AKIRA’s blowout Garden of Eden fall fashion show received some love in CS Magazine this December. Runway & crowd snaps from the 4,500-person affair took up two pages in the society publication. If you missed the annual event this year, mark your calendar for September 16/September 23, 2012–we’ve already blocked off these two days for the 9th annual runway extravaganza. (How’s that for advance planning?)

Just in time for AKIRA’s arrival in the Naperville area–we opened a Women’s store at the Fox Valley mall in November–the suburb’s namesake magazine spotlighted two of our pieces in a four-page fall editorial. Our high-waist pleather shorts & hand-beaded clutch added some edge to the model’s elegant ensembles.

Because of his myriad charitable endeavors as AKIRA’s owner & director of marketing, Jon Cotay landed on the pages of Michigan Avenue Magazine‘s November 2011 issue. The issue featured a photoshoot & interview with Jon and eight other Chicago-based, fashion-focused philanthropists. To further fête the honorees, Michigan Avenue hosted a private party at Water Tower Place on November 9. Two FORD Models injected just the right dose of glamour into this high-style event.

In December, AKIRA’s three co-owners were elected to Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 Under 40″ Class of 2011. This honor put them in the company of such local  entrepreneurs as the Melman brothers & Sam Hagan (the founder of OKCupid).

Over the summer we held a model search. Winner would receive a $300 gift card to shopAKIRA.com, an AKIRA styling session, photoshoot, a behind the scenes tour of shopAKIRA.com, and complimentary tickets to AKIRA’s Fall Fashion show benefitting the Imerman Angels. We received an overwhelming response with over 70 contestants.

Rachel-Marie Jones, fashion blogger of Jaglever won the model search. Last week we welcomed her to the shopAKIRA.com office for her own personal styling session and a photoshoot with our creative direct. Here are the photos from her shoot!

Click here to shop Rachel-Marie’s looks!

This past week ABC 7 kept all the Chicagoland fashionistas up-to-date on the latest boot fashions for this coming fall & winter. Check out the video to learn more!

The biggest trend this fall? Canvas. Check out AKIRA’s store for more Seychelles styles. People Magazine definitely is… Why aren’t you?

Just because summer is over that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stock up for next year’s beach getaways. Glamour Magazine lists AKIRA’s sexy French Connection black cut-out as a must have for the summer days.

Earlier this April, CS Magazine hosted their annual Chic Boutique party at the Ivy Room where the most fashionable walked the floor. AKIRA was so glad to be a part of it, and Racked talks serious business when they list all the different boutiques that took part in it.

AKIRA’s styles were featured in Chicago Magazine where Mario Tricoci was on the hunt to find the next top model. You can find AKIRA’s skirt, shoes, and accessories all on the online store.