JWC Media
a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events, fashion, beauty, finance, and the pursuit of leisure.
By Contributor
edited by Bronte Starling
photography by Maria Ponce
styling by Theresa DeMaria
hair and makeup by Leanna Ernest
Dr. Meghan Leggero wearing a silk satin slip dress by ALC from Neiman Marcus Northbrook.
Lake Forest resident DR. MEGHAN LEGGERO describes herself as a lifelong advocate for transparency and accountability. “My career began on the South Side of Chicago, where I worked as an appointee of an Obama Administration federal grant initiative,” says Leggero. “Collaborating with Columbia University and national youth advocacy organizations, our team developed programs for some of Chicago’s most underserved young people—including youth experiencing homelessness, those formerly incarcerated, and those impacted by gang violence.” Her PhD studies at Northwestern University were driven by a simple but powerful belief—that policy should serve people, not the other way around. “My work sits at the intersection of public policy, organizational reform, and community advocacy, where I seek to uncover and close the gaps between how policy is written and how it actually touches lives on the ground,” she adds. “It champions those who often lack a seat at the table, using the power of voice, pen, and collective advocacy to drive reform and accountability.” Aside from her career, Leggero is passionate about music, architecture, and design. Her interest in architecture is what ultimately led her to Lake Forest, where she is now lovingly restoring a historic home. “I’m drawn to places with stories. Just like people, homes carry the layers of those who came before,” she says. “When I am not writing or organizing, you’ll find me traveling—exploring the Cotswolds, walking the Jurassic Coast, sipping wine in Tasmania, houseboating through Kerala, India, or hiking through Patagonia. Closer to home, mornings are for Lake Michigan, fresh coffee, Gordon Lightfoot, and the quiet rhythm of the water. My life, much like my work, is about connection—between people, place, and purpose.” With a new year on the horizon, she recently took time from her busy schedule to share a few of her favorite things.
Top item on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Complete the restoration of my beloved historic home—a labor of love that’s as much about heart as it is about design. I try to make each room feel like a quiet conversation between past and present, where preservation meets artistry, and every space tells a story meant to be felt as much as seen. Favorite January activity? Escaping to southwest Michigan for Bologna & Cheese sandwiches at Driers, wine at Dablon, fireside cider at Virtue, and Infusco coffee as Paul Simon spins on vinyl before ending the day bundled by a beach bonfire—watching the sun set over the frozen Lake Michigan shoreline. Vacation you’re most looking forward to this year? I can’t wait to explore Croatia—charter along the Dalmatian Coast, see Hvar and Korcula, and continue down to Kotor, Montenegro.
Favorite Lake Forest boutique or shop? I love stopping by Faherty and Amidei Mercatino and I’m so happy Love Shack Fancy has opened at Plaza Del Lago! Best winter beauty hack? A little Le Balm from Bonjout Beauty, Bounce Back from Trinny London, and a cold plunge in Lake Michigan—the perfect winter reset. Lake Forest restaurant you love and go-to order? My favorite place to dine out is Elawa Farm. The farm supper series is always incredible, especially the Wild Game Dinner. Book or podcast you recommend to all your friends? The podcast This American Life: Harper High School. I was working there during the filming, and it really captures what it’s like to grow up and go to school in the middle of gun violence—it’s powerful and raw. Lake Forest’s best-kept secret is? Deer Path isn’t exactly a secret—and I love it—but what I really adore are the themed events they’ve been hosting. We just went to Barbour & Biscuits, and it was so much fun.
Your ideal weekend in the city includes? A stay at Soho House, a spa day at Cowshed, wine on the Riverwalk, dinner at Maxwell Trading, and ending the night on our boat watching the buildings light up the Chicago River. Favorite place to escape the cold? California—we have a tradition of renting a vintage convertible in L.A. and cruising up Big Sur, stopping in little towns like Los Olivos, staying at the Madonna Inn and Post Ranch Inn along the coast, then heading to St. Helena and Yountville for long, slow winery afternoons. Home or fashion brand you can’t live without? Lately, I’m obsessed with Catchpole & Rye—their brass bateau is a timeless work of art. These pieces are made on an old dairy farm in Kent, England, a place that feels like a fairytale with castles on cliffs above the sea. Every time I slip into that tub, it feels like stepping back into that world. Favorite way to give back to the community? I love supporting Elawa and Open Lands—they’re such treasures. But I also believe in giving back in personal ways. Through my work and relationships, I’ve met incredible people with real stories, and I try to help directly—often one young person at a time.
