My Five: David Sanchez

Posted on July 14, 2014

Photographed by 10 MGMT’s own, Daniel Kelleghan.

David Sanchez is one of the few people in the industry that has, literally, done it all. He has traveled the world as an in demand male model, and after years of getting into the business side of the industry, launched his own talent agency, 10 MGMT in 2013. Though Sanchez has a large title, he is incredibly down to Earth. He also knows the best spots in town. This is why StreetStyleChi tapped him to be our next “My Five” feature. David’s Twitter and Instagram are also great for getting a glimpse into what you should be doing this Summer.

1) Room Service – They carry my favorite studded books by local designer Brian Stanziale. This curated home shop has the best decor in the city and these books make a fun addition to your coffee table.

2) Fig & Olive: The recent opening of this Italian hot spot means us Chicagoans get to enjoy decadent flavors. The mushroom truffle risotto is unbelievable.

3) Any time of the year, the Lincoln Park Conservatory is a relaxing solace and a colorful, green respite.

4) http://www.10mgmt.com/ Word on the street, this agency is the best. Representing the best and brightest in the modeling & entertainment industry, 10 MGMT is management with a heart.

5) Having lived in Asia a few times, I’m a huge fan of cultural influences from the East. This gallery, Andrew Bae Gallery, located in River north features the very best influences in art in all forms. Definitely worth a stroll into.

6) Dak Korean Chicken Wings: Ok I’m a huge fan of Korean food and this hidden gem in Edgewater is worth the trek to.

Category: Chicago, Inspiration, Uncategorized Tagged: 10MGMT, Andrew Bae Gallery, Chicago, David Sanchez, Fig & Olive, My Five, travel

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My Five: Ryan Beshel

Posted on May 20, 2014

Fashion aficionado and public relations master, Ryan Beshel, is sharing his top five Chicago picks today. Ryan made a name for himself early on in the fashion and media industry, and you might recognize him from his recurrent spots on Fox’s Good Day Chicago. Beshel undoubtedly has the best men’s style in the city, so, take notes.

Ryan M. Beshel (www.ryanbeshel.com) here! After many exciting roles working for Chicago companies such as Agency Galatea (www.agencygalatea.com), 900 North Michigan Shops (www.shop900.com) and Purely Fashion (https://purelyapp.com/), I have recently gone out on my own to tackle the world of freelance in the fashion and media industry. I now work with an array of companies, supporting social media, PR and sales efforts for tech startups such as Clicktivated (www.clicktivated.com), Selfie’d (http://www.sopub.com/selfied/) and I even recently took on my first restaurant client – a delicious spot, very close to my Ravenswood home, called Bread & Wine (http://breadandwinechicago.com/). (In fact – I used to represent one of the co-owners at Agency Galatea!) I am also a regular on FOX News Chicago’s “Good Day Chicago” (http://www.myfoxchicago.com/category/233256/good-day-chicago) and I have a few secret collaborations in the works. (More to come on those very soon!) But, enough about the day to day – let’s get down to business! Below you’ll find my “Top 5 Picks” that I think you’re also going to love:

Photo of Mr. Beshel: Emma Arnold of Trés Awesome

Keelan Rogue – http://www.keelanrogue.com/: This menswear accessory brand continues to evolve with new product offerings for the style-aware gent. His flasks and billfolds are wrapped in vintage fabrics (even vintage ties that breathe new life into your ordinary back-pocket bar.) Recently, he has begun making one-of-a-kind totes using beautiful leather that he treats with waxes and coloring. He has even used old basketballs to add function and interest to his handmade designs. Whether you buy for yourself – or for the super-cool dude in your life – you can never go wrong when you support local brands and businesses – and Keelan Rogue is Chicago, through and through.

Bread & Wine – www.breadandwinechicago.com: What kind of publicist would I be if I didn’t tell you about my delicious new client?! The restaurant (celebrating three years old in the coming months) is a bit off the beaten path – which makes a perfect destination to get you out of your old culinary habits to explore something new – and mouth-watering. Boasting “New American” cuisine, B&W’s Chef, Michael Dean Reynolds, has truly created some delicious and colorful dishes like crispy semolina gnocchi (which I want to eat every single day), a curied tofu dish (that makes me actually want to eat tofu!) and the always incredible salted caramel popcorn panna cotta for dessert (trust me on this one – it will make you fall off your chair.) With specials like “Tasting Menu Tuesday” (for only $30), “Half Off Wine Wednesdays” and a swoon-worthy Sunday brunch, I promise you will not be disappointed with your experience. Tell them I sent you!

Tie Society – http://www.tiesociety.com/: Have you ever bought a bowtie or necktie and only worn it once? Tie Society has created a way to let you get the most out of your neckwear by offering rental services for said neckwear options. You place an order, wear your goods for as long as you want and then return them and make more choices. And, if you find a tie you simply can’t let go from your closet, you can also purchase an array of options directly from the company. With designer offerings like Burberry, Armani, Hermès, Brooks Brothers and more – you really can’t go wrong. So, suit up – and check them out.

