Gratitude for a Great Year

As we prepare to ring in the New Year this Saturday it's a natural time for reflection and looking back on the year past, and what a great year it's been for Très Awesome. When I started this site in July of 2010 I never imagined the amazing places it would take me.  Covering Pitchfork, Lollapalooza and New York Fashion week for Elle.com, collaborating with great brands like Michael Kors, Topshop, Toms and AllSaints. Meeting incredible people like Simon Doonan, Nancy Whang of LCD soundsystem, and hanging out with Cut Copy.

So I'd like to take a moment to thank the people who've made it all possible, YOU! Without my readers Très Awesome would be a stylish, but really time consuming scrap book. The support, love and feedback I get from you guys is invaluable. I'd also like to thank all of the folks who have kindly let me snap their picture and post it on this site. There would be no Très Awesome without you. So here's to you all and thanks for an amazing 2011!

Chicago Street Fashion - Mike Fortner

Congratulations Mike, you are our last post of 2011!

I ran into Mike a couple of weeks ago as he was heading to the Goddess and the Grocer (a extremely delicious deli at 25 E Delaware Place). He looks adorable here in this grey trench with the red tshirt peaking out.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in the Gold Coast. 

Year End Review: 52 Looks of the Week

Each Sunday night for the past year we've posting the coolest look from the previous week on Facebook as our header graphic. 2011 looked good!
Which one is your favorite?

Chicago Street Fashion - Lady in Red

Shanti is the owner of Very Best Vintage (1919 W. Chicago Ave) So it's no wonder she has such cool duds. I love how she's mixed the differnt shades of red in this outfit. Très cool! Refinery29 also thinks Shanti looks rad, check out the other photo of her they published.

Very Best Vintage has a collection of great finds and a nice designer section. Go check it out for yourself, and if you're not in Chicago, you're in luck because they have an Etsy shop.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in the Ukranian Village.

Chicago Street Fashion - Mustachioed Man

Josh works at Michael and Michael salon Where I get my color done (if you're looking around for a GREAT colorists, ask for Lisa.)

Gentleman take note, a great cut and grooming works wonders on elevating any outfit.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in River North.

Chicago Street Fashion - Back in Black

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in the Gold Coast.

Top Shop Insiders Holiday Guide

We are thrilled to be included in the Top Shop holiday city guide along with Natalie Off Duty and the fashion editors of I Love You and Twin Magazine. 
Go check out the feature on the Topshop website to see all my favorite places to eat drink and be merry in Chicago.

I know I promised not to post any more outfit pics until next month, but I figure this is a special occasion :) Thank you so much to photographer Mallory Talty for this great shot. It was taken at the Laundry Magazine Grow Here Workshop.

Oh how I love thee, Miu Miu Sparkle Booties. These puppies have been sitting in my closet for too long. Maybe I'll take them out for a spin over the Holidays.

Read the Q&A over at Topshop and learn about a few of my favorite things here in Chicago. Also get the inside scoop on London, Berlin and New York from fashionable ladies in the know.

Chicago Street Fashion - Zac

Wouldn't you be running your fingers through your mop if it looked like that? I caught Zac as he was leaving work at Michael & Michael Salon this Saturday.

In addition to having incredible hair Zac also has a RADICAL music blog called The Defense. What are you waiting for, go check it out now...

Good your back, did you see that video of the Archie Band singing My Boyfriends back by the Angels. Yes you're right, it is totally awesome.

So back to this outfit...these shoes are lovely. I particularly like them paired with these navy pants.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in River North.

Chicago Street Fashion - Brielle Buchberg

I snapped this photo outside the Luxury Garage Sale offices this weekend while I was there playing dress up  getting styled by founders Brielle Buchberg and Lindsay Segal.Take a look at the photos they snapped of me wearing Chanel couture from the amazing LGS collection.

Brielle looks beautiful in this Lanvin for H&M necklace, Tods fur bag, and American Apparel tulle rose sweatshirt. Brielle's BCBG mendel shoes are perhaps the coolest thing about this ensemble. I love the metal sole that juts out at the heel. Très Cool.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in Bucktown.

