Showing posts with label Lady Gaga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lady Gaga. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL!: Playing Dress Up with Decades' Christos Garkinos & Cameron Silver



No matter your age, we all play dress up at some point in life. Whether we were channeling Sleeping Beauty in one of our mother's long, delicate dresses or pretending to be Pocahontas in her vintage pony skin boots, Sally and I still treasure those hours we spent transforming into the heroines from our favorite Disney films and Brothers Grimm books.

Getting Her Beauty Sleep: Dakota Fanning 
dressed in DIOR Fall 2006 for Vanity Fair

Today, we still love holding court in our closets just as much as we enjoy interpreting the style of our favorite, modern day "guardians of good taste" in our own unique way.

But if pillaging your closets' contents to dress your inner Grace (or Minka!) Kelly isn't your forte, don't fret. Help is on the way! For your next fashion epiphany, you need only know two names: Christos Garkinos and Cameron Silver.

Esquire magazine's "Sexiest Woman Alive" 
Minka Kelly dresses up by dressing way down

Famed for their exquisite taste and signature style, Christos and Cameron are the co-owners of Decades and Decadestwo.1, the nation's "top shops" for vintage and über-luxe consignment clothing.

Sitting Pretty: Cameron Silver at Decades

So what is this creative duo doing when they aren't scouring the world for one-of-a-kind fashions, transforming clients with their icon-making clothing, (re)defining what's hip and hot around the country, or (Cameron Silver) being named one of the "25 Most Influential Names and Faces in Fashion" by Time magazine? Why hosting their third two-day, pop-up installment at Chicago's space519, on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16, of course!

Here, Decades' Christos Garkinos gives us the inside scoop on what we can expect and weighs in on everything from reality shows and jewelry collaborations to his personal picks for cold-weather dressing. 

Detroit native and Decadestwo.1's 
Christos Garkinos

Luxe File Chicago: Last April, vintage lovers, fashion bloggers, and the city’s top tastemakers flocked to Decades’ second pop-up shop event at space519 which featured a clever mash-up of fashionable must-haves - from Manolos and Louboutins to red carpet-ready designer dresses donated by some of Hollywood’s most revered leading ladies. What’s in store for shoppers at your next pop-up presentation? 

Christos Garkinos: We are bringing amazing winter wear, sexy cocktail dresses, and insane Chanel accessories. And on Sunday, our $150 shoe event and $50 Decades denim event will be a fashionista’s dream come true! Click HERE for a sneak peek.
LFC: You have a passion for collaboration and your latest venture with Miriam Haskell is no exception. What drew you to the luxe costume jewelry giant and tell us what is unique about the “Uptown/Downtown“ collection, which includes twenty-four pieces and was designed exclusively for Decades? 

Christos Garkinos: We have always loved and sold Miriam Haskell in our vintage boutique. With this collaboration, we were able to go into the archives and apply that special Decades touch to bring a sense of modernity to the line. The uptown/downtown feel lets the Decades girl adorn herself based on her look and it is quite reasonably priced, too. 

Miriam Haskell earrings for Decades

LFC: Although deeply entrenched in LA culture, Decades is familiar with the Midwest’s fashion mentality – conservative luxury. With that in mind, what stylish essentials would you recommend for a Chicago girl who wants to add some spice to her wardrobe this season? 

CG: I'm originally from Detroit, so I get the Midwest fashion mentality. From our winter collection, we are bringing coats that are chic, but also sturdy – those winter winds are brutal! We have great Rick Owens leather jackets, Prada coats, and for some spice – great Louboutin boots!

Warm things up this winter with Louboutin. 
We love this furry pair!
 
LFC: Most of us know Decades - the Hollywood-based luxury retailer that consigns vintage and modern designer duds from the closets of celebrities, stylists and fashion icons and sells everything up to 80% off retail – but few know how the company got started or the Garkinos/ Silver collaboration. Come out of the closet and catch us up Cliff Notes-style, please!
 
CG: Cameron started the vintage business in 1997 – he was a cabaret singer before then and would vintage shop in the different cities he performed. A mutual friend set us up on a blind date – it was complete disaster - but we got along very well as friends. In 1999, the vintage clients wanted to sell their more modern pieces, so Cameron and I went into business together. I had a retail background and thought that this would be a great opportu- nity. 
 
LFC: Bravo TV’s just-launched reality show, “Fashion Hunters”, gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the DIOR-drenched world of second-hand fashion. The savvy staffers of New York’s trendy thrift-store-cum-cult-clothing-emporium, Second Time Around, race around the city dressing their hip clientele while searching for buried treasure in the closets of the city’s most stylish. 

