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Jul 2010  |  By Kathryn Achenbach  |  Comments (1)

Backstage Pass to Glamour

TAGS: August 2010 magazine, concert fashion, girls night out, accessories, DK Wardrobe

Summer concerts heat up Chicago and the North Shore in August. Show off your glam rock style by combining sweet and sexy, simple and daring.

"It's really fun to mix the unexpected and take a risk," says stylist Denise Kaplan. We agree. After all, that's what rock 'n' roll is all about.

The Rocker
Trish Cook, Winnetka

It’s an understatement to say teen fiction author Trish Cook loves music. “I play music, write music and take my kids to concerts,” she says. She even has her own band, the Holly Llamas. Kaplan and partner Renae Charalab wanted to give Cook an ‘80s rocker look with a twist of glamour. They kept things modern by using edgy accessories like a lace-up leather heel and layered jewelry.

Betsey Johnson tank dress, $318, Just Between Friends; Diane von Furstenberg black satin legging, sale $199, Bloomingdale’s; Jimmy Choo (Adore) Black leather high heel, $895; belt, stylist’s own; Vintage 5 Jewelry wrap black beaded necklace, $140, black wrap necklace with flower pendant, $170, vintage rhinestone bracelets with pendants, $140 each, vintage5jewelry.com; *Bark4Care wrap bracelet with “Stop Stigma” tree bark charm by Vintage 5 Jewelry, $40, Just Between Friends.

*Bark4Care, nonprofit organization that helps “bust the stigma” and raise mental health awareness.

The Party Girl
Gilat Zamost, Highland Park

As the co-owner of Highland Park’s upscale resale boutique My Best Friend’s Closet, Gilat Zamost knows her way around high fashion. It was love at first sight when she spotted this Alice + Olivia frock, which combines two hot trends: sequins and safari colors. Kaplan stresses that sequins are not just for black tie events. Embrace your inner magpie and dress them down with bold accessories like a chunky beaded necklace, oversized leather bag and platform slingbacks.

Alice + Olivia safari green sequin tube dress with ruffle detail, $495, Bloomingdale’s; Gastone Lucioli anthracite leather sling back, $333, Shirise; Vintage 5 Jewelry wrap gray necklace with pendant, $170, adjustable ring, $70, shoe buckle chain bracelet, $170, vintage5jewelry.com.

The Cool Cutie
Denise Ashurst, Winnetka

The chairperson of 2009’s GALApalooza, which raised $250,000 for the Parkways Foundation, Denise Ashurst is no stranger to the glitz of backstage. As she points out, a comfortable VIP concert seat and glass of wine is preferable to a sweaty mosh pit and plastic cup of beer. She dresses the part by adding some glittery gold to basic pieces. “Take something from your closet and add a little sparkle to it to take it to the next level,” Charalab says.

BCBG saffron long split-sleeve blouse, $148, black stretch belt with gold flower, $38, BCBG Boutique; M. Rena white lycra spaghetti strap cami, $30, Gray Boutique; True Religion Becky white jeans with gold chain pockets, $240, Macy’s; Jimmy Choo (Zeta) gold glitter wristlet clutch, $595, Jimmy Choo slingback open-toe heel in glitter gold, $495, Shirise; Vintage 5 Jewelry chain necklace, $250, beaded yellow-green turquoise bracelets, $25 each, vintage5jewelry.com.

The Urbanite
Laura Carlson, Winnetka

What does interior designer Laura Carlson like best about her look? “My 13-year-old daughter might actually think I’m cool.” We’re betting she will, Laura. A great-fitting pair of jeans paired with a dramatic top is the ultimate in sexy sophistication, Kaplan says. It’s comfort meets high fashion, and Carlson’s confidence is the sexiest accessory of all.

Rachel Roy bronze sequin top, $395, Bloomingdale’s; Hudson bootleg jean, $176, Fashion Flashbacks; Diane von Furstenberg opal wedge, $295, Jane August 57th Street metallic multi-color python handbag, $3,335, Shirise; Lisa Rosen Jewelry smoky quartz with sterling silver chain necklace, $250, lisarosen.com; Vintage 5 Jewelry bangle bracelet, $170, adjustable ring, $70, metallic nude button bracelet, $35, layered nude metallic beaded bracelets, $25 each, vintage5jewelry.com

Here's a video commentary of the photo shoot:

About the Stylists: Denise Kaplan & Renae Charalab

Award-winning stylist Denise Kaplan and Renae Charalab combined their passions for fashion and organization to create Denise Kaplan & Associates Wardrobe/Stylist Consultants. They specialize in personal shopping, image consultations, closet organization and special events for women, men and children across the country. They can be reached at 224-436-9704 or dkwardrobe@comcast.net.

Makeup: Cynde Hoffman, Owner/Artist, Cynde Cosmetics

Get an up close look at the accessories too!

Photography by Julie Floyd