What's it like in Chicago?
- loads of hipsters, scenesters, emos
- poor but still styling students (thanks UO, H&M, and Unique Thrift/Salvation Army),
- suburban/cheesy folks (uggs, giant logo Chanel bags, bleachblondes, hollister/A&F, flipflops)--and then their more fashionable (at least they think so) but still branded counterparts--both groups do the club wear and the douche-y stuff you'd see at Akira or RAVE ("guido"-type stuff, sculpted hair for the guys, orange tans, etc)
- folks with steez/streetstyle & sneakerheads (guys and girls who rubberband their jeans at the ankles to prevent indigo staining on their white shoes--tongue out, etc), and then whatever off-shoot style bboyz and bgirlz have...
- a lot of mexican immigrant guys when they dress up--dress up authentically country (boots, hat, etc--and i've seen plenty of other folks do this)
- mac & "pimp" steez (gators, candy colored suits or just white, optional top hats, canes, a nice pair of shades, optional fur coat in the winter), "ghettofab" ladies (superlong & pretty nails, sculpted hair, loud but coordinated outfits)
- the toned down but still stylin' gay black guys who do stuff like matching eyeglasses for outfits (if they got the money!)--and then the really stylin and actually kinda pretty and almost overly feminine black trannies that roam Belmont&Clark weeknights and weekends
- nu-souls/leftists/political/hippies
- punks (suburban posers and the real), still fewer skinheads, and metal heads (longish greasy hair, hottopic kind of clothes, bandshirts)
- bikers (but there are the new ones and then the hells' angels variety),
- goths/industrial, 50s/Rockabilly/60s retro revivalists (Dita von Tease for the ladies, Brando/Dean/StrayCats or Mod for the dudes--small scene for the revivalists fashion-wise, but a more noticeable scene for the goths/industrial/cyberpunk inspired folks)
Hahahaha--these specific styles all heavily depend on what part of the city you're going through.
but, really... most ppl who aren't at any extreme... and then even more people really don't care--or they're eager to sport their Bears, Bulls, Cubs, Sox jackets and caps paired with regular shirts, light colored 501s, and gym shoes or workboots.
...and I'm not making fun of any of these ppl, they bring flavor to the city and its funny for me to think about the folks i run into when i cross through various social scenes (specifically the styles associated with various music scenes here in Chi).
I like this city more now because I did that rambling list.
ANYWAY
from The Chicago Reader:
What are you wearing? (comes with mini interviews)
LINDSAY AND ASHLEY Usich, 22, are fraternal twins who live together in Logan Square. Ashley works at a lingerie store and supports her sister, who is the homemaker.
Matt Jenkins, 19, just finished his freshman year at the School of the Art Institute, where he was studying sculpture, and is now living in Western Springs. He makes music under the name Life Under a Tree and runs a label called Playground’s Greatest Records! with friends.
HUDSON BLACK, 56, is a retired CTA bus operator and security officer who now works for a private company patrolling O’Hare’s parking lots on horseback. He is a member of the Rockin’ Horse Social Club, a private club in East Chicago that has line dancing on Friday nights.
Goddess Glory, 22, is a dominatrix who works primarily online. Her Web site is
goddessglory.blogspot.com.
A COUPLE TIMES a month,
Frederick Michael Kobrick IV, 25, and his friends lug a secondhand Lowrey organ down from their third-floor studio in the Flat Iron Building and perform on the sidewalk. They don’t have an official name for the group, but often refer to it as Donor (as in organ).
Morgan Thoryk, 23, spent seven months in Marrakech last year teaching English to children.
Jeremy Lemos, 30, co-owns the Ukrainian Village recording studio Semaphore and does sound for Sonic Youth on tour.
Gwen Lemos, 28, is a wedding DJ. They got married in July.
Jessica Graham, 36, is a sales rep for Maharam, a textile company with offices in the Merchandise Mart. She makes clothes for herself and occasionally other people.
Sean Eagan, 21, rode his bike here from Kansas City, where he used to help run a live⁄work⁄play space called Sleeper Cellar. He’s been in Chicago a few weeks and figures he’ll stick around a few more.
Dustin Senovic, 21, who sells shoes at City Soles by day, is a self-proclaimed dandy by night.
You’ve probably seen
Joe Suta’s artwork outdoors—under the name Choke, he’s spray painted or wheat pasted every part of Chicago I’ve ever been to. But recently he’s taken it inside, for gallery shows, mural commissions, and a side hustle in custom-painted Nikes.
Lindsey Delahanty, 25, helps coordinate grants for local artists at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
Monika Bukowska, 25, moved to Chicago’s west side from Poland when she was eight years old. She lives in Wicker Park, works in retail, and fronts the band Brilliant Pebbles.
have to say I agree with alot of what you said. This is a blog this guy I used to work with runs... 
, School sweatshirts, and coach bags. This along with super-trendy has replaced preppy. And it's grossing me out.
(Ever heard of the Roaring Twenties? 
