Archive for July, 2011

Wicker Park Fest: AllSaints Pop-Up Shop

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Oliver Peoples Hearts Chicago: Day 3 (Beach Edition)

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Italian tourist Ariana at the end of the adventure

Yesterday the limited-edition Chicago aviators by Oliver Peoples continued their journey around the Windy City. I began my latest adventure with a long walk down Grand Avenue towards Navy Pier. I ran into a decidedly beautiful tourist named Margaret along the way.

 Usually at Navy Pier I encounter scores of pale-skinned Midwestern sightseers shod in white sneakers and wearing fanny packs, so naturally the glasses made their way onto her face as seen below. I love when people visit Chicago and make the city more beautiful with their presence! When I’ve spotted someone who happens to be a tourist, sometimes they sheepishly say “well I’m not from Chicago…” I could care less where someone is from as long as they’re IN Chicago and found randomly on the streets! Do you hear me tourists? I’m an equal opportunity style scout!

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After convincing her to participate I whipped the Oliver Peoples sunglasses out of my backpack. “They look just like my Ray-Ban aviators that I wear all the time! I love these!” I replied “yes, but are your Ray-Ban aviator frames coated in 24 carat gold?” Her mouth opened wide as I explained to her that only 50 of these frames were produced and carry quite the hefty price tag. We joked about how I thought she looked trustworthy enough to tell the truth to about the value of the frames, since I am somewhat apprehensive about handing them over to strangers if they know the retail price. We had a good laugh before she went on her way off to explore the rest of Chicago, and I continued on to the Midwest’s most popular tourist attraction Navy Pier.

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While I was walking around Navy Pier looking for ways to shoot the glasses I saw this incredible public art statue consisting of steel wires painted in day-glo colors. The metal was knotted together like those cool bead roller-coaster toys they have in doctor’s offices. What an interesting design!

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Before leaving Navy Pier to visit the Lake Michigan beach I saw this beautiful flower box. Obviously the glasses simply could not resist nestling themselves in between the foliage.

Navy Pier flower box

In between Navy Pier and the Grand Avenue beach is Pfc. Olive Milton Park, which sits adjacent to the James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant. The area is surprisingly militarized and guarded by police. There is a strange sense of tranquility amongst all the hidden cameras and ominously parked police vehicles. The park itself is gorgeous and one of the most underrated places to view the skyline from. I obeyed the hilarious warning sign “DANGER NO SWIMMING.” As if I needed to be informed that swimming along the rocky outcrop was a bad idea. I sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed the spectacular view of the city from underneath the shadow of River North behemoth the John Hancock Tower.


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After a few moments of peaceful contemplation with the Oliver Peoples sunglasses on I headed down to the beach. I found Grand Avenue Beach a lot calmer and far less crowded than its cousin to the north Oak Street Beach. On such a hot, lovely afternoon I was surprised there weren’t more people but to be honest I enjoyed the solitude. Children and their families frolicked in the lagoon while lavish yachts floated just above the horizon.

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After taking the photo above I turned around, and BOOM! Ariana popped into my field of vision. “Who is this beautiful girl?” I thought to myself. The glasses, performing their honorable duty of resting on the most stunningly gorgeous faces Chicago has to offer, found themselves on her within seconds. Ariana was more than happy to try on the 24 carat gold frames and pose for the camera. The Italian beauty was reading a fashion magazine and listening to her iPod while lounging in the sun. What better way to spend a Monday afternoon?

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I had been thinking all day about how to set up a shot that would highlight the glasses’ mirrored lenses. While shooting Ariana it hit me. Why not have her look at Chicago’s skyline across the beach? I am quite proud of how well this image came out, especially since both the John Hancock Tower and Water Tower Place are easily identified. With that I left the beach sandy, tanned, and satisfied. It was a far more enjoyable day than Oliver Peoples ♥ Chicago Day 2, although that adventure was fun and rewarding in its own way.
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Follow Oliver Peoples (@Oliver_Peoples) and Amy Creyer (@ChiStreetStyle) on Twitter.

Become a fan of Oliver Peoples on Facebook, and if you haven’t already please make sure to like Chicago Street Style on Facebook too.

Please visit Oliver Peoples’ website here to see their entire product line. To purchase the limited-edition Chicago sunglasses please visit Oliver Peoples at 941 North Rush.

Wicker Park Fest: April

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While working out front of the AllSaints Spitalfields pop-up shop at Wicker Park Fest I spotted a gorgeous long-limbed beauty sitting on the curb. Then I realized it was my friend, the artist April Pollard, sporting curly natural hair instead of her trademark stick-straight locks. Oh and don’t worry, the smoke in her hand is a hand-rolled tobacco cigarette. She’s not dumb enough to smoke weed in public.

There’s something I really like about taking candid photos in black and white. To me, it makes the reality of the moment that much more striking.