Suavecito – http://suavecitopomade.com/: I often get asked what product I use to style my (often too tall) hair – and I always answer with one word: “Suavecito”. This amazing product allows me to hold my hair in place – and re-style it, if the Chicago wind is being particularly unruly. I wish I could take the credit for discovering this perfect pomade, but I have to shout out to Mr. Floyd Davis (of Artpentry – http://www.artpentry.com/)/Co-Owner and Code of Conduct – http://thecodeofconduct.com/) who tipped me off to this amazing find. One more thing! If your hair still needs the perfect cut before you slick that ‘do, I highly suggest Belmont Barbershop (http://www.belmontbarbershop.com/). These guys don’t mess around – at all. They only set 20 minute appointments, charge $19 a cut and you’re in and out before you even start to tell them about your life’s problems.

Blunt Neck Clothing – http://bluntneck.com: As many people know about me, I am an obvious fan of the bowtie – but, I also have spent many hours under the skillful hand of my tattoo artist (and close personal friend), Mr. Josh Howard (https://www.facebook.com/JoshHowardTattoo). Accordingly, I like to show off my art (I have a very large eagle tattooed on my chest) and can often be seen sporting a bit too deep of a v-neck shirt. The solution to showing a bit too much? The Blunt Neck Tee. These Chicago gents have married the crew neck t-shirt with a v-neck to produce the world’s first “blunt neck” t-shirt. When it comes to style, it’s all about the details – and the guys behind the brand have really created something to talk about. (Not to mention, I just saw they are having a Father’s Day Sale – so, go crazy!)

Category: Chicago, Chicago Fashion, Chicago Street Style, Fashion, Food, Menswear, Uncategorized Tagged: Blunt Neck Clothing, Bread & Wine, Chicago, fashion, Keelan Rogue, My Five, Ryan Beshel, Suavecito, Tie Society

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My Five: Lily Duevel

Posted on April 30, 2014

Lily Duevel is a jack of all trades, brunching with girlfriends on the weekends, producing fashion shows (no big deal or anything…), and running her own boutique PR firm. Lily may describe herself as your everyday Chicagoan, but she is anything but. My question is…where does Duevel go to hangout, shop, eat, etc…when she isn’t busy running around the city? Streetstylechi is going to let you in on the secret with Lily’s top five picks.

Hey Readers!

I have to say, I am honored to be interviewed by StreetStyleChi for the second installation of My Five. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Lily Duevel and within the past year I’ve turned my dreams into a reality. I like to think that I’m just your average fashion loving, puppy obsessed, champagne drinking 28-year old living in the windy city however, my day-to-day is never the same.

Last year I founded a runway production + styling company called adoptedSTYLE. This quickly evolved into a blog so that I would be able to share my behind the scenes experiences, event recaps, and favorite things with my followers & friends. Most people identify with my love for fashion and think that my days are consumed by surrounding myself with designer goods. The reality, adoptedSTYLE is my passion, not my job. I spend Monday – Friday (and countless nights) working for a tech startup called UrbanBound. I absolutely adore the people that I work with and now I couldn’t imagine my day without them. I’ve also recently launched a boutique Public Relations, Marketing and Events firm called Ladder PR. I want to make it my goal to help local businesses/brands climb to the top by helping them network, sharing my contacts and supporting their eendeavors in any and every way possible.

With all of the juggling in my life, a lot of people joke that I don’t have time to sleep and/or don’t have a social life – quite the contrary. One of my favorite things to do is go out to brunch with girlfriends, grab a cocktail with coworkers, find new stores to play dress up in and play tourist as a way to remember and appreciate everything that this amazing city has to offer.

My Top Five Picks:

NoMI – NoMI in the Park Hyatt has been “My Happy Place” before I even moved to this city. I use to stop in for a cocktail & snack in between Michigan Avenue shopping excursions to relax and people watch. The décor, the cocktails and the service are truly exceptional.
The Art Institute – Even though it might be a tourist hot spot, the Art Institute is also a great reminder of how lucky we are to live in this city. Whether you want to stroll the exhibits, grab a coffee in the café and people watch or just visit the gift shop, taking just a few moments to visit one of the city’s greatest establishments is a perfect refresher on how lucky you are.
Green City Market – This is one of the best farmer’s markets I’ve ever attended. It’s great to meet new people, try new things and a great excuse to take a little unexpected trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
EMMA – EMMA is a new boutique in Wicker Park that has incredibly affordable pieces ranging from casual tees, jeans, dresses and trinkets – It is owned by two adorable sisters who have an incredible eye and hand pick all of the items that they carry. They just got amazing new Spring/Summer inventory in so make sure to check it out ASAP!
Jane’s – Now that I think about it, I haven’t been here in weeks! It is usually a weekend staple that my girlfriends and I visit for our weekly gossip fest, carb load session (they have the BEST bread & butter) and hanger helpers. They have two different sides of the restaurant: One is great if you’re just stopping in for a little casual nosh. The other is terrific for birthdays, bridal/baby showers, or Mother’s Day brunch.

