Amy Creyer via Zimbio
Last night I was so honored to attend the grand opening party, hosted by chief creative officer Christopher Bailey, for the brand new Michigan Avenue flagship at 633 North Michigan Avenue and to celebrate the Art of the Trench street-style photos of Chicagoans wearing iconic trenchcoats. It was surreal to see my photographs blown up on interactive video screens displayed on all five levels of the store. Burberry truly brought Chicago to life last night.
See me photographing Jena on State Street at the :25 mark!
Many of the people I photographed came up to me to share how touched they were by my photos of them, which is the most a photographer can ask for. When I’m told “your photo of me captured me as a person… my spirit. It’s like the essence of me was distilled into a photograph,” that is such a moving thing to hear as a photographer (thanks Graham!). With my street-style photos, the entire point is to capture and reveal people for who they are. When other people can see that, it means the world to me.
via Darkroom Demons
All the compliments, love and support from everyone who reads my blog and follows my work moved me to tears last night. I cannot thank you enough, Chicago, for being the city where my dreams have come true.
When I was a small child I inherited a strand of pearls from my great-grandmother. They’ve always been more of a treasure piece cherished for sentimental reasons than jewelry to wear everyday. Suffice it say that I’ve never been a pearl-wearing woman. Or, as my coworker said to me when I opened my holiday gift box from Blue Nile, “those pearls are too classy for you. What are you going to wear them with? STUDS?!”
You know, I think that’s a common misconception about pearls that only Jackie-O types can pull them off. Let’s face it, it doesn’t get any more predictable than pearls with a Chanel suit. Amiright? I’m excited to wear my new pearls with my favorite tees by Mary Katrantzou, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Meadham Kirchhoff and a leather jacket. You heard me, pearls with STUDS & TEES! Today I threw them right on top of the Proenza Schouler tee I wore to work. When I looked at my red fingernails, I had an epiphany. All pearls need to be cool is a little bit of edge.
Now you have a chance to win your own strand of pearls! Blue Nile is giving away $100,000 worth of jewelry over the next 12 days through Facebook! All you have to do is like the Blue Nile Facebook page and play the Extraordinary Days of Christmas game. That’s it! Plus, until midnight on November 29, you’ll get 20% off all pearls, silver, and gemstone jewelry purchased with the code SPECIAL20%OFF. Good luck and happy playing!
FTC: Post sponsored by Blue Nile
Proenza Schouler deer print top, c/o AllSaints leather jacket
Forever21 jeans, Margiela sneakers, c/o Ray-Bans, thrifted beanie
The personal style portion of this post seems so small compared to the statue, but this is a fashion blog, right? I knew I’d be doing more than just a blog photo-op so I just wore an everyday look. This fall, I’ve been living in jeans, sneakers, my AllSaints leather jacket, a long-sleeved tee and this beanie I thrifted in New York during Fashion Week. I mean, if there’s comfort food, what about comfort fashion? This is my sartorial version of chicken noodle soup; it always hits the right spot, no matter how I feel. Dressing up is fun, but sometimes being comfortable is even better.
When a friend and I decided on a whim to spend Sunday exploring the Southside I discovered just how awesome this side of the city can be. I’d been to Hyde Park several times before, but I’d never seen the humungous Statue of the Republic in Jackson Park. Look at how tiny I am next to this massive 65 feet tall statue! We were driving around aimlessly when I spotted it, and the decision was instant. My friend was equally impressed by this behemoth of monument, so we pulled over at the Jackson Park golf course and walked over. We both recognized it from the posters for the World’s Colombian Exposition of 1893 once we got closer. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a Chicago history nerd (duhhhhh).
It’s hard to imagine that just 56 years after Chicago was founded and 22 years after the city was burned to the ground, Chicago’s citizens hosted one of the most legendary World’s Fairs to ever exist. Fluorescent lights, PBR, spray paint and Hershey’s Chocolate were all direct results of the creativity and innovation nurtured at the World’s Colombian Exposition, not to mention hula dancing and the introduction of Eastern religions to American culture. Architecturally, the Chicago World’s Fair heralded the City Beautiful movement of neoclassical design. Although most of the marble buildings erected for the event were torn down soon after, this incredible bronze statue stands as a reminder of Chicago’s impact on the modern world.
via @ChiStreetStyle on Instagram
Pearl’s Place Restaurant, 3901 South Michigan Avenue, (773) 285-1700
We didn’t head past Roosevelt just to take photos, I wanted to experience the Southside too. I ate the greatest pot roast and yams of my life at Pearl’s Place in Bronzeville. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to eat good food that felt homecooked in the best possible way. Later we went thrifting in Bridgeport, where I found a vintage 1980s Bill Blass coat in mint condition for only $15. Man, I have been on a winning streak when it comes to thrifting coats! Chicago is such a vast city, so it’s easy to stick to your own neighborhood. If you rarely venture outside your familiar work/home areas, try experiencing more of the city. There’s so much out there to see and do (much less eat!) in this city of 3 million people. And hey, if you’re looking for ideas, I HIGHLY recommend Pearl’s Place. You can’t go wrong!
