Gilt City, a Web site that offers daily deals on luxury items, launched in Chicago last fall. Since arriving in the city, the group has invited its members to events ranging from a concert for singer-songwriter Andrew Belle to a warehouse sale offering discounted designer merchandise. On Tuesday, the company targeted brides-to-be with a bash at the Kate Spade store on Oak Street.
The event introduced shoppers to Kate Spade's new Wedding Belles and Whistles line, which comprises bridal accessories and white dresses designed for receptions, rehearsal dinners, and showers. "Our goal is to continually provide our members access to new and exciting events, stores, products, restaurants, and more," said Nicole Banks, the curator of Gilt City Chicago. "In this case, we partnered with Kate Spade to do just that: give members a first look at the new Belles and Whistles collection before anyone else in Chicago. On the partner side, we were able to provide a unique launch platform for Kate Spade and access to a pool of potential new customers." Banks worked with Pamela Fishman Cianci, Gilt City's San Francisco-based event manager, to plan the function.
Along with a 20 percent discount on all full-price merchandise, the two-hour event offered hairstyling from Maxine Salon and makeup applications from Beauty on Call artists, wedding-appropriate hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and desserts from Fig Catering, Truffle Truffle and Swirlz, and popular reception tunes from Fig DJ Megan Taylor. At the event's entrance, a crew from Pret-a-Poser Photography offered mini portrait sessions. The approximately 70 guests included several brides-to-be and wedding party members, who rapidly scooped up cards from the local vendors.