The Magnificent Mile has debuted the first shopping festival of its kind in the nation this summer.
In-Fashion: The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival, presented by MasterCard®, will take place through Sept. 8, and will feature exclusive events, designer and celebrity appearances, trunk shows, entertainment and more.
The shopping extravaganza started Aug. 26 with an interactive celebrity event featuring stylist and television star Carson Kressley (one of the five co-hosts in the TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), and concludes Sept. 8 with Chicago's version of Fashion's Night Out.
At an exclusive breakfast with members of the media, Kressley said that he shops at a variety of places, including flea markets, for inspiration. He added that, like many others, he buys "cheap stuff so [he] can afford to splurge every once in a while." He also advocated the use of brighter colors during the fall, emphasizing that people don't have to wear all browns or grays.
Speaking with Windy City Times, Kressley's advice for men was to shop their size ("Some men wear suits that swallow them") and to dress in an age-appropriate fashion. He also stated that men should educate themselves, which includes reading publications such as GQ.
Special festival events include a live performance by YouTube sensation Greyson Chance at Best Buy, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Sept. 3; and Fashion's Night Out, a Sept. 8 event that includes fashion shows and cocktail parties at various locations. For more about the festival, see www.themagnificentmileshoppingfestival.com . Photos and text by Andrew Davis