Simply Stylist Chicago 2015 Recap
In case we haven't already said this 1.5 million times: We are absolutely in love with Chicago! The Simply Stylist 'Do What You Love' Conference rolled through The Windy City this past weekend and it was just as fun as ever! Participants arrived from cities near and far to hang with us and take in all the inspiration, motivation and good vibes that comprised this fantastic Saturday. We took over The Dana Hotel in Downtown Chicago, for an amazing day only the Simply Stylist team could dream up. It all began with our signature networking brunch for "VIP Fashionistas" at The Dana's Freestyle restaurant, where new friendships (and business relationships!) began forming right away. Simply Stylist Founder Sarah Boyd gave a heart felt speech in which she reminded all the ladies to dream big, shoot for the stars and never give up (hence our constant inspirational quotes on Instagram).
The next part of the day saw our attendees being lifted 26 stories to the Vertigo Sky Lounge, where they enjoyed a gorgeous rooftop photo op before being seated for the expert panel. We turned the already picturesque lounge into the most breath taking classroom you've ever seen, with blue skies and the Chicago cityscape as the backdrop and complete with custom Joybird furniture to tie it all together. If our ladies didn't learn anything else (strictly hypothetical, duh!), they definitely took away a few tips on decorating one heck of a room!
We commandeered the entire 5th floor of The Dana Hotel for the shopping, relaxation and pampering metropolis that is The Brand Experience! Here, all our ticket holders got to replenish with passed hors d'oeuvres and sweets by Chicago's own Sugarbliss, with cocktails by VitaFrute by VEEV and wine by Voga Italia flowing! Soothe was there, too, doling out massages so that everyone could achieve optimal relaxation. After that massage, the perfect place to stop and kick your feet up was at the Joybird lounge, where comfy custom furniture was situated. There was also a social media contest going, where guests got the chance to win that very furniture for their homes! For those planning to go out on the town after the conference, there were plenty of glam stations in place to get our ladies ready to take the night! The Glam App was on site, getting our attendees' hair and makeup looking just right! They also offered relaxing manicures, using luxurious products by OPI. Nails done, hair done, everything did! Temporary tan tattoos by California Tan added the perfect splash of fun to everyone's looks! To commemorate the day and those #OOTDs, we had a fashion illustrator there cranking out the most adorable keepsakes. The charging station was a great place to strike up a conversation with someone new: You know, a day this photo-worthy can take a toll on that battery!
This year's Breakout Sessions took all interested guests through the ins and outs of the fashion, beauty and digital worlds. These mini sessions, hosted by acclaimed photographer and founder of Fohr Card, James Nord, blogger (and actress) extraordinaire Cara Santana of Cara Disclothed , celebrity makeup artist Catalina Su, celebrity stylist and fashion expert Marcellas Reynolds and TV host and lifestyle blogger, Lauren Gores of Lauren's Lyst. Each Breakout Session was an up close and personal conversation with each expert, where they gave real world insights, answered burning questions and really opened up to our guests. Each one provided practical advice that all attendees will undoubtedly use as they work their way through the industry. We hope you left feeling rejuvenated, motivated and inspired to get out there and 'Do What You Love'!
Fashion+Beauty Panel: Founder & Owner of eDrop-Off, Corri McFadden, Jacey Duprie of Damsel in Dior, Celebrity Hair+Makeup Artist Joey Maalouf and Blogger and YouTuber Sazan Barzani guided by our host, Catt Sadler who also has a blog of her own, The Cattwalk. eDrop-Off founder Corri McFadden took the step to take her college senior project seriously and start eDrop-Off luxury consignment. Corri has also evolved as a Style Expert with her widely popular lifestyle site, CorriMcFadden.com, which features a Personal Stylist, DIY’s, recipes, and fashion “Must Haves.” Most recently, Corri was inspired by the birth of her daughter, Zelda, to launch a second site, Glitter and Bubbles. Jacey Duprie is the creator and curator behind the blog Damsel in Dior, which encompasses fashion, lifestyle, beauty and home decor. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Jacey offers her readers real-life insight into her personal style, domestic discoveries and constant yearning to travel the world--all distilled into a mix of clever writing and clean graphics. She's been featured in Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, New York Times WhoWhatWear and QVC and has also appeared in several ad campaigns for Old Navy SAKS, Neiman Marcus, Tory Burch and Kate Spade. She also announced at Simply Stylist that her very own clothing line is coming out this fall - Splendid by Damsel which will be sold at Net-A-Porter. Over the span of 15 years Joey has built an impressive roster of loyal clients due to his incredible skill, attention to detail, and infectious personality. Celebrities including Jessica Alba, Molly Sims, Rachel Zoe, and Diane Von Furstenberg trust Joey for his exquisite vision. Whether creating a simple bun for a daytime event or dramatic eye makeup for a black tie ball, Joey’s range is vast and he has a keen ability to organically interpret a client’s vision. Sazan Barzani is a television host, fashion blogger, fashion stylist and YouTube producer. Originally from Dallas, Texas and now living in Los Angeles, the fashion “Obsazzed” Sazan has made a name for herself in the traditional and digital entertainment worlds. Her popular lifestyle blog sazan.me attracts hundreds of thousands of readers monthly. She has been featured on Access Hollywood, AOL, DMagazine, GlamTV, Huffpo, CBS, KTLA, Lucky, Marie Claire, MSN, People, Popsugar, San Diego 6, Seventeen, Dailybuzz, WWD and more!
As always, our hostess with the mostest, Catt Sadler of E! News, guided the day and got all burning questions at Simply Stylist Chicago answered with style and flare! Thank you, Catt!