Design Dandy: Second Time Around's 
Wilson Payamps
 
This show has “Decades” written all over it! What would you do differently if Hollywood came calling?

CG: They have come a calling. You will just have to wait and see! 

Actress Cassie Scerbo at Decades Denim 
Launch Party, Beverly Hills, CA

LFC: Your website, Decadestwo.1, is a treasure trove of designer duds (we’re currently fixated on the heavenly Roberto Cavalli dress with gold metallic accents). Which is your favorite piece and which item(s) would you recommend we scoop up before they’re gone? 
 
CG: I’m a sucker for a Chanel necklace with Gripoix jewels. There is one on our site in green. It will be coming to Chicago. It’s fab!

Chain Gang: Chanel Gold Chain and 
Green Gripoix CC Logo Necklace

LFC: Your clients and friends are the Who’s Who of Hollywood – from Jessica Alba and Rose McGowan to Molly Sims and Rachel Zoe. Ba-na-nas! Who truly personifies the “Decades girl” and if you could pick anyone to dress head-to-toe, who would it be? 
 
CG: I think that someone like Marisa Tomei well personifies the Decades girl. She’s timeless, has innate style, and is willing to mix it up. Gaga. Because she needs us.

Gaga The Great: Pretty Monster Makeover?

LFC: Luxe File Chicago has dedicated its site to the “love of living luxuriously”. Finish this sentence, “When it comes to living luxuriously, always…” 
 
CG: "...be yourself." 

Christos Garkinos and Cameron Silver photo credit: XA, The Experiential Agency

Shoes photo credit: Kate Templin Stahl/PopSugar

Cassie Scerbo photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Posted by Kerry Shorr

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

LADY CHEEKY


Dynamic Duo: CheekyChicago.com's Jessica Zweig & Erica Bethe Levin

Everyone loves fashionable collaborations - Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Opening Ceremony's Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, Emma Watson and Burberry, Kate Moss and TopShop, Tom Ford and Colin Firth - and few duos represent our city better than CheekyChicago.com co-founders, Erica Bethe Levin and Jessica Zweig. This stylish set keeps it real by keeping Chicago current on everything from fêtes and fashion to restaurant reviews and dating tips.

Luxe File Chicago caught up with the pair who dished on a score of topics ranging from favorite curse word to their definition of the Cheeky Guy.


Erica Bethe Levin
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, CheekyChicago.com
Correspondent, NBC's new digital channel, Chicago Non-Stop
Contributor, NBCChicago.com
Contributor, Jetsetter.com

Where you met Jessica: We met while we were both working at the Lincoln Park Athletic Club in Chicago.

Who would you love to interview: Oprah Winfrey

Best party you've attended this year: NAHA's 10-year anniversary party

Favorite shopping website: I honestly don't do any online shopping.

Characteristic you admire most in men: A sense of humor, chivalry (it should not be dead), and motivation

Characteristic you admire least in men: Dissatisfaction

Define the Cheeky Guy: Respectable, well-mannered, in-the-know and treats a Cheeky girl the way she deserves to be treated.


Cheeky Girl ♥s Cheeky Guy: Erica & her boyfriend

Who you love to Twitter: I don't think I love Twitter at all.

Blog you frequent the most: Does Facebook count?

Play celebrity matchmaker. Perfect Hollywood pop tart couple: Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman

What's your favorite swear word: Definitely the "F" word

Rahm Emanuel. Happy or sad: Happy

What do you like most about Jessica: I love that she drives me to the airport when I go out of town. (Just kidding!) Jessica always has my back and is a perfect shoulder to lean on.

Typical day at the office: There is no typical day at the office! I work from home, or remotely, so I spend a lot of time out with clients and in meetings. While my main job is editing, days range from selling advertising to potential clients and meeting with potential partners, restaurant groups, and other online outlets to writing articles about food, wine, theatre, and books.

Achievements I am most proud of: I was recently inducted into Northwestern University's Council of One Hundred, a group of 100 female Northwestern alums around the country who are succeeding in business and entrepreneurship. I am the youngest member ever to be inducted.

Projects I am working on: I am working full-time on CheekyChicago.com - it's quite a project all on its own!

Work uniform: If I'm working from home, sweats or PJs work just fine. I opt for casual/business attire for daytime meetings but when I have a dinner or evening event, I get all dressed up.

Where I go for inspiration: I am truly inspired by really good food and theatre. I am also inspired by love, which is cheesy but true.

