Fashion Fest This Fall

By Hanna Aronovich in Miscellaneous on Aug 31, 2006 7:57PM

Field’s, er, uh, Macy’s is at the crux of Chicago’s plan to become a fashion mecca. Earlier this year, Mayor Daley announced his support of promoting the fashion and design industry in Chicago. Today, the Sun-Times reports on the upcoming events that underscore this initiative.

This year’s Fashion Focus Chicago kicks off Sept. 20 and runs through Oct 1. The 12-day fest includes runway shows, neighborhood shopping events and educational seminars. Millennium Park will host four fashion shows at the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace and feature collections from local designers.

The couture continues through the month, with Glamorama taking place on Sept. 29. at the soon-to-be Macy’s on State. Ralph Hughes, regional vice president of stores for Macy’s North said the store’s Designers of Chicago at Macy’s on State Street boutique (that’s a mouthful) will showcase some of the leading designers from the city and around the world.

More than 70 established local designers competed for the 47 spots. After Fashion Focus ends, the designers’ apparel, jewelry and accessories will join Macy’s existing collections.

In a Project Runway-meets-Chicago, design students from the Art Institute, Columbia, the Illinois Institute of Art and the International Academy of Design and Technology will compete by creating original fashions from a bag of surprise materials.

And, no fashion extravaganza would be complete without a makeover. During Fashion Focus, the Style Network will host the Everyday Runway Mobile Makeover bus to give random Chicago women makeovers. Make sure to sport your frumpiest duds if you’re hoping to be one of the “befores.”

If not, break out those stilettos and put on your prettiest face; Chicago is blasting off for the Glamosphere.