Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—these Chicago trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
DESEDA founder Sarah Somers is bringing luxurious, artful scarves (and her own imitible sense of style) to Chicago and beyond.
Sarah Somers spent more than 16 years immersed in the hard-nosed world of finance, having made her mark at firms like Morgan Stanley, Perella Weinberg Partners and Chicago-based Romar Partners. These days, the longtime Chicagoan is focused on something much more delicate: silk scarves from her passion project DESEDA, which she launched in 2019 to fill a niche in the market for modern, premium quality scarves. Here, the art and design lover reveals to CS some of her favorite brands and personal philosophies that earn her stylish stamp of approval.
WAKE-UP TIME: 6 a.m.
MORNING SKINCARE: Biologique Recherche regimen
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: A bold lipstick from Tom Ford
SIGNATURE SCENT: Clive Christian 1872
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Fresh, modern, classic
GO-TO FASHION BRAND: Scanlan Theodore or a special new selection from SPACE 519
UNIFORM: Chic, tailored separates paired with a DESEDA silk scarf
SHOES: Always a little heel, usually a pointed-toe nude pump
BAG: Right now, anything Loewe
JEWELRY: BVLGARI and local jewelry designer Mara Karzen
FASHION ICON: Catherine Banning, Rene Russo’s character in The Thomas Crown Affair
FASHION NEMESIS: None! You do you.
FAVORITE HOTEL: Passalacqua in Lake Como
WORKOUT: Superior Pilates in Lake Forest
MOVIE: The Saint (1997)—I just can’t resist the late ’90s charm of Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue.
TV SHOW: Sex and the City reruns
MANTRA: Every day is all there is.
ESCAPE: Live music performances
WEAKNESS: French fries and mayo
MENTOR: Lucky to have too many to list!
BEST ADVICE: There is no path until you walk it.
PHILANTHROPY: The Josselyn Center, The Lyon Family Foundation and the Thing 123 Foundation
APP: Spotify
SOULMATE: My pug, Bowie
BEDTIME: 10 p.m.
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: Current guilty pleasure is The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: The America Martin painting in my home
LOCAL HAUNT: The Bar at Deerpath Inn
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Jack Black mint lip balm (the best); a beautiful Smythson journal; and a stack of DESEDA scarves (the Swiss Army knife of any wardrobe)
YESTERDAY: “What’s behind you doesn’t matter.” —Enzo Ferrari
TOMORROW: The best is yet to come.
ZODIAC: Sagittarius
Hayet Rida has her eyes on creating an accessories empire with KHOI.
For KHOI founder and Bucktown resident Hayet Rida, jewelry isn’t just merch to be sold—it’s a deeply personal expression of her journey from Ghanaian immigrant to empowered Chicago entrepreneur. The results? Stunning, sculptural pieces that range from uberchic bangles to starburst-like earrings, perfect for a woman not afraid to make a statement and already drawing A-listers like Janelle Monae. With the brand’s recently opened Bucktown boutique doing gangbusters business, it’s obvious we’ll be hearing more from this style dynamo. From skincare musts to fashion essentials, Rida shares with CS how she stays stylish and inspired.
WAKE-UP TIME: 4 a.m.
MORNING SKINCARE: CEO Glow by Sunday Riley
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
SIGNATURE SCENT: Le Labo Labdanum 18
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Monochromatic, minimal, clean
GO-TO FASHION BRAND: DISSH, ZARA
UNIFORM: LEZE the Label stone-colored pants and matching top
SHOES/BAG: Rothy’s
JEWELRY: KHOI
FASHION ICON: Myself
FASHION NEMESIS: Maximalists
FAVORITE HOTEL: The Edition Hotel in Miami Beach
WORKOUT: Strength training
MOVIE: A Walk to Remember
TV SHOW: Grey’s Anatomy
MANTRA: Cry a river, build a bridge, get over it.
ESCAPE: Ghana
WEAKNESS: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
MENTOR: Bozoma Saint John (in my head, at least)
BEST ADVICE: Always trust, but verify.
SOULMATE: My boyfriend :-)
BEDTIME: Scrolling on Pinterest
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “Insanity” by Gregory Porter
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: My photography
LOCAL HAUNT: PLANTA Queen Chicago
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Supergoop! sunscreen, Aveeno mix, Vaseline lip balm
YESTERDAY: Hanging on the Bad Beaches Only boat
TOMORROW: Matcha
ZODIAC: Capricorn
At her new Avalon Park bakery Justice of the Pies, Maya- Camille Broussard is serving up decadent desserts—and inspiring fellow Chicagoans along the way.
