November 2011

d i g ita l

e d it i o n

november 2011

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Our 2nd Anniversary Issue

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thanks for

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hilanthropy is more than ball gowns and galas. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finding a cause you believe in, something worth your time and money.

Our philanthropists started with a problem: Why isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lung cancer research getting funded? How do we give kids a hands-on place to learn? How can underserved families in Lake County best be helped?

These were problems that kept them up at night.

And each of these people decided to stop mulling and start doing. They have given deeply of themselves to improve our communities and the lives of others.

By Do rothy An drie s , L au r en H eist, L au r a Hin e , Liz Logan , Susan B . Noye s an d L au r a Tieb ert Photog r aph ed

by Jo h n R eilly Hair an d m ak eu p

by J u le s Ross

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Dolores Kohl founder, dolores kohl foundation

Highland Park

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“

—SBN

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hildren are the messages we send to generations that we will never see,” says Dolores Kohl.

Dolores Kohl twinkles as she explains the mission and accomplishments of the Dolores Kohl Education Foundation. Regionally, the initiatives include the Kohl Children’s Museum, the Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards and the Story Bus, a traveling pre-literacy skills development exhibit. It also includes many international arts and education programs.

A teacher’s heart leads Dolores. Her charm and executive skills lead others to support her educational vision.

Dolores grew up in Wisconsin, where her brother now serves as a U.S. Senator. She raised her two sons in Highland Park, taught fourth grade in Highwood and launched her foundation in 1972.

Now a grandmother of six, Dolores also serves as a trustee of her late husband Morris Kaplan’s foundation.

Her goals include “encouraging as many of the best and brightest as possible to go into teaching, using great teachers to mentor others, and promoting whole-child assessment and development—not just teaching to a test,” she says.

Dolores’ belief that a strong early childhood education is the most cost-effective way to create better futures for all was ahead of its time. Fortunately her vision, generosity and leadership have developed outstanding platforms to accomplish her dream now.

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Fritz and Tracy Souder, and Donna Sims Wilson

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decade ago, the Kohl Children’s Museum occupied a retro-fitted bowling alley on Green Bay Road in Wilmette. Today, it’s located on an 8.8acre parcel of land in Glenview and has been named one of the ten best children’s museums in the country by Parents magazine.

Kohl would never have grown into such a grand, treasured North Shore institution without the help of Fritz and Tracy Souder, and Donna Sims Wilson.

“We first visited the museum when it was on Green Bay Road,” Fritz says.

His twin boys, now 12, were just starting to walk, and they loved it, “as all kids do,” he recalls. At the time, the museum was transitioning from being Kohl-family-funded to communityfunded, and Fritz was eager to get involved. A board member for the past 10 years, Fritz was a major force behind the $23 million capital campaign that allowed the museum to move to its current, Silver-level-LEED-certified building in 2005. He has chaired the board for the past two years.

“The challenge was to show the

community we were not trying to do a North Shore playland, but an educational center,” says Fritz, managing director and a founder of the private equity firm RCP Advisors.

Another force behind-the-scenes of that capital campaign was Donna Sims Wilson, executive vice president of the investment banking firm CastleOak Securities. This fall, she’s taking over Fritz’s role as chair. She has served on the board since 2001, and for many years she put her business savvy to work as chair of the finance committee, modernizing the institution’s finances and “being a good steward,” she says.

Meanwhile, Fritz’s wife, Tracy, has her own philanthropic endeavors, serving on several boards. Together Fritz and Tracy are supporters of the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation and this year they chaired Kohl’s 25th anniversary “An Evening to Imagine” benefit in October.

Like the museum, the event was family-friendly, and children were welcomed. Tracy says, “We want to tie the generations together, and reinvent the generations of giving.”

—LL & LT

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Glenview

Jill Feldman Past President, LUNGevity Foundation

Deerfield

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ill Feldman doesn’t look or act like the victim of a cruel irony.

She lost both her parents and two grandparents to lung cancer before she was 28. Jill saw the stigma surrounding lung cancer (it’s associated so strongly with smoking that people often assume it’s preventable), so she became involved in LUNGevity in 2001. The organization had just lost four of its founders to lung cancer, before it could even have its first benefit.

