Chicago – Sep 23 2020

Please join us for responsible networking + mingling at the closest to being in Italy in Chicago!

Mozzarella Store, Pizza + Cafe is a delicious addition to Chicago- owned and operated by Italian chefs and foodies from Naples, Mozzarella Store
offers authentic Italian food and cocktails, as well as in house mozzarella + salami for sale!

They also have a great sidewalk patio perfect for social distancing and that will be specially reserved for us!

Please note, due to Covid restrictions, this event will be limited to max 50 guests.
Temperature checks will be conducted upon arrival and masks are mandatory. Please ONLY RSVP if you plan on attending. Once we reach capacity a wait list will be started for cancellations.

Let’s support our restaurant industry guys!!
We can’t let Chicago lose these neighborhood gems. Please join us for some human interaction and good food + drinks before the season is over!

Co-hosted by Honorary Consul to San Marino Robert Allegrini + artist extraordinaire Lynda Simonetti

Meet Sabrina Dérian Matthews – French Photographer and a Fashion Stylist in Chicago

I had the pleasure to chat with a Chicago-based French Photographer and a Fashion Stylist. 

Her name is Sabrina Dérian Matthews.  Sabrina was born and raised in Brittany, France.  She worked in
Germany and France for several years as a Model Booker and managed the Elite Model Management  Agency in Marseille, France.

Sabrina moved to Chicago, USA to accompany her husband. She is a Photographer and a Fashion Stylist. 

She speaks French, English and German    
                                                                              

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us  Sabrina! This was a rare pleasure.

** All photos: Copyright L’Image By Sabrina Derian Matthews. All rights reserved 

Sabrina, can you tell us what brought you to this creative career path?

Yes, of course! I feel that I have always been attracted to Photography and Fashion in
one form or another. As a child and as a teenager, I was often flicking through fashion
magazines and catalogues, looking at the photographs, the fashion stories, the stylism
and model poses. Then, when I was living in Munich, Germany, I met a make up artist
who told me that I would have a good profile to work in the profession as a model
booker. At that time, I was working as a stewardess for Lufthansa Airlines. So I decided
to go ahead and give it a try, and send my resume to a model agency. I obtained an
interview with Louisa Model agency in Munich. That is how everything began! I then
developed, more and more, my eye for photography, styling, and working within the
different model agencies in Europe. When I moved back to France, where I grew up, I
started working for Success Models, and it was during this period that I was offered a
position to manage the Elite Model Management agency based in Marseille. For each
model we represented, there was a need for many digital photos. I realized that I really
came to love taking these photos, and, at the same time, be able to be creative and play
with light, and different poses, so as to present to our clients the best digital results as
possible.
Years later, I moved to Chicago following my husband. Shortly after, a friend of mine
proposed to me to photograph models to promote her brand. This was an experience I
enjoyed very much. It was so satisfying to be behind the camera and create visuals for
a commercial brand.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you’re working on right
now?
Right now, I am working on different projects to expose my photographs in different
places. As we are now spending a lot of time at home during this pandemic, there are
more and more people who wish to open up their interiors to the outside, and the feeling
of a connection with the outside, and this instills a feeling of travel to someplace else.
It’s one of the reasons why I re-built my website, where you can discover this feeling, I
believe, within my photographs, under the section ” Art Photo Boutique”.

** All photos: Copyright L’Image By Sabrina Derian Matthews. All rights reserved

ART PHOTOS

At the moment, I photograph mostly family portraits and children portraits, generally
around their homes or at the most emblematic spots in Chicago. Families like
beautifying their walls back home with “souvenir photos” of the entire family together.
Also, I’ m proposing some personal E-Styling Session by skype and help people with
my styling advice and guidance to feel more confident about themselves.

FAMILY STYLE

I’m planning to shoot more Model Tests in the future which are combining photography,
styling and artistic direction. With the current social distancing situation, I had to
postpone most part of this activity.

In partnership with a friend of mine, Rachel Christophe, we are talking about a virtual
workshop associating Fashion and French language learning. Rachel was associated to
my project” Lettre de Mode” on my blog “&other stories” where you learn English or
French through fashion and other inspirational subjects. We are looking to expand the
concept.

Who are some of the most Interesting people you’ve interacted with?

Isabelle Olivier is immediately coming in my mind. She is a French harpist that I was
honored to style and photograph at many different occasions. She is so generous both
in life and in front of the camera and this makes her easy to direct. I feel so lucky that I
was able to photograph such a unique person and her instrument.
I have so many interesting people around me, from different cultures, different
characters, different point of view and for me, being connected with different
personalities allows me to grow a little every day.

