Our Day with Will

Four(?) years ago I met Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar at a lovely and memorable dinner in New York City. We've stayed good blog friends, keeping up with one another's sites and careers, and it's been incredible watching his success grow. Danielle and I met up with him for lunch when we visited London this past fall, making it the second time we've ever hung out in person, and this month, he's been dotting across the United States promoting his new book! We were so excited Chicago was one of his stops, and he asked us to show him around the city on Sunday. The sites we visited were all going to be documented for a post on West Elm's blog Front and Main (they were hosting his book tour), so the talented Maura Stoffer was there to capture everything. It's really incredible seeing beautiful, candid photos from such a special day with friends.

Here's the tour we took Will on...

THE BEAN

MILLENNIUM PARK

WRIGLEY BUILDING/CHICAGO RIVER WALK

GT FISH & OYSTER for brunch

NORTH AVENUE BEACH

LINCOLN PARK

A NEW LEAF

HOTEL LINCOLN ROOFTOP

JAYSON HOME

REBAR at THE TRUMP HOTEL

BAVETTE'S for dinner

Seriously all must-see stops if you're ever in Chicago!

Check out Front and Main for more details including addresses and fun historical facts!

photos by Stoffer Photography

my new hairs

I've had my hair the same way since I was a sophomore in high school. Long, straight, natural light brown color with the exception of getting highlights twice. I've always liked it just fine minus its complete lack of volume and tendency to get oily within 24 hours of a wash. My friends tell me I haven't damaged it enough. Rats.

So all is well and fine. Then my Chicago Magazine Singles article came out, and someone–an unidentified Elizabeth–left the following comment:

Your outfit looks great. What's holding you back is that hair! Long straight hair ain't doin nothin for ya. Cut it off to shoulder length...get some layers going...graduate to a more sophisticated style.

Ouch.

Well, Elizabeth. Shoulder length will NEVER ever happen on this girl. I love long hair on women, myself in particular. I think it's feminine and sexy and fun to flip around when I'm dancing. That being said, I was desperate for SOMEONE to help me with my volume situation.

Enter Andreas Zafiriadis, Chicago's leading hair stylist and owner of Salon Buzz on East Delaware Street. I visited the Streeterville location and three hours later emerged with my "more sophisticated style." Behold.

This place sure is perty. Chandeliers, zebra wood, and all.

Let's. Do. A Makeover!

So Andreas saw me and immediately said I had a face for "thick fringe." i.e. bangs. Whoa I was not ready for that. Maybe one day. But what we did do is lots and lots of layers and a darker rinse (my first one ever).

three inches off all around, six inches off in layers.
darker, fuller, fresher.

go me!

i'm still learning how to style it. there are some serious layers in the front that barely even go back into a pony (ahh! whadoido?!) my sis says a round brush is necessary. so i need to learn how to use that... more details to follow.

what's the craziest thing you've ever done with your hair?

...more from L O L L A (because it was that good)

FRIDAY

i saw: crystal castles, imagine dragons (sound fail), hey marseilles, hot chip, the killers

the most beautiful things i ever did see. premium, ya'll.

 helloooo grant park!

and helloooo lolla lounge complete with chevron poufs and adirondack chairs

 crystal castles downing jameson on stage

the killers

SATURDAY

i saw: little green cars, ben howard, ellie goulding, mumford and sons

heading into the festival, i spotted my friend jess lively's handbag on a concertgoer!

the little green cars

close-up of handsome ben howard

panoramic view from the red bull stage. we were the only three people on the platform for ben howard. not too shabby.

and while watching mr. ben howard, we looked down and saw the set list for mumford. mindblown.

picked up some fest essentials courtesy of fruttare - #itsallgood

saw ellie goulding do her thang

then grabbed dinner in the lolla lounge with my girlfriends

onstage waiting for Mumford...

marcus, ben, ted, and winston. tip of the hat to you, sirs.

SUNDAY

i saw: the mowglies, two door cinema club, vampire weekend, phoenix

best possible weather


the mowglies where i ran into not one but THREE everygirl readers! holla!

two door cinema club

waiting to go on stage for vampire weekend

vampire weekend

phoenix

and we found this picture of phoenix performing on a different website. thought it gives a better idea of where we were when i say "onstage." it's actually a raised platform ABOVE the stage, but still.


oh and i made this pretty cool lil' video

or you can check out more details and photos on the everygirl

and i'm spent.