“Unfortunately, that’s often the way it goes with this disease,” Jill says. “There’s no time for advocacy when 85 percent of patients are diagnosed in Stage IV.” Working as a volunteer, Jill started the organization’s successful golf outing, and began organizing fundraising walks.

Now, the organization hosts hundreds of yearly events across the country. In 2007, when her friend and LUNGevity founder Missy Zagon died at 39, Jill stepped in as president. But just two years later, the non-smoking mother of four was diagnosed with lung cancer.

“I said to my board, ‘I did not approve this,’ ” says Jill when talking about the shock of the diagnosis. “It’s still surreal,

but my doctors were closely monitoring me and when a nodule changed, they operated to remove the cancer.”

She left the board last summer, but remains an active volunteer. “The organization needed to outgrow me, and it did,” she recalls.

When we met for this interview, Jill’s doctors had identified a second change in one of her scans. She was scheduled for surgery at the end of September.

The nodule they removed was cancerous, but Jill notes, “The good news is that it was small and I lost minimal tissue.” Her surgeons were also able to use a less-invasive technique than originally planned so her recovery should be faster, but probably not fast enough for this busy mom.

“The real urgency comes with my children,” she says. “I don’t want them to go through losing a parent or getting their own diagnosis.” Her children range in age from 9 to 14, and she was about to tell them about her latest scan and her upcoming surgery.

“You have two choices,” she says.

“Let the cancer win or do everything in your power to fight it.”

—LH

Kim Duchossois The duchossois family foundation

Barrington

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hen three generations of a family unite in purpose, great things can happen. For the Duchossois family, who own a conglomeration of businesses based in Elmhurst, the desire to make a difference is embodied in their family’s foundation, which is headed by Kim Duchossois.

“My father and brother asked me to take this on,” she says. She convened a family retreat with three generations and an outside facilitator to shape the foundation’s mission and best decide how they could make an impact.

Kim’s mother died of cancer in 1980, so the family embraced cancer research and patient advocacy as one cause they wanted to support.

“We have a partnership with the University of Chicago to research metastatic cancer,” Kim says.

Beverly Duchossois was a patient at the University of Chicago Medical Cen-

ter and in her honor, the family provided $21 million to build the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine. We wanted to do something significant and transformational,” Kim says.

The family also donated $10 million to sponsor the creation of the American Cancer Society Patient Navigation Services, a nationwide program that serves millions of cancer patients who need guidance and support.

“We wanted to do something significant and transformational,” Kim says.

“And we hope to continue these partnerships into the next generation.”

Part of that next generation is Kim’s niece Ashley Joyce, who established the family’s relationship with Metropolitan Family Services.

“The relationships you build and the people you’re exposed to—it’s a gift,” Kim says. “It’s wealth that comes back emotionally when you get involved in a cause you believe in.”

—LH

Ellie Clarke coFounder and Past President, Women’s Board of Catholic Charities of Lake County

Lake Forest

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n 1974, Ellie Clarke’s 9-year-old daughter died of a brain tumor. In the wake of her daughter’s death, Clarke says her own life felt meaningless.

“I thought about it a lot. What was I going to do? I wasn’t just going to sit around weeping all day,” remembers Clarke.

So she began volunteering, first at Children’s Memorial Hospital, where her daughter had passed away, and then at various other organizations.

In 1989, Clarke heard that Catholic Charities of Lake County wanted to start a Women’s Board to increase the organization’s visibility on the North Shore, and Clarke volunteered to be the first president, since she had experience on the Women’s Board at Children’s Memorial.

She started by helping to organize a luncheon to educate other women about the need for social services in low-income communities in Lake County.

“Nobody thought about North Chicago or Waukegan or the areas in the west,” Clarke says. “It was an eye-opener for many of these women.”

At their first benefit, the board raised $40,000. Today, the board raises about $250,000 to $300,000 a year. The money

supports four main causes: Samaritan House, a transitional shelter in North Chicago for single women and children; the Emergency Food Pantry in Waukegan; the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which helps low-income women find housing and jobs; and the Christmas Gift Program, which provides Christmas gifts to more than 13,000 needy families in Lake County.

Although the group is allied with the Catholic Church, the programs supported by the Women’s Board help people of all faiths.

Over the last 22 years, Clarke has been heavily involved in the group’s fundraising efforts, and she’s done hands-on volunteering for the programs. “I loved being with the people,” she says. “That’s where you feel like you’re making a difference.”

