As a part of Fashion Focus Chicago, Virgin Hotels partnered with the Chicago Fashion Incubator for their first ever fashion presentation. This wonderful collaboration birthed the concept of Fashion Meets Music. For this special show, graduates and current students of the Chicago Fashion Incubator program showcased specially designed pieces inspired by music.
Straying away from the runway scene, Virgin Hotels turned the Commons Club into a scene out of a Euro nightclub. The only thing missing were seizure-inducing strobe lights. And in true Virgin Hotels fashion, they pulled out all of the stops ensuring that this show was the one to be talked about during the week-long Fashion Focus festivities.
As guests entered the chic Commons Club, they were first entranced by the rhythmic movements of two pole dancers. Spins and twirls captured the attention of everyone in the room. It was impossible to not marvel at each drop and turn. After all, it’s not every day you see a pole dancer while the sun is still out. This was probably the first hint of the type of afternoon we would be having.
While watching in awe of the performers, guests treated themselves to three well-crafted Remy cocktails ranging from an Old Fashioned to the Sidecar. For light bites, each seating area came complete with mini charcuterie offerings. This was a perfectly sophisticated snack to nibble on while in the presence of high fashion.
At this point, everyone has had their fair share of cocktails, and I’m sure quite a few guests were tempted to hop on the pole. But since we are at Virgin, we know that the party doesn’t end there. If we thought the pole dancers were something, Virgin Hotels had another trick up their sleeves with a performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race veteran Jade Sotomayor. Performing to who else but Beyonce, Jade wowed audience goers in her sparkling spider web jumpsuit. As she whipped her hair and writhed about on the ground, she hit every corner of the room giving each section a private show.
After one awe-inducing performance, it was now time for another. The fashion presentation began with 20 looks from 10 different designers parading throughout The Commons Club. Fashion show veteran DJ Michael Angelou L’Acqua provided the tunes with popular hits serving as the backdrop for the music inspired fashion. As each look came out, fashion illustrator Autumn Kimball hurriedly sketched the featured designs; not missing a beat as she captured the details of each garment perfectly.
Continuing with the whimsical theme, models strike their pose on poles and neon pedestals giving a unique approach to viewing fashion. As each look makes its way around the club, guests are submerged into the musical theme with over the top fabrics and silhouettes. Swimsuits perfect for vacationing in Cannes from Gabrielle Zwick made the audience long for Summer, and blonde Sia wigs on voluminous gowns from Agnes Hamerlik were the crowd favorite. Fittingly, the jaw-dropping statement pieces closed the show.
For their first ever fashion show, Virgin Hotels put on quite the afternoon for guests to remember. As the high fashion looks did their finale walk, the crowd stood up and cheered Virgin on making their presence known during Chicago Fashion Focus. With VIP guests such as America’s Next Top Model’s Jaslene Gonzalez and Mario & Cheryl Tricoci; Fashion Meets Music was certainly the place to be.
Now that Fashion Focus has come to a close, runways are empty and the tents have been put away. But one thing that remains is the memory and good times had at Virgin Hotels: Fashion Meets Music.