Category: Chicago Fashion, Fashion, Inspiration, Uncategorized Tagged: adoptedSTYLE, Chicago, EMMA, fashion, Green City Market, Jane's, Lily Duevel, My Five, NoMi, The Art Institute of Chicago

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My Five: Whitney Middleton Gruber

Posted on April 14, 2014

Hi guys!

After a long, dreary winter, I thought it would be great to do some exploring. Personally, I love getting recommendations from my friends and fellow fashionistas, which is why I am starting this feature called My Five. My Five will show you what top tastemakers, fellow students, and Chicago locals love in this city. Where to shop, where to eat, what to explore.

For my first feature, I asked Whitney Gruber to give us her top five spots in Chicago. Social media and marketing maven, fashion goddess, and one of the coolest girls I know, Whitney has the job a girl could only dream of, essentially helping set trends in Chicago by being the Marketing Coordinator at Chicago’s raddest fashion business, eDrop-Off. Whitney’s Instagram and Twitter are more than worthy of a follow, providing plenty of style inspiration for spring and summer. Now, I’ll stop raving about how chic Gruber is, and let her get down to it.

Hey StreetStyleChi readers! I’m Whitney Middleton Gruber, Marketing Coordinator at Chicago’s best luxury consignment biz, eDrop-Off. To say my job is fun is an understatement! I spend my days researching the latest trends & designers, developing content for our blog & social media, & most recently, curating special sales once a month for our website. Digging through incredible designer merchandise & developing editorial content is a dream come true for me. Literally, I would dream about it while stuck in a cubical at my first job in project management in the financial industry. I quit that job on a whim 2 years ago & never looked back. If you have a true passion & talent for something, the opportunities will come. That’s how I landed at EDO & I couldn’t be more grateful to be here – it changed my life! Speaking of life changers – I also spend 2 weekends a year at New York Fashion Week working in the backstage trenches as a dresser. It’s rather grueling, but the energy is incredible, & I get to experience the collections up close before they hit the runway. Needless to say, fashion isn’t just my industry, it’s my #1 passion!

My top five picks:

Tilly – My absolute favorite vintage store in Chicago! It’s a hidden gem tucked away in the North Center neighborhood. I’m very picky about vintage stores, as many don’t have much to offer over the fantastic thrift shops here, but this one is beyond amazing. Susan, the owner, knows her stuff – she can name the decade of any piece & has a knowledge of fashion history I could listen to for hours! Prices are fair & negotiable, product is rare & well curated. GO THERE NOW!

Pizza Art Cafe – My neighbors might hunt me down for sharing this secret spot with the masses, but oh well! It’s a BYOB legit Italian joint, with massive portions of the most delicious food. Here’s exactly what to order: Start with the Lasagne Art & Caprese salad with Pesto, then get a bowl of the Pasta Pomodoro with spaghetti noodles to share. Don’t forget to bring plenty of Chianti!

Merz Apothecary – Merz has an outpost in the Palmer House Hilton, but skip that one & head straight to the main location in the heart of Lincoln Square. It’s a gorgeous little shop that transports you back in time! They have incredible products – I stock up on Mistral Pink Champagne soap every time I stop in. They also offer holistic remedies for everyday ailments, Diptyque candles, Mason Pearson hairbrushes & so much more!

Deca Bar – The Ritz Carleton might be on the Mag Mile, but it feels like a world away. High above the tourist masses, Deca Bar offers a welcome reprieve from the chaos below! There’s nothing better than sitting in one of their high back princess chairs sipping a Velvet Ribbons & soaking up the light & luxury. Plus, and this is very important, the ladies room might be the best place for a #BathroomSelfie in the city.

The Back Room – There’s nothing quite like an evening of live music in an underground jazz club, am I right? The Back Room’s cozy dark interior makes it all the more magical. Seriously talented music acts combined with the best Manhattans in Chicago (I’ve done the research) make it an easy favorite for me. So, just how do you get there? That’s one secret I’ll never tell. xoxo

Photo Credit: Natalie Krick

Category: Chicago, Chicago Fashion, Chicago Street Style, Uncategorized Tagged: Chicago fashion, Deca Bar, eDrop-Off, Merz Apothecary, My Five, Pizza Art Cafe, social media, The Back Room, Tilly Boutique, Whitney Gruber

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My Five

Posted on December 20, 2013

December 2013

When I find a store, or website, that I love, I keep going back and get in the rut of shopping mainly at the same places. To keep myself from that, I have been scoping out other brands and sites that offer a good variety of things I like. This is where I got the idea to start a weekly post called “My Five.” Once a week, I’ll write about a new website or store, and pick five of my favorite things. Who knows…something might wind up being your favorite thing too.

This week, I chose The Goodhood Store. When opened in 2007, it was focused on bringing like-minded, original, designers together for a curated mix of goods. Now in 2013, it still stands by that mission, and has grown to be loved by many. It was hard for me to choose only five things I liked, but it had to be done. The Goodhood Store has brands that can be hard to find, along with unique jewelry, accessories, and homegoods. I can’t say no to that.