Hyde Park native Maya-Camille Broussard started her bakery, Justice of the Pies, in homage to her late father Stephen, a criminal defense attorney and passionate home cook. Now, after a star turn on Netflix’s Bake Squad and a recently published cookbook, the pastry chef and style setter has unveiled her first brick-and-mortar location in Avalon Park, all while continuing to serve as a mentor and advocate to improve the lives of others. Here, this self-taught dynamo shares her secrets to looking good and feeling fabulous.
WAKE-UP TIME: 5 a.m.
MORNING SKINCARE: The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm, Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydrating Eye Gel, Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer, Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Hydrating Moisturizer SPF 45
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Essentia Water and a good SPF face cream
SIGNATURE SCENT: Frederic Malle’s Lipstick Rose and Octavia Morgan’s Dark Rose
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Clean, architectural, comfortable
GO-TO FASHION BRANDS: Sacai and Simone Rocha
UNIFORM: Frame denim, white tee, gray Everlane hoodie or a Justice of the Pies hoodie and a Hedley & Bennett Apron.
SHOES: Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG
BAG: Clare V Grande Fanny
JEWELRY: Gold hoops—the bigger, the better.
FASHION ICON: Zendaya and Kelly Rowland—they rarely miss.
FAVORITE HOTEL: EDITION Hotels
WORKOUT: Peloton or walking along Lake Michigan
MOVIE: School Daze or Coming to America
TV SHOW: Abbott Elementary and Black Mirror
MANTRA: “It matters not how strait the gate/How charged with punishments the scroll/I am the master of my fate/I am the captain of my soul.” —William Ernest Henley
ESCAPE: New Orleans
WEAKNESS: Pound cake
MENTOR: Claudia Gordon
BEST ADVICE: Move in silence.
PHILANTHROPY: Broussard Justice Foundation
APP: Captions
BEDTIME: 11:00 p.m.-midnight
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: Gratitude journal
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “Mount Everest” by Labrinth
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: Kerry James Marshall, “Untitled (Bathers)”
LOCAL HAUNT: Ascione Bistro
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Water filter, trusty and self-sufficient companion, fruit and vegetable seeds
YESTERDAY: Sleep-deprived
TOMORROW: Even more sleep-deprived
ZODIAC: Capricorn
Jewelry expert Celeste Botelho is making a stylish impact as director of marketing for iconic Chicago luxury brand Marshall Pierce & Co. (Photo by Andre LaCour/LaCour Images, styling by Mira Couture, shot on location at Marshall Pierce & Co.)
Sixth-generation jeweler Celeste Botelho (née Bern) of Marshall Pierce & Co. has been immersed in the world of luxury jewelry for as long as she can remember. Born and raised in the south suburbs, she decamped to L.A. after college to work at Cartier Beverly Hills and later at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills; now back in the Midwest and having just relocated to a new home in LaGrange with her husband, Botelho is using her business savvy and experience as a fine jewelry specialist and the brand’s director of marketing. Here, she gives us a glimpse into her own personal aesthetic and the things that keep her at her stylish peak.
WAKE-UP TIME: 6 a.m.
MORNING SKINCARE: Epionce cleanser and moisturizer
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Skinny Confidential face roller
SIGNATURE SCENT: Le Labo Jasmin
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Sophisticated, classic, whimsical
GO-TO FASHION BRAND: Alice & Olivia
UNIFORM: Trousers, silk blouse, Gucci loafers
SHOES: Valentino Rockstud slides
BAG: Prada Symbole
JEWELRY: Marshall Pierce & Co. diamond hoops
FASHION ICON: Gwyneth Paltrow
FAVORITE HOTEL: The Peninsula Chicago
WORKOUT: HIIT
MOVIE: Pretty Woman
TV SHOW: Curb Your Enthusiasm
MANTRA: You attract what you put out.
ESCAPE: Long walks along the lake
WEAKNESS: Regular Coca-Cola
MENTOR: My sister, Lauren
BEST ADVICE: Trust your intuition.
PHILANTHROPY: Big Shoulders Fund
APP: Audible
SOULMATE: Michael Botelho
BEDTIME: 10 p.m.
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “Make It Happen” by Rufus Du Sol
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again exhibit
LOCAL HAUNT: Le Colonial
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Supergoop! SPF, Laneige lip mask, Miehle coffee maker
ZODIAC: Capricorn
Photography by: FROM TOP: PHOTO BY COLLIN PIERSON; PHOTO BY HANNAH SCHWEISS; PHOTO © 2022 BY DAN GOLDBERG; PHOTO BY ANDRE LACOUR/LACOUR IMAGES, STYLING BY MIRA COUTURE, SHOT ON LOCATION AT MARSHALL PIERCE & CO.