In addition to her efforts with Catholic Charities, Clarke also volunteers with Camp Independence, a summer camp in Ingleside for children with spina bifida; Horizon Hospice in Chicago; and, of course, Children’s Memorial.

“I feel it’s very important to give back,” Clarke says. “I’ve always been blessed and had a wonderful life.”

—LH

Jane Lepauw Founder and president, benjamin marshall society

Northbrook

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his is a love story: the story of a couple who fell in love with the beauty, the balance and the philosophy of a Chicagobased architect who died before either of them was born. Their enthusiasm became the catalyst for establishing The Benjamin Marshall Society.

Jane Lepauw, who grew up in Northbrook, and her Parisian husband Didier Lepauw, became enamored with Marshall’s work in 2001 when the two realtors landed the listing of Landsdowne Estate, a nine-bedroom home designed by Marshall in 1911 on 21 acres along Lake Michigan in Lake Bluff.

As they researched the property they discovered the man behind the Georgian mansion. “His architecture was better known than he was,” Jane says, ticking off Marshall-designed buildings like the Drake and Blackstone Hotels; the Blackstone (now Merle Reskin) Theatre; South Shore Country Club; the Edgewater Beach Hotel, razed in 1967; and the apartments, which still stand.

“His home studio across from the

Baha’i Temple in Wilmette is gone,” Jane says, “but in 2012 we mark the 100th anniversary of 1550 N. State Parkway, which he designed and owned.”

Born on Chicago’s South Side, Marshall was inspired to become an architect

by Daniel Burnham’s White City at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. His firm, Marshall & Fox, embraced neo-classical style and its Beaux-Arts principles of beauty, balance and embellishment.

The Lepauws founded Benjamin Marshall Society in 2002. After a few small teas at the Drake, the society held its first black-tie benefit there last March. Attended by 370 guests, it raised $256,000.

“Our first goal is to create a coffee table book about Marshall,” Lepauw says.

“Then we plan to give a scholarship to a student at the University of Notre Dame to research Benjamin Marshall.”

She smiles, adding, “We want the name and legacy of this wonderful Chicago architect to be as well known as his buildings. We love him and are sure when others get to know him they will, too.”

—DA

60 second solutions: 6 Quick Tips for Tech Support Mamas

By Kimberly Carroll

Truth, Scam or Hoax?

When you see a Facebook post, urban legend or email with a suspicious sounding claim, it’s easy to see if it’s for real.

Go to snopes.com and search for the claim. For example, last month’s flurry over the “new” Facebook fees for users was not real. Source material is posted along with detailed backup on the true or false decision.

Extend Your WiFi Range At Home If you’re wishing your home wifi had a little more reach, say that corner of the family room that doesn’t quite work, try moving your wireless broadcaster to a higher location, such as the top of a bookcase. The elevation will help your device throw its signal further.

Find Your iPhone (or iPad) Tech Mama admits to using this tip to locate devices inside her own home, but it’s equally useful when forgotten in a restaurant or if swiped by an evildoer.

If you’re already a MobileMe user, simply activate Find My Phone. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > .Mac > and turn Find My iPhone on.

For the rest of you, you will need the Apple ID and password you use to sign into iTunes. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > and tap Add Account.

Choose MobileMe and use your Apple ID login and password, then follow the onscreen instructions.

To find your device, login to MobileMe at me.com and click Find My Phone. Your phone’s location will show on a map, and you can lock it, wipe it, or send a message and activate a loud sound that evokes a submarine homing pitch, even if it’s on silent mode.

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Get Customer Service on Twitter Comcast acting up? Wondering how the power outage is coming along? Avoid the long phone hold-times and head to Twitter for system updates and direct assistance. @comcastcares @ComEd @ATTCustomerCare @ VzWSupport A handy user to follow is @downrightnow, which monitors many popular services including Gmail, YouTube, Netflix and Facebook and will broadcast outages. Not a Twitter user? You can also find them at downrightnow.com.

Take A Screen Shot Screen shots come in handy, whether capturing an odd error message or saving something cool from the web.

Windows users Look for the PrintScreen button on your keyboard.

Pressing this key makes a copy of your entire screen to your clipboard, which can then be pasted into an email or word document.

