By Fiona Good-Sirota By Fiona Good-Sirota | October 4, 2024 | Style & Beauty, Feature, Features, Featured, Style & Beauty, Guides,
Models wearing showcased designs from ten featured designers at the 2024 VIP Chicago Fashion Week launch event
For the first time, Chicago Fashion Week is hitting Windy City runways, showcasing cutting-edge designs and industry luminaries. Held from Oct. 9 through 20, the 12-day event features over 50 fashion shows, presentations, retail marketplaces, galas and more, provided in partnership with local fashion retailers, organizations and designers.
“Chicago Fashion Week will celebrate our city’s rich fashion landscape. Our mission is to bring together talent from every corner of the Chicago area to showcase the diversity of our city’s fashion—and you’ll see that reflected in our lineup,” says John Leydon, founder of Chicago Fashion Week.
Celebrate the city’s past and present fashion history with these highlights from the Chicago Fashion Week 2024 event lineup. For the full schedule, visit the Chicago Fashion Week website.
78 E. Washington St. / Website
The series kicks off with A Celebration of Chicago Style, hosted at the Chicago Cultural Center on Oct. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. Presented by local fashion collective and event facilitator The Curio, the event features a pre-reception, an afterparty and a runway showcasing designers Justin LeBlanc, Barbara Bates, Chelsea B., Christina Karin, Gina Fente, I Am Studios, Maria Pinto and Sheila Rashid. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit curioexperience.com.
436 E. 47th St. / Website
Style aficionados can then join for an evening of high fashion and vintage gems with the Fashion Open House on Oct. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring memorabilia from Flyball Showroom and collections from designer Miglio di Mario Uomo, brand ModaMichelle and local shop Gilda’s Designer Thrift Boutique. Registration is required. To reserve a spot or for more information, please click here.
2408 N. Kedzie Blvd / Website
On Oct. 11, the Chicago Fashion Coalition is hosting Create vs. Consume: A Culinary Fashion Experience from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Stan Mansion. The multi-sensory explores the convergence of food and fashion and features designs, displays and garments available for purchase. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit chicagofashioncoalition.org.
2429 W. 14th St. / Website
Presented by broadcast radio station Power 92.3 and hosted by Cortez Smith from Showtime’s “The CHI” and NBC Chicago Today’s Cortney Hall, Surround Sound of Fashion 2024 is highlighting creative talent from the Midwest with looks from local and national designers on Oct. 12 at 4 p.m., including Alex Carter, King B, Grevyi, Mishka, Koush, Sisumoira, Isaac Couch, Life of Mal, Omari Closet, LeCirque and MV3. Event-goers can also enjoy a live performance by Grammy-nominated artist and Chicago native Twista. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit surroundsoundoffashion.com.
935 W. Wilson Ave. / Website
On Oct. 12 at 4 p.m., the nonprofit organization Chicago Asian Women Empowerment (Chi-AWE) is presenting a runway show featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) designers and their designs, which celebrate the AAPI culture and are styled on models from the AAPI community. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit chiasian.fashion.
4021 N. Ravenswood Ave. / Website
Modern Vintage, Randolph Street Market’s exclusive fashion sale, is hosting over 50 retailers on Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ravenswood Event Center. Guests can peruse curated clothing, jewelry and accessories from local and national sellers. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit randolphstreetmarket.com.
450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive / Website
Join Monica Royer and Brian Bloom, founders of retailer Monica + Andy, and Lola Banjo, founder of luxury travel and fashion accessory brand Silver and Riley, for fireside chats on the convergence of fashion and business, hosted on Oct. 14 at the Chicago Booth Gleacher Centre from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Purchased tickets required. For tickets and event information, click here.
17 E. Monroe St. / Website
Regional collective Fashion Group International (FGI) is inviting guests to attend the 10th Annual Rising Star Awards on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m., which is spotlighting fashion luminaries and honoring fashion label Badgley Mischka with the Fashion Icon Award, presented in collaboration with Neiman Marcus. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, click here.
521 N. Rush St. / Website
Fashion destination The Gwen is celebrating the first Chicago Fashion Week on Oct. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a Wine Wednesday event featuring specialty-priced wines and a showcase of gowns and occasion dresses by local designer Sujata Gazder. A cocktail inspired by Sujata’s designs will also be available during Chicago Fashion Week, Oct. 9 through 20. The event is open to the public. For more information, please visit thegwenchicago.com.
230 N. Michigan Ave. / Website
Local prominent fashion stylists Theresa DeMaria, Nasreen Hussain, Sal and Tali Kogan are gathering to discuss their creative careers at The Stylist Symposium of Chicago, moderated by Rachel J Penca. Hosted on Oct. 17 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Pendry Chicago, the event allows guests to connect with designers, stylists, entrepreneurs and other fashion industry professionals. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, click here.
1601 N. Clark St. / Website
Get a first look at The Chicago History Museum’s newest exhibition, Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective at the Costume Council Golden Jubilee, as it celebrates 50 years of Chicago fashion history on Oct. 18 from 6 to 11 p.m. The event features dinner and a fashion show featuring local designers, followed by a Golden Hour afterparty. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit chicagohistory.org
1601 N. Clark St. / Website
Celebrate 100 years of the Chicago History Museum’s Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective exhibition on Oct. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Explore the impact of fashion and its ability to capture the essence of historical periods through 70 featured rare items. The exhibition runs from Oct. 19, 2024, through July 27, 2025. Purchased tickets are required. For tickets and event information, please visit chicagohistory.org.
For more information about Chicago Fashion Week, visit www.chicagofashionweek.com or follow @thechicagofashionweek on Instagram and Facebook.
See also: Meet CS Magazine’s 2024 Women Of Style
Photography by: Photography courtesy of Chicago Fashion Week; photos of Chicago Fashion Week VIP launch event by Matt Njo