Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Why we love Chic Gems

Tracy Martorello - Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Why We Love Chic Gems Etc?

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am attracted to classic, feminine, and color which was my main turn on to the jewelry line Chic Gems Etc. created Chicago designer Sarah Radford. Chic Gems classic styles produced in quartzes, turquoise, jasper, amethyst, pearl, glass, murano,and resin acrylic. The assortment of earrings, bracelets, and multiple length necklaces ranging from Chocker 14in-16in, Princess 18in, Matinee 24in, Opera 32-34in, and Rope 40in+ give any woman simple, fun, and flirtatious flare.


Starting the line in 2006, Chic Gems can be found in a dozen stores through out the Chicago and Cleveland area including the Haute Hideout. If the colors, beautiful stones, and wallet friendly price points ($20- $140) are not reason enough to acquire a piece from Chic Gems, Radford is an active philanthropist and supports many not-for-profits including Make A Wish Foundation, Avon Walk, Kid Power, Leukemia & LymphomaSociety, Imerman Angels often creating one of a kind pieces to support the charities fundraising needs.


Sarah believes,” that anything you can dream can be reality with hard work and alittle bit of luck.”



Please checkout another one of our favorite blogs from Sarah Radford at http://www.bestprofessionaldesignerfashionjewelry.com/

The Haute Hideout will look forward to hosting Chic Gems Trunk Show Saturday December 20 and Sunday December 21, 2008 12pm – 5pm check out the website with more from Chic Gems at www.hautehideout.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Social in the City

Fashionistas,

I hope your week is clear for some of Chicago’s best events in shopping, fashion, and networking. Wednesday Venus Zine winter magazine launch party at the Lakeview Broadcasting Company. Thereis sure to be flowing glasses of free liquid, cool characters, and of coarse hautehipsters. Our camera’s will be ready to capture the beginning of Chicago’s snowman season as we are expected to find some of this seasons IT items such as scarves, boots, leggings, and of coarse the search for the hippest hats.

Thursday is a double booking of two fashion shows Lumen 6:30pm to9:00pm Register early http://gogreenholidayevent.eventbrite.com/ This event is a combination of Go Green, networking, and of coarse fashion.

Also on the list for the evening is Havilah Passion for FashionHoliday Charity Event Runway Show at Galleria Unico 7pm to 10pm rsvp at fashionshow@zapwater.com Quick cab rides between the two gigs, I think so.

Thursday through Sunday is the much-anticipated One of a Kind Showat the Merchandise Mart. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in the fashion and textile specialty of the show last year. The show however became all worth it when I found a scarf like none other from textile designer Jill Wagoner. Her work is done with silk in a process called marbling. Jill’s work is soamazing I am going to pick up a few pieces for the Haute Hideout, besides that she is close to impossible to find.

If you are in the market for furniture I defiantly suggest the One of a Kind Show. Last year I saw some beautiful hand carved pieces ranging from table to rockers. First word to mind, craftsmanship something defiantly hard to find these days.

The weekend will wrap up with the free DIY Renegade CraftShow December 6-7 at Pulaski Park. Renegade is such a good hit for the holiday season grabbing those items that you can always use such as cards, handmade soaps, silkscreen t-shirts, baked good, and naturally this event supports local artist.

I will look forward to seeing the friends of The Daily Hauteness at these events.



Peace, Love, and Ugg Boots

Tracy
www.hautehideout.com

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Streetwalking Tokyo, Japan


Tokyo, Japan
Originally uploaded by Tracy Martorello
Guns and Roses Seeks Japanese Front Man.

John Galliano Paris France

I was just browsing through some travel photos and I wanted to send one of my favorite to my blog a photo of the John Galliano window taken in Paris.