Chicago Street Fashion - Erik

Chicago Street Fashion - Jeff Kies

Jeff is one part of the dude triumvirate
that is The Midwest Style. I ran into him this weekend as he made his way to Heaven Gallery for their Vintage Holiday Sale. Jeff is a master of layers as demonstrated here. His fair isle sweater with the vintage motorcycle jacket is pure genius.

LOVE this bracelet. So simple and chic. Also there's nothing better than an authentically worn leather jacket.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in Wicker Park.

Eider Madariaga on Refinery29

When I bump into an extraordinarily stylish person I often feel like it's fate intervening. Like two pieces of a cosmic style puzzle coming together. I spotted Eider and her boyfriend as they were exploring Wicker Park this weekend while on holiday from Barcelona (How I WISH we could claim this one as our own!).

I LOVE this photo of her. It's a moment that's sculptural and odd.
She looks beautiful.

According to several reputable fashion sources, burgundy is very on trend right now. I always think it's funny how the fashion world invents these things, primarily for lack of anything else to talk about. The fact of the matter is that burgundy has always been great and will continue be fashionable for the rest of our lives. Hooray for burgundy!

Refinery29 loves Eider's style too. See another photo of her that's just as breathtaking on their website.

Chicago Street Fashion - Brittany Southworth LaFlamme

I love taking pictures of Brittany (as evidenced both here and here) Her fabulous green scarf was made by Noelle Sharp of Aporta.

This image was originally published on Refinery29

This Chicago street style was captured in the Loop.

Olivia Palermo at Topshop in Chicago

This past Tuesday Topshop, Olivia Palermo, and Refinery29 teamed up for a holiday party and styling event. In honor of her new blog aptly titled oliviapalermo.com she shared her passion for layering and making clothes your own at the Topshop on Michigan Avenue.

I learned three things from Olivia Palermo.
1. You can use rubber bands to magically create a billowy 3/4 length sleeve.
2. Creative layering can help you get the most out of your wardrobe.
3.  Velvet shoes will last you a lifetime (is this true?)

Olivia styled about 20 looks on mannequins throughout the store and walked through the looks she put together on 4 models. The place was totally packed and Olivia turned out to be as sweet as she looks in all her photos. I love it when that happens.

Get Olivia's favorite look in her Holiday Season edit on Topshop.

Chicago Street Fashion - Up in Smoke

No one smokes anymore. Except wait, a lot of people still do. What I mean to say is that it's not like the "good" old days when you could smoke in hospitals and on the bus. After the FDA cracked down on the way tobacco companies advertise, the only people you see smoking on tv or in the movies are the bad guys.

Which makes this stylish gent look downright evil (or french). In actuality he was nothing but delightful during the time I spent taking his photo. He was also very American, or at least he hid his accent well.

This Chicago street style fashion was taken in Wicker Park.

Chicago Street Fashion - Who's That Girl

I took this woman's photo while hanging out at the Renegade Holiday Sale this weekend. She gave me her card, which I proceeded to lose. Does anyone know who this lovely lass is?

I love her colors bold colors and silhouette. The big chunky boots look awesome with this coat and dress.

She told me her rad bubble gum pin is vintage.

Here's a hint, she designs jewelery, like this ring.

Chicago Street Fashion - Martin

I spotted Martin hanging outside of Bonnie and Clyde's on Division. Not surprisingly judging by his head-to-toe Rick Owens ensemble, he works there as the director of client relations.

This Chicago Street Style Fashion was captured in Wicker Park.

What the Photographer Wore

I have never had the desire to do a personal style blog. Ok, I take that back. In retrospect my teenage self would have DEFINITELY had a personal style blog. Being the girl that skipped class to go to the thrift store, and thought of it as a point of pride that for my senior year I never wore the same thing twice (crazy town USA). That being said, I think it's kind of fun to see what the person behind the camera is wearing. So without further ado I give you this photo.

I wore this outfit all weekend. Which is very not in keeping with my high school one-and-done mantra. Here I am on my way to capture some sweet street styles over at the The 6th Annual Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market My lovely boyfriend Scott was nice enough to help me out with some fancy camera work.

