Local Boutique Owner Collaborates with "What Not to Wear" Host

Local fashion boutique owner, Janice Moskoff, is collaborating with "What Not to Wear" host Stacy London on the "Find the Look, Keep the Look" program that is striving to educate consumers on the proper ways of cleaning your clothes to help them keep looking like new.

Sponsored by Woolite, the Find the Look, Keep the Look Program will be making its' debut in New York on March 10, 2009. Moskoff and London will be there to help kick off the launch of this Program. During this economic roller coaster we are going through, this program is aiming to help that fashionista stay up to date by not burning a hole in her pocket. One of the easiest and most cost efficient way in achieving this is to properly clean your clothes to keep them in mint condition. Too many people aren't taking the time to carefully read the care label on garments. "Find the Look, Keep the Look" is going to help consumers keep their styles looking fresh and in good condition in order to save a penny or two.

RUNWAY TO RETAIL: Tell us about "Find the Look, Keep the Look"!
JANICE MOSKOFF: It is an innovative program designed to help the savviest of shoppers stretch their fashion dollar further. It assists the fashion-conscious find the right styles with its comprehensive online look book which features 10 fashion boutique owners from around the country. And within the look book it provides invaluable fabric-care tips that help today's budget-pressed shoppers preserve and gently launder their most-beloved pieces from high-end designer denim to paper-thin cotton tissue-tees. Women spend a lot of time finding the look; Woolite helps them keep it. For more information about the program, visit: www.findthelookkeepthelook.com.

RTR: What was it like being chosen as the only Chicago boutique?
JM: It was an honor. I join an elite team of 10 boutique owners around the country that have been designated Woolite's Style Stars. It is an opportunity of a lifetime - especially as the Woolite and Beta Boutique message of stretching a shopper's fashion dollar further is so perfectly aligned. Beta Boutique shoppers love a good deal. They especially love high-fashion at an affordable price. And although many of my shoppers are already die-hard Woolite fans, by participating in this campaign I will be able to remind the rest of them that there is a high-quality alternative in caring for their most prized fashion finds.

RTR: What is the biggest tip you can give to women while dressing in a recession? JM: The three c's - 1) clean your closet, 2) chuck the items you don't wear and 3) carefully shop for well-priced investment pieces such as coats, dresses, cashmere sweaters that indulge the shopping bug while standing the test of time.
-Katie Davidson

Shop Girl: Meet Nicolette Prpa of SHE

Nicolette Prpa of SHE Boutique

Meet Nicolette Prpa, the owner behind the highly successful SHE Boutique. This busy owner runs two brick-and-mortar stores, one in Lincoln Park and the other in Highland Park, IL. She's just added e-commerce, so savvy fashionistas can shop from anywhere worldwide. We recently caught up with her to see what customers are buying now, what's in her closet and the future of SHE.

Runway To Retail: What are SHE customers buying right now?
Nicolette Prpa: There’s not one customer that comes into the store without picking up or glancing at a pair of Bloch London Flats while hearing our employees giddily rave about their comfort. Of course, the very moment the silky smooth lined sole meets their feet our customers are sold on these very special ballet shoes, which is why we try and get them in as many colors as we can to make sure our customers don’t go through a seasoned withdrawal from the most coveted shoes thus far. We’ve also seen Tart’s colorful sundresses flying off our racks as well as Mint’s Linen Wide Legged Pants both embody effortlessly chic style.

RTR: What are you buying for fall?
NP: My closet is about to be uplifted by my newly inspired ideas for fall attire brought on by lines like Jill Stuart with her new high-waisted skirts, oxford shirts by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, booties by YSL and of course the one of a kind Sword jackets that have the ability to transform all my outfits through their finely handcrafted Italian leather. The Sword jackets could be the one piece that is simply thrown over any ensemble and always uplifts my mood by their luscious leather feel and smell.

RTR: Who is the perfect quintessential “SHE” customer?
NP: Ideally, our SHE customers are the ones that know what they are looking for, but just need a little help putting together the right outfit for the right occasion and are willing to try anything once!

RTR: What are the designers you always stock and why?
NP: Bloch London ballet flats are one of our top priorities when stocking the SHE closet for the very reason that these will inevitably fly off the shelves at the same rapid rate we order them. Also, for every season we stock up on Young Fabulous & Broke’s collection of low-key looks that are both fashionable yet made for extreme comfort. And of course, Mint by Jodi Arnold is a brand we have had from the very day of opening our store and is still an iconic name for her concise construction of the shape for every woman and her fine detailing that always leaves us in a lull over each piece we get in throughout the year.

RTR: What designers surprised you this fall season?
NP: We have been truly awe inspired by the latest designs by one of our newest labels, Society for Rational Dress. They have given us a reason to start off fall with a fresh new vibe; their pursuit in rational dressing has certainly caught our attention this season. With their vibrant dresses in deep teals and rustic browns as well as their racer back tanks with an edge through their bronzed chain straps, they are valiantly becoming essential pieces and great layering tools we will be able to use in the midst of our fall wardrobes.

RTR: What are your biggest tips for dressing?
NP: Don’t over expose yourself, being sexy to me is more rather than less and you have to love what you are wearing. You have to feel good because confidence is in the way you dress and will always translate how you look depending on how you feel in what you wear. Also, don’t be afraid to accessorize, the best essentials for transforming a look from day to night is through the use of belts and vests. These are key pieces that are either overlooked or underestimated for the power they have over any outfit.

RTR: What’s in your closet?
NP: Young Fabulous & Broke sweats in every color, a whole lot of shoes (Black Lucite Heels by Barbara Bui), our Team SHE white tank for everyday of the week, a sexy Zac Posen black dress, and array of sundresses by the designer Falls.

RTR: What’s in your beauty bag?
NP: My own SHE Skin Dark Circle Eraser Cream, Dr. Bram’s daily UV protection bronzer, Lancome’s Vertuse mascara, Lorac on screen duo eyeliner, Smashbox o-block, Judy Malone’s Amber & Lavender scent, and Armani foundation #7.

RTR: Favorite Runway Accessory:
NP: Jill Stuart’s fall gladiator shoes.

RTR: How did you get started and what lies ahead in your future?
NP: I began SHE in May of 2007 in Lincoln Park and after a year I decided that I wanted to bring our diverse array of clothing to the suburb Highland Park outside of Chicago as well. Luckily, both have become very successful endeavors which has led me into recently launching a website paralleled to both stores carrying the same designers our customers love. Where I see this all taking me would be in many new directions. In September, I am launching my own skin care line called SHE SKIN and I hope to open our SHE store nationwide. I live by the mantra that the “Sky is the limit.” There are endless possibilities when hard work is put forth, so I see my future in that same light, limitless.

Check out ShopSheBoutique.com for store locations and to shop!

Black, White, or is it Gray...

On Friday August 22, 2008, Borris Powell ticket holders sipped their drinks and glanced down at their tickets to read, “A Story will be told…”. The phrase not only appeared on the tickets, but went on to encompass the entire atmosphere of the night. Powell excitingly introduced his 2008/2009 winter collection at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. The show titled “Black, White, or is it Gray?” unveiled an array of flowing gowns and beautiful, military-collared coats. All the designs were draped in hues of black, white, and gray except for the few done in a striking red. These red pieces popped, and apparently caught the audience’s attention because the bold color was all anybody could talk about after the show. Over cocktails, Powell graciously made himself available to all his fans and shared insight into his background and fashion inspirations.

In a quick interview and meeting with the designer, Borris Powell described himself as a self-taught designer from Alabama who had been in Chicago for about 11 years now. Powell was still bursting with joy from the success of his show and colorfully illustrated how all his designs are inspired by his mother. Powell explained that he used to love dressing his mother as a kid of about 10 years old and would study the silhouette and feel of everything she would wear. His mother’s inspiration continued into this very show, when he made clear that he only put bursts of red into a few special designs for his mother. When asked what type of woman or occasion he designs for, Powell responded, “I design for every woman, to feel her best and most beautiful.”

This is surely a great beginning for the dedicated designer.
www.borrispowell.com
-Jackie Medler

photos by Angelo Kritikos

Aritzia to Open in Chicago

Aritzia is making its debut on the Magnificent Mile. The Water Tower Place is one of the few U.S. locations that have been carefully selected to house this luxurious, Canadian born boutique. Aritzia will stock pieces from hard to find fashion labels and stylish top designers such as BCBG Generation, Cheap Monday, Citizens of Humanity, Community, Development, Ella Moss, Habitual, Nudie, Orion, Rock & Republic, Talula, Talula Babaton, TNA, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, and Vince Wilfred. A few select fashion labels have chosen to develop styles exclusive to Aritzia including Central Park West, Doma, Mackage and Naked & Famous. More excitingly, Aritizia’s Chicago location will be the first to carry Marc by Marc Jacobs and See by Chloe items under the Aritzia name.

