Nordstrom Loves Louis

Nordstrom is easily our favorite place to shop for jeans, and now you can go get a pair of Paige Denim, and check out Louis Vuitton’s Patchwork Denim bags all in one store (or at least attempt a waitlist).

Say hello to Louis Vuitton’s third Michigan Avenue boutique, a 2,000-square-foot expanse of leather goods, sunglasses, ties, and lots and lots of shoes, located right across from the designer shoe department on Nordstrom’s main floor.

This is Vuitton’s first department store collaboration since 1995 (with Bloomingdale’s New York), but the French house believes they will target a particular, thriving consumer group. “We recognize that clients are very loyal to their department stores," Daniel Lalonde, president and CEO of Louis Vuitton North America Inc., told the Chicago Tribune.

The partnership is unusual for Nordstrom, a retailer that normally does not lease space within stores. However, Nordstrom is expanding its luxury designer business, and no brand wields more label power than Vuitton.

"We want to try to send a signal that this represents the best of what customers can buy anywhere from anybody and who better than Vuitton to send that signal?” said president of merchandising Peter Nordstrom. “It's new for us, and it's special.”
-Grace Bahk

Nordstrom's Fall Fashion Preview 2008

Andrew Gn

Oscar de la Renta
Marni

Chicago style scions had a night of fall fashion tonight with a sneak peek of the hottest new looks from Nordstrom. Over 400 guests joined fashionable co-chair and president of Lannon Communications and filled the Chicago History Museum for a sold-out night of crisp autumn collections including Burberry Prorsum, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Missoni and Oscar de la Renta. The evening started out with a champagne-filled shopping session in Nordstrom's pop-up boutique created inside the venue where shoppers could skim the racks for warm weather confections of tweed dresses, wool/cashmere coats, mohair jackets and layered sweaters before heading to the tent for the fashion show. A 56-foot runway, enhanced with video and theatrical lighting set the stage for models decked out in Factio favorites - Andrew Gn's black/white tweed coat had a French and girly feel, Nina Ricci's chocolate leather bomber jacket had us channeling James Dean and Oscar de la Renta - oh Oscar, you never disappoint. We loved his grey cashmere knit beaded cardigan, paired with a satin bubble-hem skirt, among many others. "There were so many gorgeous fashions in the Nordstrom Designer Preview, it is hard to pick favorites. Some of the fashions from the show that I am eyeing for myself this fall include a quilted, metallic copper trench from Burberry, a simple black and white tweed dress from Oscar de le Renta with metallic detail and any item from the Peter Som collection - simply fabulous looks that can transition from business meeting to cocktail party, which I always need," said Carrie Lannon.

The event raised $70,000 for the Chicago Historical Society's Costume Council. Nordstrom is located at 55 East Grand Avenue in Chicago, shop online at NORDSTROM.com.

Guests took home a fashionable serving plate specially designed by artist R. Toledo (which we look forward to adding to our collection of cups, plates and teapots from previous years).
-Melissa Maynard

Co-Chair Carrie Lannon was a scene stealer in Donna Karan

"I’m in love with Donna Karan this season. The over-size collared coats are really amazing and the chiffon dresses (the ones that plunged dangerously low!) were absolutely stunning. It was the perfect mix of high and low and the jewel toned color palette is so sophisticated and easy on the eyes," said D. Graham Kostic, Fashion Associate of Modern Luxury Magazines and Host of Glossed and Found.

Designer Maria Pinto always looks stunning

We love Kimberly Burt's See by Chloe dress just bursting with color, and her classic beige Kate Spade pumps, accented with a hot pink YSL clutch

"The show was fantastic! I really loved the collection Missoni showed, in particular the black reversible "Norma" coat and the charcaol knit "Beatrys" cardigan. I also loved Marc Jacobs' taupe off-should coat. And I just adored the Oscar de la Renta black silk faille gown with the gold leaf embroidery - spectacular!"
Kimberly Burt

White Haute: looking crisp in summer white

Check out the videos to see for yourself...

Nina Ricci


Missoni


Oscar de la Renta


Photos and video by Factio Media