Confessions of a Stylist: Suzanne Kopulos of Garmental

Suzanne Kopulos of Garmental should be on your style-star speed-dial.

Famed for picking one-of-a-kind pieces and cult-following accessories, Kopulos spends most days shopping for her star clients (including Beyonce and Tim Gunn), styling models for print campaigns and dressing up close friends for red carpet affairs.  

Now she is teaming up with Keep.com to host “Keep it Chic”, a head-to-toe style and shopping event that kicks off tonight at RM Champagne Salon and runs every Wednesday through August 7. Guests will enjoy cocktails and canapés while stocking up on the most coveted fashion trends of the season and a chance to win a $500 shopping spree from a participating Chicago boutique.

Suzanne Kopulos

On the day of the debut, Luxe File Chicago caught up with the fashion guru who reports on her favorite shopping holes, wardrobe obsessions and handsome style icons.

You are a self-proclaimed shopping addict and the owner of Garmental, one of the city’s most stylish boutiques which spotlights the season’s most covetable pieces. What is the best part of your job?

I do what I love for a living. Whether I am window shopping for the season's hottest fashion or talking to new or emerging designers, I have a major passion for this industry and want to contribute to the thriving fashion community. That's what I love about the Keep It Chic event series: it's like virtual shopping the best boutiques and brands in Chicago and sharing it with a huge online shopping community.

What are three summer staples everyone needs in their closet right now?

1. The maxi dress has been on my list for seasons and it's not going away, especially for festival season. It's always super chic.

2. Sky-high wedge sandals. I love Coach and Rachel Zoe.

3. A statement necklace in either neon or industrial chic.

Speaking of closets – we’d love to get a peek at yours! Which pieces in your wardrobe are you most obsessed with?

I have a pretty collection of DVF dresses that I have gotten over the years – they boast fun, bold prints that never go out of style. I am also obsessed with Mango’s snakeskin textured jacket which I pair with a white midi skirt and Emporio Armani’s snake print patent leather sandals with bows.

Shopping is all about the hunt. Where are some of your favorite hotspots for scoring attention-grabbing designs?

I love the looks we feature on Garmental from Edith Hart, SARCA, Penelope's, Scoop, le Dress and Perchance Boutique. We'll be featuring some of these boutiques during the #KeepItChic series along with sunglass trends from Solstice Sunglasses.

There’s nothing like the thrill of discovering a new designer. Like a proud parent, Chicago is nurturing emerging talent into household names. What rising stars are currently on your mercurial style map?

I have been a big fan of the bold color and patterned dresses created by designer Kahindo Mateene for her Chicago-based womenswear brand, Modahnik. I am excited she has been chosen for the next season of Project Runway! She is extremely talented. 

Chicago is also a great city for accessory designers. I am into industrial chic and metals and am a big fan of Nicki Jean, jules and Bella Colletta. Nicki Jean will be featured at our July 24^th event and one of her pieces will be part of our featured giveaway that evening.

Any projects you’re currently working on?

I will be relaunching my luxe handbag collection, Boujie Baby Couture, under the name SLK. Think crossbody leather and clutches embellished with hardware galore at a very affordable price point.

Who is your style icon?

Tom Ford hands down.

We love a little fashion inspiration. What is your motto for keeping life chic?

If I am going bold – maybe a green leopard print DVF dress – then I will keep my accessories simple and add a metallic clutch and shoes. If I am going with black, white or any staple denim look, I always throw on a statement necklace to dress it up. It's always about feeling fabulous because you never know where the day or night will take you. 

For more style advice, follow Suzanne Kopulos on Twitter at @SLKStyle.

Ryan M. Beshel: Chicago's Fashionable, New Imagemaker

Ryan M. Beshel

Public Relations Coordinator, 900 North Michigan Shops

Blogger, The Bowtie Memoirs

Podcaster, Speaking of Fashion

Twitter

Facebook

Ryan M. Beshel is a man who’s come full circle. After graduating from the Illinois Institute of Art with a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management and armed with a handful of hard-won internships at Michigan Avenue magazine, Glass Communications, and The 900 Shops, the bowtie-loving bon vivant went on to take Chicago’s PR and modeling industries by storm.

Ryan with his mentor, Barbara Glass

Now, the 6’4” twenty-something has waved good-bye to the catwalk and is taking on his biggest challenge yet – handling publicity for the 900 North Michigan Shops, famed as one of the nation’s leading shopping and dining destinations.

Luxe File Chicago recently caught up with Ryan to talk about his new role and to dish on everything from getting lost in the great outdoors to his rebirth as the celebrated fashion designer, Tom Ford.

Luxe File Chicago: Your middle initial is “M”. What name does it stand for?

Ryan Beshel: Michael, my godfather’s name.        

Mr. Bowtie: The Talented Mr. Beshel

  

LFC: Everyone knows you by that stylish accessory you’re never without: a bowtie. You even named your blog, The Bowtie Memoirs, after this classic neckwear. What do you love about bowties and what do they say about your personality?

RB: When I first started wearing them, they were out-of-the-ordinary. What began as a way to distinguish myself from others soon transitioned into my trademark. There’s something very gentlemanly about bowties and I enjoy preserving the classic way of dressing that (men) lost awhile back.