Fashionista’s need not hesitate to shop here – Aritzia counteracts the “stuffy” boutique reputation because it's a boutique specially made for the customer with a most knowledgeable, friendly staff and comfortable, yet artsy atmosphere. Chicago’s Aritzia boutique is beaming with culture whether it be through the music playing in the store, the artwork on the walls, the artist talents’ featured, or the events the store bestows. Aritzia prides itself on over 20 years of successful experience and expanding its stores throughout Canada and the U.S.

The heart of Aritzia is fashion. The store is tailored for the fashion-forward woman and the hard-core style fanatic. The goal of Aritzia is to affix its customers to the energy of today’s culture through art, design, music, and fashion.

Keep on the look out for listings of events, activities, entertainment, and gifts to parallel the Aritzia Chicago’s grand opening. Too excited to wait? Hop online and check out
www.aritzia.com to preview the ultra hot fashions that will soon be in store.
-Jackie Medler

photos by George Pimental

Travel in Style with Factio's Newest Issue

Hey, all of you Factio Magazine readers! If you're in Chicago, make sure you pick up a copy of our summer issue! It's packed with style, travel, celeb scoops and the best fashion and art parties (Vogue, 86Collective, Jeff Koons) - everything you find in our websites basically, but in a large oversized, glossy format! Pick it up at high-end places like boutiques (all over Bucktown) or in the magazine boxes in The Loop and off of Michigan Avenue!

Here is a look at some of our favorite pages from this issue...
In Press Trip, we ask our friends in fashion media to tell us about their favorite vacations, and of course, what they packed! Our friends in this feature include, D. Graham Kostic and Amalie Drury from CS magazine, Stacey Roney of Glossed and Found, Kelly Ryan O'Brien and Susanna Homan from Michigan Avenue Magazine, Amy Tara Koch, a Chicago-based trend reporter, Beth Wilson of WWD and Elisabeth Fourmont from Chicago magazine and La Coquette. Not in Chicago, check out the online feature click here.
A special thanks to photographer Kristiina Wilson. We already received a shout out from Papierdoll mag, so thank you! Are you a fashion photographer and interested in working with us? E-mail marketing@factio-magazine.com, Photography in the subject!
Our travels took us to the ever-inspirational Las Alamandas resort in Mexico, at the helm of heiress Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño, who is also featured in the issue! Click here to watch our video on the gorgeous resort.
Find out what to wear, and where to wear it - London, the Greek Islands, Mexico City, Miami and Tokyo.

Beauty is global, we didn't have to tell you that, but we did find some amazing products from all over the world. Shea Terra Organics from Africa, Chidoriya from Japan, La Compagnie de Provence Marseille from France, Ortigia Sicilia from Italy and Summersent, from Evanston (Illinois)!
This page features refreshing designs: MCL Designs, Lana's Shooting Stars, Tanishq, Dana Rebecca Designs. Check it out online.
Factio Magazine produced its 2nd Annual After Art Party for the much-anticipated Artropolis/Art Chicago weekend, bringing on local celebrity hosts Ali Azhar and Kelly Edwards from "Design on a Dime." Sponsors included Artropolis/Art Chicago, The Peshtigo, Branmar Swiss Watches, Rubi Rey Rum, Summersent, IQMatics, Fig Media and Michelle Levelle Boutique.
You know we love our fashion parties, and in this issue there was a slew of them, including Nordstrom's Fall Fashion Preview, An Evening in Vogue, Lux5, Night of Stars, Michelle Levelle Launch Party, and the Gen Art Film Festival, where we re-cap the 5 looks of the Gen Art gals.

A special thanks to our sponsors and advertisers for spring and summer, for without them, we wouldn't be possible. Thank you so much for partnering with us to launch and feature your products. Take a moment to check them out!

Michelle Levelle Boutique
IQMatics
Summersent
The Illinois Institute of Art
W Hotels
James De Colon
En-Vent
Heike Jarick
Rubi Rey Rum
86Collective
Ideeli
The Peshtigo
Art Chicago/Artropolis
Branmar Swiss Watches
Dismero
Gamma Player

Interested in advertising or sponsoring one of our events? We have multi-media opportunities in print, web, e-mail marketing and events. Contact kerchh@factio-magazine.com.

Marc Jacobs at The Elysian

Breaking Retail News! Fashion is truly descending over our beloved city like never before. Get ready Chicago because in 2009 The Elysian hotel in downtown Chicago will welcome a Marc Jacobs Collection boutique! Stay tuned...