Products we love
Naperville's Jes Rickleff dissed Bret Michaels on the VH1 reality show "Rock of Love," and she did it wearing a Chii T-shirt.
It was great, national exposure for Chii Clothing Culture, a new Chicago-based line for men and women that specializes in hoodies and Ts.
Chii's is sold mainly at Thr3ee Boutique, 1632 W. Division, Chicago, and online at www.chiiclothing.com. But it's also available at a few suburban stores, including Cool Waves in Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg; Another Level, 191 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg; and Trends in Stratford Square Shopping Center in Bloomingdale.
Jes isn't the only "Rock of Love" contestant who's now a pitchwoman.
Cindy "Rodeo" Steedle, who bonded with Bret over cowboy hats and kids, put her name on Rodeo's Rise & Shine Barbecue Sauce. ($14.95, www.grasslandbeef.com/Detail.bok?no=848)
It's also been reported that her annoying laugh is now a Nextel ringtone, but if it is, it's not an easy-to-find one.
Ben Wallace shoes
Starting next week, the Big Ben Wallace Collection -- a line of affordable athletic shoes by Chicago Bulls star Ben Wallace -- will be available at Steve & Barry's stores.
Wallace will wear the shoes himself this season, and you can wear them, too -- for just $14.98.
Steve & Barry's people say the shoes are equal in quality to the $100-plus shoes endorsed by other athletes. Can it be true?
Wallace will be at the Steve & Barry's store in Randhurst Shopping Center, at Rand and Elmhurst roads in Mount Prospect, at 5 p.m. Monday to sign autographs and launch the line locally.
If you go, prepare for crowds. His New York appearance drew 1,000 people.
We are the world
Chicago toy designer Cindy Click wants to teach preschoolers to love their mother -- Mother Earth, that is.
Her new stuffed toy, "Ki," is actually six toys that piece together with Velcro (a sun, an earth, two dolphins and two trees). ($25.99, http://kitoys.com)
A reason to shop
Between 5 and 9 p.m. Thursday, seven Glen Ellyn stores will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the Jack H. Marston II Melanoma Fund, a charity named for the beloved 47-year-old Glen Ellyn dad and coach who died of the disease in 2004.
Most of the stores participating are on Main Street: Renaissance Art Studio, Good Works Gallery, Tiddlywinks & Scallywags, Georgia Rae, Giggles & Gaggles and Knickers of Glen Ellyn. Alikat, at 499 W. Pennsylvania Ave., is also participating.
Want to be a model?
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, LOOKS Salon of Naperville and Elite Model Management will be looking for girls and guys between ages 13 and 25 who want to become models. Women must be at least 5-foot-7 and guys must be at least 6 feet.
LOOKS Salon is at 43 E. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville, next to Quigley's.
Winners will receive a contract with Elite, a makeover from LOOKS Salon and a gift certificate from Wild Rose boutique. The first 100 people will receive gift bags. For more information, go to www.getthelooks.com.