H&M CHICAGO

It is not that I want the Fall to come... but in the August edition of ELLE I found this irresistible outfit ...

And I thought... well I have the only single thing she's missing.... 

This hat is from H&M (men) from four winters ago. I'm still loving it and  I still don't skip the men's section whenever I drop into an H&M. 

Right now in their stores you can find a beautiful jacket like the one the model is wearing for $30. It cannot be any more chic for so cheap!

Tonight walking Michigan Avenue, the advertisement below stood out. It is in the window of Salvatore Ferragamo store. This look is built combining the same kind of patterns and with the gorgeous bag.  Here we have the safe bet for the

                                                                 new season. Will I find an inexpensive version?

No es que yo quiera que llegue el otoño… pero en el n’umero de agosto de Elle encontr’e este irresistible estilismo y pens’e, bueno, yo tengo lo ‘unico que a ella le falta. El sombrero es de H&M (men), de hace cuatro inviernos. Todav’ia me encanta y a’un sigo visitando la secci’on de chicos cada vez que voy a un H&M. Esta temporada podeis encontrar en sus tiendas una chaqueta preciosa, del estilo de la que lleva la modelo por $30. No puede ser m’as chic por menos dinero! Esta noche, paseando por Michigan Avenue, el anuncio de debajo me ha llamado la atenci’on. Est’a en el escaparate de Salvatore Ferragamo. El look de la imagen combina los mismos estampados y el bolso es precioso. As’i que es una apuesta segura para la nueva temporada. Encontrar’e una versi’on econ’omica?

MY NEW ARTWORKS

A TRIBUTE TO JESUS DEL POZO

                                                                                                                                                 This post is a tribute to Jesus del Pozo, Spanish fashion designer who died yesterday at age 65. Spain's Fashion Creators Association president and fashion designer Modesto Lomba, said although Del Pozo had looked weak in recent months he had worked with commitment and energy to the end. "We have to recognize he was one of the instigators of Spain's current fashion era", said Lomba, "He made possible the reality the rest of us live in today."  Jesus del Pozo's collections were based on the sensuality and romanticism of women. A touch of sophistication was always added to his creations by the details: trims, sculptural elements, handmade finishes, and metalized embroidery, illuminating the Jesus del Pozo woman. His work is a tribute to the feminine spirit which is the main part of his legacy.

ORIENTAL THEATER CHICAGO

                                                           

Last night I went to the play the West Side Story at the Oriental Theater.  I loved the atmosphere of this  old fashioned and stunning location! I brought my camera, but I was so amazed with the space that I only shot the architecture. The play was fantastic and being able to enjoy it with white wine and popcorn was a welcome touch. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than is common in Europe during similar events, so my fears about not being dressed up enough vanished in five minutes. The theater was crowded with an enthusiastic audience that clapped at the end of every single song. This killed the climax somehow, but it was fun and I was caught up in the enjoyable ambiance quickly. It was a great night. I was wearing black jumpsuit from Blanco (20 Euros), blazer from DKNY (bought in Selections for $15), shoes from Zara ($30 on sales) and the snake leather clutch I bougth in Second Time Around ($30). The wooden bracelet is from Sfera in Spain (around 2 Euros).

Anoche estuve en el teatro Oriental viendo West Side Story. Me encant’o la atmosfera de este edificio antiguo y deslumbrante. Me  llev’e la c’amara, pero impresionada como estaba con el espacio, no hice fotos m’as que de la arquitectura. La representaci’on fue fant’astica y  se pod’ia entrar a la sala con los aperitivos del bar, as’i que agradec’i el vino blanco con palomotas mientras la ve’ia. La atm’osfera era mucho m’as relajada de lo que es habitual en Europa en los teatros, as’ que la preocupaci’on por no haberme arreglado bastante se me pas’o a los cinco minutos. El teatro estaba llen’isimo con un p’ublico entusiasta que aplaud’ia al final de cada n’umero. La verdad es que al principio me pareci’o que estropeaban el climax de la funci’on, pero al poco tiempo estaba tan animada que me contagi’e del ambiente. Fue una noche genial. Llevaba un mono de Blanco (20 E), la Americana es de DKNY (comprada en Selections por 15 $), los zapatos son de las rebajas de Zara (20 E) y el clutch de segunda mano en Second Time Around (30 $). La pulsera de madera lacada es de Sfera (2 E).

AREN'T THE ART MUSEUMS SO INSPIRING?

            Intimate Ballet, 2010 Martin Soto Climent (Mexican b. 1977)
Each Tuesday of the summer, the MCA Chicago is the place to be. Start off your Tuesday with the City of Chicago Farmer’s Market on the plaza. From 11 am to 2 pm, the all-ages drop-in Summer Studios invite you to draw inspiration from artwork in their exhibitions. Join people from all corners in the world in this remarkable building . The exhibition Pandora’s Box features artwork by American artist Joseph Cornell alongside works by other contemporary artists. By displaying these artworks together the exhibit invites you to find visual, material, and thematic connections among them.