To get only the front window, add the ALT key.

Email a Group, Keep Emails Private When sending invitations, or forwarding messages to a group of friends, you can keep their email addresses private by putting your email address in the “to” line and putting their email addresses in the “bcc” line.

Mac Users You will need to press 3 keys: command key + shift key + 4 key. This will turn your cursor into a + sign.

Now press the spacebar and the + turns into a camera. Click on the window you want to capture and you will hear a shutter sound. The file is saved to your desktop.

more tech mama For more tech mama tips, visit makeitbetter.net/tech-mama

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backyard ice rink A hockey fanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream come true

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By Beth Engelman Photos by Nathaniel Perry

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ooking for a unique way to fight cabin fever this winter?

Consider building a backyard ice rink. For Wilmette resident Kevin Smale, having his own ice rink has become a dream come true.

“I’ve always wanted an ice rink,” says the Canadian native and father of three, “but I never thought about making it happen.”

Smale acquired his backyard rink after attending a fundraiser for his children’s school.

“I didn’t go to the fundraiser thinking I’d buy an ice rink,” he says. “But when it came up for auction, I jumped at the chance.”

For Smale, the best part of having the rink is doing something he loves with his children, Paulina, Clark and Raquel. “Sure, it’s great to get them outside and away from

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the TV,” he says, “but for me, the best part is just being with them on the ice. At night, we turn on the lights, turn up the music and play.”

In addition to the ice rink, Smale also won an afternoon practice session with former NHL player and U.S. Olympian, Ted Drury. During the practice, Smale’s children, along with their friends and neighbors, had a chance to play against the hockey great, which included a “nail-biting” shoot-out with Drury as goalie.

When I asked Smale’s wife, Michelle, if she ever imagined that one day she would watch her children play hockey in their own backyard, she gave me a knowing smile. “Well,” she says, “I’m married to Kevin, so nothing surprises me when it comes to hockey.”

5 tips for building your own backyard ice rink Interested in building a hockey rink in your backyard? It’s not as hard as you think. Just be sure to consider these issues before moving forward with your decision.

Size Consider how much open space you have in your backyard or front yard. To ensure there is enough room to skate comfortably, the ice rink should be at least 20-by-40 feet.

Access to Water Water is needed for filling and resurfacing the rink, so be sure to position the rink near an accessible water source.

Distance from House Flying pucks happen, so it’s a good idea to position the rink away from the house. Experts suggest placing the rink parallel to the house, making it less likely for stray pucks to hit your home.

Levelness and Pitch You want your rink to be level, so it’s best to make sure the pitch of your backyard is less than six inches. However, it’s possible to build an ice rink on a steeper pitch depending on how much water you want to use and how much siding you’ll need.

Cost Small starter rinks can cost between $300 and $800. Custommade rinks are more expensive, easily costing $10,000 or more.

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Thank you to Signature Contractors for helping us with this list. For more information about the company, visit signaturecontractors.com

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tricks of the trade: the master bath

B y Kr i s t i n a Tob e r

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ow many of us really love our master bath? We asked three design experts for their advice on how to make the master bath the tranquil, functional and fabulous space you deserve it to be. As with any scenario, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the dream and then the reality.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky enough to redo your master bath, here are some rules for renovating.

Choose what you want—not what you think a prospective homebuyer wants.

“You’re going to use your bathroom every day and if you are making the investment in renovation, make it a room you will love every single day,” insists Peggy Schweller, an independent design consultant in Lake Forest. Instead of the standard double vanity, one client asked for a single sink. By adding a marble apron and adding heft with furniture styling, she was able to give the single vanity ample substance while saving space for a larger shower and commode with a door.

Think outside the box.

Victoria Lidstrom and Carol Carani of Leggy Bird Designs encourage taking a 30

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second look at your floor plan to maximize space, natural light and comfort. Where can you add or enlarge a window? Can you bump out a wall to make room for a larger tub? Can you transform dead space in a wall into a built-in dressing table or inset shelving?

Put your money where it will have the most impact. And remember, quality first, since this is one room that gets a lot of use.

From heated floors to detailed edging on your stone, find a balance between function and aesthetics. Kathleen Nelson, senior designer at nuHaus, helps clients achieve their design goals within budget. For example, instead of using a custom paint finish, she’ll suggest furniture detailing and distinctive hardware. Or

she might recommend a freestanding tub in- and think about the effect this color will have stead of a decked whirlpool. when you look at your face in the mirror.

