20 Chic Questions with Chris Benz

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHnIgtpC8_EYzW5Yb4LNKMEirdpr75ApBgVaizKU6OsXZIAaKmhO74BDaw0JF_iJVxlqHMz4WzdPad7fYRemxAmDHMKWSgCKS-99lwuGh9ZqB5WIlHJOjhINZQZkVVAIhHO1qSrX2VF0/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHnIgtpC8_EYzW5Yb4LNKMEirdpr75ApBgVaizKU6OsXZIAaKmhO74BDaw0JF_iJVxlqHMz4WzdPad7fYRemxAmDHMKWSgCKS-99lwuGh9ZqB5WIlHJOjhINZQZkVVAIhHO1qSrX2VF0/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided to ask Chris Benz some silly questions as part of my interview in my earlier post.  By the way, don't you just love how his hair coordinates with his chartreuse Hermes notebook?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>1. Favorite book?</strong></span> <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fran-Lebowitz-Reader/dp/0679761802/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300139050&sr=1-2"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Metropolitan Life</span></strong></a></em> –Fran Liebowitz</div><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">2. Who’s your dream client?</span></strong> Carol Channing<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>3. iPhone or BlackBerry?</strong></span> BlackBerry<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>4. Favorite color?</strong></span> <span style="color: #bf9000;"><strong>Mustard Yellow</strong></span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>5. Favorite place in NYC?</strong></span> My stoop<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>6. Person you wish was on Twitter?</strong></span> <span style="color: #a64d79;"><strong>Sophia Lamar</strong></span><span style="color: #a64d79;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>7. Favorite film?</strong></span> <em>Six Degrees of Separation</em><em> </em><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>8. Diet Coke or coffee?</strong></span> <span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>Iced coffee</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">9. Favorite scented candle?</span></strong> Cire Trudon Revolution<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>10. Do you have pre-show ritual?</strong></span> Make sure I have gum in my pocket.<br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">11. Favorite artist?</span></strong> <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Joan Miro</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">12. What’s on your iPod?</span></strong> Glee Sountracks<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>13. Early bird or night owl?</strong></span> Night owl<br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">14. Favorite flower?</span></strong> <strong><span style="color: #e06666;">Carnation</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">15. What websites do you read daily?</span></strong> <a href="http://www.remodelista.com/"><strong>Remodelista</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.mistermort.typepad.com/"><strong>Mister Mort</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.jjjjound.com/"><strong>JJJJound</strong></a><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>16. What do you think is chic?</strong></span> A blazer, tee shirt and ponytail.<br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">17. Favorite comfort food?</span></strong> Cold pizza<br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">18. Subway or taxi?</span></strong> <strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Taxi</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">19. Favorite city?</span></strong> New York<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>20. Favorite quote?</strong></span> <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">“Observe Yourself Living”</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Joseph D'Arco</span>

20 Chic Questions with Chris Benz

I decided to ask Chris Benz some silly questions as part of my interview in my earlier post.  By the way, don't you just love how his ha...

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Chris Benz's Chic Showroom

