October 30, 2025
Chicago Fashion Vanguard Launch Event
The Curio (hosting this gallery on behalf of CFV), the real estate partners behind the redevelopment of The Field Building (DL3 Realty, Riverside Investment & Development and AmTrust RE), along with ESP Presents, joined forces with a newly launched nonprofit, the Chicago Fashion Vanguard (CFV), led by a collective of fashion & event industry leaders (including Curio’s two principals Maggie Gillette & Ian Gerard) and Christine Griffith (Principal, Monte Vista) and Dave Jeff, to unveil Chicago Fashion Reimagined—an ambitious multi-year initiative designed to position The Loop as a world-class fashion destination.
The invitation-only event, which included Curio VIP Members, drew leaders from The City, and its associated agencies, as well as from the real estate, business, and fashion verticals + cultural influencers to The Chairman’s Room at The Field Building.
The evening included a live model presentation showcasing looks from six Chicago-based designers including Christina Karin, GREYVI, NICZKA and St. Jaymes, as well as designers from the recent Why Not Petites show: Jayie Chou and In Between Branches.
The event was made possible with beautiful floral arrangements from Hola Lola Floral Co, custom Chicago Fashion candles created by WIXS on Northwood, as well as beverage partners Blacklisted Brandy, Mmmm….Enjoy Wines, and Tequila 1349.
Some Event Coverage: Women’s Wear Daily, Commercial Real Estate News & JWC Media Group.
Photos courtesy of Enrique Villalon & Alex Callejo
To get involved, find out more, and stay in “The Loop” visit here (and drop us your email) or email: ian.alexandre.gerard@gmail.com
Rian Walker, Michael Edwards, Christine Griffith
The Field Building
Leon & Rian Walker and Tina & Patrick Kearney
Marijka Muñoz
Maggie Gillette & Ian Gerard with 10 MGMT Models
Jamie Hayes, Bob & DeAnna Spoerl, Gnivol Loving
Ariana West & Models in NICZKA & GREVYI
Fashion Influencer Amy Anderson
Christine Griffith & Tom Anderson
Tom Cullerton & Guest
Assia & Soumaya Bayoud
Ian Gerard with Ariana West, Lily Rozenstrauch, Jackie Marro & Emma Hauschild
DL3's Ryan Green & Guest
Beautiful custom WIXS on Northwood Chicago Fashion Vanguard Fashion Candle
Awvee Storey, Juhie Faheem, Christine Griffith
Leen Gundogdu of KIVANCHI
Rian Walker, Corey Williams, Shannon Sims & Joshua Johnson
Deputy Commissioner Bria Purdiman
Leaders 1345's Shannon Sims
Look from GREVYI
Leon Walker, Saira Mohan, Christine Bower, Tom Cullerton
Designer Jamie Hayes (Production Mode)
Look from St. Jaymes with lovely Hola Lola Florals
Bria Purdiman (DCASE), Tyler Clark (United Airlines) & Ari Gibson (Loop Alliance)
Photographer John Fromstein arrives
Ana Grecci
DL3 Realty's Dana Probst
Designer Jermikko Shoshanna & Photographer Denise Belyea
Stephanie St. Jaymes with Noami Padhilla & Guest
Rosalind Brumant
Tom Cullerton & Brian Bernardoni with Guest
Marjika Munoz in In Between Branches
Kathryn Bridges
Jennifer Parkinson & Costume Council President Karen Peters
Model in Jayie Chou
Joshua Johnson
Rian & Leon Walker and Christine Giffith
Gninvol Loving
Brooke Christensen
Juliann Brown
Corey Williams (GREVYI) & Kathryn Finney
Nate Swift (President, Barkley OKPR)