Don’t skimp when it comes to the tile guy.

Water can be your worst enemy, so make sure to use a reputable tile and stone installer.

Ask them if they’re using the proper wallboard behind your shower walls. Are they pitching the shower flwwwoor to ensure good drainage? Is the veining in the marble being book-matched so it flows at the seams?

But what if you don’t have a renovation in your future? There’s still hope …

Start with the knobs and move on to the faucets.

Even if you’re committed to your cabinets and countertops, changing out your vanity, tub and shower faucets and fixtures can transform dated and faded to classic and clean, and rarely involves more than a couple of hours of the plumber’s time. Keep it simple by noting the current faucet setup (for example, singlehole mounting versus three; wall- or deckmounted) and sticking with it. Same goes for the cabinet knobs or pulls, and all you’ll need is a screwdriver.

Paint is the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to make a major design impact.

When choosing your paint color and finish, Nelson stresses the importance of connecting the materials in your bathroom through tone and substance. For example, pair creamy marble with a soft paint finish to keep the space serene and give it a timeless quality. Take into account the colors in your marble or granite,

After paint, lighting could be the easiest thing to switch out or add in.

From a functional standpoint, Nelson adds that you need more than just overhead lighting that can cast shadows on the face. Side lighting is important for shaving and applying makeup. And always use dimmers.

Feel free to choose lighting that adds glamour and impact, and remember that unless the light is in the shower, you can expand beyond bathroom fixtures. For one client, Schweller chose an oversized polished nickel lantern to add formality and sophistication to a master bath. She paired this with simple candle sconces above the tub, making sure to stick with the same finish for her lighting, plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware to ensure a clean look.

Add a personal touch The gals from Leggy Bird Designs like to balance hard and slick bathroom surfaces with softer textures. Ditch the bathroom mat and lay a luxurious rug in a style that complements your bathroom. Wallpaper the back of your linen closet in a fun pattern, even hang a precious oil painting above the commode. If your kids use your tub, make sure there’s a comfortable chair for you to sit on while they’re soaking. And don’t forget to dress your windows for more than just privacy. If you’re concerned about moisture, use an outdoor fabric—there are hundreds to choose from.

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thinking about updating your bathroom?

Check out these resources from our Better List: Airoom 847-629-4909 6825 N. Lincoln Avenue Lincolnwood airoom.com 

Lynch Construction 847.295.1825 100 N. Skokie Highway Lake Bluff lynchconstruction.biz 

Apex Kitchen and Bath 847.965.8330 7946 N.Waukegan Road Niles apexkitchens.com 

nuHaus Kitchen & Bath Design 847.831.1330 1665 Old Skokie Road Highland Park nuhaus.com 

Coda, LLC 847.920.9700 631 Lake Avenue Wilmette codallc.net  Delta C. Construction, Inc. 847.482.1800 1212 Ranch Road Lake Forest deltac.us 

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Stuart D. Shayman Associates 847.441.7555 1780 Ash Street Northfield shaymanarchitects.com  Sutherland Builders 847.446.6523 605 Happ Road Northfield sutherlandhomes.com 

A Wilmette couple tackles their largest home renovation project to date Story and photos by Tate Gunnerson

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the house whisperers

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tanding in the handsome formal entry of Brian and Tami Quinn’s five-bedroom Spanish Revival home in Wilmette, it’s difficult to believe that the 1920s-era house looked like a tear down when they first toured the place less than two years ago.

“Water had been seeping into the interior walls from leaking gutters, so plaster was crumbling, wallpaper was sagging and floors were buckling,” Tami says. But the formal layout, spacious room sizes and solid brick construction convinced the serial renovators to overlook the home’s dilapidated condition. “We knew that this place could really be something special and we decided to save it,” Tami says.

In this conversation with Make It Better, Tami Quinn shares their story.

With so much visible damage, were you worried about problems that might not be so obvious?

In an old home, you never know what they’re going to find when they take down the walls, so we brought in a contractor who confirmed that the house was built like a fortress and had a good foundation. Plus, the basement was bone dry—no cracks, seepage or effervescence, and it had a 9-foot ceiling, so we knew we wouldn’t have to dig down into the foundation in order to finish it.