 Ryan's dapper new work digs

LFC: You’ve nabbed an exciting, new gig - PR Coordinator for the 900 North Michigan Shops (pictured above). What excites you most about your new role and what do you anticipate will be your greatest challenge?

RB: I’m excited that I get to connect with new people and the amazing retailers, as well as to rekindle many of the friendships I made when I interned here. Since I’m the first in-house publicist, I have the opportunity to design a position that plays to my strengths and passions. The biggest challenge for me right now is getting settled in.

 Beshel's Babes: Agency Galatea models in Miriam Cecilia

LFC: You worked for one of the city’s top modeling management companies, Agency Galatea, as its Director of Runway. How did the experience shape you professionally and how close are we (Chicago) to becoming a fashion capital like London, Milan, New York, and Paris?

RB: Great questions. First, much like my current role at the 900 North Michigan Shops, my position at the agency was new to the company. After I obtained my agent’s license, I developed the Runway Division from scratch. The experience taught me to take chances and to reach out to the industry for support and business.

RB (cont.): As for Chicago becoming a fashion capital, we are much farther along than when I first moved here. Social media has really helped to spread the word about Chicago fashion around the world. Things take time but we have a plethora of creative minds helping to position Chicago as a top contender in the global fashion market.

LFC: You are well known for your bowties, tortoiseshell specs, and pompadour coif. What else can you tell us about your favorite style essentials that we haven’t seen yet?

 Chucks. Check! 

RB: I’m a huge fan of plaid. I have a crush on everything from J.Cheikh and I usually live in Chuck Taylors. Chucks are my go-to shoes, I can wear them with jeans or a suit. I could also wear suspenders everyday. If it’s nerdy, I’m into it.

LFC: You’ve just nabbed a seriously-coveted PR job. Tell us what’s next on your To Do list.

Cool Camping

  

RB: I have never been to New York City, which always surprises people. The next trip I take will be there. I also haven’t gone camping in years and I can’t wait to get back up to Tuck-A-Way (my childhood “Disneyland”) with some tents, a few friends, and some cheap beer.

LFC: As a publicist, you know that hashtags are a great tool to create buzz and build brand identity for your clients online. Some of Twitter’s top hashtags in 2011 were: "threewordstoliveby", “improudtosay”, and “tigersblood”. Create a hashtag that sums you up. 

RB: #whatyougiveyouget

Work uniform: Skinny slacks with a woven shirt, cardigan or vest, blazer, bowtie, and pocket square.

Play clothes: Dark denim jeans with a plaid or flannel shirt, tweed blazer, and a pair of Chuck Taylors.

 Ryan with J.Cheikh's Cheikh Lam (left) and Borris Powell (center)

Favorite designer(s): Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen. I like local designers J.Cheikh; Nonnie Threads; Artfully Disheveled; Buckshot Sonny’s Sporting Goods (not a designer but they feature excellent collaborations); and Plank wooden bowties. AMAZING.

Spring/Summer 2012 must-have(s): There’s been a lot of cobalt blue on the runway and I’m obsessed with it. Checks have also made a strong return. Whether you prefer a more dramatic or minimalist look, checks are easy to incorporate into your wardrobe and always make a unique statement.

Signature scent: Gucci. Not the new one, the one that smells like campfire.

Describe yourself in three words: Reliable. Kind. Social.

 Graduation Daze 

Greatest achievement: Graduating college.

Greatest regret: Not sticking up for myself in high school.

Current state of mind: Excitedly stressed.

 Ryan and the Beshel Clan 

Happiest moment: When I came out and had the support of my entire family (pictured above). They’ve always stood by me, the way a family should.

Top New Year’s resolution: I like to let the Universe direct me to where I should be. This year, I’m going to continue to work hard and make my friends and family proud of me.

Three items in your Bucket List: Write a book. Buy my mom a log cabin. Have my own TV show.

iPhone or Blackberry: iPhone – all the way.

Song playing on your iPod: Video Games by Lana Del Rey.

 Beshel's blog - The Bowtie Memoirs 

Favorite blog(s): Trés Awesome, Refinery29, and Suri’s Burn Book. It’s hilarious and so well-written.

Most treasured possession: My step-mom’s father’s leisure suit coat and my red velvet J.Cheikh suit.

Quality you like most in men: Humor

Quality you like most in women: Sass

Favorite curse word: Fuck

What you love to do when you’re not working: Watching TV and eating pizza in bed.

If you could change one thing about yourself, it would be: To doubt myself less.

 Comeback Kid: Tom Ford

If you died and were reincarnated, who or what would you come back as: Tom Ford

Worst advice you were ever given: My big brother, Eric, once said, “I swear there are no bee-bees in this gun. Just let me shoot it at you. It’ll be fine!” Does that count as advice? Either way, it didn’t turn out well.

Luxe File Chicago has dedicated its site to the “love of living luxuriously”. Finish this sentence, “When it comes to living luxuriously, always…”: Be humble.

Photo of Ryan Beshel courtesy of Danielle Sanders

Posted by Kerry Shorr