Work Looks for Less

Lucky for working frugal fashionistas everywhere, you can look great without spending a lot of your hard earned money. I worked with two local retailers who helped me pull together great work looks for less. See what you think.         Under $100 Anyone who reads my stories knows that I love Target. […]

Alexander McQueen’s Death Hits Close to Home

Earlier this month, the fashion world lost a great talent in the sudden passing of Lee Alexander McQueen.   Although the North Shore may seem somewhat removed from the fashion capitals of New York, London, Paris, or Milan—a number of our local retailers were deeply moved by the indelible impression McQueen left on the field […]

In the Trenches–Spring's Cutest Coats

Some coats are just too cute to save for a rainy day—and this season’s short trench coats are no exception. Never before has it been more about the details than it is this spring. Here are some of Mib’s favorites.   (Clockwise) Darling, tan stripe cotton belted trench that doesn’t break the bank. Merona for […]

Girly Makeup is the Look for Spring

Oh to be a girl again. Well, this spring you can be. Delightfully soft makeup trends are coming straight off the season’s hottest runways. According to makeup artists Lynda Coleman and Emma Bruzzesi—who work at Lake Forest’s Bluemercury—here are the five musts for makeup this spring: Fresh face Restore your skin’s natural glow by changing […]

Does More Expensive Cashmere Mean Better Quality?

Nothing warms me softer and better than cashmere during these cold February days.   So that got me thinking about the variety of cashmeres available. Is there a difference between the cashmere I buy at Nordstrom versus the cashmere I see at Costco? After a little research, this is what I learned: High quality cashmere […]

Some Like it Hot

Tips for men who buy you lingerie. “Lingerie is one of those things you either love—or you don’t,” says Susan Carlson, owner of Posh, a new lingerie and gift shop in Highland Park and Barrington. But if you have a man who loves to buy lingerie for you, Carlson offers these tips: Tell him what […]

Lifetherapy, Take Me Away…

Lynette Lovelace had to get off of the plane. After a late flight from New York on a Friday afternoon, she was anxious to call her lawyer. She needed a trademark on that idea she’d been hoping would come.   “‘Lifetherapy’ just came to me on the plane that day—so clearly,” explains Lovelace, who spent […]

Luxury with a Conscience

Evanston designer finds third time’s a charm.   After several stops and starts, Evanston designer Lisa Kingsley has found her niche. Kingsley never set out to be a trend-setting designer, but after a Bali vacation in 1999, a whole new path presented itself. What started as a tourist keepsake—a camisole made by a local girl […]

Meet The Yummie Tummie

Sometimes, no matter how hard we work out, the abs of steel we long for still jiggle when we walk. That’s why Heather Thomson’s Yummie Tummie is somewhat of a miracle.   Styling celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Lopez, Thomson knows that the key to the perfect outfit depends on what you’re wearing […]