I just posted a review of Stan Herman’s memoir UNCROSS YIUR KEGS A Life in Fashion on Amazon and Good Reads…I am sharing it here….
“READ ALL ABOUT IT!
What is “it” you might ask…fashion, absolutely…lifestyle, indeed…relationships, nothing but the truth….longevity, you tell me, he is 95 after all!
A man for all seasons and all decades, Stan Herman, has written a memoir that will engage and inform you on so many levels you will read and re-read it to capture all the nuances between its covers.
His tenure as longest serving President of CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), along with Executive Director, Fern Mallis, helped shape the American fashion industry as we know it today.
Here is a man who is so much more that a “sum of his parts”. His interests are so varied, from design, both clothing and interiors, his wonderful sketches (many in the book along with fantastic photos), to his deep love of opera, music, theater, literature….the list goes on.
A couple of personal notes…I first met Stan when he was designing women’s ready to wear under the brand, Mr. Mort…we were both quite young….I was at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago, and he visited with trunk shows of his very wearable/salable collections. The Saks buyers always had an eye out for new young talent and Stan filled that bill to perfection. Fast forward to December 2023 when I had the great pleasure of being in conversation with him to talk about his memoir for my monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club. A truly joyful, insightful chat.
I could make this a very long review…instead I suggest you get the book, you won’t be disappointed, it is a treasure and a treasure trove of this unique creator.
Everyone loves Stan, you will too!”
In addition I thought you would enjoy this YouTube link of a wonderful dialogue between best friends Jeffrey Banks and Stan. You know Jeffrey from reviews I’ve done of his books staring with the incredible monograph NORELL Master of American Fashion and a huge supporter of my monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book and The Fashion Film Clubs…
Since I no longer entertain in my home, and I really miss it, I thought I would share a couple of ideas for your Holiday gatherings…my BFF’s, The Toms, recently hosted a part of a Holiday house walk at their Bertrand Goldberg designed Mid-Century Modern home and presented their guests with these incredible charcuterie boards…amazing. You might like to include them in your festivities I’m sending them to you just in time for you to recreate them. They look too good to dig into but then…….
Christian and Nena at a Columbia College Chicago event
By now you know I have been fortunate to work with many, many fashion designers and other fashion personalities over the years….my last in store designer, actually on the very day of my retirement from Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago, was the Uber talented creator, Christian Siriano!
I knew from the first time I saw him on Project Runway he would become a superstar and he has gone beyond my expectations!!! Not only is he super talented but also s delightful gentleman!
And guess what you have the opportunity to meet Christian at a very special Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum event in honor of the Presidents’ Council Award on Thursday, October 12th at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
One of the many things I adore about him is that he wants to dress all women beautifully no matter their size…what a concept..don’t you agree!!
From his SCAD exhibition
His mask factory at the beginning of COVID…a hero!Spring 2024 Collectio
His art
His Home Collection.New York storeWestport ConnecticutStore
I’m beyond thrilled for all his success and look forward to his next ventures…..here is how you can learn more about him and join the event…do it!!!!!
PRESIDENTS’ CIRCLE AWARD LUNCHEON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago 120 E Delaware Pl
LUNCHEON TIMELINE 11:00 a.m. | Champagne reception with Christian Siriano 12:00 p.m. | Luncheon 12:45 p.m. | Interview with Christian Siriano
Seated Luncheon and Raffle • Luncheon Attire • Valet Parking Available
EVENT CHAIRS | Pamella Capitanini & David Mordini LUNCHEON HOSTESSES | Tina Gravel, Rose Kallas & Dusty Stemer
Join the Costume Council as we present the third Presidents’ Circle Award to noted designer Christian Siriano. The afternoon will feature a luncheon and an interview with Mr. Siriano.
PRESIDENTS’ CIRCLE AWARD LUNCHEON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago 120 E Delaware PlGet Tickets to Luncheon
LUNCHEON TIMELINE 11:00 a.m. | Champagne reception with Christian Siriano 12:00 p.m. | Luncheon 12:45 p.m. | Interview with Christian Siriano
Seated Luncheon and Raffle • Luncheon Attire • Valet Parking Available
EVENT CHAIRS | Pamella Capitanini & David Mordini LUNCHEON HOSTESSES | Tina Gravel, Rose Kallas & Dusty Stemer
TABLE SPONSOR LEVELS
PEONY SPONSOR $5,000 | Front row center table seating for 10 guests* DAFFODIL SPONSOR $4,500 | Second row center table seating for 10 guests* TULIP SPONSOR $3,500 | Table seating for 10 guests*
HOST TICKET | $500 Premium seating*
NEWLY LOWERED PRICE INDIVIDUAL TICKET | $275 Thanks to generous underwriting, we are fortunate to be able to offer our last bloc of tickets at the reduced price of $275.
