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PASSAGES Designer Virgil Abloh dies at 41
Designer Virgil Abloh—the first Black artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection and the founder of the Off-White label—died at the age of 41 after privately battling "a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma," a ...
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BOOKS In fashion: Jay Manuel dishes on 'The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown'
Jay Manuel has been many things, including an make-up artist and a creative director—and he is probably best known as taking on the latter role for several years on the reality-competition show America's Next Top Model. ...
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WORLD Zambia pardon, fashion house, HIV+ mayor, Costa Rica marriage
Zambia's president pardoned a gay couple sentenced to 15 years in prison in November under colonial-era sodomy laws in a case that caused a diplomatic conflict with the United States, Reuters reported. Japhet Chataba, 39, and ...
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Chicago artists virtually unveil mural honoring LGBTQ community
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago artists Andy Bellomo and Sandra Antongiorgi have virtually unveiled a new mural that highlights queer artists of color who use their life's work to improve community well-being and create social change. "Rebirth" ...
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Anne Steele, Kelli Carpenter raise funds for meals. Online concert April 29
Lesbian singer/ songwriter Anne Steele decided to start online concerts to lift the spirts of her fans, friends and family. While playing the "couch concerts" every Wednesday on Facebook Live, her wife, Kelli Carpenter, a travel ...
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NUNN ON ONE TELEVISION Tim Gunn on his new show that's a 'Cut' above
Television personality Tim Gunn continues to take over the world of reality shows with a brand-new offering on Amazon Prime Video called Making the Cut. Many will recognize the openly gay fashion advisor from Project Runway, ...
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Five Worth Finding: From an absorbing memoir to cool socks
—Ordinary Girls: A Memoir: In this hard-hitting memoir, Jaquira Diaz writes of struggling with depression and drug abuse while growing into her identity as a queer, biracial girl in Miami and Puerto Rico. And as Diaz ...
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FASHION 2020 Sneaker Gala shares message about local human trafficking
Sneakers brought together fashion enthusiasts at the 2020 Sneaker Gala this year, hosted at Loft on the Lake. The purpose of the fifth annual sneaker ball, however, wasn't just about who won best sneakers that evening. ...
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SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'The L Word,' Bradley Cooper, 'Porndemic,' Tim Gunn
Lady Gaga's mother, Cynthia Germanotta, recently shared her side of the bullying and subsequent depression that her daughter experienced in middle school, iHeart.com noted. "In middle school, because she was unique, she started experiencing a lot ...
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FASHION Live Out Loud marks 10th anniversary with inclusive message
Live Out Loud Charity (LOLC) hosted its 10th Annual International Chicago Fashion Show last month, and their message was loud and clear. "Live Out Loud Charity is a positive outlet for individuals who do not have ...
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FASHION Cristy Pratt: On a mission to display inclusivity
Chicago fashion designer Cristy Pratt is bringing inclusivity to fashion, unapologetically. Her clothing line, Morph Clothing, is dedicated to representing pieces that include all ethnicities, genders, ages and body sizes. ...
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FASHION Jack Cave, turning accessories into art
Jack Cave—a Chicago-based artist, designer, instructor and the founder of Jack Cave LLC—definitely makes articles that help the wearer stand out from the crowd. Items such as PocketART, NeckART, WaistART and even BagART combine boldness and ...
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Local designer Richard Dayhoff brings gender neutrality to collection
One thing that makes Chicago's fashion scene distinct is the variety of designers and their own signature styles. Richard Dayhoff is one of several designers in the Windy City, but he cannot be mistaken for any ...
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FASHION NEWS Illinois bans makeup testing on animals
The ban of testing makeup on animals in Illinois goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois is the third state to adopt this law, after California and Nevada. The law bars manufacturers from selling all cosmetic ...
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'Queer Eye' co-host part of Ideas Week
Queer Eye co-host Jonathan Van Ness will be part of Chicago Ideas Week when he appears Saturday, Sept. 28, at "Jonathan Van Ness: Beyond Permission," 7-8:30 p.m. at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. In ...
