Bless can't be found in Chicago yet (although I could imagine a few of the accessories—cool jewelrey, "sock boots"—at Hejfina), but I go to the show because it's so much fun. It's artistic, quirky, and unlike anything you'd see during Fashion Week.

Bless dabbles in a bit of everything—beauty products, books, jewelry, fur wigs—often in collaboration with other artists. And their way of staging shows is full of the same surprise you would expect from an art collective based in Berlin and Paris. Last year, they staged a soccer match. This year, invitees entered a large...

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Bless can't be found in Chicago yet (although I could imagine a few of the accessories—cool jewelrey, "sock boots"—at Hejfina), but I go to the show because it's so much fun. It's artistic, quirky, and unlike anything you'd see during Fashion Week.

Bless dabbles in a bit of everything—beauty products, books, jewelry, fur wigs—often in collaboration with other artists. And their way of staging shows is full of the same surprise you would expect from an art collective based in Berlin and Paris. Last year, they staged a soccer match. This year, invitees entered a large...

" />

Bless can't be found in Chicago yet (although I could imagine a few of the accessories—cool jewelrey, "sock boots"—at Hejfina), but I go to the show because it's so much fun. It's artistic, quirky, and unlike anything you'd see during Fashion Week.

Bless dabbles in a bit of everything—beauty products, books, jewelry, fur wigs—often in collaboration with other artists. And their way of staging shows is full of the same surprise you would expect from an art collective based in Berlin and Paris. Last year, they staged a soccer match. This year, invitees entered a large...

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Art and Fun at Bless—The Meaning’s Up to You

Bless can’t be found in Chicago yet (although I could imagine a few of the accessories—cool jewelrey, "sock boots"—at Hejfina), but I go to the show because it’s so much fun. It’s artistic, quirky, and unlike anything you’d see during Fashion Week.

Bless dabbles in a bit of everything—beauty products, books, jewelry, fur wigs—often in collaboration with other artists. And their way of staging shows is full of the same surprise you would expect from an art collective based in Berlin and Paris. Last year, they staged a soccer match. This year, invitees entered a large…

Ça Commence!

Salut from Paris, where I’ll be covering the Women’s Ready-to-Wear Fall 2008 collections all week for this blog.

If you don’t follow the twice-yearly marathon that is Fashion Week (there are actually four consecutive fashion weeks—New York, London, Milan, and then Paris), allow me to set the mood of this season and recap what we’ve seen so far. Umm, okay, the truth is, it isn’t easy to sum up the mood yet, before Paris, which is when the major ideas emerge and things start to gel. Fashion director Stacey Jones flew in from Milan last night, and we tried to hash out what we’ve seen at the shows so far…

Best for Kids—and Parents, Too!

Chicago is rich with possibilities for families, which is why we’ve devoted this story to providing a guide to the best stuff for kids, parents, and moms-to-be. Take along our field guide to birds and critters on your next hike. Read advice from Chicago’s reigning baby-sleep specialist, Dr. Marc Weissbluth. Check out our taste test of birthday cakes from the city’s top-tier bakeries. All this and more.

Lincoln Park’s Tabula Tua Expands

Set the Table

For nearly 14 years, Lincoln Park tabletop boutique Tabula Tua (1015 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-525-3500) has carried all the essentials for a well-appointed table. The shop has now doubled its space (expanding into the next-door spot that formerly housed the shop Faded Rose), and added fine china and formal dining flatware to its selection of everyday goods. The new space has been transformed into a wedding studio, carrying modern and colorful options from well-known brands such as Raynaud, Meissen, and Royal Copenhagen for a selection that is far less staid than a department store’s.