PORTRAITS
(Click on the photos to see them)

Which people in photography inspire you the most and why?

I feel like I am inspired by many photographers and particularly a combination of details
from each of them… Elle Von Unwerth and her sense of playfulness, Inez and Vinooth
for their ability to photograph using different angles, Luigi and Iango, Karl Lagerfeld and
many other photographers as well who are not necessarily making a business out of
photography but who are very creative and talented. …. Also, Peter Lindberg, who
passed away last year will always be an inspiration. He was one of the photographers
who was playing a big role during the top model era.

How has your business evolved, as a result of the pandemic?
We certainly have to reinvent ourselves, reshape our lives and become creative in these
unprecedented moments and that is the reason why I am trying to develop different
angles around photography and fashion styling like I was talking about before.

What do you do, to bring goodness to the world?

I try to be a good listener and to be there for the people around me. Also, I am taking
time to explain to people of what we can do daily to improve the environment. I think
that we do not realize enough that with small gestures, we can make the situation
better.

I am continuing to work with charities, and will continue to offer photo prints to support
good causes.

What tips would you give to your colleagues in your industry to help them thrive and
not burnout?

I would probably just tell them to be themselves, stay humble and not to listen people
around them, who are sometimes critical. Photography and Fashion Styling are very
subjective like any form of arts. Each of us will have other points of view and tastes but
with following your own thoughts and intuitions, you will stay unique.

Is there a thing you wish someone had told you?

Yes! “If you feel it, just do it!”. I realize that I was wasting a lot of time wondering too much if
I was legitimate as a photographer, or if I was good enough. I had so many ideas and I felt
that I needed to express myself through photography, but it is sometimes hard to make the
step, and have enough self confidence when you launch yourself into a new challenge.

Is there anything French that you miss, in the States?

Yes, like “aperitifs” with family and friends, the long and deep discussions, to try to change
the world when everybody is talking at the same time, with a glass of rose wine (or even two
!), the “Galette Bretonne“ (Breton cake) with a fresh glass of Brittany cider ..
and then there is the European healthcare (especially in France) … it is very much missed
… to not worry about healthcare … with hope, the US will one day have the same …?!?

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with?

I think, Karl Lagerfeld would have been someone I would have loved to have had lunch
with. But clearly, it is too late! He was creative in so many ways, and I loved so much his
French and German sense of humor. Other than that, for the moment, I wish I could have
a lunch with my family back in France, but obviously, this pandemic makes everything
very difficult, but we still have “Espoir” one day !…

EDITOR’s note:
Karl Lagerfeldt quotes:
” Don’t dress to kill, dress to survive.”
“Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. …
“Trendy is the last stage before tacky.”
“I am a fashion person, and fashion is not only about clothes—it’s about all kinds of change.”
“Never use the word ‘cheap. Today everybody can look chic in inexpensive clothes (the rich buy them too). There is good clothing design on every level today. You can be the chicest thing in the world in a T-shirt and jeans—it’s up to you.””

FASHION

Sabrina, how can people follow you on social media to see what you are doing?

You can like my professional Facebook page www.facebook.com/limagebysd
and follow my Instagraminstagram.com/sabrinaderianmatthews

To discover my creative universe and contact me, you can visit my website
www.limagebysd.com.

Thank You, Sabrina!!

CHICAGO MEMBERS!
Contact Sabrina for lifestyle family, children, engagements, portraits photos, model tests etc, and to purchase some prints to beautify your home

Chicago – May 05 2020

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta – How to make a perfect margarita!

Please join EuroCircle Chicago for a virtual Cinco de Mayo fiesta this Tuesday May 5!

Kenneth Woodman from Entertaining Company will be showing us how to mix up the perfect margarita as well as sharing some great quarantine cooking courtesy of the Entertaining Company!

In the meantime, check out their special Taco Tuesday menu available for at home fiestas!

The streaming platform will be announced soon!

Gracias!

 

Chicago – Mar 03 2020

EuroCircle Meets at TAO Chicago – Ink Bar

Please SAVE THE DATE for EuroCircle @ Tao Chicago – Ink Bar

Join us for a beautiful networking night at Tao’s Ink Bar as we kick- off the EU Film Festival in Chicago!

We’ll be giving away complimentary tickets to the festival, and of course, mixing and mingling with Chicago’s Euro professionals at this world renowned venue.

Please come dressed to impress!

