Chicago Art Deco Society upcoming events

Zoom – The Fashion of Art Deco: Lifestyle in the Jazz Age (20 Jun 2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

About the Presentation — Glamorous opulence, progressive modernity, and subtle androgyny — all are aspects that characterized fashion of the Art Deco period of 1920–1939. This presentation focuses on Art Deco fashion and the urban lifestyle, featuring stunning dresses and accompanying accoutrements such as purses, compacts, perfume bottles, and more from the collection of Don Orban.

About the Presenter — Brit Micho serves as the Curator of Exhibitions at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art since July 2024, bringing substantial curatorial experience from previous roles including Associate Curator of Exhibitions at the same institution and Curatorial Advisor at 317 Art Collaborative.

About the Collector — Don Orban has always been a collector. Childhood collections of shells, rocks, and sugar packets were later replaced in early adulthood by Frankart, commercial illustration artwork, and almost anything from the 1920s and 1930s. A chance encounter with a Czechoslovakian perfume bottle started an ongoing fascination with Czech glass and vanity items. Membership in the IPBA (International Perfume Bottle Association) and a six-year term as editor of the PBQ (Perfume Bottle Quarterly) have enhanced and encouraged this collection.

Presentation: 10:00 am.
Fee: $15.
You must register and prepay at chicagodeco.org

Chicago Historical Costume Society invites Chicago Art Deco Society Members to a Celebration of its 5th Anniversary (22 Aug 2026)

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 21:30:00 GMT

In celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the Chicago Historical Costume Society, join us for an afternoon of elegance at the storied Palm Court of The Drake Hotel.

Attire: The Drake first opened its doors in 1920, and we invite you to dress in the spirit of the decade. Don your finest 1920s attire and step into the golden age of the tea party. (Need inspiration? Browse our Pinterest board.)

Group Reservations: Table bundles are available for those who wish to reserve seats together.

The Tea Service: Your afternoon begins with a leisurely perusal of the Palais de Thés menu, featuring seventeen exceptional blends — from time-honoured classics such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey, to more inspired selections like the Mélange du Cap, a sophisticated union of cocoa nibs and vanilla pods over a delicate rooibos base.

Tea is presented in individual teapots and accompanied by the traditional three-tiered tray, appointed with:

• Gourmet artisanal finger sandwiches

• Fresh-baked breads and scones

• Dainty petit fours

Served alongside house-made preserves, lemon curd, and English double Devon cream. Please note your dietary restrictions when you purchase your ticket.

Reserve your place at tea today!

Chicago Historical Costume Society Socials

Instagram: @chihistoricalcostuming

Website: https://chihistoricalcostume.com/

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E2QGMs2kT/

The Caxton Club invites CADS members to save the date – September 24, 2026. Neil Harris on Some Women Binders in Paris: The Deco Years (24 Sep 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Caxton Club invites Chicago Art Deco Society members to an in-person presentation by Neil Harris at the Woman’s Athletic Club.

During the 1920s a remarkable group of women binders, many with modernist aspirations, emerged in Paris. One or two are well known; others remain obscure. This talk will focus upon several of the most talented and productive among them, relying on images to document their achievements.

Neil Harris taught at the University of Chicago from 1969 to 2008, retiring as Preston and Sterling Morton Professor Emeritus in History and Art History. In addition to more than 100 published essays and articles his books include The Artist in American Society; Humbug: The Art of P. T. Barnum; Cultural Excursions; The Chicagoan: A Lost Magazine of the Jazz Age; and Capital Culture: J. Carter Brown, The National Gallery of Art, and the Reinvention of the Museum Experience. His research interests focus on the history of museums and collecting, the built landscape, international expositions, and the decorative arts. Harris has served as a member and chair of the Smithsonian Council, a trustee of the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, the Newberry Library, the Terra Foundation on the Arts, the National Museum of American History, and co-chaired the Visiting Committee to the J. Paul Getty Museum. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and recipient of the Joseph Henry Medal from the Smithsonian Institution.