Simply Stylist Chicago 2016 Recap
Although we are sad to announce that the Simply Stylist ‘Do What You Love’ Chicago 2016 Fashion & Beauty Conference is over, it is definitely going down as one of our favorite Chicago visits! Like-minded fashionistas traveled to the dana hotel & spa in Windy City to take in all of the #GirlBoss vibes, inspiration, and motivation that surrounded this amazing Saturday.
From heartfelt Breakout Sessions to inspiring success stories, attendees walked away from #SimplyStylistCHI with everything they need to go out and create their own journey. It all began with our VIP Networking Brunch, hosted by H2O+ Beauty, at Freestyle Food + Drink. Here, attendees networked, made new friendships, exchanged contact information, and listened to heartfelt speeches from Simply Stylist Founder Sarah Boyd and H2O+Beauty CEO Joy Chen, where they reminded everyone about the importance of networking, following your dreams, and never giving up!
In case you missed out (or are already having #SimplyStylistCHI withdrawals), see below for a recap of the Simply Stylist ‘Do What You Love’ Chicago 2016 Fashion & Beauty Conference!
Expert Panel
Attendees traveled 26 stories upwards to the picturesque Vertigo Sky Lounge! The floor-to-ceiling windows set the mood with the Chicago skyline acting as a backdrop for our expert panel. Attendees took in the views while sipping coffee from adorable ‘Boss Lady’ mugs (provided Effie’s Paper) and listening to the inspiring advice, stories, and tricks our panelists had to share. The panel, which included Fashion Photographer & Style Expert Helen Berkun, Actress & Founder of The Glam App Cara Santana, Stylist & Video Blogger Lindsay Albanese, Empire Costumer Designer Paolo Nieddu, and Co-Founder of The Every Girl Alaina Kaczmarski, consisted of an incredibly diverse group of experts, but our host Catt Sadler was able to dig deep and pull all sorts of valuable information from each and every panelist!
The Brand Experience We took over the entire 5th floor of the dana hotel & spa for a shopping, relaxation, and pampering metropolis we like to call… The Brand Experience! Here, attendees munched on delicious hors d’oeuvres, devoured sweets from The Baker’s Tale, and snacked on Skinny Pop while sipping refreshing cocktails, wine, and champagne. The spa at dana was also there to offer complimentary chair massages for those in need of a little R&R. Don’t you worry, though — we enlisted The Glam App for hair, makeup, and nail touch-ups to make sure everyone looked their best!
After the relaxation, ticket holders were able to test out one of SteamOne’s high performance steamers, then capture their #OOTD by Fashion Illustrator Kristine Steiner and instantly print their #SimplyStylistCHI look using the FOTOfwd booth! Sounds like a pretty awesome day, right? Well, we had to take it one step further and throw it back to a childhood pastime… Ball Pits! That’s right, the #H2OWaveMaker made an appearance at #SimplyStylistCHI, and it was a total hit! Attendees dove into the H2O+ Beauty Oasis for a good cause — For every attendee that posted a photo of the pit on Instagram using @h2oplususa and #H2OWaveMaker, H2O+ Beauty donated $10 to their charity, Girls, Inc! Playing in a ball pit for a good cause? Count us in!
Breakout Sessions
Attendees got the opportunity to receive 30-minute crash courses from experts in the fashion, beauty, and digital worlds. These mini sessions consisted of Styling 101 with Eric Himel, How to Balance Life with Corri McFadden, Being Self-Confident in the YouTube Space with Belinda Selene, How to Significantly Increase Your Income with Erin Armstrong, and a discussion on Public Relations and the Power of Being Nice with Michael Corrigan!
Each Breakout Session gave attendees a personal look into how each expert broke out of the norm to get to where they are today. Not only did each speaker provide practical advice about navigating the industry, but they also opened up and answered any burning questions our attendees had!
Dinner — STK Chicago
Finally, the day concluded with a scrumptious meal at STK Chicago! STK Chicago is one of the most delicious steakhouses in the Chicago area, which is why we had to dedicate our last meal to stuffing our faces with perfectly cooked steak, truffle fries, and drool-worthy desserts — something we knew only STK Chicago could pull off. We were joined by the panelist and some of the top influencers in the Chicago area for a dinner honoring the completion of #SimplyStylistCHI — Cheers!
We want to give a HUGE thank you to all of our speakers, brands, attendees, and (of course) our host, Catt Sadler! We hope you left feeling rejuvenated, motivated, and inspired to get out there and 'Do What You Love.'
Next stop... New York! Check back here for more details about the Simply Stylist 2016 NYC Conference, coming to you this November!