*Includes acknowledgement in program
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
ORCHID SPONSOR $5,000 | Includes two front row tickets, two signed copies of Dresses to Dream About, and designer package including Fumee Claire gift and exclusive makeup samples* ROSE SPONSOR $1,500 | Includes two front row tickets and two signed copies of Dresses to Dream About* LILY SPONSOR $1,000 | Includes two front row tickets and one signed copy of Dresses to Dream About*
*Includes premiere logo/listing in event program and registration site
ABOUT CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
Award-winning CFDA designer Christian Siriano has established himself as a tour de force in the fashion world since launching his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Siriano’s designs have been worn by today’s biggest stars including current FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Julianne Moore, Lady Gaga, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter, Cardi B, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Coolidge, to name but a few.
With nearly two decades of fashion experience under his belt, the Siriano design studio continues to celebrate beauty and diversity in this ever-changing fashion industry. As a result, Christian’s work has been featured in a multitude of prestigious museum exhibits including his first ever solo work retrospective titled “Christian Siriano: People Are People” at SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) from October 2021-2022, Kensington Palace’s largest exhibition to date (currently on view) titled “Crown to Couture,” and The MET Costume Institute where he broke a Met Gala record for having three separate looks featured in the 2021 exhibit “In America: A Lexicon.” Christian himself was also named among Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018 for his leading contributions to body diversity on the runway and red carpet, was a member of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 class of 2015, and was the youngest person to ever appear on Crain’s “40 Under 40” list at age 24.
Apart from his thriving fashion empire, Christian added interior designer (Siriano Interiors) and best-selling author (Dresses to Dream About and Dresses to Dream About: Deluxe Edition) to his impressive list of credits in 2021 and 2017, respectively. He’s also currently serving as host and mentor for Season 20 of the iconic Bravo hit series, Project Runway. This Fall will mark the brand’s 15 year anniversary.
“The Presidents’ Circle Award is given to designers who are not only making an indelible mark on today’s fashion world, but who are also promoting inclusivity and kindness toward others. It is our honor to celebrate Mr. Siriano’s history-making record of talent, inclusion, and creativity.”
— KAREN PETERS | First Vice President, Programs
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
DONORS ORCHID SPONSORS ($5,000) Richard and Diane Weinberg
ROSE SPONSORS ($1,500) Barb and Keith Kizziah
LILY SPONSORS ($1,000) Bon and Holly French
TABLE SPONSORS PEONY SPONSORS ($5,000) Pamella and Alfredo Capitanini
TULIP SPONSORS ($3,500) Tina Gravel Neiman Marcus
HOST COMMITTEE Constance Barkley Michelle Bibergal Kathleen Boege Sophia Bross Sujata Dayal Stuart Dyer Courtney Hopkins Rosemary Kallas Bonnie Lipe Nina Mariano Stacie McClane Karen Peters David Sanchez Leslie Zentner
Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique Ensemble, 1970s , LOT 240 Sybil Connolly Black Dress, 1970s, Property from the Collection of Kay Krehbiel , LOT 113 Carolina Herrera Jacket Worn by Nena Ivon, c. 2007, LOT 91
I am having a fascinating adventure, I have a garment in the upcoming Hindman Fall Fashion auction on October 3rd! It’s my first auction…I’ve sold garments in the past with local resale stores and most of my special pieces are either in the Costume Collection of the Chicago History Museum or in the Fashion Study Collection at Columbia College Chicago. I asked Tanner Branson, the newly appointed Specialist, Head of Sale, Luxury Handbags & Couture and this is his first auction… (more on him later in this post) to look at the piece I thought would be a good fit to see if there was any interest in putting it in the sale. I got an immediate yes!
From that moment on learned the procedures of an auction….terms of the sale, contracts to be read and signed, confirmations sent via email. I also reviewed the description of the garment along with my brief bio…all that was left was to see the online catalog which went “live” this week….now on to the bidding…fingers crossed!
