BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY

IMG_7618 Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! The Gilt City Warehouse Sale roared into Chicago last week with wheels, deals and plenty of steals for Windy City shoppers. Thanks to dynamic partnerships with Infiniti and fashion designers Thom Browne and Zac Posen, Gilt City’s Warehouse Sale was bigger and better than ever.

Gilt, the innovative online shopping destination, partnered with the premium automaker to offer a pair of all-new 2014 Q50 luxury sports sedans, one designed by Thom Browne and the other by Zac Posen. Both will be sold on Gilt on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 12pm ET at www.gilt.com/InfinitiQ50. And trust me – these cars are going to sell FAST.

It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite between the cars! Mr. Browne’s Q50 exterior features a chrome – almost reflective – finish. The interior is accented with the Thom Browne signature red, white and blue stripe on the seats and in other areas to highlight the curves of the Q50, along with sterling silver elements to represent old world sophistication. Inside the trunk, Mr. Browne has also designed a luggage set that is custom fit for the Q50. The luggage is GORGEOUS and a great addition to the car.

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On the other hand, Mr. Posen’s Q50 exterior features an ombré effect, starting with light silver in a matte finish at the front and ending in dark grey with a high-gloss finish at the rear. The interior uses luxurious materials, including velvet, shagreen, and leather, in rich shades of red that evoke red carpet glamour, a signature of the Zac Posen brand. The entire car sparkles from headlights to hubcaps.

On Friday evening, Gilt City Chicago hosted a tastemaker and media preview of the sale, including a personal appearance by designer, Thom Browne. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with him –a true gentleman and quite inspirational. As a former actor turned fashion designer, I was immediately struck by his fervent commitment to his professional career. At one point in the day, he provided some sound advice - “You must live for and love your career. In order to be at the top of your game and be the very best in your industry, you can’t see yourself doing anything else.”

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His comment was one reminder of why I love and chose public relations as my profession – I can’t see myself doing anything else (nor would I want to). At Zapwater, we love our jobs and we’re passionate about our clients. That unique commitment is just one of many reasons why Zapwater has been, and will continue to be successful.

It’s funny how one weekend filled with shopping, beautiful Infiniti cars and an interaction with a remarkable designer can once again reinforce my commitment to my professional journey, and above all - a reminder to stop and enjoy the ride.

Jennifer Lake Vice President