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjC0aAUsKBINOaYIZsSmsIgowP5WCT7rjCR1Z-1HGggnccCQ8yNI0lBqWrdwiGRzIjwZDxcWsl1ERyIbYCojA11T2rBFFM1NMsT9ETPE17OD37vaJC4Q75iERz-qLcnqPs4-6znuiD6w/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjC0aAUsKBINOaYIZsSmsIgowP5WCT7rjCR1Z-1HGggnccCQ8yNI0lBqWrdwiGRzIjwZDxcWsl1ERyIbYCojA11T2rBFFM1NMsT9ETPE17OD37vaJC4Q75iERz-qLcnqPs4-6znuiD6w/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've made some lovely connections through Twitter and one of my favorites is fashion designer <a href="http://www.chris-benz.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Chris Benz</span></a>.  He was sweet enough to invite me to his very fun fashion presentations and also to visit his chic showroom and studio.  As soon as I saw the gallery wall of art, I knew it would make a great story for a piece I was working on for <a href="http://www.stylecaster.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">StyleCaster</span></a>.  Unfortunately, they decided not to run it because someone had already posted photos but they were kind enough to let me use the photos by <a href="http://fotodarco.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Joseph D'Arco</span></a> on my blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADzMdzIuKevPX6os5souUXw_pEacFGf2wsjun-B-i1w1LSk_MNTbLz1ufiJhaeGVcOFq-NV7Ry6vM_25RS_H8zy1v7H7iCFv6TgynucdbYSb4D6PJ8Z4-jSXZSOEbTu925CYOOdo9BCE/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADzMdzIuKevPX6os5souUXw_pEacFGf2wsjun-B-i1w1LSk_MNTbLz1ufiJhaeGVcOFq-NV7Ry6vM_25RS_H8zy1v7H7iCFv6TgynucdbYSb4D6PJ8Z4-jSXZSOEbTu925CYOOdo9BCE/s400/2011_02_22_CB_016.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's funny is that I actually met Chris Benz well over six years ago through a friend at Marc Jacobs.  Chris had interned for the downtown designer before joining J.Crew as a designer.  It's been fun to watch him successfully launch his own line and come into his own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4S1f1TvNQsbEIrRjSYvPEGzKdJydnDziRw8_ump29xFREdhgju8zbYGwbU3TTuzCIJRoHyiWuQDDZrCnZbB4-79MorJWWGfN9xhAnGBGyRHzYTF40A02qPGpkxeylz_aBgu-13A1vgBM/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4S1f1TvNQsbEIrRjSYvPEGzKdJydnDziRw8_ump29xFREdhgju8zbYGwbU3TTuzCIJRoHyiWuQDDZrCnZbB4-79MorJWWGfN9xhAnGBGyRHzYTF40A02qPGpkxeylz_aBgu-13A1vgBM/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>I know you moved to New York from Seattle at 17 to attend Parsons. When did you know you wanted to become a fashion designer? </strong>I feel like in one way or another I’ve always wanted to be a designer. I went to Montessori school when I was very young, and all I would do would be to sit at the table and draw all day long! I’ve always been very specific about how I put clothing together – much to the chagrin of my modest parents, incidentally. I remember loving Lycra bike shorts, oversized men’s shirts, and little blazers as a very young child. Who knows where I got it from, but I still wear kids’ blazers today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqxiGN4Cstfp5OnxDwFsO_c5ewvchvEh-3G5EQzTHclPie9xYG0JDtwm-8ZyM2HEuVnScFb-k0lHPbB3GjWk35rHaueo0tzQbeWcQBSfShVtIdL6-8J86y-oOrgBh9cAzCccCBUzSpyo/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqxiGN4Cstfp5OnxDwFsO_c5ewvchvEh-3G5EQzTHclPie9xYG0JDtwm-8ZyM2HEuVnScFb-k0lHPbB3GjWk35rHaueo0tzQbeWcQBSfShVtIdL6-8J86y-oOrgBh9cAzCccCBUzSpyo/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0056.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>A lot of people have come to think of you as the King of Color, especially after your Spring 2011 show. But for Fall 2011 you showed a lot more black. Was that a conscious decision or did that evolve from your trips to Savannah during your mentor trips for SCAD? </strong>It's funny, I think there is so much attitude and variation in darker colors, and I really anted to experiment with that notion for the Fall collection. The shading between darkest browns, greys, navy and all of the tonal blacks felt like a really robust foundation to make some of the brighter hits of color feel even more important within the <a href="http://unitedthinkers.com/payment-gateway-company/">collection</a>. I think there is a lot of emphasis on these color variations in the American South, as well, what with all of the shaded gardens and staid, weathered Italianate architecture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFopUa87xfFZzOP1cceCWTbNw7QkpGAILvokbCVH1-gC-BsWf9YohH_1cBmnmWGRKbVqCwhGR3OVRTyUFjg9ZgFbFLdvE-zxLbjxqK457JefNiVIG8A03Mi_Zwf0oYidJWZQXl_z5sfhU/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFopUa87xfFZzOP1cceCWTbNw7QkpGAILvokbCVH1-gC-BsWf9YohH_1cBmnmWGRKbVqCwhGR3OVRTyUFjg9ZgFbFLdvE-zxLbjxqK457JefNiVIG8A03Mi_Zwf0oYidJWZQXl_z5sfhU/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>You mentioned that some of your Spring 2011 prints were “vintage inspired wallpaper florals.” Does interior design or home décor ever inspire your fashion designs?  </strong>I love interior design, and I think the line between fashion and interiors is almost completely blurred at this point. There is such crossover in both design disciplines in terms of color, fabrication, silhouette, proportion ... In fact almost all of the terminology is the same! I am consistently inspired by interiors and likewise inspire myself to create complimentary spaces for my own life and in which to see each <a href="http://unipaygateway.com/en/why-unipay-payment-system/collections-company">collection</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4DyE_JU0URbOi6xURbNbB3GETSa4ZM-eCBf6Fayk3VDhpoJAXIRT9wCoIhNjhRZNjE7a2m_UfineWhU7YYlUYH5aEIfEBJLI1Q7AqTte6twAzghpfWcyL1PD89h7fzd4tCfDyXlWMVU/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4DyE_JU0URbOi6xURbNbB3GETSa4ZM-eCBf6Fayk3VDhpoJAXIRT9wCoIhNjhRZNjE7a2m_UfineWhU7YYlUYH5aEIfEBJLI1Q7AqTte6twAzghpfWcyL1PD89h7fzd4tCfDyXlWMVU/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>I love the gallery wall of art in your studio. Where do you go to shop for pieces for your office and home? </strong>I am a die hard eBay disciple, and that is where I have amassed much of my decorative pieces. I furnished nearly my entire apartment via eBay and flea markets, and it looks so modern and eclectic, just the kind of space I feel the Chris Benz woman would inhabit --- timeless, comfortable, and eccentric. I am always looking for new things to add to existing tableaus and wallscapes, anywhere from the flea markets to street vendors, to estate auctions.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPoQZXJxUoSN6EPik-f1y2d9qqolYCh4KQxXWCJntj6zkbGRbtZXV1ML8egu3bBsvfx-AD5ndQY4SfxmRTHaBislD9xKcJybVcKGZao0UATjDxbZl1J9gRrXEHfNYzFtn38lRBvr0el0/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPoQZXJxUoSN6EPik-f1y2d9qqolYCh4KQxXWCJntj6zkbGRbtZXV1ML8egu3bBsvfx-AD5ndQY4SfxmRTHaBislD9xKcJybVcKGZao0UATjDxbZl1J9gRrXEHfNYzFtn38lRBvr0el0/s400/2011_02_22_CB_062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Do you ever see yourself designing a home collection like DVF and Oscar de la Renta?</strong> Since interior design is such an important component to my aesthetic, yes, I do hope to one day have a home collection. It’s really just another extension of the acute vision of our main womenswear <a href="http://payvisors.com/services/collections">collection</a>. What chair is she sitting on while wearing this particular dress, what do her sheets feel like? What pillows are on her sofa? It’s like taking our inspiration one step farther than the end of the runway, which is very exciting.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaD3LmJ1oZXaAV1mz2N9kCazTGvZ7RZs-RW5-S41b9SIfHbr5MUjfeLRjjxAyDBiwtKTkI1l7775fDFwK4TAuZALth06JKg_iefYJXy8KG6K5e6Ufn9tMwO95OjaVIa5ylJB50KBf0uj8/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaD3LmJ1oZXaAV1mz2N9kCazTGvZ7RZs-RW5-S41b9SIfHbr5MUjfeLRjjxAyDBiwtKTkI1l7775fDFwK4TAuZALth06JKg_iefYJXy8KG6K5e6Ufn9tMwO95OjaVIa5ylJB50KBf0uj8/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>I know you travel a lot. Where are you planning to head to this year? </strong>I am flying to Paris next week for the buyers’ market, travelling with the entire Fall collection! Then, back to Savannah to wrap up my mentorship program with the senior fashion class. Besides that, only traveling in my imagination while I work on the Resort 2012 <a href="http://unipaygateway.com/en/payment-gateway-services/collections-services">collection</a> which will debut in June.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMi85Yuu_eNM69T3bVQICTZPyENjSR67cGiyROMJ8Mup4_4ywA6MHMIjtumzi90qaJE8NxdajunlpoMn619fHzzdyZ9aelXZN6emNkuvS3lqIV94Zrql3afOtfnHS5_CQqSFiHScmON8/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMi85Yuu_eNM69T3bVQICTZPyENjSR67cGiyROMJ8Mup4_4ywA6MHMIjtumzi90qaJE8NxdajunlpoMn619fHzzdyZ9aelXZN6emNkuvS3lqIV94Zrql3afOtfnHS5_CQqSFiHScmON8/s400/2011_02_22_CB_072.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know I for one can't wait to see what Chris Benz creates for Resort and his future home collection! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSaJFKf_J5o4bjRuR4croHUj_CYfOPiHGLICR1i1njmccyNKBztwqo8q8mxMYbb5r8dUl_mbst7Dd4Ub3Js_FdWVTqB1jSkZOONeIzSLKOu_LUm3z0fzrO0Spsz2Z5L-D-fUqT4PFcNA/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSaJFKf_J5o4bjRuR4croHUj_CYfOPiHGLICR1i1njmccyNKBztwqo8q8mxMYbb5r8dUl_mbst7Dd4Ub3Js_FdWVTqB1jSkZOONeIzSLKOu_LUm3z0fzrO0Spsz2Z5L-D-fUqT4PFcNA/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This room is the first one you enter and it hints at all the fun surprises that are in store for your visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbzmq9B7Wl8hX6NGeyzY_KDIyJU-2TDfp_XDNWzj_J3eEEQwxDbU8gCN4JKt-0Dqnz0UOtQ0-Y1Zb3mXXIFUH9IdzBoKd1ojK3yFNgd3wSDZlsUah-87NSRK1e3QElUuGgiQ88dVqDgM/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbzmq9B7Wl8hX6NGeyzY_KDIyJU-2TDfp_XDNWzj_J3eEEQwxDbU8gCN4JKt-0Dqnz0UOtQ0-Y1Zb3mXXIFUH9IdzBoKd1ojK3yFNgd3wSDZlsUah-87NSRK1e3QElUuGgiQ88dVqDgM/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0162.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chris said that he does move art around and change things up from time to time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCsoZ9TUbbtFiWMRbi4pRZvuX4E4roPj65gjtidFd6m8x73mF29B9u_Uu5JhnMWEqPz51U_YVouW0NyIZ-FjqsFLK9nFXWJElC-mguaCQU2JoyItU9-IbFwAr3VBPykZTr9pWTotFpX4/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCsoZ9TUbbtFiWMRbi4pRZvuX4E4roPj65gjtidFd6m8x73mF29B9u_Uu5JhnMWEqPz51U_YVouW0NyIZ-FjqsFLK9nFXWJElC-mguaCQU2JoyItU9-IbFwAr3VBPykZTr9pWTotFpX4/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0076.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A next logical step for the Chris Benz brand will be a store he said.  If it's anything like the showroom and studio, it is sure to be well designed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf7V1NNvh-TK7IQMVRhEnCGh9ovQn_cYfTB3mAcDNcj4v7761tuevihCMnDt1kI00QzZbXU6-se3zM2JSl2XWs4nqaozaxUtDVYGOyJ1kzxL_zuAX9w14Al6UqQPJPGPOYAmd0ow5jsM/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf7V1NNvh-TK7IQMVRhEnCGh9ovQn_cYfTB3mAcDNcj4v7761tuevihCMnDt1kI00QzZbXU6-se3zM2JSl2XWs4nqaozaxUtDVYGOyJ1kzxL_zuAX9w14Al6UqQPJPGPOYAmd0ow5jsM/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Funny photos of Chris and stylist Brad Goreski. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9VnRfwROWIv6VjZL4X594iv5OuBMVHSgPW5TC46BcBVwM0yuSZOjVh9c_GuM6bHfDjVtGP5zwW_3vTno4Dm2kHfGispU1qHkHSTXkODVwuBbDMI3wBJbMMNTpl4bd7Bh6oP212zLK4M/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9VnRfwROWIv6VjZL4X594iv5OuBMVHSgPW5TC46BcBVwM0yuSZOjVh9c_GuM6bHfDjVtGP5zwW_3vTno4Dm2kHfGispU1qHkHSTXkODVwuBbDMI3wBJbMMNTpl4bd7Bh6oP212zLK4M/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the mix of industrial accents and warm wood in the showroom area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXeg1ieFtcwEuuxg6BP4rrqHfIeAPEglPQV5rptn_zd4FtM8IVacMymXaCiiTIfaL5TqOd9FShwXIs7Z1m6kr2g4G2Ubkzb2BCQUJ-Bpr9_FA3VRE074vsZNojhkshgRQd8zWU-RDdGg/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXeg1ieFtcwEuuxg6BP4rrqHfIeAPEglPQV5rptn_zd4FtM8IVacMymXaCiiTIfaL5TqOd9FShwXIs7Z1m6kr2g4G2Ubkzb2BCQUJ-Bpr9_FA3VRE074vsZNojhkshgRQd8zWU-RDdGg/s400/2011_02_22_CB_104.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The floral patterns for fall 2011 mix well with the darker pieces in the collection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImdCbm2kXZVIE9cR0BLR3lJyRxtJslW3glzsKjySGYcxJkbGrksFqgdL0N7YjaJBeXtD4a7io-hD34efrScF_PvxIe4iku_3FXEA-r4RDhINKi2c9_DIexgSvK_otaeL9ZEyBMKVmdoo/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImdCbm2kXZVIE9cR0BLR3lJyRxtJslW3glzsKjySGYcxJkbGrksFqgdL0N7YjaJBeXtD4a7io-hD34efrScF_PvxIe4iku_3FXEA-r4RDhINKi2c9_DIexgSvK_otaeL9ZEyBMKVmdoo/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this plaid jacket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97VLxac062dpKNWLu4dDaA9vKIMAwUd7pPMp4XAfo49OBSlUdBx8oLc9DfQzi4Da4I-0ZOq1kuTZGZByogW1HZE_RgVojyJQ_8PJ9ZivNwjAE6V0i0Lo7IVh2FvJsTQpxdTR5biTXGe0/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97VLxac062dpKNWLu4dDaA9vKIMAwUd7pPMp4XAfo49OBSlUdBx8oLc9DfQzi4Da4I-0ZOq1kuTZGZByogW1HZE_RgVojyJQ_8PJ9ZivNwjAE6V0i0Lo7IVh2FvJsTQpxdTR5biTXGe0/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0098.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chris told me that the showroom had actually been more sparse and white at first but his friends kept asking to meet at his apartment instead because it was so fun and cozy.  