Here is the Carolina Herrera garment I wore for Mrs. Herrera’s appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago in 2007. It is quite the stunner and I only wore it that one time. Why in the world, you might ask, did I make the decision to send my fabulous piece to auction, quite simple, I no longer lead the lifestyle of going to charity luncheons, glamorous cocktail events, opening nights…well you get the picture! Having it hang in my closet when someone else can enjoy it…why not. I’ll have to do a good rummage to see what else might be of interest!
Here I am with Mrs. Herrera when she was being honored by the Fashion Group International, Chicago, many years ago. Love her, I always found working with her to be a dream. Photo from my collection.
Here is the link and a description of the auction…
“Hindman’s Fall Fashion auction on October 3rd features over 250 lots of high fashion and luxury handbags from leading houses including Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton amongst others. Headlining the auction are three exceptional Hermès handbags, a Birkin 30 in ostrich, a Birkin 35 in Clemence calfskin, and a Kelly 28. The auction has a powerful collection of Hermès including a Snakes & Ladders game from 2013. Also featuring property from the personal wardrobe of Kay Krehbiel, the collection contains accessories by Judith Leiber and Hermès and a rare gown designed by Irish fashion designer Sybil Connolly. In addition, the auction also features examples of Haute Couture garments by Christian Dior, Chanel, and Givenchy dating from the 1950-1980s.”
A Birkin Bag in the auction Hermès Snakes and Ladders Game Pucci garments in the auction. . I had the privilege of working with Emilio Pucci on several occasions a unique creator and a true joy to work with!Of course a fabulous Chanel bag!Givenchy Ensemble, 1975, LOT 238 and yes, I worked with M. Givenchy!
Previews are by appointment only on September 28th and 29th and October 2nd. The sale is October 3rd….Contact: Tannerbranson@hindmanauctions.com
A nenasnote I’ve known the founder, Leslie Hindman, for decades and could not be happier for her successes over the years…the company has grown into a Internationally respected auction house….here are further details…
“Hindman is a leading fine art auction house connecting cities nationwide to the global art market. With offices and salerooms throughout the country, Hindman conducts over 140 auctions annually in all major fine art and luxury collecting categories, while offering buyers and sellers an exceptional experience across multiple selling channels and price points.
Hindman’s team of experts is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the industry. Driven by this client-first approach, Hindman provides collectors, fiduciaries, and institutions with a comprehensive suite of services including auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory.
Hindman was formed through the merger of two premier auction houses, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (est. 1982) and Cowan’s Auctions (est. 1995). For over 40 years Hindman has built a reputation as a market leader by providing outstanding service and achieving record results. Hindman is headquartered in Chicago with 15 additional locations serving clients coast to coast.”
Now a bit about Tanner….I first met him as a student (one of mine!) when he attended Columbia College Chicago and during his time working in their Fashion Study Collection. We have become friends over the years. The history and preservation of clothing is, in my opinion, part of his DNA! I look forward to seeing what wonderful treasures he will find to bring to all of through Hindman!
Tanner Branson Specialist , Head of Sale, Luxury Handbags & Couture
From Tanner’s promotion announcement….
“As the Head of Sale of the Luxury Handbag & Accessories Department at Hindman, he will oversee the department’s four-yearly auctions, liaise with clients nationwide in evaluating their couture, and assist with appraisals. He will support Hindman Chicago’s headquarters and their well-established regional offices around the country to further develop the firm’s commitment to luxury goods.
His journey in the luxury market has taken him to many places. he brings with him a decade of experience working with iconic brands such as The Row and Brunello Cuccinellifor Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. In curating his client’s personal and public wardrobes, he was given the opportunity to work with a rich collection of garments and expand his professional acumen. These experiences have honed his ability to understand the finer nuances of luxury and cater to the preferences of clients who appreciate the art of fashion.
Additionally, he am proud to be affiliated with various auxiliary boards, including the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum. His academic background, which includes a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Business from Columbia College Chicago (with a personal focus on fashion and textile history), fuels his passion for preserving the stories held within each garment and accessory.
In keeping with Hindman’s commitment to exceptional service, he is excited to connect with clients across the country.”
As usual this is not a sponsored post…I don’t have sponsors…if interested in sponsorships contact me.
All photos, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of Hindman.
