This weekend, fashion favorites like FKA twigs and Florence Welch, along with hundreds of befringed festivalgoers, will take Chicago for Lollapalooza. And though there are eight stages scattered across Grant Park and more than 130 musicians to see, there’s something to be said for taking a few hours between sets to explore the city’s burgeoning fashion scene.

Take it from Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters, two School of the Art Institute of Chicago alums whose conceptual label, Creatures of the Wind, singlehandedly elevated the city’s status when they caught the fashion world’s attention with their sixties commune–themed fall 2008 debut, a collection that was created in a basement studio in the Humboldt Park area. “Chicago doesn’t have one definable scene,” Gabier explains. “People here take a very strong, personal approach to style that’s understated, not obvious or overdone.”

Which means good shopping in the Windy City depends on looking for singular pieces—a well-worn army coat; vintage denim with patches and pins—rather than well-known designers. On their last trip back, Gabier and Peters went straight to a tiny vintage textile shop in Bucktown and left with prison art from Alcatraz, envelopes covered with ink doodles, and a unicorn drawn on a scrap of cotton, which just might pop up in their next Chicago-inspired collection.

“There’s a sense of authenticity and pragmatism to Chicago that has been really meaningful to us,” Peters says. “It makes you realize that there has to be a practical and useful end to even the most creative pursuits.” Here, Gabier and Peters share their favorite fashionable hangouts in Chicago, each worth a visit during Lollapalooza weekend.

Expand

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

Courtesy of LowLightBoyz / @bawwse

Street Style–Spotting in the Loop
Our favorite spot for people-watching is by the Art Institute, near Millennium Park. All of the art school kids downtown have a broad spectrum of personal styles—it gets really good, really radical. You’ll find a lot of A.P.C. and Acne Studios on the more casual end, and Rick Owens is popular on the street, too. A lot of our friends like Maison Margiela, Comme des Garçons—and us!
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, at Adams Street; 312.443.4600

Expand

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

Photo: Courtesy of @htownjenny

Gold Coast Shopping at Ikram
Ikram is the best store in the city—it’s like it’s own little universe, full of the most exciting stuff, like jewelry by Carolyn Rosenberg, a local designer whose handmade collars are one-of-a-kind. Ikram Goldman buys the pieces that designers like Azzedine Alaïa want to sell and that people are excited to wear. We always buy all of our birthday gifts here, as there’s a remarkable selection of books and candles, like Deber’s Italian pillars.
15 East Huron Street, at Wabash Avenue; 312.587.1000

Expand

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

Photo: Courtesy of Kevin / @kvnpbls

Antiquing at Circa Modern
Circa Modern is a mid-century modern and Danish modern furniture and housewares shop, and the owners, Jared Peterson and Don Schmaltz, have incredible taste: Eames lounge chairs, Danish teak and rosewood dressers. Some of the best pieces in our Chicago house and New York City apartment are from here: super rare Herman Miller pieces and some really special ceramics.
1114 North Ashland Avenue, at Haddon Avenue; 773.697.9239

Expand

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

Photo: Courtesy of Dena JuicyLucy / @denajuicylucy

Hunting for Vintage at Broadway Antique Market
The vintage selection in Chicago is incredible, as it’s sort of the mecca of the Midwest—vintage lovers can really capitalize here. We always visit Broadway Antique Market for home decor, but have scored some great vintage finds, too, like a Helmut Lang denim jacket from 1997—in perfect condition!—which we found on our last trip.
6130 North Broadway Street, at Hood Avenue; 773.743.5444

Expand

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

Photo: Courtesy of Cookie Bar / @cookiebarbakery

Gluten-Free Treats at Cookie Bar
Possibly the best gluten-free bakery ever. I wish we were a little cooler about it, but we’re usually waiting at the door when they open—last time, we left with cookies and banana bread. No offense to all of the great gluten-free bakeries in New York City, but there’s really no competition for their Butterfinger cake: chocolate cake with layers of peanut butter and Butterfinger candy, topped with peanut butter buttercream frosting.
1746 West Wilson Avenue, at North Hermitage Avenue; 773.334.0300

The post Creatures of the Wind on Chicago Street Style and the City’s Most Fashionable Hangouts appeared first on Vogue.

Vogue
BEAUTY TIPS & UPDATES BY GABBY LOVE! –Get free shipping everyday on orders $ 35+ at Beauty.com plus earn 5% back!
Gabby Loves Avon #2-