Prom Dreams and Fashion Shows

This Thursday, famed Chicago-based designer, Barbara Bates, will host her foundation’s annual fashion show and fundraiser. Barbara Bates has dressed celebrities such as Oprah, Michael Jordan, WIll Smith, and Whitney Houston, and started the Barbara Bates Foundation in 1999. The foundation currently provides formal gowns and tuxedos to Chicago youth, and has long-term goals of providing scholarships, job-training programs, and youth empowerment workshops for young adults.

Thursday’s event will feature a reception, a silent auction, and fashion show of Bates’ designs and those of up-and-coming local designers. If you’ve never seen any of Ms. Bates’ designs, you don’t know what you’re missing! My BFF wore a Bates-designed outfit for our HS homecoming. She was fierce!

Tickets are $50, and you can get yours by calling 312-427-0284 or emailing batesdesign@sbcglobal.net.

-kb

Calling All DC Fashionistas

If you’re in DC this weekend, then be sure to stop by the Fashion Fusion Event happening on Saturday, June 28th at The Embassy of France (4101 Reservoir Road, NW). The website states that this event is for “the social and fashion conscious hipster who has a discerning palette and who appreciates unbridled fashion creativity.” Love it! The event is from 6-10p, and will feature a marketplace from local designers/boutiques, a spectacular fashion show, and a sample sale (Ooh!).

The proceeds of the event will benefit the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. Tickets are $50, and VIP tickets are also available for $65. In addition to guaranteed fashion show seating and a goodie bag, VIP tickets come with an extra hour of shopping before the event opens up to the general public! Those who attend this event will no doubt be supporting a charitable cause in style!

No tickets will be sold at the door, so click here to get yours in advance!

-kb

Cartier Love!

On June 19th, Cartier will roll out a new jewelry collection and music celebrity ambassadors at the 3rd annual Love Day Celebration.  The Love Day celebration at Chicagos’s Michigan Avenue boutique will include complimentary Champagne and guest DJs led by Chicago’s own DJ Mano from noon-6pm.  Here’s a pic of last year’s bracelets:

This year, the new bracelet features an 18K white gold miniature bracelet intertwined with an 18K pink gold miniature bracelet; both bracelets are graced with the word and accented with two signature screw motifs. They’ve also updated the colors of the knotted ropes, to correspond with a new group of charities. The  bracelet is available for $995 nationwide (whew!) with $200 per bracelet benefiting its corresponding charity.  On, June 19th, 10% of all sales from the entire collection will benefit the partnered organizations.  

The new celebrity ambassadors are listed below (along with the respective color of their organization/bracelet):

     Janet Jackson for The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance - Gunmetal Grey bracelet
     Fergie for The Peapod Foundation – Orange bracelet
     Good Charlotte for The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation - Deep Jade Green bracelet
     Eve for Women in Transition – Peach bracelet
     Common for The Common Ground Foundation – Khaki bracelet
     Hilary Duff for Blessings in a Backpack – Deep Plum Purple bracelet
     Emmy Rossum for Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Pink bracelet
     Ashanti for Boys & Girls Club of America – Royal Blue bracelet

Over the past two years, Cartier has donated more than $2.24 million to sixteen global charities from the sales of the bracelet, and due to the enormous success, this year Cartier will celebrate with a new bracelet.

If you’re interested in reading up on this initiative, visit www.love.cartier.com. And, while you’re there, grab some new music! A playlist featuring each new Love Charity ambassador’s favorite love song will be available for free download starting June 19.

I have a hard time dropping a cool grand on any one item (unless it’s a MacBook or an all-inclusive trip to the Bahamas), but, if you can afford it, definitely go for it!!!

-kb

Quick Hits

Need something cute to wear for a summer night out on the town? Check out this beautiful Catherine Malandrino dress.

 

The turquoise color is perfect against summer skin, and the net proceeds benefit the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Initiative. Click here to see other items for sale including some amazing Guiseppe Zanotti jeweled flats!

-kb

Dining For A Cause

Vegetarians need not read any further! AIDSCare Chicago is partnering with Texas de Brazil Churrascaria (translation: Brazilian steakhouse) in a benefit supporting Chicago’s HIV/AIDS community.

The event will be held on Thursday, June 19th from 5:30-8:30p. Texas de Brazil is located at 51 E. Ohio.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Guests will enjoy 2 drinks of beer, wine, or of the signature Texas de Brazil cocktail, the Caipirinha, and appetizers from their menu.

Tickets can be purchased here!

-kb

Pinkies Up!

Although I’ve only attended one formal tea event in my lifetime, there is something quite swanky about ladies in hats and white gloves sipping tea in a swanky hotel! Be Bright Pink, an amazing breast and ovarian cancer nonprofit, is putting their own (hot pink) spin on the traditional concept! The Outreach Committee will be hosting “For The Women We Love: A High Tea” on Sunday, June 29th at The Drake Hotel.

General tickets are $40, but you can also purchase VIP tickets for $65. VIP tickets include priority seating and a fabulous gift bag. The keynote speaker will be Jessica Queller, who among many things is the writer/producer for one of my favorite shows, “Gossip Girl.” The Outreach Committee has a put a lot of hard work into this event so I hope to see you all there! Click here to purchase tickets.

 

-kb

Bright Pink is a registered, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charity. 100% of every dollar you contribute helps us support our mission of enlightening and empowering young women to be proactive with their breast and ovarian health.