Dressing like 'Gossip Girl' and 'Mad Men'
"Sex and the City" used to be the show we watched for fashion. Now it's "Mad Men" and "Gossip Girl."
The CW's "Gossip Girl's" modern, fresh styles are the subject of several Web sites, including one that breaks down what the characters wore in each scene, with links to the exact item on the designers' Web sites (gossipgirlinsider.com/tags/gossip-girl-fashion/).
The retro, masculine style of AMC's "Mad Men" revives sleek suits, crisp shirts and wingtip shoes for men, and ladylike dresses, high heels and mink stoles for women.
According to published reports, the show inspired Michael Kors' fall line.
Mall news
• If you spend $200 on your Discover Card at the mall between now and Jan. 4, you can get an instant $20 Discover Gift Card. All you have to do is bring your receipts to the mall's customer service department.
Participating suburban malls are Westfield Fox Valley Center in Aurora, Gurnee Mills, Northbrook Court, Oakbrook Center and Westfield Hawthorn Center in Vernon Hills. See discovercard.com/mallpromo/index.html for details.
• Gurnee Mills has always been a place for bargains. But now, it's evolving into a place with upscale brand bargains.
In May, a 30,000-square-foot Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center will open in the Gurnee mall - the first such store in the Chicago area. It'll be located between Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th and H&M.
Already this year, the mall's added stores like Gymboree Outlet and BCBG Max Azria. Victoria's Secret will also be opening in the 180-store mall on Grand Avenue.
10,000 shops in one
• Wheaton College professors Norm and Sharon Ewert will open their home at 401 N. Scott, Wheaton, for a Ten Thousand Villages sale Wednesday to Saturday, Nov. 19-22. The fair-trade and handmade products come from around the world. They're also sold at the Ten Thousand Villages stores in Grayslake and Glen Ellyn.