This Saturday afternoon you should clear your schedule between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and take some time to visit the Mag Mile. Why? To meet Harper’s Bazaar Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey at the Coach flagship! She’s appearing there to sign her new book, Harper’s Bazaar: Greatest Hits. I’ll be hanging around too, so here’s your chance to be photographed by me if your outfit catches my eye!
Coach, 625 North Michigan Avenue. Call 312-587-3167 for more information.
What I find really intriguing about Marco is how he used iconic preppy elements, like penny loafers and high-waisted pleated pants, to create a somewhat androgynous look. Normally when you see preppy androgyny in fashion it’s always women donning menswear. An excellent example of a woman who has mastered the art of preppy androgyny is Gaia Repossi, who discusses how she creates her particular style in the third issue of Gentlewoman* magazine. I’ll give you a hint; it’s a family legacy, just like her jewelry business. All of this is to say that naturally I was intrigued when I saw Marco walking towards me down Milwaukee. I love it when people have the courage and creativity to push their personal style outside of the box and make it their own.
*You should probably visit Quimby’s to purchase it, but call them first (773-342-0910) to make sure they have it in stock. I know they carry it but all the good magazines (Lula, AnOther) tend to sell out fast. Otherwise you can purchase it online at Magazine Cafe, which is my favorite place to obtain rare magazines online. You should always make the effort to support a local independent business first, and if you’ve never been to Quimby’s I’ve just given you a reason to visit.
Editor’s Note: I posted this while I was on break at work today. Normally I draft my posts the night before and they are published on timers. I didn’t have a chance to explain why I took the photograph until I got home tonight.
When I take a really great street-style photo, usually one of two things happens. I either rush to put it up within the next week or I set it aside for a really amazing post. Normally it’s the latter, which is what happened with this photo. Aside from Lyn’s natural beauty and a stunning Wicker Park background, the best part about this image is her authentic vintage monkey fur vest from the early 20th century.
When I complimented her on her extraordinary goat fur vest, she hestiated for a moment. Then she told me that it was in fact monkey. I first felt a strong wave of digust. For a split-second I considered yelling “people are skinning monkeys now!!? What the hell!?” but then I realized that was probably (and indeed is) vintage fur. I try to keep an open mind and stay positive around my subjects so when I pried a little further, she told me that she had purchased it from a reputable vintage seller. I held onto this picture for a while, not knowing how I would position it. It’s an incredible vest and looks amazing. Then I saw the Refinery29 boot/fur ethics story this morning and it got me thinking.
Is wearing vintage exotic furs ethical? I mean, the animal has been dead for a long time and not wearing the fur isn’t going to bring them back. It’s almost a waste to not wear the fur… which is sad. I own a Mongolian lambswool fur coat which is leather-free and gathered by shaving (not killing) the animal, but I would considering owning other vintage furs too if I could afford it. I don’t know, I mean the more I thought about Lyn’s monkey fur vest the less angry I felt. I feel bad that monkey died decades ago but no amount of self-righteous pontificating is going to bring it back. And is owning a monkey fur garment really that different from owning a mink fur coat? Is all fur equally bad? What do you think?
Bottom line: monkey fur or not, Lyn looks amazing in her outfit!
