Fashion shows | The Wanderluste

From haute couture to haute hors d’oeuvres, the lineup of holiday soirées started on a fashionable note for me this year! No there weren’t models in party-themed fashion shoots carrying piles of glossily wrapped presents (as if Christmas came early), but there was a pop up fashion show at Bloomingdale’s on Tuesday. Nothing short of glamorous was the swoon-worthy array of prêt-à-porter and bespoke clothing showcased at the event!

The fashion show + designer meet and greet was hosted by Mandarin Quarterly, a Chicago-based print and digital media company specializing in branding and outreach endeavors for clients towards the dynamic Chinese market. The attendees were an eclectic mix, ranging from Chinese students in Chicago to young professionals working the 9-5’s to the artsy, creative crowd in the Windy City.

Now onto the fashion show. As models swanned their way stylishly through the crowd, an eclectic mix of chic, polished and avant-garde pieces were presented in plain sight. A flurry of marabou feathers in platinum foiled jacquard from Kate Spade? Remarkable. Dapper tailored suits from J. Toor? Stunning. Black velvet top with pearl embellishment from Azeeza? Plenty of holiday cheer!

In my outfit I calibrated with fun and jovial vibe by wearing a heart embroidered dress from Stella McCartney from ShopBop (where new markdowns on designer items are 30-70% off at shopbop.com), a polished purple coat from Milly, and these zipped ankle boots from Zara.

The appetizers were just as delightful as what pleased the eye, replete with crowd-favorites like garlic and parmesan stuffed mushrooms, lightly seasoned steak wraps, and grilled bread with prosciutto. Paired with the savory white wine and yours truly was a happy camper!