Photo by Amy Creyer of Chicago Street Style for R29.
Recently I had the honor of being included in Refinery29's "Chicago's Best and Brightest Style Bloggers" that featured 13 of my fellow bloggers. I'm happy that I could represent the vintage/thrifted fashion community in the article; the entire outfit above besides my shoes are vintage. The photographer, Amy Creyer, and I are coincidentally from the same town in Arkansas and went to Fayetteville High School together. Somehow we both ended up in Chicago and the day of the shoot was the first time I'd seen her in 8 years!
OUTFIT DETAILS:
1980s star print dress worn as a top: Buffalo Exchange, ChicagoVintage ball skirt: Village Thrift, Chicago 1950s floral purse: Garage Sale, Chicago1980s leather belt: N & K Vintage, Chicago1960s sunglasses: Andersonville antique store, ChicagoBakelite Bangles: Thrifted in Chicago1970s (?) floral bib necklace: Buffalo Exchange, Chicago1950s gold bow hair clip: Antique store in EvanstonUrban Outfitters red suede peeptoe heelsPhoto by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
Fortunately Tabitha of Defining Tabitha and Lisa of Archives Vintage were also at the shoot and I had the pleasure of hanging out with them afterwards at Silver Cloud (bar & grill). I'd met both of them at The Randolph Street cocktail hour back in May and am always happy to run into them at events.
While the three of us were chatting over our sandwiches and mac 'n cheese, Emma of Très Awesome: A Chicago Street Style Blog stopped into Silver Cloud. She had fortunately brought her camera along and graciously agreed to take photos of me, Tabitha and Lisa in the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood. She has an excellent eye for detail and was ace at choosing the ideal backdrop to showcase our individual outfits.
We happened across this slightly rusty 1960s Volkswagen Van and knew it would fit the vintage vibe of my look. I fervently hoped the owner wouldn't come out and ask what we were doing but he or she would probably have been flattered by the attention the van was getting!Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style BlogPhoto by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
In the summer I always have the urge to chop off my wavy locks; accessories help mitigate this desire a bit. This wee gold metal bow hairclip is likely from the 1950s and was found at an Evanston antique shop. I like that it's dainty and not too ostentatious.Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
Usually I opt to wear bright colors but for the shoot I decided to mix bold patterns including the painterly pattern of florals and grass on this 1950s purse. It's an unusual shape and the metal handle looks like bamboo. It was found at a garage sale in my neighborhood last summer for only $5.Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
My huge 1960s sunglasses, I'm happy I haven't broken or lost these as of yet +knocks on wood+.Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
Does anyone know the era of this necklace? When I bought it at Buffalo Exchange a year ago I assumed it was from the 1970s. A vintage store owner in Milwaukee thought it was much older based on the look of the metal, she guessed 1940s. Thoughts? The little flowers have red glass beads in the middle and the metal content is unknown (copper? brass?).Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
Of course there had to be twirling shots! I'd been searching for a floaty ball skirt for a while and was happy to find this one for $4 at a thrift store. It's actually two layers, a filmy navy chiffon over a slightly shiny crimson satin. It's hard to tell in the photos but it has a iridescence to it in the right light.Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style BlogPhoto by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
Old Chicago meets new; I'm actually standing on a slice of the city's past: a brick alley that hides underneath the modernday black pavement.Photo by Emma of Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog
My partners in crime (Tabitha on the right and Lisa in the middle) & I posing at the famous 6 Corners intersection in Wicker Park (where North Avenue/Milwaukee Avenue/Damen Avenue intersect). I'm loving how we're all wearing red and belted our respective outfits. I'm actually not that tall, I am 5 foot 6 inches tall and wearing 3 inch heels!
Thank you Emma for taking these glorious photos! I always look forward to seeing you around the Wicker Park neighborhood and at fashion/style events. You should definitely check out her blog, Très Awesome - A Chicago Street Style Blog soon! She also contributes to R29 and Elle Magazine's online site as a street style photographer.