Favorite charities: Augie's Quest. My dear friend, Anne Marie Schlekeway, recently passed away from ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a debilitating and devastating disease with no cure. It attacks your muscles and nerves leaving you completely paralyzed - only your brain knows what's going on. I have made it a personal mission to fight against ALS for the rest of my life in honor of Anne Marie.

Former ALS activist and founder of Kiss My ALS,
Anne Marie Schlekeway

Favorite store or boutique in Chicago: Although it's not Chicago-specific, I do most of my shopping at Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. I also love Intermix and Lululemon and am a big fan of SARCA on Wabash.

Favorite restaurant in Chicago: This is an easy one - NAHA! I am Chef Carrie Nahabedian's biggest fan. She is a female James Beard Award-winning, Michelin Star-earning chef. Her food is inventive, beautiful and delicious. I also love Quartino, Avec, Purple Pig, Sunda, Riccardo Trattoria and Terragusto.

Favorite travel destination: Manhattan. I've been going there 1-4 times a year since I was a kid. I went with my boyfriend in November for my birthday and we ate at thirteen restaurants. We want to make it a yearly tradition!

Who I most admire: My mentor, Marilyn Moats Kennedy, a fellow Northwestern Council of 100 council member. She was the editor at Glamour magazine for seventeen years and travels around the country speaking about office politics and women in the workplace.

Three words that most describe me: Organized, dork, loyal and fun. (Sorry, I had to use four!)

My celebrity crush: Always has been, and always will be, Robert Downey Jr. But I have to say, and this may sound like a weird one, I saw John Leguizamo's one-man show a few weeks ago in Chicago and I now have a strange celebrity crush on him, too. The boy can dance!

Actor, comedian & Cheeky heartthrob,
John Leguizamo

Most decadent thing I have ever purchased: My green sequined Christian Louboutins

Favorite indulgence: An 18-ounce filet mignon or a chocolate cupcake with buttercream icing

Favorite songs on my iPod: I have very quirky taste in music. My favorite songs on my iPod would be any showtune, anything by Billy Joel, Elton John or Queen.

Books I am reading: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

Guiltiest pleasure: "The Bachelor", ""The Bachelorette" and "Bachelor Pad"

Facebook or Twitter: Facebook. All that tweeting kind of scares me.

I stay home to watch: See "Guiltiest pleasure".

One thing about me that no one knows: Even though I have the most social job in the world, I am a total homebody.

My hidden talent: I can play a mean piano.

Signature cocktail: Steve Carrow at NAHA makes the most amazing cocktail called the Grosella with Don Julio tequila, cassis, agave nectar and lemon juice.

Liquid Love: NAHA's Grosella cocktail

Words of wisdom: Tom Cruise's character in Vanilla Sky says, "Without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet." It helps me get through those tough days.

I can't get through a day without: Cheese

The worst advice I was ever given: You can't start your own business.

Why I love doing what I do: I get to do what I love for a living. I get to write about the city of Chicago. What could be better than writing about Chicago and all of the history, art and culture it encompasses? Not to mention, it is the most rewarding and amazing feeling when I get to meet the women at Cheeky events who read the website and appreciate it.

Advice for anyone pursuing a career in media: You have to put in your time, but eventually it will pay off.

Luxe File Chicago has dedicated its site to the “love of living luxuriously”. Finish this sentence, “When it comes to living luxuriously, always…”: Wear an amazing pair of heels.


Jessica Zweig
Co-Founder and Director of Sales & Marketing, CheekyChicago.com
Correspondent, NBC's new digital channel, Chicago Non-Stop
Contributor, UrbanDaddy.com
Special Event Ambassador, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago

How CheekyChicago.com came about: Erica and I bonded over our shared passion for exploring Chicago through restaurants and going out. One day we were talking about this great restaurant Erica had tried and I said, "Erica, we should start a food blog or something." It was like a lightbulb went off. From there, the idea kept growing and in a few days, we had come up with the concept of CheekyChicago.com. Nine months later, we were a website.

Who you would love to interview: Lady Gaga

Cheeky songstress, Lady Gaga

Best party you have attended this year: Aside from the Top Ten Cheeky Chicks party at Sunda, I have to say that the VitaminWater party at the W Lakeshore in December, with Lupe Fiasco and Makeshift Prodigy, was the hottest party I've been to in the past year.

Favorite shopping website: RueLaLa or Gilt

Characteristic you admire most in men: Kindness, maturity and confidence

Characteristic you admire least in men: Arrogance, Peter Pan-ism (guys who never want to grow up) and lack of style.