I recommend relaxing on the audio/video installation “Sip My Ocean” from Pipilotti Rist. In the evening, the live Jazz concert series Tuesdays on the Terrace brings some of the most fashionable people together from all over the city. There I met Catalina and Daniel from Texas, both wearing H&M Total Look. You guys cannot be any cuter! 
Thanks to both of you.

It is tuesday and the MCA in Chicago is for free. I'm going there for the third time this summer! The Mark Bradford exhibit is amazing, and there's a street market on the front sidewalk with delicious food and gorgeous flowers. I'm wearing denim Babydoll found in Second Time Around ($5), Pequena Turulata earrings (20 Euros) and a Gingko leaf pin ($28) from Robie House Museum Shop (Frank Lloyd Wright's Home + Studio at Oak Park)

Let's see what I learn today!

PLATO'S CLOSET

Yesterday I went to Plato's Closet. It is a retail store with a huge selection of fashionable used clothing and accessories in current style for very cheap. Plato's Closet offers cool stuff from all seasons and a huge variety of brands at great prices. It has been great to discover a location where a good bargain hunter can spot a chic and very affordable outfit. They buy and sell clothes, shoes, sunglasses, purses, watches, and more, so you are guaranteed to walk out with something that you love. A plus: take the chance to clean out your closet, being eco-friendly, and get paid for it!

TOP forever 21 $10, SKIRT Heritage $8, blue stone NECKLACE $4, PEEP TOES Carlotte Russe $5.

SWEATER Hollister $17, PURSE Bueno $6, BALLERINAS All Black $6.

MY FIRST TIME IN FOREVER 21

I have never heard of this brand!

I arrived to Chicago from Spain just three weeks ago. The first week I was too

jet-lagged and barely saw around much but the stunning city with its huge

sky-scrapers and busy downtown.

The second week I started studying at SAIC.  Even though I was under the stress of starting my classes, I started noticing the people here have a look that is very different than mine.  I felt a little out of place.  On the third week, I created this blog to give something back to the city that is giving me so much. And, at the end of the week Chicago gave me Forever 21!

I’m very used to Zara in Spain and I can tell Forever 21 is its American counterpart. However, Zara stores here are not quite the same bargain as they are in Spain.

I found some interesting pieces in Forever 21 that I will share very soon. For now here is Elisabeth Rodriguez, a gorgeous and helpful employee dressed on this brand clothes. She is a very good example of a talent for making the simple look chic.

Thanks Elisabeth, for your time and for your charming smile.

DINNER

Dinning out is always a chance to try your latest outfits. I chose this for dinner: H&M skirt ($29.90) and a Zara classic T-shirt you can find anywhere (If you don't have one in your closet you'd better hurry up!).  You do know the peep-toes, and the black leather bag is vintage (Bought for 3 Euros in Rastrell Valencia, Spain). The bracelets are from H&M last season, but there is something similar n Forever XXI. I had dinner at Fox & Obel. Don't miss the Pear salad! It was delicious.

LOU KRAMER

How to be so CHIC for CHEAP? Dig through your mother's closet! Lou is my first queen of style. Simple and gorgeous in her outfit, she’s wearing a well-balanced look. Blouse + shorts + flat sandals + bandolier bag are always a winning combination, a contemporary classic. If we pay attention to the details we'll find the clues for this style. Lou is wearing a vintage blouse from her mother's wardrobe (good job) with a beautiful floral pattern, black short Levi's (everyone's basic jeans), ankle sandals (she found them for very cheap at Gabriel Brothers), and a gorgeous leather bandolier from Target. The horn-rimmed glasses are cute and give her grace and personality. Thank you Lou for being so cool, and tell your mom we love her!

LOVE IT!

I'm going out with my camera hunting for your own stylish outfits!  I'm wearing H&M Tank Top ($7.95) and Capri pants from Anthropologie (108 N. State Street Chicago) on sale now for $29.95, in the narrow room upstairs. I really loved the feel of the pants (55% silk 45% cotton). They cannot be any more comfortable! I decided to buy big ones to turn them into "baggies".  The brown leather bag is vintage and the shoes give a hint of cuteness to the look, making it more feminine. You can find something similar at www.prettyballerinas.com
A clue: try different sizes in the fitting room, you may discover a plus of style in not wearing just the "right" one.

I hope you like the look and to be inspired by you out there!

To be my first post I wanted something significant enough of the spirit of the blog, and this is one of my favourite finds in Chicago. I bought this snake leather handbag in Second Time Around, 108 West Armitage Avenue, for $50, what is just awesome. I hope you'll enjoy there finding your own hidden treasures.

www.secondtimearound.net