The buzz around Chicago clothing line Creatures of the Wind–it will be featured in the March issue of W, which is, needless to say, a Big Deal–is thanks to some savvy marketing and networking (not to mention great talent) from designers Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters. Their rise is concurrent with an increasing interest in Chicago designers, thanks to Michelle Obama and Maria Pinto, although their path is their own.

Read more about the line and the designers in my story in this week’s Chicago Reader, available online here.

According to the Today show this morning, Michelle Obama still has no idea what she is going to wear either to the inaugural ceremony or the balls. Instead, she’ll decide tomorrow morning–waiting until the last minute, as so many of us do. Unlike many of us, I’m sure she has a roomful of delicious dresses and gowns from adoring designers to choose from. Will she pick something by Chicago’s own Maria Pinto, or will she go with a more high-profile American designer? Whatever she picks, I am sure it will reflect her combination of down-to-earth style and a discerning eye for fashion.

Since Mrs. Obama has already brought so much attention to Chicago designers, I thought it would be interesting to ask another local designer what she would create for her to wear on Tuesday. Veronica Sheaffer is the design force behind Chicago women’s clothing label Coco Irene (the other half of the duo is business partner Taryn Parker), a line distinguished by romantic, vintagey details transposed onto contemporary contours.

Veronica came up with this extremely elegant yet modern fitted sheath featuring detachable train in back, which she calls “reminiscent of 60s Hollywood.” She chose the wide neckline to highlight Mrs. Obama’s “lovely neck and shoulders,” while the detailed seams around the bodice add a contemporary (even slightly edgy) touch. The fabric is a goldenrod damask, truly an unusual and eye-catching yet entirely appropriate choice.  Veronica calls it “royal and elegant,” two adjectives that can be applied to Mrs. Obama herself.

I love it. A beautiful design for the matriarch of the new First Family. Maybe Veronica and Taryn should send the sketch to the White House in case they need ideas for the next inauguration!

UPDATE: It looks like Veronica has her finger on the pulse! Mrs. Obama’s day dress is yellow and of a brocade fabric. It’s by the Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, and one report I saw said that it was not made for her but was actually bought at Ikram, the high-end Chicago designer boutique. More on Mrs. Obama’s inauguration fashion later.

In the sunroom of my great-aunt Mimi’s Chicago bungalow hung an image of a Christmas tree made entirely from broken brooches, discarded earrings, and other assorted bits of costume jewelry–a creation of her sister, my great-aunt Alice. I used to stare at it for hours, entranced by the glittering rhinestones and glass gems.

I thought of Alice’s jewelry tree when I saw Broad Street, Chicagoan Sara Bradstreet’s line of jewelry, and decided to include some of her pieces in the Chicago Reader gift guide last month. She trolls vintage stores for old costume jewelry and melds pieces together to form arresting new pieces, especially chunky cluster necklaces that are like exquisite bouquets.

I decided I wanted one for myself and stopped by her north-side studio to pick it up. One room is filled with trinkets and chains, which cover every surface and fill several jewelry boxes. It’s like pirates’ booty–if pirates were interested in fake gold, silver, and jewels.

There are monogrammed lockets, flowers studded with faux pearls, giant glass “rubies.”

Sarah says that occasionally she has an idea in mind, but that she usually “lets the piece tell me what it wants to be.” Indeed, looking at some of the jewelry, you start to wonder where it came from and the bosoms it might have been perched on. No wonder the pieces seem to have definite opinions about where they want to be.

She’ll also do custom pieces and will work in pieces that you already have. It’s a great way to give renewed life to those old broken pins and mismatched earrings a lot of us have lurking in our jewelry collections.

The designer herself.

I planned on buying “Marina,” a necklace featuring a swirling snail’s shell and a scallop shell, but I ended up preferring one with a flower motif. It features a gold butterfly on top with delicate wings that stand up and wave gently with movement–just like a real one. I love the way it is slightly asymmetrical too.

My birthday present to myself.

Broad Street jewelry is available in Chicago at Wolfbait & B-girls, 3131 W. Logan Boulevard, and Salon Blonde, 1643 W. North, and online at Etsy. Please note that if you see something you like, you should grab it–they tend to sell quickly.