That's when he decided to change things up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJQ2BfSoD64zgUS_IrW4geV_i_OBnG7AOwwX19m9A2Z0TPXTmNvZl31xFyeszOcYDLqw0k53HXuSF1JTYDhSfO7ZhyphenhyphenTwYtXghA9Pbbn_G6LbdoJtA7O4QuG_0ZSStTNJlErhsW-9vm3Y/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJQ2BfSoD64zgUS_IrW4geV_i_OBnG7AOwwX19m9A2Z0TPXTmNvZl31xFyeszOcYDLqw0k53HXuSF1JTYDhSfO7ZhyphenhyphenTwYtXghA9Pbbn_G6LbdoJtA7O4QuG_0ZSStTNJlErhsW-9vm3Y/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The showroom is now full of interesting details everywhere you turn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2HkNRS79RWZFPfp-Q0e_NGzi2gFg0-9TM4ESE3yUdGHYJWEzSGxj8hUAmIYT7GdqsSSjyJ6Lp_nGSRqlvv1g4owvu2lP7Chtxs7X-Wol0c_gC4rEmdVJlWpftn_ekszfTZXNypruTyQ/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2HkNRS79RWZFPfp-Q0e_NGzi2gFg0-9TM4ESE3yUdGHYJWEzSGxj8hUAmIYT7GdqsSSjyJ6Lp_nGSRqlvv1g4owvu2lP7Chtxs7X-Wol0c_gC4rEmdVJlWpftn_ekszfTZXNypruTyQ/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0088.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most everything that Chris designs is actually made in New York.  While some of the knits are sourced from Loro Piana in Italy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVgUZ5IvJqhuQFoe7DFjGuHFVcSlrTOxZtp8jAFrif9xE1v9wJDIHAG38vPDHnaCyGweUhdObL3L0AGyixVXXuRUoU_pDKbOTDjCPNyBl0vKEop7JtKPFbbWZfCSbqjdNhLFfS3Zl2S4/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVgUZ5IvJqhuQFoe7DFjGuHFVcSlrTOxZtp8jAFrif9xE1v9wJDIHAG38vPDHnaCyGweUhdObL3L0AGyixVXXuRUoU_pDKbOTDjCPNyBl0vKEop7JtKPFbbWZfCSbqjdNhLFfS3Zl2S4/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0181.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the rainbow assortment of furs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYhlFhgREP4iRmVmP9CSR5ompq-UhMJoR1B4m5V6TkKZvRn8-6n-R_5gyY1jto-3TUFisiS0SHyuz6M4XOnwHcFOHRZBtB3-keWFzFrmda42XjPwv59Bc3xje0xnB3osPaqb5Uc6pM3c/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYhlFhgREP4iRmVmP9CSR5ompq-UhMJoR1B4m5V6TkKZvRn8-6n-R_5gyY1jto-3TUFisiS0SHyuz6M4XOnwHcFOHRZBtB3-keWFzFrmda42XjPwv59Bc3xje0xnB3osPaqb5Uc6pM3c/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a lot more black this season but it's definitely not boring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ6Ezh0ROUcQJ1oV3zRSp8dld5iM6SBrAqJRcho8NAHce6HgZDjcfJeyqdjllnCwfB6KvEcygGFLlwlp7-vrMN0R18ucXAypJC3mPqQR9J8URIvomqYE4feJzHV0O8D5LTkVGe3AeYR4/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ6Ezh0ROUcQJ1oV3zRSp8dld5iM6SBrAqJRcho8NAHce6HgZDjcfJeyqdjllnCwfB6KvEcygGFLlwlp7-vrMN0R18ucXAypJC3mPqQR9J8URIvomqYE4feJzHV0O8D5LTkVGe3AeYR4/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0193.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The front of this blouse is actually felt that Chris had made from a woman in Vermont.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25CI1G7AtcIVJUaKuoVUUtrBpTlPINJA-qKSvr4yoANgJxJsZO1luSAME9_dThTTk0o_xxGx7miKCk-ebdDx7dk7cYJ4MrvKOaqnOChzy7pumzHW_oh7Lkq7_jlngAXzYHBMnN2ztUy8/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25CI1G7AtcIVJUaKuoVUUtrBpTlPINJA-qKSvr4yoANgJxJsZO1luSAME9_dThTTk0o_xxGx7miKCk-ebdDx7dk7cYJ4MrvKOaqnOChzy7pumzHW_oh7Lkq7_jlngAXzYHBMnN2ztUy8/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0129.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pattern in the felt is carried through the collection and onto marketing materials. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG49MqkKT2NAV-mM8RfCW0V4RUtq3oq7UBsTXKDiswbBVmI1BBBJkeY1hql5oBw0ptvVSiV80voksH1YpbMrPhwnYwBkZaP6YW1Fdj8U58jOAfh-FhEwGnEQEsiAwzeBFQOhScBv6n3o/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG49MqkKT2NAV-mM8RfCW0V4RUtq3oq7UBsTXKDiswbBVmI1BBBJkeY1hql5oBw0ptvVSiV80voksH1YpbMrPhwnYwBkZaP6YW1Fdj8U58jOAfh-FhEwGnEQEsiAwzeBFQOhScBv6n3o/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The shoes at Chris Benz are made in collaboration with shoe designer <a href="http://alejandroingelmo.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Alejandro Ingelmo</span></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_y7W40w7eUDykji5WiWPx9n_EAwknq6zRD6Yh8kxcaD0OgZmndZrmBT7ii4OZTwkjtvy8lCn6t3d7n19ug_KfTpbSW-ACM6GjscXOoozaADYlRPkSmebeOkMV6V4Wz5PFcxU3t3h2U8/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_y7W40w7eUDykji5WiWPx9n_EAwknq6zRD6Yh8kxcaD0OgZmndZrmBT7ii4OZTwkjtvy8lCn6t3d7n19ug_KfTpbSW-ACM6GjscXOoozaADYlRPkSmebeOkMV6V4Wz5PFcxU3t3h2U8/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0170.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The beading detail on this blouse was gorgeous in person. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbbA3s7IeBjLg0b14UtCdVg2HrFKhgeqdpzL4jbNNL2UpE5xaYnoJZUlmVVRKLgJOBwtuWuCvk5gY5rC2LPcHJGGeJKSSI0nYa0s2spOiqU9e-g4ATxlXd50irvGyI5Xq5celJR9uLXE/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbbA3s7IeBjLg0b14UtCdVg2HrFKhgeqdpzL4jbNNL2UpE5xaYnoJZUlmVVRKLgJOBwtuWuCvk5gY5rC2LPcHJGGeJKSSI0nYa0s2spOiqU9e-g4ATxlXd50irvGyI5Xq5celJR9uLXE/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The hats are designed with Patricia Underwood.