Chicago Looks IRL

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Tentacles and style galore at the MCA opening of the Murakami exhibit

Octopus's Garden

Chicago’s art-world elites descended on the Museum of Contemporary Art on June 3 for the annual ArtEdge Gala, this year celebrating the MCA’s 50th anniversary and the Takashi Murakami retrospective “The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg,” which opened to the public on June 6th. In addition to the typical gowns and suits, a number of attendees customized their outfits to match the Japanese artist’s cute and sinister psychedelic motifs. Murakami himself (pictured above) arrived sporting an appropriately flamboyant cephalopod-inspired ensemble. The soiree had no shortage of eye candy, including large light fixtures designed by the artist for the occasion, blue drinks decorated with dragon-fruit garnishes, and a performance by Janelle Monáe. 

Originally published in the Chicago Reader.

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See more of the event's glamorous guests below:

'Schizo' outfits stole the show at SAIC 2017

Dayra Cardoze's collection for the SAIC Fashion Show 2017
Photos by Jim Prinz for SAIC

Inspired by film director Wes Anderson in her collection "Let Her Dance," junior student Dayra Cardoze created fashion-forward yet wearable pieces for last month's undergraduate fashion show at the School of the Art Institute. If great style is a savvy mix of opposites, Cardoze hit a sweet spot with her "double personality" garments—basically two looks sewn into a single outfit. "By combining unexpected prints, shapes, textures, and colors I created three contrasting garments that are an homage to his whimsical and peculiar style," she explains on her website. Even though there's plenty of fabric in the collection, Cardoze displays a certain moderation when it comes to accoutrements that's uncommon among young designers—her accessories perfectly complemented the outfits, with a nerdy feel brought by the big eyeglasses and the combo of on-trend socks with furry sandals. 

See some of the best-dressed attendees of the fashion show in a Chicago Reader post here.

Anwar and Janani

Agents orange

While Anwar Mahdi makes a habit of coordinating outfits with friends, this time it was an accident. He and his BFF and fellow School of the Art Institute student Janani Nathan both showed up to their school's annual fashion show in vibrant, oddly harmonious (but not at all matching) looks that included an unusual mixture of prints. Their ensembles, it turned out, suited their chief reason for attending the occasion: to view the collection of Natalie Castro. "She makes thees incredible pieces of work with playful shapes interacting with color and pattern," Nathan says. "I have really intimate relationships with the patterns and colors I see on anything, and I try to mimic those in my clothing." As for Mahdi and his hand-painted Bengal-tiger-striped shoes? "I kinda just wanted to stand out and look like a tiger," he says.


Originally published in the Chicago Reader. 

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See the whole coverage of the 2017 SAIC fashion show in my Reader posts here and here.

Jessica

Jessica was photographed at the School of the Art Institute 2017 fashion show. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Candace

Social columnist Candace Jordan of Candid Candace was photographed at the School of the Art Institute 2017 fashion show. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Tommy

Accessory design instructor and Master Chef contestant Tommy Walton was photographed at the School of the Art Institute 2017 fashion show. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Jessie

Factor Chosen model-scout Jessie Sardina was photographed at the School of the Art Institute 2017 fashion show. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Angela

Milliner Angela Morano (aka "the hat girl") wore one of her gorgeous headpieces for the School of the Art Institute 2017 fashion show. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Gillion

School of the Art Institute professor and accessory designer Gillion Carrara was photographed at the SAIC 2017 fashion show. One of the honorees this year, she will be leaving her position as the director of the Fashion Resource Center to dedicate more time to her designs. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Majenta

Majenta was photographed at the School of the Art Institute 2017 fashion show. See the whole coverage of the event in my Reader posts here and here.

Mary

Blue-jean queen

"I think what you should know about me is that I'm 83 years old, and I think that's important," Mary Borysewicz says while en route to the grocery store in a Canadian tuxedo. "We're the Gloria Steinem group!" She describes her style as "medium conservative," which she's quick to clarify "is very different from my politics." Her senior pride is evident in her denim brand of choice: Not Your Daughter's Jeans. "They fit well," the retired medical editor says, "and that's hard to find."

Originally published in the Chicago Reader.