Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/89744
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS CONCORDIA/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES (DONNA KARAN) WOMEN'S REPORT Donna Karan's Fall/Winter 2012 Collection. FRAGRANT EXPRESSION Put the finishing touches on your fall look with BCBG's bold new scent. Inspired by the label's name ("bon chic, bon genre," meaning "good style, good attitude"), the French fashion house set out to create a fragrance that embodied the daring, confident, and sophisticated spirit of its wearer. With enchanting notes of black raspberry, violet, vanilla, and cashmere musk, BCBGMaxAzria Bon Chic flawlessly echoes the sweet and sensual in every woman, and the sculpted bottle featuring a BCBG butterfly cap will add a bit of enviable French flair Chicago's most stylish vanities. 113 E. Oak St., 312-475-0053; bcbg.com black and bold VALENTINO ACCESSORIES REINVIGORATE CHICAGO'S FAVORITE COLOR WITH VAMPY EMBELLISHMENTS. power play M Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; donnakaran.com MA 86 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM STREAMLINED SILHOUETTES FROM DONNA KARAN MAKE THE PERFECT STATEMENT FOR CHICAGO'S PROFESSIONAL WOMAN ON THE GO. enswear-inspired pieces dominated the runways this season, from Miuccia Prada's boldly patterned suits to Hermès's more literal iterations of trenches and trousers, but none seemed to embody the trend more than Donna Karan. The womenswear designer turned out double-breasted coatdresses, pinstripe wool bustier frocks, and fitted blazers with plunging necklines, using traditional androgy- nous elements in unexpected ways. The collection's clean, angular lines immediately brought Chicago's skyline to mind, mimicking the city's sleek architectural aesthetic through thoughtfully repositioned hem- lines, thigh-high slits, and structured tailoring. Achieving both a feminine and authoritative spirit, Karan flawlessly caters to the stylish career wom- an's needs, adorning professional separates with powerful details. Upon closer inspection, a pinstripe jumpsuit turns out to be a bodysuit cleverly tucked into a pair of slim pants for a more flattering fit, and an evening gown's oversize collar is in fact a silk cummerbund. A crimson dress with an enlarged lapel and front slit melds womanly sophistication with boy- ish charm best, and its long sleeves and wool fabric make it all the more suitable for Chicago's chilly November temps. Neiman Marcus, 737 N. COLOR TAKES A BACKSEAT to texture in Valentino's Noir collection, which relies on multiple metallic studs to amp up all-black accessories. Of-the-moment minaudières, handbags, shoes, cuffs, and gloves come in sumptuous versions of calf and patent leathers (plus more exotic skins for the wild at heart), either partially or completely ornamented in the Italian house's unmistakable ruthenium studs. For a special evening out, the pointed-toe slingbacks will elevate any little black dress to new heights, while Noir's stunning oversize tote is large enough to carry all of your essentials for a day of downtown shopping. Saks Fifth Avenue, 700 N. Michigan Ave., 312-799-5211; valentino.com Minaudière clutch ($3,795). Bon Chic Fragrance ($75).