Reflections: The Trials of a Chicago Fashion Finder
… or “It’s Late and as I’ve Had Too Much Caffeine, I Think I’ll Do Some Writing”
It’s been a little more than a week since I launched my precious brainchild–this blog– and I knew from the beginning that I had my work cut out for me. Though I’ve obviously captured some fashionable femmes, and seen many that I was unable to photograph, fashion-finding on the streets of Chicago does take some time and effort. This got me thinking: why is this so? Why is Chicago seen by the Who’s Who of fashion as largely without style?
Perhaps one of the reasons has to do with the city’s roots, it’s history. It started as a highly industrial city, and it seems that the attitude of the era hasn’t changed much since then. Efficiency and practicality are the laws of the land; no fuss, no muss. Aesthetics take a backseat, if they aren’t ignored altogether. You should see the looks I’ll get from the bustling businessmen-types as I’m hobbling along in skyscraper heels! Yes, they may be inefficient, and yes, my little cocktail hat may be impractical in the downtown wind tunnels. Still, I think that Chicago needs more beauty and cheer– especially heading into the dreary winter months.
Any thoughts? Opinions? Answers to the question posed?
As far as Chicago being ignored in an industry, the same thing is happening in music. So much good music (and fashion) is derived from the city, yet the coasts are still the powerhouses calling the shots and offering the jobs. This is the same issue for architecture and art as well. My only guess is compared to New York and Los Angeles, Chicago is relatively small, not to mention lost in the midst of the oh-so-hated midwest.
The city is evolving, let’s hope all of this will change in our lifetime!
I’ve never actually visited Chicago. My dad travels there all the time for business and he always goes on about the culture and the music and of course, the art. & I always think, ‘Man, I bet in Chicago there is killer fashion’. I can’t believe it’s taking you so much work to find the style! In any case, I think I would much rather be in Chicago than in Lindon, UT where anyone from age 5 to age 45 are dressed head to toe in brand names (Hollister, A&F, Aeropostle, Gap, etc.) Doesn’t anyone have any originality anymore??
I should clarify: yes, I can imagine that the average Chicagoan looks more sophisticated than the average Utahian (I made that up..). However, what I am looking for is either: Fashion with a capital “F” or unique style that has that je ne sais quoi. Often, it’s in the attitude as much as in the actual clothes.
I don’t think it is so much that Chicago is being ignored by the international fashion industry, than that Chicago is just starting to really truly seriously accept the fashion industry and all that it can do for this city. Our city has sort of been out of the fashion loop for awhile, that it’s going to take time to get the respect Chicago so rightly deserves. Although Chicago is known for it’s architecture, food, nightlife/theater, I do think at times Chicago, with regards to fashion, has forgotten that this city was once a breeding ground for fashion talent with the likes of Charles James, Halston, Louis Verdad, etc. We’ve even given some of the top models to the fashion industry – Cindy Crawford, Liya Keybedi, etc. As you can see, Chicago is starting to regain that stylistic-crown back, slowly but surely, with the likes of Maria Pinto, Lara Miller, the fashion styling of Michelle Obama, Dieter Bennett, etc. However, we can not wait for the world to except fashion from Chicago, I feel we just need to become more pro-active as a fashion community and quite comparing ourselves to NYC. And with new or independent ventures and talent such as Chicago’s Got Style, Qlix magazine, Factio Magazine, Above the Fray magazine, The MidWasteland, Grace PR, Joy Stone, and so forth, mixed in with established talent and ventures Amanda Puck, Chicago Fashion Incubator, Melissa Gamble, Stitches Fashion Program, a slew of art/fashion schools, the opening of Zara on Michigan Ave., Chicago magazine’s FASHION supplement, etc., Chicago is definitely positioned well to be on the tip of a slew of fashion insider’s tongues.
As a relatively new Chicago resident, I can’t weigh in on the current state of the city so much as a “fashion person”‘s view on her new city.
I moved here from Seattle last year because, well, Seattle is rich with culture, but nearly dry when it comes to new fashion. (Even MORE dry when it comes to fashion that ISN’T eco-friendly.) I moved here, and I expected to see the women here bounding down the street in 4″ heels; carrying glossy, buttery bags that I’d never seen before; hailing cabs with manicured nails and a Neiman’s bag. Instead, I feel like a lot of the city has kind of… accepted defeat.
I’ve always viewed the midwest as an under-appreciated mecca of – not fashion, not labels – but personal style. Chicago, specifically, has played kid-sister to NYC for DECADES. The commenter above me suggests that you stop comparing yourself to NYC, and I completely agree. NYC is fashion, they’re labels, they’re the glitz and glamour… Chicago is the style. And without style, fashion is bullshit. (Excuse me.) Kid-sister has been overlooked, underestimated, and glossed over for too long. As a once-kid sister, myself, I know for a fact that every little sis grows up. And she becomes to take on her own life. And that is EXACTLY why I moved here, and exactly what I expect to happen to Chicago’s fashion scene in the next 7 years.
I cannot wait.