C/FAN for CB
Mallory Ulaszek + Christina FanThere are two people that seem to be dominating the Chicago fashion scene lately: Mallory Ulaszek is the owner of cityblue apparel & denim (and the recently opened CB), and Christina Fan is the darling designer behind C/FAN. When Mallory visited Christina’s studio in 2010, it was pure serendipity: the girls became fast friends over fashion and now, two years later, have launched a private label, C/FAN for CB. The collection is to-die-for: tunics, dresses, and tank tops, rendered in the softest silk Crepe de Chine. It comes in four color schemes, each more vibrant than the last: fiery red, caviar, elephant skin, and anemone print (the sea anemone was a major inspiration for the collection). What we love most about the collab is how laid back the process was (think meetings over drinks and sketches on cocktail napkins). It speaks to how laid back the collection is—ultra chic yet totally wearable. Now in the endlessly-busy-even-if-you’re-laid-back days since launching the label at an in-store event, Mallory and Christina dish for our Spotlight.
MALLORY’S BEAUTY MUST-HAVES>> scent: anything from BULGARI and OLD SPICE // moisturizer: GOLD BOND or CREME DE LA MER // lipstick: NARS HEAT WAVE or YSL ROUGE VOLUPTE IN FORBIDDEN BURGUNDY // eyes: BOBBI BROWN GEL EYELINER IN BLACK INK
CHRISTINA’S BEAUTY FAVORITES>> scent: PORTRAIT OF A LADY // face: SHU UEMURA FACE ARCHITECT // eyes: CHANEL EYE PALLETTE IN MYSTIC EYES // mascara: KATE KANEBO // lipstick: DIOR EXTREME BLACK TIE
Q: Do you two have the same aesthetics when it comes to fashion?
Mallory: Definitely. We dress similarly when it comes to everyday style.
Christina: Mallory and I are both pretty laid back in our personal style. We both understand the need for comfort in our daily style choices.
M: When choosing fabrications and bodies it came incredibly easily—we looked for gaps in the market as well as in our wardrobe.
Q: Mallory, as a boutique owner you haven’t designed before. What was it like collaborating with Christina?
M: I remember being so nervous to show my amateur drawings to Christina! I frequently fall short when putting into words the ideas and colors that pop into my mind, so I go with drawing simple pictures and embellishing. I know Christina thought I was crazy.
Q: Let’s talk beauty. You’re both clotheshorses—do you generally let the clothes do the talking, as opposed to you makeup?
C: I think it really depends on the outfit, the day, how I am feeling. Personally, I’m not the type of girl to get dolled up like a Barbie daily.
M: For as many beauty products as I listed above, I rarely use makeup. I believe in a solid blow out and a religious skin care regimen that will keep you glowing and natural.
Q: Okay, but you have to get done up sometimes, right?
C: I usually wear neutral colors, a lot of blacks and greys; playing up the eyes and mouth can make my look a bit more feminine then. Or if I’m going for a super girly outfit (which is rare), I might try to downplay my eyes.
M: I love to contrast with a lip color for interest.
Shop the collection at ShopCityBlue.com.