Usually I walk past most couples on the street. It’s rare when both people catch my eye, as did Javier & Maggie. It’s too awkward to shoot couples individually and then post only one of the shots, so these days I’ll only shoot them together if I like both the outfits.
This photograph was taken right before the snow fell Saturday afternoon. I liked that neither of them were wearing puffy coats. Despite falling temperatures, it’s still possible to look stylish as both prove above. Plus, I loved the obvious infatuation they have with each other that came through in this unplanned moment in between poses. I thought it was a lovely image and captures them so well, much better than the posed shots. If only all of us were this much in love…
My blog has evolved tremendously in the past 2 1/2 years. Originally I boxed myself in, refusing to post anything BUT street-style photos. The original concept was for me to be invisible. My readers drew me out of my shell with their curiousity about who I am and what inspires me. The positive energy I feel from my readers is what truly keeps me going. In late 2010 I changed the name of my blog from “Chicago Streetstyle Scene” to “Amy Creyer’s Chicago Street Style” to reflect my belief that a blog is best when it offers a personal perspective. The last two years have only strengthened that mission. I don’t speak for Chicago – I speak for me. Embracing that spirit, 2013 will see even more sharing about my life in Chicago, and all the amazing things this city has to offer.
I was very frustrated after September’s fashion week last year. I felt directionless. Disillusioned. There were a million other street style photographers outside the shows. What made me any different?
Photographers are everywhere outside the shows. Just look!
Then I realized this fall, that the problem wasn’t New York fashion week – it was me. I was trying to force myself to fit into a self-imposed box (again) and failing miserably. Instead of embracing who I am and what I have to offer my readers and the blogosphere, I was crushing myself under impossibly high expectations. I’ve always held myself to ridiculously high goals and have an achievement-oriented mindset. Good for the workplace – bad for pleasure pursuits.
My favorite NYFW street-style photo
I was putting pressure on myself to photograph the big names, instead of just looking for inspiration like I do in Chicago. An afternoon spent milling around Soho – a fashionable neighborhood, yes, but far away from the runway shows overflowing with celebrities – was the most fun I had street-style hunting all week. That’s why the photo above, taken on a Soho stoop, is my favorite picture from NYFW September 2012. These women have fantastic style, but they asked me not to include their faces. I happily obliged.
It’s impossible to not get amazing photos of Anya Ziourova, so everyone does!
When it hit me that fashion blogging isn’t a race, or a competition, I was freed. It’s about sharing and connecting, inspiring people and having fun. I truly, truly love fashion. For a while there, my high-intensity personality was sucking all the fun out of fashion blogging. I was treating it like a competition, ticking the big names off, instead of relaxing and enjoying myself. I should be grateful to even be at fashion week! That’s why #firstworldproblems was invented. For people who complain about fashion week. No more!
My favorite photo from 2012, taken for Burberry
From now on, that’s my only mission – to have a blast connecting with my readers and the people I photograph on the streets. That’s really what it’s all about. Especially the everyday people with great style, who I’ve always been more fascinated with than the legions of well-shod editors wearing free clothes. They’ll always look fabulous. That’s why I’ve dedicated a large portion of the last 3 years to hunting down and spotlighting the ‘anonymous’ people, the ones who save and thrift and bend over backwards to make their everyday lives a one-person runway show. Like Yumi Minamikurosawa above, a creative director in the Chicago advertising industry known for her incredible personal style, my blog is dedicated to celebrating people who take sheer pleasure in dressing for themselves.
xo
Amy