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Did you have a plan for dealing with potentially unexpected budget-busting issues?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so important that renovators get multiple bids and contractors. Your contractor will be your best friend for the next 12 months, so you better like him. Can you trust this person? Will he deliver? Will he be the type to nickel and dime you? We found a contractor who seemed hungry for the job and was willing to meet us halfway.

We knew that this place could really be something special and we decided to save it.

In addition to the renovation, you also remodeled the kitchen and added a family room, correct?

The existing kitchen was a very small, traditional 1920s space with aluminum cabinets, which just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make sense for us. We added a small box to the back of the house that became the new kitchen, and we added 80 square feet to the existing kitchen, which became an adjacent family room.

How did you manage to finish such a large project in less than one year?

We were very clear about our expectations and timelines. Because we were so strict, we had people working late nights and weekends and calling in favors. Having said that, if it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the worst economy in 30 years, we

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never could have finished the renovation in nine months.

You have renovated several properties in the past. Why do you enjoy it so much?

When you start to live in the world of possibilities, it becomes very exciting. Brian and I feel that our creative expression comes through in our homes. At one time, Brian was working at “This Old House” and I was working at Martha Stewart Living, so we always laughed that Brian would renovate the home, and I would decorate it.

Did you decorate this place yourself?

I did. I always say that I’m going to hire a decorator, but I don’t know that I’m ready to special order expensive fabrics. I still like to value shop.

Sometimes it feels really good to shop the Crate and Barrel closeout sale.

How do you feel about the house now that you’ve finished?

It has good energy. It’s a happy house now.

The Quinn’s Renovation checklist: Re-stuccoed and repainted the exterior.

Replaced the copper gutters.

Refinished fixable windows and replaced others with exact replicas.

Sanded and stained the original wood beams throughout the house.

Stripped and refinished walnut interior doors and original hardware.

Enlarged the kitchen and created a new adjacent family room.

Converted mezzanine-level atelier into master bedroom, bath and laundry room.

Converted basement into family area and home theater space. “The theater is my guilty pleasure,” Tami says. “The other night we watched the White Cliffs of Dover.”

Painted and decorated: “Don’t be afraid to experiment with paint color,” Tami says. “ Even if you think a color looks horrible, once you move in the furniture and hang your paintings on the wall, it kind of disappears.”

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luxe

living out From lavish furs to eye-popping hues to sheaths of sparkles, autumn’s fashion is candy for the senses.

We’ve gathered some of the best looks from our favorite local fashion shows, including Northwestern Settlement’s Style Under the Stars, the Joffrey Ballet’s Couture and Cocktails, Neighbors of Kenilworth’s Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show, and Macy’s Glamorama, to show what the chicest North Shore women are wearing this fall.

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Written by Kathryn Achenbach

svelte pelts Fur stoles, vests and other accents add sumptuous texture to formal gowns and casual jeans alike, and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be more practical as the temperatures drop.

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Fur vest and skirt, Chalk; Brunello Cucinelli jacket and pant, 10022 boot, Saks Fifth Avenue, Highland Park; suit and fur stole, Lake Forest Shop; foiled denim pants and blouse, Nicole Miller, faux fur jacket and necklace, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own

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shine on Metalliic leathers, lustrous lamés and sequined dresses put a sparkle in anyone’s eye.

from left:

Sonia Rykiel Fall 2011, Macy’s State Street; Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2011, Macy’s State Street; leather jacket, top and pants, Carlisle; David Meister Fall 2011 sequin gown

hit print Jackets with menswear inspired plaids and tweeds and other dynamic patterns stand out amidst a sea of black peacoats.

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Plaid coat and pants, Three Sisters; tweed jacket, shirt, skirt and bag, Carlisle; python print coat, Country Classics; chevron jacket, shirt, gloves and pants, Lake Forest Shop 46

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blues cruise Just because the days are getting darker, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean your clothes have to. Turn heads in shades of brilliant blue.

from left:

Akris Punto jacket and skirt, Saks Fifth Avenue, Highland Park; David Meister Fall 2011 gown and blue fur stole; Burberry trench and J Brand blue denim, Saks Fifth Avenue, Highland Park; David Meister Fall 2011 blue snakeskin gown