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FASHION Carl Wesley Brazel, gay designer, lives dream in the big city
Carl Wesley (Wes) Brazel, 25, knew as a child that he was a fashion designer. He had been sewing since the age of 5 and by the time he was a teenager, he was a designer. His love for the show ...
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MCA extends Abloh exhibit
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., has announced a one-week extension of "Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech"—the first-ever museum exhibition devoted to the work of artist/designer Virgil Abloh, who is, among other ...
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FASHION A 'Peach' of an event inspires queer fashion
Black Thread Agency is a cultural marketing and events agency based in Chicago. The agency has hosted a series of events throughout the year since 2017—such as Peach. Peach is an event series and brand that ...
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ART
Derrick Woods-Morrow collecting underwear for exploration of labor, play
Queer artist Derrick Woods-Morrow wants your underwear. Clean, dirty, new or heavily worn—it doesn't matter to him; he's more interested in the work you put in while wearing them. For the last two months, Woods-Morrow (a ...
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BOOKS Tan about town, 'Queer Eye' guru pens new memoir
The title of Tan France's new memoir, Naturally Tan, refers to the Queer Eye star's aim for authenticity—a mindset that once eluded the first openly gay, South Asian man on television. In the new book, France ...
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Designer Oyejide to lecture June 5
Wale Oyejide—a writer, musician, lawyer, designer, and creative director and founder of the fashion house Ikire Jones—will present a lecture Wed., June 5, at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 40 E. Erie St. The cocktail reception ...
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FASHION Wale Nubi aims to make men more fashionable
Wale Nubi was born and raised in Nigeria. He's a father of two sons and those are his inspirations for the name of his men's clothing line: Jojayden. "My sons are my greatest inspiration. They are ...
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FASHION Chicago lesbian offers unique jewelry, accessories
Every fashion lover knows that accessories complete an outfit—whether it's a simple brooch, a pair of earrings or a pair of fancy gloves. It's the detail in an outfit that stands out … and if you ...
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Rocco Steele discusses daddy image and product line
Last year, Instinct Magazine proclaimed popular adult performer and entrepreneur Rocco Steele to be "the daddy of all daddies." Washington, D.C.-based Steele said that "daddy" is a label he actually takes very seriously. "Guys who are ...
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FASHION Driehaus Awards honors emerging designers
The Driehaus Design Initiative hosted The Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence on April 26, leaving an encouraging message for local emerging designers. The event was a cocktail party and runway-show competition highlighting the talents and fashion ...
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TELEVISION Transgender model works the 'Runway'
Mimi Tao is making history on the 17th season of Project Runway as the first transgender model on the hit Bravo show. This talented model from Thailand was featured on Project Runway mentor Christian Siriano's "People ...
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Local designer named Kennedy Center fellow
Local designer Sky Cubacub has been named one of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' newly announced 2019-20 cohort of Citizen Artist Fellows. Cubacub—a Chicago native—is an artist, designer and the leader of ...
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Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld dies
Iconic German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld—who was the fashion visionary and creative director of Chanel—has died at age 85, CNN.com related. Lagerfeld, who started leading Chanel in 1983, was typically seen with his dark glasses, a ...
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Local artist delves into the abstract to develop fashion brand
Jeanette Billips is an artist, a sneakerhead and a lover of Chicago. She's 32-years-old and recently launched a fashion brand, Von Sole, that takes her love for art and Chicago to the next level. Billups told ...
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FASHION Rebirth Garments runs the spectrum in whom it serves
Sky Cubacub is the creator of Rebirth Garments—a line of wearables for the full spectrum of gender, size and ability. The fashion line was started in 2014, when Cubacub was 23. Cubacub is now 27, but ...
