CHICAGO LOOKS

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Street View 085: Brittany

Check out my latest Bleader post - and "Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair" special - here. Visit Erin's blog here.

Yves Saint Laurent evening dress, fall/winter 1979-80

Christian Lacroix evening ensemble, fall/winter 1987-88

Jean Patou cocktail ensemble, fall/winter 1986-87

Nina Ricci cocktail ensemble, fall/winter 1987-88

Jean Patou evening dress, fall/winter 1986-87

Issey Miyake cocktail ensemble, fall/winter 2007-08

Pierre Cardin gown, fall/winter 1988-89

Emanuel Ungaro evening dress, fall/winter 1987-88

Pierre Balmain cocktail dress and stole, fall/winter 1988-89

Emilio Pucci "Palio" activewear, spring/summer 1988

Vivienne Westwood ball gown, fall/winter 2002-03

Emanuel Ungaro bridal gown, fall/winter 1996-97

Henry Jackson ball gown, 2005

Above are a few of my favorite looks from the wonderful "Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair", now showing at the Chicago History Museum. The exhibit is an homage to the Ebony Fashion Fair, a traveling charity fashion show created in 1958 by Ebony Magazine's Eunice Johnson. During its 50 years of existence the event brought the most luxurious garments to the African American community, besides raising over $55 million for charities like the United Negro College Fund.

This Chicago History Museum's retrospective is most definitely inspiring, filled with some of the most fascinating haute couture creations displayed on custom-designed mannequins. The Ebony Fashion Fair's trajectory is also illustrated by videos, photos and installations proving how empowering fashion can be.

More info here.

April was shot at the must-see "Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair" exhibit at the Chicago History Museum. More info here.

Issey Miyake, 1987

Yohji Yamamoto, 1991

I wish I had posted this sooner: Material Translations, an amazing exhibit of revolutionary Japanese designs from the School of the Art Institute's Fashion Resource Center, will be closing on April 7th. Totally worth a visit! The show is small but very impressive. Remember: the Art Institute is free for Chicago residents on Thursdays, and is open till 8 pm.

Check out the rest of Andy's perfectly fitted look here.

Eric

Eric was featured in the Chicago Looks Newcity column. Read his interview here and remember to get the latest issue - the Design 50 special.

See my latest Bleader post here.

Read about Aaron's look on the Bleader here and listen to his band here.

Check out Amelia's full look on the Bleader here.

Alanna

Alanna Zaritz was shot by a Pilsen mural for my Newcity style column. Read her smart thoughts on fashion in an interview here and also in her blog, Drawn and Coutured. See below an image by Josh Crow, who beautifully illustrates all her fabulous looks - he is also a contributor here on Chicago Looks:

Illustration by Josh Crow

Illustration by Alanna Zaritz

Above is an illustration done by Alanna herself. Below see an example of the rich collaboration between her and Josh Crow seen at Drawn and Coutured (DYING for this look btw):

Photo from drawnandcoutured.com

Illustration by Josh Crow

See more of Alanna's looks illustrated by Josh Crow in their blog, Drawn and Coutured. And get the latest Newcity issue in newspaper boxes all over downtown and in many cool places throughout the city, such as Music Box, Old Town, Epic Burger, Myopic Books, Crossroads etc etc etc.

Check out my super special Street View post featuring Alanna Zaritz with illustration by Josh Crow on the Bleader here. Also please check out their excellent blog, Drawn and Coutured - one of my faves at the moment.

"About this time of year, when I feel like I’m trapped in the Overlook Hotel from The Shining, with endless bright-white-non-sunny-winter-days… I start dreaming of summer and the clothes, or lack of them. To cope with this horrible condition I turn to Versace as my #fashion medication.

It should come as no surprise that I’m a Versace addict. The gaudy use of pattern, print, color, and gold has always been my drug of choice. Plus, ever since Donatella started putting skinny, pale boys the runway, I no longer feel the need to attempt to be a tan Italian Stallion.

So hit the gym, buy a new bathing suit online, turn up the heat, and wear it around your apartment. The snow will melt soon my dear Chicagoans and when it does we will be ready, because let’s face it, there is nothing better than a Chicago summer."

xxx gg

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Chicago Looks is always proud to present Matt Kasin's always glorious collaboration for this blog - see 1st and 2nd installments here and here.

Matt (aka Gaudy God) is a fashion designer, filmmaker and stylist with a self-described "expensive bad taste". He is inspired by pop culture, John Waters, Versace and Italian horror films. He believes in fashion as a religion and salvation from the everyday mundane. He owns two online clothing stores filled with original and vintage garments: Gaudy God and a 90s concept store inspired by Clueless called THE MALL.

When Matt is not working on his online fashion empire he's incessantly coming up with original concepts. His latest invention is an "Instazine", made exclusively for his Instagram followers. The first issue - entitled "The Selfie Issue" - is being launched daily from March 5th through the 16th. Followers are able to instantly interact with the publication, Instagram style.

See a bit of it below and more @gaudygod