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc0TtmgTwAfDjLwrunVImypLkwrDfJ9aa7XH04-RIhxvrlxtpJxtOStv96WGIr5bnm1Z7m9PGVuBsyXOBP4V1KqK-Fa8pwl4CSNxQOlgYDQoiFN-ildEhLI7fy7D3LJb7YhuDnJkkIGI/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc0TtmgTwAfDjLwrunVImypLkwrDfJ9aa7XH04-RIhxvrlxtpJxtOStv96WGIr5bnm1Z7m9PGVuBsyXOBP4V1KqK-Fa8pwl4CSNxQOlgYDQoiFN-ildEhLI7fy7D3LJb7YhuDnJkkIGI/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0121.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the ladies lounge door gets a fun paint job. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA64SJw5tIwgQ6eCaNfPIRHvWYGXB-0oF8R3-iD442FvMHxNe2e4XZGEgaVbDzUQZEICwvcFKryaDF4Sc8KKaHUaaLF9FXGqpeiRFHybDTvdiNjFmAa4CQBGCIaLt1w9AdByWP8Mn-snA/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA64SJw5tIwgQ6eCaNfPIRHvWYGXB-0oF8R3-iD442FvMHxNe2e4XZGEgaVbDzUQZEICwvcFKryaDF4Sc8KKaHUaaLF9FXGqpeiRFHybDTvdiNjFmAa4CQBGCIaLt1w9AdByWP8Mn-snA/s400/2011_02_22_CB_291.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the studio or where the magic happens. It was actually quiet on the day of our visit since it was right after the show.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTRKl5O2rRRPu5fiNnxVlIH9QUYO0nnXeYNAqlOUaWn-LmvCc36B5RYmvoYze6SLTrrP6QwvhaFmUzkpgjA9_BA4VNffVm4ZkripgwDhm21TAr6ao8klUFcicO7XtITimn2SNIg8h92E/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTRKl5O2rRRPu5fiNnxVlIH9QUYO0nnXeYNAqlOUaWn-LmvCc36B5RYmvoYze6SLTrrP6QwvhaFmUzkpgjA9_BA4VNffVm4ZkripgwDhm21TAr6ao8klUFcicO7XtITimn2SNIg8h92E/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0196.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The fall 2011 inspiration board would soon come down and be replaced by resort 2012. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk4FP-cjiX_s3geyQoNKZzr-_GoERFSpoO9-HpcisV6Q-0KXSq6HaXzrSAXvxk7fwjSBAFwrAEPK7KJ70355b5AJtK_Z58UjlfQnzpfafbHBxV5MudeymswIvDuugFlLbKUtvccXYr0E/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk4FP-cjiX_s3geyQoNKZzr-_GoERFSpoO9-HpcisV6Q-0KXSq6HaXzrSAXvxk7fwjSBAFwrAEPK7KJ70355b5AJtK_Z58UjlfQnzpfafbHBxV5MudeymswIvDuugFlLbKUtvccXYr0E/s400/2011_02_22_CB_201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moodboards are fascinating! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRb6Sv3SSgHEExJoYKn5p5OdPj69aVUOOlCl1IO2LsHt8bNIVxPpM0dhgUFxN2pYmrF-t4QgQiVxEcGVchrQmMjO967fOS1M0ulhyX-9dIm3V1AZgspF2eCMOSjP3uZdmSMB3QUQgUFw/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRb6Sv3SSgHEExJoYKn5p5OdPj69aVUOOlCl1IO2LsHt8bNIVxPpM0dhgUFxN2pYmrF-t4QgQiVxEcGVchrQmMjO967fOS1M0ulhyX-9dIm3V1AZgspF2eCMOSjP3uZdmSMB3QUQgUFw/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that a piece of the felt and a necklace are mixed with photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzV3p5k0rXEhWPHSQQZ3_7pEtXvm_r2U_jj2PPh9PtAdabWVsZJAR2SZ_Z1TAj3z-xzwMDEgQbpuBl0aeeoA3iV3NhAKJaCWawSnbJtQlLO95Cb1Rx6pgrrk4pZ1uBQEqesXyiZHeT9I/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzV3p5k0rXEhWPHSQQZ3_7pEtXvm_r2U_jj2PPh9PtAdabWVsZJAR2SZ_Z1TAj3z-xzwMDEgQbpuBl0aeeoA3iV3NhAKJaCWawSnbJtQlLO95Cb1Rx6pgrrk4pZ1uBQEqesXyiZHeT9I/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0287.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How exciting must it be to have your own name on the tags?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekj667-rSYgQDvaY0hPzuRt_DQ2A4q1ZIAYkF24CRcR0qlthRqO0BzvZY5POvOLCs8J1-3U6dUKdrNXbDoAyJI0KpxwFCiuBLZBxCLZ1AqPdxZdDuzSYmYcvkMR-e2om513-z3cm_EnM/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekj667-rSYgQDvaY0hPzuRt_DQ2A4q1ZIAYkF24CRcR0qlthRqO0BzvZY5POvOLCs8J1-3U6dUKdrNXbDoAyJI0KpxwFCiuBLZBxCLZ1AqPdxZdDuzSYmYcvkMR-e2om513-z3cm_EnM/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the rolls of fabrics were inspiring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuAPM6_hCOw68Z8rTLElRUhY0NfcyaoZJQeBCFSskYxkM98mLHM5qJb46jh4-7U_xk6CpDHNDnUJ-XT0I4-YEKq44pztwwMdqEyRd4rbrtGs0dLv4d8ScSXDPHKGyWToTwRfoSyahKNs/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuAPM6_hCOw68Z8rTLElRUhY0NfcyaoZJQeBCFSskYxkM98mLHM5qJb46jh4-7U_xk6CpDHNDnUJ-XT0I4-YEKq44pztwwMdqEyRd4rbrtGs0dLv4d8ScSXDPHKGyWToTwRfoSyahKNs/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most fun was being able to see the sketches and design boards.  It's clear that Chris was very well trained at Parsons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAn0qgDulslu_JyT3BMvHveMKnqMA1BkMTwA6xQZX1Scxkt_ERGi3wFtjRCXjlARxAfXchuKw7v01arxZdPy0wZvMkonBbL11aMVml_6PP_gMGta9MA4CIwqBWuIzWtHmz6Lj21z8lNE/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAn0qgDulslu_JyT3BMvHveMKnqMA1BkMTwA6xQZX1Scxkt_ERGi3wFtjRCXjlARxAfXchuKw7v01arxZdPy0wZvMkonBbL11aMVml_6PP_gMGta9MA4CIwqBWuIzWtHmz6Lj21z8lNE/s400/2011_02_22_CB_209.