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FASHION Local designer closes boutique to focus on customized items
By Vee L. Harrison
Anastasia Chatzka's boutique—once located on the corner of Damen and Augusta avenues, in Wicker Park—is now closed. The store officially closed Dec. 14 following a monthlong liquidation sale. Store owner ...
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'STRUT' show marks World AIDS Day
The 10th annual STRUT fashion show took place Dec. 2 at the Promontory. The evening featured a runway fashion show with 14 different designers and boutiques as well as speakers ranging from AIDS activists to healthcare ...
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Carlo Chappelle, born to sing
"Carlo is somebody who loves to sing with every ounce of his body," said Beckie Menzie. "There are people who sing because they want to be heard—and he's certainly somebody who wants to share his music—or ...
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'One of a Kind Holiday Show' through Dec. 9
Through Dec. 9, the One of a Kind Holiday Show is returning to the seventh floor of The Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza. More than 600 independent artists from across North America and beyond are ...
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Trending ethnic hairstyles for the new year
By Vee L. Harrison
Chicago barber Andrew Martinez goes by "Dreux" behind the chair. He works at Urbane Blades, a barber shop at 948 N. Orleans St. He's an open book and has no more problem telling you like it is. His bisexuality isn't what ...
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Karamo Brown in Evanston Dec. 5
Queer Eye culture expert Karamo Brown will give a talk, "Know Thyself: Using Your Uniqueness to Create Success," on Wed., Dec. 5, at 7 p.m at Evanston Township High School Auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston. Brown ...
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Inclusive Chicago Fashion Week takes place
By Vee L. Harrison
Chicago Fashion Week was a seven-day celebration of designers, models and absolute flyness presented by FashionBar Chicago. FashionBar is a fashion marketing firm and they are destined to create Chicago into a fashion capital. On Oct. ...
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Queer Eye's Karamo Brown in Evanston Dec. 5
Television host and culture expert on the Emmy-winning Netflix reboot of Queer Eye, Karamo Brown says that the key to his success is tapping into the many facets of his identity. Whether as an openly gay ...
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Out of Halloween ideas? Dress as these celebrities
by VERONICA HARRISON
Let's face it. Halloween is the one day where anyone can dress as anything and that is one exciting notion for queers! This Halloween, though, let's turn our neighborhood blocks to red carpets and our Halloween ...
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Chicago hosts Latino Fashion Week
The opening night of Latino Fashion Week was as fierce as the models walking the runway. The opening night was Oct. 11 at Block Thirty Seven in downtown Chicago. Models, photographers, spectators and friends gathered for ...
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Howard Brown Health, Aveda team up for Fashion Week
Transgender youth face horrific societal reactions. To feel beautiful as their bodies are learning how to be true to who they really are is difficult. To express it is even more difficult, since society tends to ...
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Goodman Theatre's Costume Shop holds costume sale Oct. 20
(Chicago, IL) For the first time in six years, Goodman Theatre's Costume Shop hosts a costume sale on Saturday, October 20 from 9am — 2pm. More than 100 handmade items by the Goodman's costume shop artisans ...
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Lesbian makeup artist on business, planning own wedding
Growing up gay usually means that family and friends are convinced it's just a phase. For 30-year-old Chicagoan Casseita Sutton, better known as Missy, that phase has turned slowly into her upcoming holy matrimony. Missy said ...
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Model claims racial, sexual-orientation biases against Ford agency
A Chicago-based model dropped from Ford Models claims he was discriminated against for being gay and Asian-American. Chufue Yang, a 21-year-old Hmong-American who signed to Ford Models in April 2016, was dropped by the agency Aug. ...
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Men's fashion awards Sept. 12
The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum will celebrate the most stylish men in Chicago at the third annual Chicago Men's Fashion Awards on Wed., Sept. 12, 5-8 p.m., at Room & Board, 55 E. ...
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Chicago Men's Fashion Awards to celebrate city's best-dressed men
From a press release
CHICAGO (July 18, 2018) The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum celebrates the most stylish men in Chicago at the third annual Chicago Men's Fashion Awards on Wednesday, September 12. Join co-hosts celebrity stylist Eric ...