Define the Cheeky Guy: He's down-to-earth, kind and has a good heart. But he's also super social and in-the-know, but without being pretentious. He can appreciate a fabulous restaurant or hot party as much as he likes laying low, watching a movie and ordering take out.

Who you love to Twitter: Ha! I love to Twitter in general. I definitely tweet at my friends and local Chicago writers including: @JamesGoeke @Mr_Laws @Stacy_Levy @JLynnePR @AmandaPuck @KelliZink and @AriBendersky

Twitter Tweeters: Jessica & Jason Laws

Blog you visit the most: I'm a huge fan of UrbanDaddy.com, even though it's not a couple.

Play celebrity matchmaker. Perfect Hollywood pop tart couple: Mila Kulis and Jake Gyllenhaal

Favorite swear word: I fucking love the word "Fuck".

Rahm Emanuel. Happy or sad: Happy

One thing about Erica you envy: Her cooking skills! Erica is an incredibly loyal and good friend. It's not something I envy per se, but something I really value and admire.

Typical day at the office: There really is no typical day at Cheeky. I work from home so as soon as I make my pot of coffee, I am at the computer for at least a few hours answering emails, making calls. I try to consolidate my meetings to just a few days a week, as I can have as many as five in one day.

Achievements I am most proud of: Our 80-page business plan; Cheeky's 2-year anniversary event that drew almost six hundred people; and anytime a random girl comes up to me and tells me she reads our website and loves it.

Projects I am working on: Our BIG fashion show, “The Cheeky People of Style”, next week at Bloomingdales; our April “Women and Whiskey” event; and a May event launching a restaurant opening with a cross-branded writing competition to send our next food writer to San Francisco.

Work uniform: Days without meetings, I like to wear yoga pants and my Lululemon hoodie. Days with meetings, I opt for leggings, boots, a cute top and my BCBG crop blazer and lots of accessories.

Uniform Du Jour: Lululemon yoga pants and hoodie

Where I go for inspiration: I go to a yoga class. A good restaurant for a good glass a wine with a good friend. W Magazine. Alone time.

Favorite charities: Vital Bridges and the Human Rights Campaign. I am very passionate about gay rights. I think it’s a disgrace that we don’t have equal rights for the gay community when it comes to marriage in this country. Many of my friends are gay and it’s something that is very dear to my heart.

Favorite store or boutique in Chicago: Sofia on Oak Street

Favorite restaurant in Chicago: Sunda, Dorado in Lincoln Square and Girl and the Goat

Favorite travel destination: Anywhere in Europe, especially France.

Who I most admire: My parents. They are hard-working, ethical, and loving people who know how to have a good time!

Three words that best describe me: Passionate, social and loyal

My celebrity crush: David Duchovny

Most decadent thing I have ever purchased: My upcoming trip to Vegas and my House of Harlow lace stiletto booties from Sofia.

Favorite indulgence: Cheese

Favorite songs on my iPod: All of the Lights by Kanye West; Hang with Me by Robyn; Rolling in the Deep by Adele

Book I am reading: Does CS magazine count?

CS magazine, March 2011 issue

Guiltiest pleasure: Bravo TV's The Real Housewives series

Facebook or Twitter: Such a tough call! If I had to choose, I would have to say Twitter.

I stay home to watch: Top Chef, Californication, Dexter and Real Time With Bill Maher

One thing about me that no one knows: I am terribly, terribly tone deaf.

My hidden talent: I make a mean peanut butter banana bread.

Signature cocktail: Dirty Martini, extra dirty with blue cheese olives

Words of Wisdom: Believe in yourself and the rest will follow.

I can’t get through a day without: Coffee. And talking to Erica at least 5 times a day.

Tale of Two Glamazons: Business partners and BFFs,
Jessica and Erica

The worst advice I was ever given: There’s not enough to go around. (There is.)

Why I love doing what I do: I wake up every day pursuing this thing that I created. I love Cheeky more than anything in the world. It literally feels like my baby and I get to spend all day with it.

Advice for anyone pursuing a career in Media: Don’t let your lack of knowledge deter you. “Fake it until you make it.” Believe in yourself and exude that belief and passion every single day with sincerity and people will want to work with you. People will believe in you, too.

Luxe File Chicago has dedicated its site to the “love of living luxuriously”. Finish this sentence, “When it comes to living luxuriously, always…”: Indulge. Life’s too short.


Photo credits: Grosella cocktail by NAHA bartender Steve Carrow. Michael Zajakowski/Chicago

Lululemon yoga pants and hoodie courtesy of Bucklette.com

CS magazine cover by Jack Perno

Posted by Kerry Shorr