nenasnotes

Nena Ivon, a native Chicagoan, retired from Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago after 53 years where she was the longest tenured employee. She began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue while still in high school. Her first assignment was a sales associate in the Contemporary Sportswear Department (called Debutante Sportswear when she started). After a year she was promoted to Assistant Fashion Director. She held the position of Special Events/Publicity/Fashion Director for 50 years and as such, produced all the fashion shows and special events for the Saks Fifth Avenue, Michigan Avenue store as well as assisting in many of the companies store openings and producing shows in other Saks Fifth Avenue markets. Ms. Ivon also handled all the publicity and public relations for the Chicago store and for many years styled the Store’s windows and interior mannequins. She has worked with over 150 of the leading fashion designers and style icons of the 20th and 21st centuries and has produced 1000’s of fashion shows and special events for many of the City’s charitable and civic organizations as well as producing shows for convention spouse programs. Nena is and has been an active participation in many of the City’s civic and charitable organizations as well as professional groups such as The Women’s Board of the Alliance Francaise, The Women’s Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo (past President), The Women’s Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Apparel Industry Board and The Apparel Industry Board Foundation, The Fashion Group International of Chicago, Inc. (served as Regional Director twice and chaired several of the galas), and The Fashion Group International Foundation. She twice co-chaired the annual DIFFA gala. She has been a National Board member of the Costume Society of America and served on their Board of Trustees. She currently serves as a Past President of the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum, serves as the Costume Council’s Historian and is a Trustee Emeritus of the Museum. She has served on many committees over the years as well as having chaired many galas and organization’s programs. She has lectured to countless local and International groups and takes great pride in her teaching at Columbia College Chicago where she teaches courses in Fashion Studies.