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Dual Spirit Style helps all people find their menswear look
Tanisha Hawkins has always taken her image—and her clothes—seriously. "I'm really passionate about being able to express your gender. If you see my closet, you'll be, like, 'Whoa,'" said Hawkins, the proprietor of a new cloth ...
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Chicago House celebrates springtime with 'Revive'
Chicago House and Social Service Agency held its 32nd annual spring brunch and fashion show on May 6 in the Winter Garden Room atop The Harold Washington Library. The event, which piggybacked off of last year's ...
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WMG 26th-anniv. gala May 11
Woman Made Gallery (WMG) will hold its 26thanniversary gala Friday, May 11, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at Lacuna's Reverie Gallerie, 2150 S. Canalport Ave. There will be a cash bar, a silent auction, a three-prize raffle and musical ...
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32nd Annual Chicago House Spring Brunch & Fashion Show May 6
From a press release
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago House, the first organization in the Midwest to provide housing and support for people living with HIV and AIDS, is excited to celebrate its 32nd Annual Spring Brunch and Fashion Show at ...
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Trans show part of Chicago Fashion Week
A transgender-themed show will be part of Chicago Fashion Week, which will take place April 23-30. (FashionBar is presenting the weeks' events.) Among the events is "Trans, Media and Fashion," which will take place Sunday, April ...
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BUSINESS Button Brigade trying to come to the rescue
Where does one go for a good button-up shirt? For the recently out Katie Cooper, this question proved frustratingly difficult to answer. "Really, the only buttons-up that fit me OK, not even really that well, are ...
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OUT at CHM event puts queer fashion in the spotlight
OUT at CHM (Chicago History Museum) proved queer fashion never goes out of style with its program "Celebrating and Contextualizing Queer Fashion" on March 22. OUT at CHM, now in its 15th year, examines and displays ...
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LGBTQ couples shop around wedding expo
RainbowWeddingNetwork hosted its 10th annual LGBTQ Wedding Expo at the Hotel Chicago on March 18. RainbowWeddingNetwork launched, in 2000, at the hands of partners Cindy Sproul and Marianne Puechl and, in 2003, expanded to begin producing ...
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Randolph Street Market on March 24-25
Called the "Barney's of Vintage," the Randolph Street Market continues its indoor market season with "Spring Fling" on Saturday-Sunday, March 24-25, 10 p.m.-5 p.m. at 1341 W. Randolph St. The spring-themed event will kick off with ...
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Queer fashion to be explored at Chicago History Museum
From a press release
CHICAGO (March 7, 2018) — From Masc4Masc camouflage of the '70s to DIY club kids of the '80s to dandies through the ages, turning heads ain't nothing new. Explore queer fashion at the Chicago's History Museum's ...
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Same-sex wedding expo March 18
The 2018 LGBT Wedding Expo will be held Sunday, March 18, 12:30-3:30 p.m., at Hotel Chicago, 333 N. Dearborn St. It will be the 10th year for the expo in Chicago. Patrons will be able to win a wedding worth $2,500 ...
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Riot Bear seeks to change what defines beauty
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
The new year brings about resolutions from many of us. It is not uncommon to see others devoted to losing weight or finally getting in shape or giving up alcohol. Often, most of us simply fail. ...
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Suicide-prevention organization throws fashion gala
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
On Nov. 19, Live Out Loud presented it's eighth annual fashion gala benefit in front of a SRO crowd in the ballroom of The Palmer House Hilton. The event—which shines a spotlight on suicide prevention, anti-bullying, ...
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STRUT: The 9th Annual World AIDS Day Fashion Show Nov. 26
From a press release
STRUT: The 9th Annual World AIDS Day Fashion Show will be Nov. 26 at The Promontory Chicago in Chicago's trendy Hyde Park neighborhood. This year the show features designers from 5 different countries. Showtime is 6pm. ...