Peace, Love, and Galliano's High Heels

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Neo- Con and the Haute Hideout

I spent the last few days at Neo- Con an interior design tradeshow which was flooded with about 40,000 architects, engineers, interior designers, retailers, manufactures and who ever else may have slipped pass the Nazi security. Probably the highlight (besides all of the nicely suited men) was canstruction and exhibit combining caned food and architecture. I scooped the entire show, but when I was a bit tired of the crowds, sales staff, and commercial furniture I sought refuge to a few interior showrooms followed by a lap around the Apparel Center. I did find some amazing trim and I cannot wait to place an order. Look out for some badass pieces to come. I found some fun, colorful, and funky rugs which I am planning on buying except I need to buy at least 5, so if anyone is in the market for a designer rug slip me a note and I can pass some photo’s along. The 2x3 are about $90 each. Think Anthropology meets Missoni. For once I was with thousands of others who are that excited about rugs, although I did almost pass out from boredom talking to carpet reps. I don’t care how high tech and eco-friendly your carpet is I’m just not interested subjecting clients to an eye soar. When I think of carpet I think of germs. Hardwood and concrete are in find the example at my condo. Don’t be afraid to take a razor and slice that fug right out of any room, I did.
My next highlight was my invite to a 46,000 sq foot Asian interior showroom. Trust me I cannot wait to spend my entire day there! This also happens to be the supplier to nearly all of the Asian antique/ import retailers in Chicago. I’m hopping that I can see a replica of an Asian mansion when I enter this place. Although I was assured it is not quite as glamorous as the showroom at the Merchandise Mart.
As much as I could have stayed till the show closed, and free cocktail hours I could not stand to be in the air-conditioning a second longer. . I seriously ran to the exit I was so cold.
Next on the hideout. The doors have been open at the Haute Hideout and the customers are starting to slowly find their way into the mystery shop that has been a mystery for a few too may months. I’ve become acquainted with most of the neighborhood business owners and the other tenants in my building.
Over the weekend business was good with foot traffic, and today Wednesday is a bit slower. Ha! Well I didn’t even really plan on being open Wednesday’s anyway. So take that Belmont foot traffic. I did however finish pricing and tagging all of my merchandise, work on advertising, browsed the fall collections (oh yeah!) and I got to chat with a cute guy who works at the music store a couple doors down. The story of a store to be continued………

Peace, Love, and Ballet Flats

Friday, March 21, 2008

Haute?

“What is ness? Its your name plus ness.”
Randolph Dupree, You, Me and Dupree

At least once a week I rise and shine early around 9am, have breakfast at Tiffany’s, grab a large coffee to go at Vella, and take a brisk mile walk to my bank. At this hour of the day I’m hardly organized beyond deposits only because they have to be done. Naturally as I approach the teller I do not have my account information and I just hand them the debit and ask, “the account number with this card?”
This is when the look when fear meets question from the teller followed by my look of fear and question of what is wrong with my account? “Hhuuu??? Ms. Mar? Oh yes the Hideout!”
Hideout the quick escape from the worse of the two evils how to pronounce my last name, Martorello or the word haute. Over the past few months I’ve started a relationship with the word haute. A term often used in fashion, cuisine, or the country France. I’ve come to the conclusion most people have herd the terms haute couture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haute_couture and haute cuisine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haute_cuisine but are unfamiliar with what it actually means. Luxurious, extravagant, and high,
The bigger question everyone will ask is, “ How the hell do you pronounce haute?”
I started a business which I named the Haute Hideout, a hip fashionable boutique in Chicago’s already up and soon to be trendy Roscoe Village (http://www.roscoevillage.org/). I thought it was a fun and fashionable name, had my business papers filed with the state, and then figured out nobody I knew could pronounce it. My friends are fun they say haute, smile but still have that question mark floating around their heads. My people in the fashion trade often comment that it is a clever name and that I have a cute business card.
The common way often referred to in pop culture is to just pronounce it as hot. Those of us with some fashion or French often say, “ hoe t.” The proper way according to answers.com is, “oh t.”
For better reference and voice verification check out http://www.answers.com/haute%20 .
This is just the very beginning of my journey into hauteness. If you care to join me slip into your highest heels, cozy Ugg boots, or whatever makes YOU feel HAUTE.

Peace, Love, and Rain Boots

Tracy