardo kept insisting her hair was naturally red on “I Love Lucy”?)
Soft, sexy hair, no matter the length
Call it the Mia, the Farrah or the Rachel. Whatever it’s called, hair is as important a fashion statement as what we wear and the makeup we choose.
‘The Rachel’ remains a cut above the rest
Even if you don’t know much about “Friends,” chances are you remember “The Rachel.” Jennifer Aniston’s hair took on a life of its own a few episodes into the show’s debut season, when her character showed up with a striking new hairstyle: Gone were her long, semicurly locks. In their place was a fluffy, layered ‘do — a modified shag.
Style vs. comfort: Irresistible object, immovable force
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times September 25, 2003 Experts are promising they’ll be able to deliver comfortable high heels. I don’t buy it. Comfort, of course, is relative. Wobbling around in a pair of stilettos […]
What a boy wants: women’s clothes
When Lucas Livingston and his girlfriend were shopping for pants at Bebe, they found just the right thing — a pair of fierce silver trousers accented with zippers and buckles. For him.
Gallery season truly something to behold
Today marks the opening of Chicago’s Fall gallery season. Whether you’re a serious art buyer or a simply a looky-loo like each of us, there’s surely something for everyone at this weekend’s openings. Paintings, sculptures, photography–it’s all covered here. We’ve even got the 411 on a 3-D computer project. You can’t beat the price–it costs nothing to look. Then, too, there’s the bonus of chatting up the artists. Many will be on hand at the openings of their new exhibits.
Fashion Buzz
Women hate trying on clothes. Women hate unrealistic sizes. But women love shopping. Comic Margaret Cho found that the only comfortable, fun clothes she could wear were ones she designed herself or had specially made for her.
Color cosmetics Mavens glad for a chance
When Chicago businesswomen Sandi Hwang Adam and Noreen Abbasi decided to form Maven Cosmetics, they had a common goal–to create a makeup line that was user friendly for all women, not just white women.
From mouths of babes: fashion don’ts for men
Love may be blind but fashionistas certainly aren’t. In the May issue of Men’s Health magazine, out today, a bevy of beauties give guys a few tips about how not to become fashion don’ts.
Beautiful people and cool couture make for fab evening
The models were gorgeous at Glamorama–the fashion extravaganza held Friday night at the Chicago Theatre. The clothes were delightful. And the atmosphere was festive.
Sizing up the marketplace
If you want to know why it takes a woman so long to get dressed, try going shopping with her. Aesthetics aside, women have to deal with sizes that make no sense. Welcome to the wacky world of women’s clothes, where more has become less when it comes to sizes.
Thin may be in, but there’s a limit to how low ideal weights can go
I recently saw a display of vintage mannequins from the turn of the century that shocked me. They were life-size and wearing dresses equivalent to a Size 10 or 12. Fast-forward to a shopping trip to a downtown Chicago department store where the mannequins were roughly the shape of your 12-year-old nephew.
Jacklyn Kim: Wild & Wacky in the Windy City
Some women might take offense at being dubbed a Wacky Chick, but Jacklyn Kim revels in it. “I love being wacky and different.” Though she’s employed at one of the city’s most luxurious spas, Jacklyn rarely indulges in manicures and massages. The tiny dynamo–who is almost always clad in New York black–can’t sit still long enough to relax.
Threading the eyebrow: twist and shout
Threading is so old school it’s trendy. The ancient Middle Eastern practice of hair removal is tops with trendsetters such as Jennifer Aniston and Salma Hayek. Even Grammy winner Michelle Branch sings the praises of threading.