Chicago’s Most Beloved Treasure Hunt Continues this Summer with the Return of 200 Dealers from Across North America, Live Music, Food Vendors & More
The Official Press Release….Like great vintage pieces, the Randolph Street Market never goes out of style. 20 years strong and oh-so stylish, America’s largest and liveliest Urban Antiques Market is returning to the West Loop this July to continue their sun-soaked 2023 season from Saturday, July 29 through Sunday, July 30. Bringing together 200 of the top independent vendors, makers, dealers and designers from across North America to Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood (1341 W. Randolph St.) with a full lineup of shows through the end of the year, the festival will offer an ultra-curated, high-quality selection of antiques, vintage and modern goods ranging from fashion to art, jewelry, décor, retro home furnishings, global goods and more. Treasure hunters and entertainment-seekers alike will be thrilled by the continuous lineup of live musical acts, unique food vendors, refreshing cocktails and more to savor throughout the weekend. Tickets are on sale now with early bird pricing and a variety of packages and specials at randolphstreetmarket.com.
One of the nation’s most iconic names in vintage shopping festivals, the Randolph Street Market Festival has welcomed nearly 1.5 million treasure hunters to their nearly 200 events throughout the years since inception in 2003. The event has become a major source of livelihood for nearly 40,000 independent dealers, makers and designers throughout the years, accounting for approximately 12 million one-of-a-kind finds showcased on event grounds. Founded by events industry visionary Sally Schwartz, these market events have become a meaningful, long-standing tradition for Chicagoans and the top names in vintage dealing alike.
Attendees of all ages will have the chance to shop bespoke pieces, scout the perfect addition to their art collection, discover handmade fair-trade treasures from around the globe, score mint-condition albums from icons of centuries past and more all weekend long. A sampling of the 200 featured vendors this season include:
● Spotted Horse Collectibles – Knoxville, TN – Eclectic curated 1900s-1960s collectibles including vintage musical instruments, vintage cameras, vintage sewing and linens, pottery, modern furniture and more!
● Assassin Vintage – St Louis, MO – True vintage fashion for men and women, from Victorian through the 80s, lots of conversation piece clothing and accessories!
● Krava Galleries – Atlanta, GA – Classic, modern and contemporary paintings, emerging graffiti artists to mid century modern!
● Conservatory Vintage & Vinyl; Urbansalvage; World’s End Bazaar; Atlantic Posters; and Black Box Record Club – For lovers of old school spinning and collectors of vintage rock and music history, bringing tons of vinyl & rock n’ roll posters, memorabilia, & more!
● N Green & Sons – Real deal gems and watches from Antiques Roadshow appraiser Jeff Cohen!
The festival will feature a variety of savory and sweet treats as well as unique refreshing cocktails to enjoy, including everything from Lobster Rolls provided by The Happy Lobster to delectable varieties of pickles courtesy of Fisch Food’s Gourmet Pickles and a pop-up by Original Rainbow Cone. Attendees will also have the chance to indulge in favorites from Dinky’s Delights, J Spice Caribbean, Taco Factory and more. As is Randolph Street Market Festival tradition, the Market Bar will be buzzing with Candi’s Bloody Mary’s for shoppers to enjoy all weekend long.
Candi making her signature Bloody Mary’s…the best in town!!
A haven for entertainment lovers, the Randolph Street Market Festival will feature a range of top musical acts, from Jazz, Rockabilly, and Blues, to 80’s Hits, Country Western and the sweet sounds of everyone’s favorite tune spinners, DJ Crate Digga HasH and DJ Mike House all weekend long. The full musical lineup is as follows:
Saturday, July 29
● All Day: DJ Crate Digga Hash (Building Lower Hall)
● All Day: DJ Dave House (Building Ballroom)
● All Day: DJ TigsB (Outside Mainstage)
● 10:00 am – 11:30 am: Woodstreet Bloodhounds Bluegrass & Country Swing (Outside Mainstage)
● 11:30 am – 1:30 pm:Feel Good 80’s & Cover Band (Outside Mainstage)
● 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Maxwell Street Blues Band (Outside Mainstage)
Sunday, July 30
● All Day: Poems While You Wait
● All Day: DJ Dave House (Building Ballroom)
● All Day: DJ Crate Digga Hash (Building Lower Hall)
● All Day: DJ TigsB (Outside)
● 10 am – 12 pm: Tony Morrison Jazz Quintet (Outside Mainstage)
● 12 pm – 2 pm: Joe Wortell & Natural Good Country Western Band (Outside Mainstage)
● 2 pm – 3:30 pm: Contrabanda Latin Jazz Band (Outside Mainstage)
● 3:30 pm – 5 pm: Al Simon & The Saturn Kings Rockabilly Band (Outside Mainstage)
A rain or shine event, the festival will take place both out and indoors, offering visitors a chance to beat the heat and continue the fun with a massive air-conditioned indoor portion featuring market vendors, Andi’s Sunflower Café for delectable signature drinks including their Bananas Foster Latte and more. For added convenience, festival-goers will have access to a huge on-site parking garage.