Co-hosts for the evening:
Antonio Clipperton
Ruth Rodriguez

Please mention “EuroCircle” when You arrive at the host stand and you  will be given a wristband for the drink specials.
Drink specials will be from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM for all EuroCircle guests (via the wristband)

The specials are $10 Sensei cocktail (bourbon whiskey, amaro and walnut liquor) and $10 Ruby Red Dragon cocktail (grapefruit vodka, yuzu citrus and a hint of pomegranate)

INK BAR

TAO Chicago’s Ink Bar, located at the top of the Grand Staircase, is the perfect location to host EuroCircle cocktails.

Chicago – Sep 19 2019

EuroCircle Chicago Presents: Mediterranean Mix + Mingle
Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 6 PM – 10 PM

Galata Turkish Restaurant
717 W Maxwell St, Chicago, Illinois 60607

Ok guys, let’s do this!

Please join EC Chicago for some good, old fashioned mixing and mingling! So many of you have told me you’ve met your best friends, significant others ( and an ex or two 😈) at our events because it was one of the few events where people were approachable, cool and actually TALKED! Imagine that?!

Lots of great things are in the works…. I promise!

In the meantime, join us for a glass of raki and some Turkish delights at longtime EC member Murat B’s super cute Turkish restaurant! There’s even a cozy outdoor patio for us weather permitting!

We hope to see you there!

*space is limited so please RSVP

Specials for EuroCircle event:

All tapas $5
Efes $6
Raki $8
Cocktails $7

Chicago – Mar 13 2019

GET LUCKY – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day wih EuroCircle

Join us as we celebrate all things Irish in anticipation of Chicago’s favorite holiday- St. Patrick’s Day!!

Thanks to this month’s awesome ( and Irish!) co- host Sonya, she has set us up at the super cozy + charming D4 Irish Pub & Cafe where we look forward to sharing some of that famous Irish luck- and cuteness of course! ☘️
So get your green on and come join us!

 

Maria & Sonya

Chicago – Feb 17 2019

EuroCircle’s Apres Valentine’s Day Mix + Match!

MARCH EVENT – March 13 at at D4  RSVP HERE

Due to icy weather moving in the area we wanted everyone to be safe so we will keep our arrows sharpened for our new date – SUNDAY, Feb 17 5 to 8 pm

Join us at Baptiste and Bottle with a great view of the city scape below!
We’re kicking off the 2019 event season with our favorite- and most anticipated- event of the year!
Join Chicago’s most eligible int’l professionals for some networking fun as we help Cupid sharpen his bow and arrows!!
Please wear RED if you’re looking to be a target! Fabulous co-hosts to be announced SOON, but in the meantime, make sure to spread the word and save the date!!!

Let’s celebrate EuroCircle’s 20th Anniversary in style.

ABOUT THE VENUE:

Approachable, bourbon-centric restaurant, serving an elevated American menu in an environment that is reflective of bourbon’s true American roots.

 TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING IS BAD,

BUT TOO MUCH GOOD WHISKEY IS BARELY ENOUGH.

– MARK TWAIN

Chicago – Nov 03 2018

I Morti, Italy’s Day of the Dead @Ciao Chicago

Celebrate Halloween like you never have before — the Italian way! I Morti, Italy’s Day of the Dead, is a centuries-old Italian tradition of celebrating the dead with opulent religious processions and delicious parties. And now, for the very first time, I Morti is coming to Chicago!
Celebrate this sinister holiday with bottomless wine, devilish Italian food, live performances from La Tosca and Chicago’s very first Italian Halloween procession.
Black Halloween attire is strongly recommended.

General Ticket: $40 (includes bottomless wine & food)
Party Rate: $150 for 5 Tickets

EC members: please use this link: GET TICKETS HERE

Chicago – Sep 27 2018

EuroCircle Presents: End of summer rooftop at Noyane

lease join us for a final adieu to the summer season at the beautiful Noyane rooftop at the Conrad hotel! Let’s all pray to the weather gods for good weather! 🙏

*proper attire required

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Chicago – May 15 2018

EuroCircle Presents: Spring Soiree at Petit Margeaux!
EC CHICAGO is BACK!

And we plan on being better than ever! Please join us Apres- work for as we kick of the Spring season in Chicago at the impossibly chic + elegant Waldorf Astoria courtyard!

This is an exclusive event just for us – cash bar will feature delicious summer cocktails, light bites and of course, the coolest international crowd in the city!

RSVP isrequired. Space is limited and we  a capacity crowd!

Keep in mind that proper attire is required at Waldorf Astoria.

We look forward to seeing you there

Any questions please email chicago (at) eurocircle.com

PS. Rain will not stop you so no worries. We have a backup space in case of rain!