The Commons Club

Happy Monday, loves! I wanted to share one of the classiest lunch experiences I've had from a couple of weeks ago while staying at Virgin Hotels Chicago! We'd actually gone to the Commons Club for a nightcap the evening before, since hotel guests are offered a complimentary cocktail during their nightly "Social Hour" event. After seeing the space, I was dying to go back for a proper meal. (View my full experience in the video below!)

The decor within the whole space was absolutely phenomenal. They had quirky little pieces of furniture and created a very cozy, at home feeling. This light teal armchair was definitely of my favorite pieces within the restaurant lounge.  I could see it fitting right in as a little armchair in a corner of my future apartment. ;)

How adorable are these little transparent ornaments?! It wasn't until I took a closer look that I realized there were little toy figurines within each one! Absolutely adorable in design and such "out of the box" thinking. It's the little details that really set this space apart from any other restaurant lounge I'd ever been in.

The space is a combination of a lounge, restaurant and bar. So whatever your endeavors are, the space will be able to adapt to your needs. I'm loving how the areas were sectioned off, so you could wine, dine, converse, or otherwise just hang out, all within The Commons Club. Whether you're looking for a quiet area for business collaborations, a quick pick-me-up at the bar, or a nice meal before heading off to the airport, Virgin Hotels Chicago has got you covered. 

The other highlight of the space? These cascading light fixtures overlooking the restaurant bar. These fixtures light up the entire area. and at 8:04pm sharp, they dim these down for a bit of "mood lighting." Absolutely breathtaking center piece of the whole space!

I'll be honest and admit, while shooting this video, I felt pretty BAMF. I just kept thinking, Areta Style Secrets...fashion blogger by day, international spy by night. I definitely had some James Bond 007 influences while shooting and editing the short video...especially with that new movie that just came out--Spectre. I'm always a huge fan of spy movies and who can resist a classic British spy film?

Anndddddd...the bae makes his first debut on the new blog site! This guy's usually the one behind the camera, helping me shoot, film, and whatever else my mind can think of to share with all of you guys. He's my biggest supporter, right from the beginning of this blogging endeavor and I really could not have grown to where I am today without his constant love and his faith in me. He'll always be my travel buddy and I'm excited to see where life will take us next!

{Dress: Ann Taylor; Similar here}

{Necklace: Bauble Bar, ON SALE!}

{Clutch: Clare V.}

{Heels: Prada}

{Phone Case: Kate Spade}

{Watch: Michael Kors, ON SALE!}