CITY LIFE

STREET VIEW Style invades Navy Pier

EXPO Chicago inserts innovative fashion into the usually normcore crowd.

By ISA GIALLORENZO

Last week a peculiar crowd descended upon Navy Pier, not quite blending in with the spot’s usual and more conventionally dressed clientele. Tourists and local visitors sporting accidental normcore shared the looong path to Festival Hall with EXPO Chicago attendees, who never disappoint in serving the latest fashions.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, it is fair to say EXPO is now a celebrated fi xture in our art scene calendar. This year the exhibition hosted 170 art galleries from 36 countries and 90 cities from around the world while promoting a wide variety of art-related events all over the city in a weeklong schedule.

It is an intense occasion for art enthusiasts, but their pilgrimage was made easier by the comfortable garments many of them chose to wear—without sacrificing style, of course. “I like it when comfort meets style,” said artist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur Marquinn Gibson, the owner of Woodlawn’s 7323 Chicago Cafe. He accessorized his custom-made and Nigerian-inspired suit with a Comme des Garçons sports hat and a pair of New Balance sneakers by local designer Joe Freshgoods.

Also wearing a pair of New Balance sneakers, fi lmmaker Curtis Taylor Jr. couldn’t have looked more comfortable or stylish, alongside his dazzling fi ancée Danielle Washington, whose favorite accessory was her jade engagement ring. Together they run lifestyle brand Pompeo Home.

Another lovely duo was Taina Cruz and Grant Strudwick, artists who exude fashion proficiency. In addition to thrifted garments, Cruz was donning knee-length socks by Vivienne Westwood, a bag by Maison Margiela, and elf shoes by Trippen, a German brand. Strudwick wore sneakers by Maison Mihara Yasuhiro and a shirt by Jacquemus.

The unexpected bout of late spring weather also influenced more casual fashion choices. Bojan Radojcic, who was wearing a matching dress and bag by Etro, had a di erent outfit planned but decided to change directions at the last minute: “I was like, ‘Let’s be on a boat.’ It is literally a pier, so let’s do it.” A gold knot Phoebe Philo-era Celine bracelet complemented the nautical look.

Conceptual artist Gage Sixkiller went for a “relaxed chic” vibe: “I’ve got a couple of designer pieces, a couple of vintage pieces, all very comfortable. But you’ve gotta bring in the color and the uniqueness,” they said while sporting Loewe sunglasses, Y/Project jeans, a SC103 belt, Raf Simons sneakers, a Fendi baguette, and a T-shirt by local designer Petrichor. Sixkiller’s friend, Chloe Phoenix, wore a vintage Pucci dress and a pair of Nike Air Force 1s, “because I knew I was gonna do a lot of walking,” she explained. Her West African print tote bag is a prized possession given to her by her mom and Nigerian stepdad. “I’ve been really inspired by the [African] diaspora and trying to incorporate that into my outfits,” Phoenix added.

African accessories were the highlight of Kora Johnson’s look: “This necklace—my centerpiece of the night—is from Nairobi, Quenia, which was my fi rst trip to Africa. A Masai warrior was selling all these beautiful pieces, and she had this necklace on. She gave it to me, so this is something I hold dear to my heart.”

Johnson was sporting a hand-me-down jersey she got from an older cousin, and an orange bag she brought from New Mexico, hoping to call up spring weather. The bright hue of orange also graced the outfits of artist Lex Marie and journalist Emily Mack. “Orange is my color for the season,” said Marie, who mixed her orange accessories with light pink cargo pants and a thrifted multicolored couture jacket, perfectly embodying the easy chicness of the event. v

@chicagolooks