I’m sure you can already imagined that I was thrilled when I received an invitation from Graham of Glossed & Found to attend Glossed & Found and TopShop‘s Valentine’s Day Luncheon. This meant that when anyone asks me about my Valentine’s Day plans, I can simply say I attended a chic luncheon to ring in the occasion. I went from having no plans, to some pretty fabulous plans if I do say so myself.
The luncheon was held at the Mediterranean-inspired, Fig & Olive. You can read more about my first experience at Fig & Olive here. While it was absolutely freezing, the atmosphere of Fig & Olive allowed us all to forget that we were in the middle of Chiberia. There were gentle reminders of spring displayed throughout our private dining area. Bubble gum pink balloons decorated the room. Hues of rose, blush, and creams were present in the floral centerpieces by Christine Noelle Design. The Valentine’s Day theme was clearly present with a touch of sophistication and elegance.
Before the TopShop fashion presentation began, fashionably dressed guests mixed and mingled while they sipped on Piscine and Rose. What also made this luncheon unique, was the old school Valentine’s Day twist. Each guest was required to create their own unique Valentine, as we were all assigned a secret admirer. The Valentine’s gift exchanged featured decorative cards or homemade gifts. This was a great way to show off your personality while meeting someone new. The gift that I gave to my Valentine were chocolate florentines elaborately wrapped in tulle. To top it off, I also gave my Valentine a gourmet heart-shaped Lollipop. While I am quite biased, I believe that I received the best Valentine’s Day gift. My secret Valentine was Mal Strong of Goldplaited Salon. I received a free makeup application complete with lashes. I’m sure God spoke to her directly because, I have no idea how she knew that I am obsessed with lashes. I can’t wait to use my gift so I can get extra glammed up for one of my events.
After we exchanged gifts, it was then time to sit back relax and enjoy the TopShop fashion presentation as we enjoyed our 3-course meal. We began the meal with the Fig & Olive Salad. Next was the main course where guests had a selection between Fig & Olive Chicken Tajine and Truffle Risotto. Dessert was served family style with selections of Dessert Crostini, Carmelized Apple Tart, and Chocolate Pot de Creme.
As we enjoyed the Mediterranean fare, it was then time to check out the latest fashions from TopShop. While we are dying to lose the sleeves and sport some shorts and mini skirts for Spring; we must remember that Chicago stays cold for quite some time. What I appreciated about the TopShop collection was the offerings featured hints of Spring with pastels and neutral colors as the focus. However, in case anyone wanted to make a purchase and wear something right away, the collection also featured cozy faux furs, leather, and suede so we can gently make that transition from Winter to Spring.
There were a few standouts from the collection such as the white Lace Mini Dress, the Blush Fur Coat, and my favorite of the afternoon was the White Split-Back Blouse. I’m sure the bubbly models brought life to many of the outfits as they paraded around the room in their wears. It’s always helpful to see an outfit worn on someone before you decide to make a purchase.
I was unable to find the Blush Fur Coat and the White Split-Back Blouse online. I’m sure you can ask for these items at a store near you. In the meantime, I have found some comparable items from TopShop that are just as fabulous as the items I viewed. If you still want some pink faux fur in your life, I recommend the Polka Dot Faux Fur Coat. The polka dots instantly add a little pizzaz to any type of outfit. The Contrast Trim Halter-Top is another piece that I admire. It still features the backless elements like the split-back blouse, with an added touch of black piping.
The Valentine’s Day luncheon was exactly what the doctor ordered to cure the winter blues. We had fashion, beautiful drinks, and, of course, great conversation. Here’s to many more fabulous luncheons with Glossed & Found. To see the feature on their website go to Glossedandfound.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycaMofPussI
