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Ikram Goldman (pictured right) with friends *Photo by Henrique Kerch for Factio Magazine

Ikram's Stand Out 5th Anniversary Party - Dita Von Teese, the Proenza Schouler boys, Jerry Kleiner's space = one glam party...
by Melissa Maynard

On Saturday April 1, over 500 impeccably dressed Chicagoans gathered at restaurateur Jerry Kleiner’s Chicago Illuminating Company (at 19 East 21st Street at Wabash) for Ikram Goldman's headliner party. The graciously oversized 20,000-square-foot, lofty space with unbeatable floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick and oversized lighting is the perfect hot spot for private parties, which is why Ikram, owner of the Gold Coast boutique by the same name, chose it to celebrate the stores 5th anniversary. Ikram Boutique is a treasure trove in Chicago, one of the best places in town for women’s high-end fashion with a great mix of American, European and Japanese designers. "Ikram's anniversary party really brought out the best of Chicago's fashion elite.  The "people watching" was the best, and the "fashion watching" even better.  Ikram is always ahead of the fashion trends and her guests respected that quality by going all out, with clothes and accessories that were spot on trend or over-the-top chic," said Carrie Lannon, president of Lannon Communications, who's client list includes YSL, Salvatore Ferragamo and Vogue.

Not shy from leaving any fashionable detail untouched, the party displayed disco lighting, comfortable and luxurious seating with a little zen – floating candles and orchid’s set the mood for not one, but two performances by the most glamorous Stripteuse today, Dita Von Teese – queen of the new burlesque, retro pin-up and the wife of Marilyn Manson, who is seemingly pulled directly out of a 1940’s movie. With a 16 inch corseted waist (without it, it’s a mere 22 inches), Dita stunned the crowd with the first teese– an elegant striptease with lace, a fur stole and an involved chair, the second and crowd favorite being one of Dita’s signatures, the champagne glass act –involving the three S’s, stripping, splashing and spinning... a definite crowd pleaser as Dita took a champagne bath complete with a giant strawberry. This act has been seen at designer Marc Jacob's Annual Christmas Ball, Playboy's 50th Anniversary party Club Tour, at The Playboy Mansion and at events wordwide.

Guests enjoyed a full range of spirits from cocktails to champagne and exquisite gourmet cuisine from Calihan Catering, starting with passed hors d' oeuvres like the savory gougère filled with gorgonzola cheese and sliced strawberry, belgian endive filled with creme fraiche and chives wrapped in smoked salmon and spicy crab cakes with tartar sauce and much more. Set up at gourmet-esque stations was the
hors d ’oeuvre buffet each equipped with a chef serving the likes of sautéed halibut with lobster foam with asparagus bread pudding, artichoke creme brulee with parmesan tuiles, or our favorite, creatively dubbed "lobster Ikram" which was medallions of lobster, orange segments, fennel and citrus vinaigrette garnished with edible gold. Guests also enjoyed braised short ribs truffle over mashed potatoes with foie gras foam.

An assortment of sorbet in miniture cones and ice cream cookies (little chocolate chip cookies filled with vanilla ice cream and peanut butter cookies filled with caramel ice cream to be precise) rounded out the night with an unexpected, yet fun touch that is all Ikram...platters circulated throughout the party loaded with White Castle hamburgers. Yes, even the most luxurious of socialites couldn’t get enough of the petite bites, proving that a little high and low is always a good blend.

Prominent New Yorker’s also came out to celebrate with Ikram’s favorite Chicago shoppers including, Peter Soronen, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez – aka the Proenza Schouler boys, Duro Olowu, Thakoon, John Truex from Lamberston Truex, Alyssa Norton from Man Jewelry, Sonia Boyajian, Dana Lorenz of Fenton, Devi Kroell, Isabel Toledo, Ruben Toledo, Tom Scott, Douglas Little, Sari Gueron, Sally Singer from Vogue, Irini Arakas- from the New York Times (previously Vogue) and Mark Holgate.

With a guest list like the who’s who of American Vogue, performances by burlesque artist Dita Von Teese and guests including Jack and Lazaro from Proenza Schouler and Vogue’s Sally Singer, Ikram’s party stands out as much as her store.

Ikram Boutique is located at 873 Rush St. in Chicago, ph: 312.587.1000. For more information about Ikram Boutique, please visit www.ikramonline.com.