I just dyed my hair bleach blonde (kind of by accident). My dress is funnily enough from the same Goodwill in South Bend Indiana I used to frequent back in the day. My bag is Marc Jacobs and my boots are Cole Haan. Although you can't see it, I'm wearing the coolest tiny doll house painting pin from a designer called Purple Lime.

Ok, that was relatively painless. See you again in about a month!

Chicago Street Fashion - Black and Brown

Many people wonder can I wear black and brown together? The answer as demonstrated by this lovely lass is HELLS to the YES. I love her ombre hair with the rich brown velvet headband. Also this jacket is too cool.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured on Michigan Avenue.

Chicago Street Fashion - Michael Kors

I'm thrilled to announce that Très Awesome is the latest street style blog to be featured on the Michael Kors Bag Alert facebook page. Go check out our photos and vote for your favorite...If we receive the most votes we'll get to donate $5000 to the charity of our choice and be featured on the Michael Kors website.

Here's one of the outtakes of Audrey of A Lovely Escape. She's featured on the MK page, so go have a look at her photo. It's much different than the pensive moment I caught here. 

Chicago Street Fashion - Chelsea Simonne

Here are some things I know about Chelsea Simonne.
1. She has a rad tumblr
2. She works at the very cool boutique Sofia
3. She's our look of the week on Facebook.
4. She basically lives in these leather leggings (wouldn't you too if you had legs up to your elbows?)

This image was originally published on Refinery29 (Thanks to Ms. Shani Silver!)

Okay, so I have a confession...I hate the fur tail trend. There I said it. You have no idea how many times I've seen a person with amazing personal style, and then I see that tail, and it's over (basically I won't take your picture if you're wearing one). The problem for me comes from the fact that it's is very hard to pull off without looking like a Furry. 

That being said, Chelsea, you look gorgeous. When paired with this sleek, sophisticated look it transcends my prejudice. Good work lady, you've widened my horizons :)

POW! These rings rule. They are available at Sofia, but I'm not sure who the designer is. Does anyone know?

Chelsea has been on Très Awesome before (duh!)

This Chicago street style was captured in the Gold Coast.

Designer Spotlight - Aporta

APORTA is a Chicago based accessories line comprised of beautiful scarves, knits and furs. Just in time for the bone chilling weather to come. All pieces are handcrafted and sourced locally.

Noelle Sharp (below) is the woman behind Aporta. I ran into her at the School of the Art Institute Holiday sale where she's a student and was selling her wares. Noelle is also our look of the week on facebook, and has been feautred on Très Awesome a number of times, both here and here.
I caught up with Noelle and some of her friends a couple of weekends ago and took these beautiful pics of hot chicks in Aporta.

You can purchase all the knit and fur accessories featured here online at Aporta. Lucky for you they have an amazing Black Friday Sale happening until November 27th. Buy anything online and receive this adorable Fisherman's Beanie totally FREE!

Chicago Street Fashion - Evette

I love this photograph for a couple of reasons. Evette is gorgeous, and there is the photo in the photo on her t-shirt, but the best thing I think is the guy in the background who has turned around to check her out. It's perfect!

Shani Silver over at Refinery29 (where this photo was originally published) is "impressed by her use of a sheer lace maxi in cooler temps. A quick dive through the "leggings drawer" (you know you have one) will turn up an easy way to keep this skirt in play all season long."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Literally.  I'm getting so sleepy that my writing skills are going down the tubes. Time to put this puppy on a timer and hit the hay.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured in Wicker Park.

Chicago Street Fashion - Esteban

I ran into Estaban this weekend while walking over the Michigan Avenue bridge downtown. He was hard to miss in his huge shearling fur coat, mink stole, and enormous jade amulet.

When I was taking his photo he asked me if I wanted him to unbutton his coat. I replied, "no just keep it the way you have it", not knowing the literal treasure he was wearing underneath. This is without a doubt the most unique object I've ever photographed on someone. Apparently it's a Chinese antiquity that Estaban was given as a gift. It certainly looks like one. I love that he's just wearing it for a casual stroll around downtown Chicago.

Let's have a closer look at this gem, shall we? The scale alone is remarkable and the woven leather pouches on either side are just beautiful.  Thank you Estaban, you have truly made my millennium.

This Chicago street style fashion was captured downtown.