I dashed across red-light stopped traffic to reach Madeleine before she crossed Milwaukee at the Damen/North intersection. There was absolutely no way I was going to miss out on photographing her. What I love most is how Madeleine creatively integrated both punk and goth influences; often times I see people doing the ‘alternative cookie cutter’ look, which in my opinion is just as bad as the suburbanite mall-brand zombie look. Dressing just to fit into your clique is boring regardless of whether you’re a punk or a cheerleader. The key to great personal style is using a subculture as grist for the mill, as opposed to appropriating or stealing pre-existing constructs. Madeleine nailed it.

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