You’re seeing yourself stepping out in high-fashion shoes that will put oomph into your stylish image this fall.
You dream of owning such labels as red-carpet favorite Jimmy Choo or maybe Kate Spade, Cole Haan, Donald Pliner, Michael Kors or Ugg.
Do you dream of Payless Shoes? Probably not.
Well, wake up and smell the coffee. The large retail chain has moved into the hip and cool ranks with an affordable collection of fashionable shoes on the Abaete label.
The shoes cost less than $50 and are designed by French-born Laura Poretzky, a former Ralph Lauren assistant who creates the upscale Abaete sportswear line in her SoHo studio.
The Abaete shoes include a shiny high-heel ankle boot, $35; a cool $20 red flat that has already appeared in magazines; and a smart cream and patent pump at $25.
–McClatchy/Tribune newspapers
Pucker up for awards
The Latin Grammys may be in New York, but Chicagoans can still get that award-winning look. No, we don’t mean dressing like Shakira. Instead, Clinique created a Colour Surge butter shine lipstick, Coqueta, for the Latin Grammy Awards.
The lipstick is $14 and available at most Clinique counters. In-store beauty events are planned through Nov. 4. For more information, see clinique.com.
Relax while you shop
If shopping is your cure-all for stress, stop by Retail Therapy Night. Twenty stores in Evanston’s Central Street shopping district will have extended hours, in-store events and discounts, and some will even entice shoppers with chocolate and massages.
The Central Street Merchants Association of Evanston event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
If you buy something at one of the participating stores, you’ll be eligible to win a gift basket worth more than $1,500.
For more information, call 847-864-5565.
You, too, can help
Bono is all over the fashion world these days, supporting worthy causes.
Edun, the fashion line spearheaded by the U2 singer–along with wife Ali Hewson and designer Rogan Gregory–has joined forces with Airforce Nutrisoda.
Made in Edun’s LIVE factory in the African country of Lesotho, the drink company’s black T-shirts, which have a silver plane within a silver circle, are $15 at nutrisoda.com through the end of the year.
Nutrisoda will donate 100 percent of T-shirt profits to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that helps economically disadvantaged women prepare for the working world.
Don’t expect the Irish singer to stop there. Bono and Bobby Shriver’s initiative, the (Product) Red, partnered with the Gap to sell everything from tanks to parkas, now at select Gap stores. (Product) Red partners with global brands to produce iconic red-themed products to benefit The Global Fund for those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Gap will donate 50 percent of Red sales to The Global Fund. For more information, see gap.com/red.
Sisterly support
Accra, Ghana, is one of Chicago’s sister cities, and a fashion show proves that siblings make perfect fashion friends.
The Accra, Ghana, Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program hosts the Tapestry Fashion Show and Student Design Competition at 6 p.m. Sunday at Claudia Cassidy Theatre, 78 E. Washington St.
Ten designers–Barbara Bates, Alice Berry, James De Colon, Haj Gueye, Jermikko, John Schwartz, Paul Sisti, Michelle Tan, Reginald Thomas and Bruce Woods–and four student designers will turn Ghanaian fabrics into modern designs.
Tickets are $75; call 312-742-8497.
More things to check out
Calling all North Shore residents. Jake, the hip Chicago store, is opening a Winnetka location in March. The men’s and women’s clothing store will be at 565 N. Lincoln Ave. For more information, visit shopjake.com.
Check out blackplanet.com and enter the Degree Women Little Black Dress Makeover contest. The winner will fly to New York and receive personal fashion advice from stylist June Ambrose, who will help the lucky winner find that perfect black dress. The winner also receives a two-night hotel stay and $500. The contest ends Oct. 31.
The Chicago fashion scene never slows down. Chicago Fashion Week runs through Saturday. Visit chicagofashionweek.com for more information on fashion shows.
