Fashion buyer Shaina Van Selus was attending After Dark, an event hosted by the Evening Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago.
What inspired your look? How did you compose it?
Chicago doesn’t really get enough weather where you can wear a capelet and a French Connection sweater dress so I’m always ready to take advantage of that when it happens. As far as the rest of my look, I pretty much just keep adding accessories until I’m about to fall over or one of my gay friends indicates their disapproval with a wince.
What do you think people should wear for after-hours parties at museums?
The attendees are as much a part of the exhibit as the art on display. I always appreciate when people bring their best looks out. It’s not really a cultural cosmopolitan event if everyone is dressed down. Look down. Are you in sweatpants? Go home.
Do you often wear hats? Do you have any special hat-wearing rules?
I wear hats from time to time. I do have one very firm hat rule: there can only be one hat worn in a group of gentlemen. If I look over at a bottle service table and there’s more than one guy wearing a fedora… it’s pretty gross.
How about stripes? What is your policy on those?
Women should not be afraid to wear stripes. There’s this cultural taboo that curvy women should avoid horizontal stripes. Horizontal stripes actually accentuate a woman’s figure flawlessly. It’s those vertical ones you need to worry about; not only will passersby be able to count how many stripes across you are, but they might also shout Beetlejuice three times. Then you’re in trouble.
Journalist Isa Giallorenzo was born in São Paulo, Brazil and has elected Chicago as her beloved home since 2009. She runs the street-style blog Chicago Looks and wants to see this town become one of the fashion capitals of the world.
Fashion buyer Shaina Van Selus was attending After Dark, an event hosted by the Evening Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago.
