A Flavor of Fashion

A Flavor of Fashion
Monday, October 17, 2005; 7:00 pm
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street
312.744.9350 (reservations required)

A collaboration between Chicago's fashion designers and chefs result in a multimedia feast for the senses. This event will feature a runway show, food, and a special performance. Chefs include ones from Vermilion, one sixtyblue, TRU, and National 27. Best yet, the event is free. Who can beat that?!

Fashion Trends at Colleges

For proof of my voracious CNN addiction, you just have to look at what I just dug up.

CNN is running a blog this year of 14 college student correspondents and what the fashion trends are on their campuses. It's pretty neat. Lots of shopping ideas. You can check it out here.

Five must-haves this fall:
1) Sparkly ballet flats
2) Knee-high boots
3) Boxy jackets
4) Light trench coat
5) Anything velvet

Five to skip:
1) Gaucho pants
2) Fur
3) Wearing belts over your shirt.
4) Tucking your jeans into your boots!
5) The ugly fake silvery shiny shoulder bags that everyone carries around nowadays.

all you need is LOVE: Love Parade, San Francisco Style 2005

Several years ago, when I was in Berlin taking my classes in architecture and political science, I re-discovered the hidden gems of H&M, Benetton - European-style, KaDeWe, Sanssouci, French Galeries Lafayette, Nikolaiviertel, and Hackescher Markt. Not to mention, gyros as only the Turks can make them, gelato, bratwurst, Europa Center, Potsdamer Platz, the top of the Brandenburg Gate, the British Embassy, and of course, the stupendous bread. Hm. I just listed a lot of stores and food.

Nevertheless, that trip to Europe holds a lot of fond memories, such as bears, the Tour de France, six-course meals in Prague, the easyInternetcafes, R-rated museums not found in the U.S., but above all, the Love Parade. What other city in the world allows its main boulevard to be shut down for a week to let hoards of people dressed in questionable fur leg warmers, jewel-studded bikinis, teased-up hairdos, and not much else, ride on floats thudding with the latest in techno and house music?? Which other parade has its participants stripping, dancing, and climbing streetlights? Only the Berlin Love Parade, where for the afternoon, only love, music, condoms, and outrageous costumes matter.

It is one of my favorite memories of unique Berlin. But an email landed in my inbox yesterday promoting the Love Parade in San Francisco this year on September 24th. Love Parade? San Francisco? They already have their distinguished Gay Pride Parade! Let Tel-Aviv try to imitate the Love Parade...but really, for a city which has already so many notable attractions, cramming one more in just makes it seem...ordinary.

I still like San Francisco for their jam though. Yum.