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The color possibilities for a sweater. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje51c8isvvXQfaxIK5TCY2p4x9sUU-CXFLdA_sFixpt0eHZ-nAR7ArnjOLJbVpADyc8Gjctg-hF3oE8g679YglvlFF29sLnsSGXXMNp6sYp7jPlND7AZrUNh6dPg8aJYiHOsjcr3z_EJA/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje51c8isvvXQfaxIK5TCY2p4x9sUU-CXFLdA_sFixpt0eHZ-nAR7ArnjOLJbVpADyc8Gjctg-hF3oE8g679YglvlFF29sLnsSGXXMNp6sYp7jPlND7AZrUNh6dPg8aJYiHOsjcr3z_EJA/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0279.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These would look beautiful framed! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Drk_jOt5A67svDUACl5okWHvgpwd5oETI03LJYIjTH_R1upiDfUJzulh7gctr2Fl0m0x3FLweyyaJrcOCqH3QkfrugvwLwhpROKpzCw2OdUxfsTbjJ3v-SbsNfP88hBv9mLBTvhyXL4/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Drk_jOt5A67svDUACl5okWHvgpwd5oETI03LJYIjTH_R1upiDfUJzulh7gctr2Fl0m0x3FLweyyaJrcOCqH3QkfrugvwLwhpROKpzCw2OdUxfsTbjJ3v-SbsNfP88hBv9mLBTvhyXL4/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0275.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The door marked "design" leads into the office where Chris works.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThj3m5yxr_mLWdmn6vMVxLreXftFQhU_kplerwXgjjYJ3KEuzzeYVL3lAPHKFj2qxP6YnTJUxJpKv6lmhSOC1mz4314Q-Jw3hyq7qH4wJHRUnQ3lo9EpK3TW5tqCDXB6EHWkAQUTUpJc/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThj3m5yxr_mLWdmn6vMVxLreXftFQhU_kplerwXgjjYJ3KEuzzeYVL3lAPHKFj2qxP6YnTJUxJpKv6lmhSOC1mz4314Q-Jw3hyq7qH4wJHRUnQ3lo9EpK3TW5tqCDXB6EHWkAQUTUpJc/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0252.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The man himself and his colorful hair, Chris Benz.  I have to say that I actually quite liked his hair in person.  It actually suits his fun personality. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEC8sqceKWcdcjRtzcYHFDOo9_u3-NYix1L81_TFHbeCWqq-mseebztTJ6e74M1PkU98ARpfRWDXEMjZjE3ySOGputEUKW6SidFeJp-KVDED7VmTTSmQzPuzHUTEp8VbM971z4ZTItd8/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEC8sqceKWcdcjRtzcYHFDOo9_u3-NYix1L81_TFHbeCWqq-mseebztTJ6e74M1PkU98ARpfRWDXEMjZjE3ySOGputEUKW6SidFeJp-KVDED7VmTTSmQzPuzHUTEp8VbM971z4ZTItd8/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's easy to see from some of the objects in his office that Chris can be inspired by anything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5esz1iaM1fxeeQNcdUFXTutlfbTjGfFDE6sLE-ZC5tCQfOK-V50Y4uNqe08vDeB-DVfYtoEKZiejue4ZpIMLlCwvSKIY2rJ8a-5C2RwrxR4_WfxBiTntIpmxJB09MMhMS71X5wELzBy4/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5esz1iaM1fxeeQNcdUFXTutlfbTjGfFDE6sLE-ZC5tCQfOK-V50Y4uNqe08vDeB-DVfYtoEKZiejue4ZpIMLlCwvSKIY2rJ8a-5C2RwrxR4_WfxBiTntIpmxJB09MMhMS71X5wELzBy4/s400/2011_02_22_CB_266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was fun to see the Farrow & Ball paint cards on the wall of his office. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfLxPQFJMmEjtIz0W7dn01fpeoGt9xkJ7tFAyPCMr44BVUBSzcU9MzIG6REuPi2YYgcyBU-S1wmjiFk-Bcl3HG_U6uo8o6uahUiLndG9fSyPOS_AhHpoEdvTYa6EhAj6jNvp0_PuxLZM/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfLxPQFJMmEjtIz0W7dn01fpeoGt9xkJ7tFAyPCMr44BVUBSzcU9MzIG6REuPi2YYgcyBU-S1wmjiFk-Bcl3HG_U6uo8o6uahUiLndG9fSyPOS_AhHpoEdvTYa6EhAj6jNvp0_PuxLZM/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0268.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to thank Chris Benz and his entire team for letting me invade their space and to Joseph D'Arco for the gorgeous photos.  I hope this look into his world inspires you as much as it did me! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LO2AtEKjeABuShCZw8mYvLDwDqh73Y0Nwjn99l35Wzl2z3aicl170J_zqhO9UoJLMtorruAloDbCjSD_lE_eQEG3WvuQ3P9lAW1fhbgalx8PLDUPhanZWUpIZj3BD9C4gW0CTHTZUJI/s1600/2011_02_22_CB_0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LO2AtEKjeABuShCZw8mYvLDwDqh73Y0Nwjn99l35Wzl2z3aicl170J_zqhO9UoJLMtorruAloDbCjSD_lE_eQEG3WvuQ3P9lAW1fhbgalx8PLDUPhanZWUpIZj3BD9C4gW0CTHTZUJI/s400/2011_02_22_CB_0270.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos by <a href="http://fotodarco.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Joseph D'Arco</span></a></div>

Chris Benz's Chic Showroom

I've made some lovely connections through Twitter and one of my favorites is fashion designer Chris Benz .  He was sweet enough to invit...

