Rock it Like a Redhead Fashion and Beauty event at Ovation Chicago

When Adrienne and Stephanie Vendetti, the red-headed sisters behind the lifestyle brand How to Be A Redhead, reached out to Five Grain Events for assistance planning and executing the Chicago stop on their national “Rock it Like a Redhead” tour – we were thrilled!

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

The event promised to be glamorous – from hair and makeup stations to a fashion show filled with red-headed models– and we knew it was going to be a blast.

We were brought on to help make sure everything about the Chicago event fit in with the style of the tour thus far, and featured some local businesses as well – tying in as many red-head friendly features as possible! We were up to the challenge, and totally energized by the mission: to help women who tend to feel ostracized by the beauty community embrace their differences and feel as fabulous as they are!

Finding the right venue was at the top of our list. We didn’t have to look far, as one of our favorite Chicago spots seemed to have everything we needed for an amazing event: Ovation! Not only is Ovation an incredibly chic industrial venue – but the pops of red integrated into the space’s design solidified it as the perfect location.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

We couldn’t call it a red-carpet event without a red carpet – and thanks to our dear friends at Tablescapes, we had the grand entrance covered! Guests were lined up down the block, eager for the doors to open and the night to begin!

Next up: food and drinks! Berghoff Catering Co. was happy to put together a delectable menu featuring grape and goat cheese lollipops; asparagus, boursin, and basil spring rolls; and curried chicken crepe bites. The bar was stocked with local favorites from some of our favorite Chicagoland breweries, Temperance Beer Co., an Evanston-based brewery, and Finch’s Beer Co., based on Chicago’s North side. We were lucky enough to also feature a selection of wines from H2Vino – a Chicago-based importer and wholesale distributor of fine wines from around the world specializing in artisan wines, a number of which are biodynamic, sustainable, organic or organically farmed.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Once we had the location and nourishment taken care of, it was on to the entertainment! Shayne Leighton – a redheaded musician (and published author) who regularly travels with the Rock It Like a Redhead Tour definitely brought her A-game to the Chicago event. Her passionate performances – not to mention her sparkly red ensemble – kept the glam factor high throughout the night.

We were so excited to be able to introduce Stephanie and Adrienne to Aleem, an up-and-coming singer/songwriter, as part of the night’s entertainment. And the amazingly talented sound crew at Sound Investment A/V, coupled with the killer in-house sound system at Ovation, made sure everyone sounded pitch perfect.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Spencer Lokken, owner of Style Matters DJs and Ovation, was our top-notch DJ for the night; his expertise at selecting the perfect songs to keep the attendees smiling and dancing is second-to-none, and helped ensure everyone had a great time.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Is there anything more adorable than tiny Irish dancers performing in full recital wear? A team of talented Irish dancers from St. Andrew’s School’s faction of the Foy School of Irish Dance happily shared their fancy footwork to entertain guests as they visited various beauty stations.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

The fashion portion of the event featured local and national style mavens – from styling selections provided by Chicago boutique Havlan & West, to original pieces from designer House of Gina Marie. Chicago stylist Anna Schowe of The Whiskey Wolf kept busy backstage putting looks together and ensuring all the models looked fabulous as they took center stage.

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Alaina Bos Photography
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Alaina Bos Photography
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Alaina Bos Photography
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Alaina Bos Photography
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Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Stylists from Ten Friends Blow Dry & Hair House were busy working behind the scenes prepping the models hair and at their beauty booth on the main floor. Everyone looked fabulous, and one lucky raffle winner took home a blow-out party for herself and nine of her friends!

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Attendees were able to visit beauty bars from Kryolan and Bioelements to learn beauty tips and sample products to keep their skin safe and healthy. Plus, they get a little makeup trial to spice up their look for the evening!

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Notable Nails generously donated manicure services to attendees so they could get their fingers freshened up while they enjoyed the performances.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

While Five Grain Events made sure that the order of events was moving along smoothly, Adrienne and Stephanie were free to greet fans and pass on some beauty tips at their Billion Dollar Brows station. It was incredible to watch how excited so many of the attendees were enthusiastically waiting to meet the ladies behind How To Be a Redhead (or H2BAR as they affectionally refer to it)!

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Alaina Bos Photography

We were SO lucky to be able to have an amazingly talented group of photographers and videographers to help capture all the memories. Gold Grid Studios snapped partygoers at the Rock it Like a Redhead step and repeat, and Alaina Bos Photography captured all the details from the beauty bars to the fashion show. Attendees were able to get their head shots taken by none other than Rebecca Ickes of Rebecca Marie Photography, and RoboToaster put together a wonderful video that perfectly portrays the night!

Gold Grid Studios
Gold Grid Studios

One of the things we love most about the people behind How to Be a Redhead is their family-oriented team. Adrienne and Stephanie both know their mother is a powerful saleswoman, and who better to tout the product line? She had people lining up at the How to Be a Redhead Shop, ready to rock their own t-shirts, bobby pins, brow kits, and sport their redhead pride.

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

The ladies of H2BAR used their marketing prowess to snag some seriously stellar swag for Rock It Like a Redhead attendees. Five Grain Events packed each and every bag, and we loved handing them out to all the smiling faces at the end of the night. Filled with beauty goodies specifically chosen for redheads, these bags had a whopping $300 value!

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography
Five Grain Events
Five Grain Events

Adrienne and Stephanie, thank you so much for choosing Five Grain Events to help bring the Chicago stop of the Rock It Like A Redhead tour to fruition. We had a blast working with you, and can’t wait for our next project together!

Alaina Bos Photography
Alaina Bos Photography

Red wishes to all you beautiful redheads!

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