This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the very mid-western city
Chicago. I love city getaways… I enjoy trying new restaurants, visiting museums, shopping, and of course observing the style of many of the inhabitants. As you may already know, after reading some of my city inspiration postings I love to meld city chic-ness into my wardrobe, so I was hoping to be able to steal some super fabulous style secrets from the chicago-ans while in town… ALAS, I came up empty. It’s no secret that I enjoy to dress up – it makes me feel better and quite frankly MORE comfortable and when I am on vacation and visiting new and more exotic locales I like to “do it up” and wear a shiny cocktail dress, gold hued leggings, 
or something else a little more edgy. In Chicago, though I felt utterly UN-comfortable donning such things. Whether I was at a local coffee shop or swanky hotel bar EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE was wearing the same “uniform” of jeans and a nondescript top. On the street I noticed everyone bundled up the same way too… Jeans, knee-high
flat boots, and a puffy jacket to the knees or cropped. Sure, they looked pulled together and I am sure that they were warm, but there was ZERO originality and I found myself again, completely uninspired. Go to NYC and you’ll walk by countless style sirens who mix fur with rugged denim or textured wool with satin – There’s a certain energy and effortless-ness associated with the dressing of an everyday New Yorker, while a typical Chicago gal blends into the crowd.
This isn’t to say that I didn’t have a terrific time on my days away… I sipped come great wines, ate some of my favorite things, and even shopped til I dropped at one of my favorite shops…. I think that I got the pick of the litter while I was there too since most ladies who probably hit up the shop prefer purchasing jeans and tees versus accordion pleated magenta dresses … Hey, it’s NOT a crime to not like to dress up, and at my favorite boutique it certainly worked in my favor.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like the windy city needs a little SJS! Maybe we should write Oprah… “ladies… let me introduce SEE-JANE-SSSSTYLEEEEEE” (this is where the audience goes into cardiac arrest)
I think you’re onto something Deb!
Did you drop at the Chi-Town F to the 2 to the 1?
Toph,
I have no idea what store you’re talking about