What’s an ideal back-to-school outfit for you? I sit at a desk for most of the day analyzing data and writing a paper, so I love to be as comfy as possible. As the temperatures drop, I love to wear skinny jeans with a vintage chunky top (sweater or blouse), leather jacket and sneakers. And I usually team them with jewelry. For some people, their favorite fashion items are shoes or bags but for me it’s jewelry. I think it definitely completes your outfit in a way that adds wow-factor in a subtle way. Most of my jewelry is from vintage stores except rings from my mom.
Where do the stylish people of the UofC usually hang out? Do you know of any fashion blogs run by UofC students? I usually spotted cute, stylish UofC people at Harper Library on 59th street during the day and at Woodlawn Tap (Jimmy’s) later in the day. I don’t know any UofC people doing fashion blogs but I do know there’s a fashion magazine MODA, University of Chicago’s student-run fashion magazine.
Where do you like to hang out? I like to grab a coffee at Smart Museum or the coffee shop in the Divinity School, and hang out with my friends at the quads when the weather is nice out. You’ll love the quads, a combination of park, public square, juxtaposed with ivy-covered traditional English gothic campus buildings, which gives you a sense of the architecture style at UofC.
Who’s your best-dressed professor? Professor Kathleen Cagney in the Sociology Department. When it comes to fashion, I am all about mix and match with being whimsical yet casual or quirky yet classy, and so is she. She maintains her professional work wardrobe combining streamlined separates with pops of color, statement leather jacket and eye-catching accessories. How cool!
Do you know any cool shops in Hyde Park? Unfortunately, no. But there’s a 57th Street Art Fair and 61st Street farmers market. Those are fun places to hang during summer.
What’s the best part about studying at UofC? UofC is a place of contrasts and convergences: old and new, historical and forward-looking, classical and innovative. It is a vibrant intellectual community which propels young scholars forward with rigorous debate and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Britt Livak, doctoral student in Epidemiology. Her research focuses on advancing HIV/STI prevention through social and sexual network analysis.
What’s an ideal back-to-school outfit for you? An ideal back-to-school outfit for me is something that distracts you from the fact that it’s about to get cold out. I look forward to ankle boots and leather items.
Where do the stylish people of the UofC usually hang out? Do you know of any fashion blogs run by UofC students? Stylish people at the UofC don’t tend to congregate in any particular place. There are usually a few stylish people from each department. I am also not aware of any fashion blogs. I would say that in general, there is a false sentiment at the UofC that people will not take you seriously if you look too stylish (especially if you are a female). I have found the opposite. I think that you can be smart and look smart too. In my experience, people respect you when they can tell that you are just as detail-oriented about your look as you are with your work.
Where do you like to hang out? Promontory Point. It’s a refreshing break from campus life and beautiful all year long. I like how it brings people from the UofC and the surrounding area together. On campus, I like Harper Library and Cafe Logan because they both invoke productivity and allow for great people watching.
Who’s your best-dressed professor? Alida Bouris. Her wardrobe is full of pieces with bold colors and interesting prints. Her style is particularly impressive given all of her competing demands.
Do you know any cool shops in Hyde Park? I need to do some more exploration, but there is a vintage store that just opened called the Silver Umbrella on 53rd. I also look out for pop-up shops, like Sir & Madame. My favorite shop in Chicago is Kokorokoko.
What’s the best part about studying at UofC? It’s hard to pick a single best part. I love everything about the UofC and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to study here. If I had to choose, it would be the general energy that you feel from being on campus and being surrounded by the University community. Everyone is genuinely excited about what they are doing here and really supportive of your endeavors. I also love the architecture. It’s neat to go from studying in historic buildings to having a coffee in a building like the Logan Center.
Devin Mays, first-year graduate student in the department of visual arts (DOVA)
What’s an ideal back-to-school outfit for you? Comfortable. Comfort is essential. Traveling back-and-forth between classes all day can be exhausting. The last thing you want to be worried about is being uncomfortable. You can be stylish but you can’t put a price on comfort.
Where do the stylish people of the UofC usually hang out? Do you know of any fashion blogs run by UofC students? Everywhere. UofC is located in one of the most stylish neighborhoods in Chicago, Hyde Park. I think the campus takes on its personality. You’re bound to run into someone with a sense of style. MODA is a student-run organization that uses fashion as a creative outlet. They host fashion shows and run a website, modachicago.com. The site gives readers updates on everything from fashion tips to health and wellness. I haven’t attended any of the events (since it’s my first year), but I look forward to participating very soon.
Where do you like to hang out? The Logan Center. One of the newest additions to the campus houses a beautiful gallery space, art studios, a wood-shop and stages for theatrical performances. It’s a creative’s dream come true. Everything you can ask for is housed in one space.
Who’s your best-dressed professor? Laura Letinsky. It seems so effortless for her. Simple and effortless. Not many people can pull that off.
Do you know any cool shops in Hyde Park? Independence. I really like their Americana motif.
What’s the best part about studying at UofC? The people. UofC is home to world-class professors, Nobel Peace Prize winners, unmatched research libraries and other great resources. But the deciding factor for me was the people. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to learn from, be inspired by and grow with.
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.
