Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Two frightened Dalmatian puppies and a beaming baby almost stole the show on the runway Thursday night at the second annual Red Hot Chicago event. But knockout designs by the likes of Tiffani Kim, Jane Hamill and Reginalds made sure that the well-heeled crowd of 900 at Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom got much more than a dog and pony show.
“My mother came over to the United States from China in 1947,” said art dealer Elaine Kwan. “She brought a big steamer trunk full of dresses. But when she went to college in Minnesota, she didn’t have any use for them and just kind of forgot about them. I never really had the opportunity to get real, tailored Chinese dresses made, so when I came across this trunk, I couldn’t believe my luck. I fit perfectly into them.
Never mind the peekaboo gowns that displayed ample cleavage of both kinds, and the kicky patchwork outfits were so ugly they were cute. The stylish crowd of 700-plus that attended “Red Hot Chicago” Wednesday night at the House of Blues got quite an eyeful both on and off the runway.