I was reunited with my dear friend Elizabeth Cutler this past September when we were asked to be part of Modern Luxury’s Dynamic Women issue. It was an honor and privilege to be asked and wonderful to spend this much time with Elizabeth. It was a rare moment and we seized it. We picked up where we left off in San Francisco and had a ball with this photo shoot. 

First stop was Pin Me Up where we had our hair and makeup done. For wardrobe Elizabeth chose Veronica Beard and I chose Chicago designer Swaby. Elizabeth wore her mother’s Verdura maltese cross cuff and held her selenite sphere for the shoot. As a Reiki master it’s a tool of the trade. I wore Chicago fine jewelry designer Sidney Garber.

There were plenty of parties to meet and fête the other Dynamic Woman. We shared some laughs —something Elizabeth and I always make room for.

Voila the final story: 

Elizabeth Cutler and Marcy Carmack met in San Francisco 25 years ago, sparking an instant friendship, rooted in laughter, honesty, and a shared instinct for what helps a woman feel her best. Today they bring their complementary passions to Chicago and the North Shore— Cutler as a Reiki master guiding clients toward inner balance and self-love and Carmack as a sought after fashion stylist, elevating personal style with confidence and ease.

Together these dynamic women unite the physical and energetic, believing that true beauty is as much about how you feel as how you look.

Over the decades, they championed one another through life‘s challenges and milestones. Cutler reclaimed herself after decades of unhealthy relationships. Carmack lost her mother at eight but found the courage to move to New York after college without a job or connections— ultimately styling the future first Lady of California. Along the way, they’ve drawn inspiration from women like Ruth Bader Ginsburg— whom Cutler and her daughter once watched from the gallery of the US Supreme Court— and Maya Angelou, whose presence at a New York AIDS fashion event Carmack produced left a lasting impression.

Their latest chapters reflect their continued growth. Cutler has been invited to be the on-call Reiki master for the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and provides free Reiki sessions to those in medical crisis. Carmack was named to the School of the Art Institute Style Council by designer Nick Cave and co-created Fashion Coffee Hour a weekly virtual series was over 200 original programs.

Whether for spiritual alignment or style Elizabeth Cutler and Marcy Carmack are living proof that beauty from the inside out - and women supporting each other - elevates everyone around them.

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So many thanks to Wendy Levy and the team at Modern Luxury.

The North Shore just got more exciting with the redevelopment of Plaza del Lago in Wilmette. WS Development who did the Royal Poinciana Plaza in Palm Beach redeveloped this historic property. All the big guys are there —Hermés, Louis Vuitton and Oscar de la Renta. But the one we are most excited about is Chicago’s Space 519 that has had a presence in Chicago for 15 years. They opened their 2nd boutique at Plaza last week. 

Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel have perfected their craft over the course of 15 years so they know what they are talking about when it comes to Chicago luxury retail. We couldn’t be prouder of the home team. It was a true pleasure writing about their expansion for Classic Chicago magazine.

Thom Browne

The Lunchroom - Plaza del Lago

Contact Marcy: marcycarmack@icloud.com

I’m thrilled to be a contributor for Chicago Classic Magazine. Check out my latest article on spring trends—timeless pieces that can be styled edgier or more feminine or any other way you want. That is the beauty of classical dressing. As much as we covet intricately designed pieces from say Jean Paul Gaultier, Schiaparelli or any designer at that level, they can be harder to style because they are so specific. The classics are a blank canvas for you to design.

How’s that for inspiration?

 

It’s been awhile. I think you’ll agree the world has changed a lot in the last few years. We went from blogs to microblogging. From Instagram to Tik-Tok to Clubhouse. Not to mention the platforms I am not active on—LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. Makes my head spin.

Tech overload is a minor part of what is going on in the world. There are major national and global events that impact our daily lives. The pandemic, financial collapse, shootings, Ukraine war and the social unrest. At times it’s hard to see our way out of this.

What I know for sure or at least our working thesis on Fashion Coffee Hour is that fashion brings beauty into the world. Where there is beauty and the avant-garde there is culture. Where there is culture people are elevated socially, economically and spiritually.

I think it safe to say that we should keep looking good with our culture in mind!

Here is where my focus lies and where you can find me:

Styling clients: New website soon.

Instagram: marcycarmack_style

Facebook: marcycarmackstyle 

Fashion Coffee Hour: Mondays at 6pm CT. Would love to have you. Respond to this blog post and I send you an invite!

Marcy xx

The past year has been very exciting for Fashion Coffee Hour. With 52 episodes it’s hard to summarize but it is easy to find a couple of our favorite episodes and adventures. Treat yourself to the sumptuous Valentino Fall Haute Couture 21/22 show on YouTube. Look for the House of Gucci movie that is coming out November 24 (trailer here). And stop by to see us at the Fine Art building on Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Mondays. Stanley and I would love to have lunch with you. In the upper left photo we took a selfie with Leslie Logsdon, a regular coffee hour attendee. The Art Institute is a stone’s throw from the Fine Art building so add that to your list after lunch. Unfortunately the Obama Portraits were only here for a short time before going on their national tour. Stanley is a display artist extraordinaire and does a window display contest every year called Project Windows in conjunction with the Art Institute. He made us all laugh with his ivy covered jacket that he made in the spirit of Barack’s portrait. The Art Institute, voted best museum in the world has something for everyone.

Thank you for your support,

Marcy Carmack and Stanley Smith

Join our Facebook group

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And join us on Zoom Mondays at 6pm CT

You can find me more often on Instagram @unapologeticallygrownup

Please respond to this email if you have any questions.

Between moving and my new project, I’ve been a bit silent. I am now super excited to announce our new Zoom show Fashion Coffee Hour that I started with my friend Stanley Smith. Each week I choose a different fashion topic and we talk about it. Stanley and I thought that with all that is going on this was a way for the fashion minded to take a break and join us. 

We are still in development but so far we have talked about Dior, Jacquemus, Norma Kamali, Wes Gordon, Sustainability, Catherine Deneuve and Dries Van Notan. I think many of us could talk about fashion at great length but the show is only an hour. We have a couple of regulars already so either join us in our Facebook group with this link: Fashion Coffee Hour to watch it there or respond here and let us know if you’d like to be a guest. We are having so much fun!

Mondays at 6pm CT

Check out Kat Caldwell's interview with me for her podcast about creatives.

https://pencilsandlipstick.libsyn.com/you-are-the-canvas