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Live Out Loud fashion show/benefit Nov. 19
Sherrie Gearheart, the founder of Live Out Loud Charity (LOLC), is hosting a fashion show to raise funds for suicide prevention and anti-bullying. The event will take place at Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe St., on ...
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Live Out Loud Charity Fashion Show and benefit for suicide prevention
From a press release
Sherrie Gearheart, the founder of Live Out Loud Charity (LOLC), is hosting a fashion show to raise funds for suicide prevention and anti-bullying. International and Chicago based fashion designers will showcase their collections on stage at ...
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SOFA CHICAGO Nov. 2-5 at Navy Pier
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
The art fair SOFA CHICAGO returns to Navy Pier's Festival Hall Nov. 2-5 with nearly 80 national and international galleries displaying sculpture, objects, functional art and design. SOFA CHICAGO will kick off with an opening-night preview ...
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'Project Runway' designer shows items at Paris Fashion Week
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
Openly gay fashion designer Matt Sarafa aspires to be on the same level as some of the greatest designers in fashion. The 19 year-old designer is a reality show veteran and is currently on his third ...
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'Big Orange Ball' Oct. 21 at Carnivale
The Halloween costume party known as the "Big Orange Ball" will take place Saturday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., at Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market. Proceeds will benefit Howard Brown Health. Admission is $125 (early bird), ...
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Underwear for periods, not gender, launches in Chicago
Pyramid Seven, a Black, queer-owned company designing underwear to address the needs of all menstruating bodies, is launching in Chicago. The boxer brief style is specifically engineered to stay close to the body and provide security, ...
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Fairy gardener
The installation of the Empress Wu went well. She is resting her enormous self (she's the biggest hosta ever bred—approximately six feet long and four feet high) behind my yard's African sculpture. She is soon to ...
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Driehaus' fashion awards April 28
Driehaus Design Initiative will celebrate the future of fashion at The 16th Annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence on Friday, April 28. at 6:30 p.m. at Vintage Studios, 700 S. Desplaines St. Fox 32 reporter/anchor Sylvia ...
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Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence April 28
From a press release
CHICAGO (April 2017) — Driehaus Design Initiative will celebrate the future of fashion at The 16th Annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence on Friday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. The event features a runway show highlighting ...
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Love Out Loud Ball closes 10-day festival of events
On Feb. 12, In Demand Entertainment closed out The Love Out Loud Festival of Events with the 14th Annual Love Out Loud Ball at Captain Hardtimes Dining. The ball featured a full-course dinner, a fashion show, ...
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'Strut' fashion show benefits South Side Help Center
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
On Nov. 20, Madman Productions presented the eighth edition of Strut, the annual fashion event to acknowledge World AIDS Week and to raise funds for HIV/AIDS organizations. The 2016 version took place at The Promontory. 5311 ...
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'Strut' fashion show Nov. 20
MadMan Productions' Strut—an annual World AIDS Day fashion show—will take place Sunday, Nov. 20, at The Promontory Chicago, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the showtime at 6 p.m. Speakers will ...
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SOFA CHICAGO entertains hundreds at Navy Pier
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) CHICAGO expo returns to Navy Pier's Festival Hall Nov. 3-6, with nearly 80 national and international galleries. SOFA CHICAGO launched this year with an opening-night preview on Nov. ...
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SOFA expo Nov. 3-6 at Navy Pier
The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) CHICAGO expo returns to Navy Pier's Festival Hall Nov. 3-6, with nearly 80 national and international galleries. SOFA CHICAGO will kick-off with an opening-night preview on Thursday, Nov. ...
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Multifaceted event 'Express Yourself' benefits [Trans]formation
On Oct. 2, The Nothing Without A Company Theater and The Living Canvas presented "Express Yourself," a gala fundraiser and celebration at The Crystal Ballroom in downtown Evanston. The event featured spoken word, live music, a ...
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