Model in NICZKA
Ariana West & Lily Rozenstrauch
Christy Russell
Stylist J. Fausto
Christina Monley (Christina Karen) & Husband Cy
Sasha Hirschberg & Emma Hauschild
Photographer Denise Belyea & Guest
Designer Stephane St. Jaymes & Photographer Jordan Smith
Bayoud Twins
Look from GREVYI
Model Raji Chadha
Rebecca Sexton, Don Scott & Laura Gladfelter
AIBI Exec Dir, Nicole Ruiz
Leon & Rian Walker, Wendell Harris (Chicago Community Trust) & Vince Bass
Model in St. Jaymes
Stylist Alisa Marie & Loop Alliance's Ari Gibson
Lizzy Lopez (Tequila 1349)
Maggie Gillette & 10 MGMT Models
Model in Jayie Chou
Model in Christina Karin
Ali Tamashiro & David Sanchez (10 MGMT CEO)
Look from NICZKA
Designer Jayie Chou
Melissa Carr
Photographers Sonny Black & Jordan Smith
Models from Christina Karin, NICZKA & Jayie Chou above main floor
DJ Andrew Email (Change Request)
Designer Anastasia Electra
Rian Walker Speaking
DL3's Rian Walker & 10 MGMT Models
Juliann Brown & WIX's on Northwest's Jennifer Leslie-Bukowski
Select Model Naomi Padhilla
Loop Alliance CEO Michael Edwards
Nicole Ruiz (Exec Dir, AIBI) & Melissa Carr (Dominican Univ., Fashion Studies Dept Chair)
Rosalind Brumant & Rhonda "Byrdie" Pulphus
Designer Jermikko Shoshanna & Andy Cwik
Matt Woodburn, Sarah Neukom, Ian Gerard
Erica Severson & Amy Anderson
10 MGMT Models in Christina Karin, NICZKA, St. Jaymes (both), GREYVI (both), Christina Karin, Jayie Chou, In Between Branches & NICZKA
Looks from GREVYI
Tye Radcliffe, Abel Rodriguez & John Rogers
Model in look from NICZKA
Designer Anastasia Electra & Guests
Jennifer Leslie-Bukowski (WIXS on Northwood)
DL3's Rian Walker
Christine Griffith
Top Chicago Fashion Influencer Amy Anderson (and invitation cover model)
Maggie Gillette & Ian Gerard
Maggie Gillette
10 MGMT Models
Blacklisted Brandy's Draga Culic with Curio's Falaknaz Chyrna & Jackie Marro
Letty Sparrow's DeAnna Speorl
Photography Sonny Black & Guests
Tom Cullerton, Corey Williams, Rebecca Sexten & Laura Gladfelter
Rian Walker & Christine Grifith
Ian Gerard
ESP Presents Matt Woodburn & Sarah Neukom
Florodora's Michael Blossom
Marjika Munoz, J. Fausto & Guest
Kevin Ross
Chiara Meakon & Mmmm...Enjoy Prosecco!
Juhie Faheem with Melissa Kennedy & one of the Bayoud Twins
Photographers Enrique Villalon, Jordan Smith & Sonny Black
Danielle Risi and Kelsey Denczek
Modern Luxury's Melissa Kennedy
Stylist Alisa Marie & photography Sonny Black
Matt Woodburn, Ian Gerard, Maggie Gillette & Christina Griffth
Looks from NICSKA & GREVYI
Sasha Hirschberg & Kate Lubbe
Designer Stephane St. Jaymes & Models in his looks
Models line upper walkway in The Chairman's Room
Kathryn Finney & Jadey Ryndak
Chiara Meakin & Brian Bernardoni
Designer Christina Karin & Models in Her Looks
Designer Jayie Chou & Model in her look
Christina Monley & husband Cy
Stylist Alisa Marie & Guest
Brooke Christensen
Look from NICZKA
Look from GREVYI
Christina Schulz, Jayie Chou & Kee Banks-White
DeAnna Spoerl & Kathryn Bridges
Rhonda Brydie Pulphus (SSOF)
Fashion Chair Melissa Carr (Dominican Un)
Designer/Actor Corey Williams (GREVYI)
Stylist Alisa Marie & Raji Chadha
Sasha Hirschberg, Emma Hauschild & Rebecca Gerber
Guest, Denise Belyea & Leen Gundogdu (KIVANCHI)