Going For Gold In Chicago

Back in August I posted about a fantastic show/charity event that I was lucky enough to be involved with and now I'm excited to fill my Taffetadarlings in on how everything went.

 

The prestigious Chicago Gold Coast Fashion Award Show has featured some pretty big names with past winners including; Donna Karan, Bill Blass and Monique Lhuillier (maybe you've heard of them?  LOL).  Of course I was excited, but nothing could have prepared me for the grand scale of the event -- it's like the old saying goes, You've gotta see it to believe it.  It's very hard to process what a room that seats 1400 guests really looks like.  It's huge.  And even bigger when you add a gigantic "T" shaped runway and additional space in the back for bloggers to hook up and provide live coverage of the show. 

 

a few of my pieces on stage

 

Okay, so now the nerves took over a bit.  I usually operate very well under pressure and I've had four runway shows of my own to prove it.  Still, I was relieved that my jewelry designing pal Wendy Brandes accompanied me to Chicago to keep me sane.  Talk about a devoted friend!  I'm lucky to have her not only as a friend, but a client as well.  Of course, Wendy wore one of my dresses (well, it's technically hers!) to the show and she looked insanely perfect.  I would like to give myself/my clothes all the credit here, but WendyB could make a potato sack look chic.  I wore one of the outfits from the collection being showcased  -- my Fall 2012, Modern World collection.

 

 

Wendy wearing a black cocktail dress from STACY LOMMAN : NEW YORK

wearing a piece from my collection

 

model wearing the same outfit backstage at my runway show in February

 

Back to the show!   Being an audience member was a little strange since I didn't have control over the models, music, hair & makeup like I normally do (I'm such a control freak -- down to the font in the programs, etc.), but at the same time it was really nice to be able to enjoy my food and wine and let somebody else take care of all the details.  And I need to point out what a fantastic job the girls behind the scenes did.  I went backstage before the show got underway to go over a few key points (please open the cape to show the flag print lining, etc.) and everything was running like a well-oiled machine.  And everyone was soooo nice and helpful.   I was really impressed with how professional everything was (thanks to show producer Susan Glick), in fact, the only way I could tell that I wasn't at a New York show was the lack of chaos backstage!

 

one of my pieces on the runway - viewed on one of the big screens

 

After a touching video from the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and a few words from the Children's Service Board President Jeniece Higgens, the runway show commenced.  Last year's winner Fabiola Arias showed her winning collection, shared some encouraging words and wished the competing designers luck.  One by one, the eight different designer collections strutted down the catwalk each time with a nice introduction and the designer's name flashing across the two giant video screens.  I couldn't resist taking a blurry shot of my name when it was time, but I was too focused and nervous to take any other photos. 

 

 

Wendy Brandes, on the other hand, was more than happy to jump up from the table and a glass of Pinot Grigio to snap some pretty amazing pics.  She tried a video at first, but the lighting didn't allow her to get anything but blurry, bright white figures on the runway so she quickly abandoned that and switched to the regular photo setting...

 

 

At the end of the show the models did one last walk (wearing one piece for each designer) carrying a sign with the name that corresponded to her outfit.  Then, the audience was supposed to tear off their choice from the little booklets left on the tables and place the names into baskets that quickly sashayed through the room by event helpers.

 

finale (the houndstooth trench is mine)

 

The winner was announced and the "ladies who lunch" promptly got up and the room emptied out in what seemed like a few minutes.  Wes Gordon, who also took the title for FGI's 2012 Rising Star in January, reigned triumphant.  I wasn't too disappointed, I just need to figure out how to get something on Michelle Obama like Wes did!  The show was a huge success, I was so thrilled to be a part of such a great event and important cause/charity.  Besides, the plastic, light up, star-shaped ring that I got at the show is STILL twinkling five days later!  Maybe I'm an idealist, but that symbolizes to me that my star is burning bright and will continue to do so.