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NYFW: Chris Benz Spring 2011

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdNp-96gqfmVygVYysQNkClKZVYxBU3z5Z9xjjb7qEzaH7wL-XfopcdWSveW02wkPILVYBuSz3_UIj6mCVpGDj48_ulZlCUXwwHHNlHD2TRPt8wqvpczaA5bOCUFVvJLggN_qsO_0q70n/s1600/chris+benz+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdNp-96gqfmVygVYysQNkClKZVYxBU3z5Z9xjjb7qEzaH7wL-XfopcdWSveW02wkPILVYBuSz3_UIj6mCVpGDj48_ulZlCUXwwHHNlHD2TRPt8wqvpczaA5bOCUFVvJLggN_qsO_0q70n/s400/chris+benz+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I went to the <a href="http://www.chris-benz.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Chris Benz</span></a> spring 2011 presentation yesterday and a reality television show broke out.  I'm teasing but only slightly.  Presentations are different from fashion shows in that the models stand on raised platforms and the guests walk past them to admire the clothes.  That is, if you can see them behind all the photographers.  Add in some celebrities and it becomes a bit of a mad house.  But it was worth it because the clothes at Chris Benz were really pretty, fun and flirty.  "It's time to have fun again with fashion," the designer declared. "I just wanted to make great clothes for going out."  I also love what Chris's website says about his style.  "The Chris Benz girl is an ageless sophisticate, a reckless preppy who desires nothing more than to 'keep dancing.'  Her style projects the collection's sense of perfect imperfection: the elegant tomboy with a feminine touch, equally at home at the Cafe Flore as she is in the Bowery, she is playfully imprudent and always precise."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On hand to help celebrate and congratulate the designer were many of his friends including Rachel Zoe stylist Brad Goreski who I was lucky to chat with amidst all the chaos.  I can tell you that he is one of the nicest people I have ever met in fashion.  Also in attendance were Kelly Osbourne, Jessica Szohr, Carmen Electra, Denise Richards, Susan Sarandon and her daughter Eva Amurri.  (You can see all the photographic eveidence on <a href="http://twitter.com/habituallychic"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Twitter</span></a>.) I can tell you that a good time was had by all and I can't wait for spring to arrive to wear these fabulous fashions!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5I6Nl3wjTmXAW38NvcjJImxkJ2f5-Y0iu6tI9TosWBN3n18pByOPGNlIh25K4jQGadEcbmP9cWH5QZe5_bsjTzzDm7rDtNZOQhMIZlBgmwSHuQef0zooslxWiRD0_kWI2tWu2n7WtRj6/s1600/chris+benz+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5I6Nl3wjTmXAW38NvcjJImxkJ2f5-Y0iu6tI9TosWBN3n18pByOPGNlIh25K4jQGadEcbmP9cWH5QZe5_bsjTzzDm7rDtNZOQhMIZlBgmwSHuQef0zooslxWiRD0_kWI2tWu2n7WtRj6/s400/chris+benz+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtmbqHSeNPGRR4k0cxTinHFmXofLvjbVNJHJ1PrNphHCAXgmautFxsvyP89_cwh0OmPkgdHWckyxb3Dw5j54FLTHUtbDh5ZK1Gyrp9BWl066NRZC0P4IeudUNspYZLRam7lWngClry-T0/s1600/chris+benz+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtmbqHSeNPGRR4k0cxTinHFmXofLvjbVNJHJ1PrNphHCAXgmautFxsvyP89_cwh0OmPkgdHWckyxb3Dw5j54FLTHUtbDh5ZK1Gyrp9BWl066NRZC0P4IeudUNspYZLRam7lWngClry-T0/s400/chris+benz+23.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsAZC5uFbGHzXAD4cCv0IGka6e2ZRup6jW2Pyzf6kbrbO-FORJeeaPUdrjtphGio0ccWquhf-2O_aozAt06yyF8i510qbqMvRH8pvoPo0gGcfIZfCLsYVmIRW77sfITvdlqvRVFEaG-d1/s1600/chris+benz+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsAZC5uFbGHzXAD4cCv0IGka6e2ZRup6jW2Pyzf6kbrbO-FORJeeaPUdrjtphGio0ccWquhf-2O_aozAt06yyF8i510qbqMvRH8pvoPo0gGcfIZfCLsYVmIRW77sfITvdlqvRVFEaG-d1/s400/chris+benz+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r7rIF8Wy-N22epwyqbRpJN23eRZFeAokBIQ6s7ILt9MQGILgHkLno5oKu2gGtvrUd9pQbaPCfdb7RjK_7twTZfWdyt3n9z3EQfQknXjsslBdjhZgMO5P-95Yef0Wkj1uEFY0mCHgU_ut/s1600/chris+benz+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r7rIF8Wy-N22epwyqbRpJN23eRZFeAokBIQ6s7ILt9MQGILgHkLno5oKu2gGtvrUd9pQbaPCfdb7RjK_7twTZfWdyt3n9z3EQfQknXjsslBdjhZgMO5P-95Yef0Wkj1uEFY0mCHgU_ut/s400/chris+benz+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuRuX-u6AMrklyMu6JJtfisAhMkC5w_HhznhpWq-rdY18zVEVfzz7ouBuQKX0qw6MPJXeKl7muIsgokQna2Ja9a9m7trz3XvSDerNFVqVr3D3g_3nphY4z1f_VBKe98CZu2VForp90EZe/s1600/chris+benz+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuRuX-u6AMrklyMu6JJtfisAhMkC5w_HhznhpWq-rdY18zVEVfzz7ouBuQKX0qw6MPJXeKl7muIsgokQna2Ja9a9m7trz3XvSDerNFVqVr3D3g_3nphY4z1f_VBKe98CZu2VForp90EZe/s400/chris+benz+3.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQx_PSDIuFioUnZVzLf0XVoviMT0Vk_Zb1GnqoU4wyLQNNo0Pr7_q_W6tpNRZpc03hsJKQng1N53vohSP3vUYYBjuLu8s3OopaV8bx3iVrvrPrHAm3z-Si2lbxSzd1Sy8Ipc7bI-fyCugN/s1600/chris+benz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQx_PSDIuFioUnZVzLf0XVoviMT0Vk_Zb1GnqoU4wyLQNNo0Pr7_q_W6tpNRZpc03hsJKQng1N53vohSP3vUYYBjuLu8s3OopaV8bx3iVrvrPrHAm3z-Si2lbxSzd1Sy8Ipc7bI-fyCugN/s400/chris+benz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jessica Szohr, Chris Benz, Brad Goreski, Allison Pill, Mickey Sumner</div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic</span>

NYFW: Chris Benz Spring 2011

So I went to the Chris Benz spring 2011 presentation yesterday and a reality television show broke out.  I'm teasing but only slightly....

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