Archive for 2012
Fashion blogger Lauren Chu is another stylish person I was delighted to run into while street-style hunting on Michigan Avenue over the weekend. I had no idea who she was, but I loved the AllSaints coat, hints of neon, and sky-high Louboutin heels. “Now this is a girl who knows how to make a statement,” I thought to myself as I approached. Much to my surprise, she literally began jumping up and down before breathlessly telling me that she’s been waiting over a year for me to find her on the streets. The lesson here is, if you have a cool and unique sense of style and live in Chicago, I eventually will find you!
I don’t even know what to say when people tell me things like that. I’m always happily stunned. I feel a combination of flattery, excitement, shyness, but mainly I feel overwhelmed. That’s for a very simple reason; this blog is about everyone else. Sure – it’s my view of them – but my blog is dedicated entirely to the other people I photograph. This is not a personal style blog that’s about me all the time, day-in day-out. Although I do love those blogs! So really, I’m the one who is always really excited to meet people like Lauren! I feel a rush every time I spot someone extraordinary like her on the streets. In my head I’m like “fuck yes! that person looks fantastic!” before running after them, which often entails jumping up from a table during lunch with a friend (I always sit in the window for that purpose) or dashing off mid-sentence on the sidewalk. I idolize all the people who I photograph, so that’s why it’s funny to me that so many people have it backwards. These sorts of encounters puzzle me because I’m always like “no wait, I’m really excited to meet YOU! Thank YOU for letting me stop you!” It’s hard to believe that my creative baby has grown into something other people value so much, and trippy experiences like these drive the message home. I’m so happy and grateful to have such passionate readers!
I was beyond excited to spot Lindsey while hunting on Michigan Avenue in the Gold Coast last weekend. When I’m out “hunting” I normally walk around in circles. I like to stay moving for exercise purposes but also because I want to see as many people as possible. Michigan Avenue for me is kind of like “break time.” For all its hype, the Magnificent Mile isn’t really a very fashionable street. When I find someone like Lindsey on Michigan, it’s always a pleasant surprise. The Presbyterian Church made for a phenomenal background, one I’ve been eager to exploit for years but haven’t yet had a chance.
What I liked about Lindsey’s look was primarily the way her beaded headband sparkled against her blonde hair. She reminded me of a friend of mine who also loves to wear sparkly headbands, so it was a double-whammy. Dressing like my friends is always a good way to be spotted by me, but unfortunately it’s all about luck. I also loved the simplicity of wide bell-bottomed jeans with a camel coat. The proportions really intrigued me and I thought it made for a great look.
I found Jin at Dearborn and Madison across from the Argo Tea where I was finishing up my once-a-week Chai Bubble Tea indulgence. I joined a gym and have been working out five days a week to get into shape for summer. Cutting back on my favorite high-calorie snacks is painful but necessary! I fawned over his Comme Des Garçons Noir jacket and double monk strap shoes before realizing, much to my excitement, that he had matched his socks to his cobalt blue top. We chatted for a bit about Chicago after Jin told me he was a tourist. He was having trouble finding the “good stores with the good fashion.” I smiled, pulled out my iPhone and opened the Maps app. I explained to him that the luxury fashion district is found near the Chicago Redline stop in the Gold Coast while showing him how to get there on the CTA. It’s not uncommon for me to stop stylish foreigners in the Loop for a photograph only to hear their confusion about where the high end boutiques are. State Street is fantastic shopping at an accessible price point, but it’s just that – mass market. We parted ways and I had no idea if he was going to follow my advice to head north, but a few days later I was happy to hear from a friend that he had!
