By Pilara, Chicago’s best dressed professional
If you have good taste in food, fashion and fine art, then Latino Fashion week is your one-stop shop to get it. Art and fashion are a match made in heaven and this years’ theme at the 5th Annual Latino fashion week at the Zhou B. Art Center. This six-day event boasts some a-list talent from both the runway and the finest art galleries. “Our intent is to further grow and share a greater understanding of art,” says co-producer Arabel Alva Rosales. Chicago is home to the only Latino Fashion Week in the United States created to support the talent of local national Latino designers and models.
The opening night red carpet reception began with fashion photographer Christian Rios signing his book of breathtaking photos “Dreamers.”
Attendees included the usual suspects like fashion hounds Marcus Riley, Andre Pellebon and Marco Foster. The food was as eclectic as you can get from sushi to gourmet dulche de leche cookies. I got down on some exceptional gumbo from Fluer de lis and washed it down with a red wine infused with dark chocolate cherry by Aged to Perfection.
After a star-studded show patrons were treated to custom swag bags featuring designs inspired by master painter Andre Guichard. Seriously, I took home a limited edition signed shopper bag entitled, “Good Morning God.” Wow!
Day 2
The Unity Canvas show was a daring display of eclectic elegance. Although everyone in pop culture has become enamored by the impressive rags to riches story of young designer Zoe Damacela, I’m still fascinated by designer Borris J. Powell so don’t sleep, people… I arrived back stage early Tuesday to get a sneak peek of what to expect for the Unity Canvas show, featuring the ethnic diversity of local Chicago designers. Two standouts were the Charisma collection by Rita Boorgu and the spring collection of Borris Powell. (Next summer for my birthday I will be rocking those canary yellow gowns in his collection for my GOLDEN champagne and cupcake tour.)
As all the waiflike nymphs got dolled up I slipped downstairs for the reception and got to taste some surprising creations by Chef Guy Meikle from Nana organic. I had an amazing gourmet organic torta with duck and cilantro. It’s no wonder he will be featured by the Food Network next week. Then I strolled through the Fashion Lounge and Expo to get an eyeful of art.
