Wishing you a happy holiday–whichever one you are celebrating this season.

Posting will be light for the next couple days. See you soon!

Not long ago I had the pleasure of meeting Jeanne Steen, the owner of Figaro Antiques. A big part of her business involves finding and selling vintage fashion illustrations. Many are actual pencil sketches made in the 40s and 50s by illustrators for New York fashion houses, complete with scrawled notes and the occasional coffee stain!

Jeanne worked for ELLE and ELLEgirl magazines for about 20 years and was one of those lucky souls who attended the fashion week shows in Europe every season. For fun she’d trawl flea markets and antique shops, picking up art and making valuable connections–which came in handy when she moved back to Chicago and got into her current business.

The illustrations range from turn-of-the-century pochoirs, or hand-colored engravings, to lavish drawings by Rene Gruau, an artist who worked with such legendary couturiers as Dior, Balmain, and Balenciaga. There are even illustrations for movie costumes that Jeanne picked up during visits to California. Prices start at $100 (occasionally less) for an unframed sketch to up to about $1650 for a framed piece by a well-known illustrator (most are priced around $200-$300). I have my eye on a couple myself…hint, hint!

photo courtesy Tate Gunnerson Photography

photo courtesy Tate Gunnerson Photography

photo courtesy Tate Gunnerson Photography

Figaro has two locations: inside the Andersonville Galleria, 5247 N. Clark, and at Vintage Pine, 904 W. Blackhawk, both in Chicago. Call 773-835-0821 or go to figaroantiques.com.

The perfect holiday clutch is at Club Monaco.

Please excuse my amateur photo skills.

The beaded “Jen” foldover clutch comes in silver, gold, gunmetal (kind of a pewter shade, shown above), black, and burgundy. The shape is basic and elegant and goes with almost anything–from dressy casual to a cocktail dress. With two compartments (a main one and a smaller one along the side, with little pockets for a cell phone or a card case), It’s big enough to fit all the essentials and then some–a godsend to those of us who find it impossible to leave the house with just cash and a lipstick. Totally versatile, you can wear it with jeans or a cocktail dress. Best of all, it originally retailed for just $79 and is now *on sale*. Unfortunately Club Monaco does not offer online shopping, but if you’re looking for a clutch that can carry you through the season, it’s definitely worth it to stop in to a store and take a look.

• your underappreciated parts (elegant hands, sexy shoulders, cute ears)
• the way new lipstick works as an inexpensive pick-me-up
• the everyday beauty of leaves falling to the ground and golden late-afternoon sun
• the transformative power of art
• access to an abundance of food whenever you need it
• friends and family who love you just the way you are

Happy Thanksgiving!

I belong to an online community of freelance writers, many of whom work at home (where it’s all too easy to stay in your bathrobe until 1 pm). Recently a group of them decided to do a “fashionista 30-day challenge”: they would make an effort to get dressed up every day–accessories, makeup, the whole deal.

I think this is a great idea, even if you work outside the home. Too often we get lazy, telling ourselves that it doesn’t really matter because we’re not going anywhere special, and it’s too much trouble. Or we get stuck in a rut, wearing the same boring ensemble day after day.

Why should you bother? Well, you’re getting dressed for yourself, first and foremost. There’s no denying that how you dress affects how you feel. In my high school drama class, our teacher used to make us wear skirts for roles that called for them, because they made us act and walk differently. Getting dressed in a flattering outfit, even if it’s just your best jeans, a great top, and your favorite bracelets, will make you feel good.

The key to success, as with so many things in life, is planning ahead. At least once a week, take some time to put together some outfits. Don’t plan on wearing each one on a specific day–you may not be in the mood for polka dots on Monday morning. Don’t worry about being overdressed–unless you’re wearing a ball gown to a breakfast meeting, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. (And I think a ball gown at breakfast could actually be very chic, if you have the nerve to pull it off.)

The holidays are the perfect time to start this challenge, as you’ll be in the habit of dressing up for parties anyway. Dressing up always helps create a festive mood–and let’s face it, during the holidays, what with the family and the shopping and the overeating, sometimes you need all the mood elevators you can get.