The Randolph Street Market Festival will be open Saturday, July 29 from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday, July 30 from 10 am – 5 pm. Tickets are on sale now at randolphstreetmarket.com with an early bird pricing of $12 ($15 at the gate), plus a range of exclusive packages perfect for groups and families featuring merch, food and beverage offerings as well as special entry rates for seniors, military personnel, students and first responders. Children under the age of 12 are free. The Market will also be offering an “Early Buy” ticket this year for $25, which allows entry an hour before open at 9 am, with all proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago. Parking for the festival is available with street parking around the festival or through a large onsite indoor parking garage on 1371 W Randolph St. with a $4 hourly rate. The festival will also be hosting a “West Loop Treasures” Giveaway this year for each market, including an exclusive package for two that features admission, Bloody Mary’s, Randolph Street Market Tote Bag, a stay at the Nobu Hotel, dinner at El Che, cocktails at Hide + Seek, sweet treats at BomboBar and gifts from Tribeca Boutique and The Fig. Winners will be announced on Instagram. For more information or 2023 season dates, please visit randolphstreetmarket.com.
About Randolph Street Market:
Now in its 20th year, the Randolph Street Market Festival is home to the world-renowned Chicago Antique Market, Indie Designer Market, RETROSPECT Chicago and the Holiday Market. Touted as a “mecca of cool,” “the best hotspot for antiquing” and “the Barneys of vintage” by magazines such as Travel & Leisure, The New York Times, Lucky, Architectural Digest, USA Today, Elle Décor, goop, plus numerous broadcast outlets, the Randolph Street Market Festival is Chicago’s most exciting shopping destination! Vendors from across the country showcase an unusual and stylishly-crafted mix of vintage and modern decorative objects, housewares, fashion for men/women/children, art, hostess gifts and more. Randolph Street Market is the spot to shop all year round while supporting Chicago charities such as Project Onward, PAWS, Chicago House, Chicago’s Children’s Charities, Chicago Lights Tutoring, I Grow Chicago and many others.
Media Contact: Heron Agency Gianna@heronagency.com
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM ONE OF MY MONTHLY POSTS FOR THE RSM BLOG…REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION…
Sally and Nena at one of Nena’s first Randolph Street Markets as Fashion Director, photo by the late great Steve Starr! I’m wearing a fabulous Bakelite pin from RSM one of many in my collection.
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary year of The Randolph Street Market I wanted to tell you how I became involved with RSM many years ago. I was so pleased that Sally Schwartz agreed to answer my nenasnotes blog questionnaire in 2017. The following is how I began that two part post.
“Sally and I have known each other for many years and when I retired from Saks Fifth Avenue in November 2009 one of the many articles about me that appeared in the local press asked about my favorite things in Chicago…one was the Randolph Street Market. I had attended all of Sally’s endeavors through the years and never missed the RSM. Sally saw the article and asked if we could get together. Over breakfast at Ina’s (don’t we all miss that fantastic unique restaurant and Ina’s huge warm personality, at least we can follow her on Facebook, not quite the same!!!!) we discussed everything we could think of and I casually said, “if there is any way I can be of assistance to you, let me know”! Sally didn’t miss a beat and said come work with me!
Vintage compacts
My first RSM wearing my glorious vintage kimono accessorized with a spectacular beaded necklace from one of the many jewelry vendors always featured at RSM.
I became the Fashion Director for RSM in January 2010 for several years and assisted vendors in their presentations, did fashion lectures, fashion shows and, of course, brought in clients and helped them shop.”
I am no longer formally with the Market but am called upon to attend special preview nights and, of course, attend (and shop, naturally) the monthly Markets, how could I miss them! I love posting finds on my Instagram and Facebook sites as well as showing some of my RSM treasures in nenasnotes. What is more important is that Sally and I have become very close friends, a friendship I treasure! And now I write two monthly posts for the RSM Newsletter…one on fashion, one on collectibles….love doing them! Check the archives to see all the posts. Got to love our Sally!!!!!
Forever Friends…Sally and Nena!Greeting you inside the vintage Plumber’s Hall where you will find three floors of treasures!
