Rebel Street Style

By Ariel Ranieri

"This is a street style blog, so here’s the plan: Every month I’ll be roaming the streets of Chicago, camera, notebook and business cards in tow, liable to stop anyone who catches my eye. I’ll ask you questions; talk to me. Tell me why fashion is important to you or why you’re wearing what you’re wearing. Then over the course of the next month, your picture and words will appear in this blog."

 


Elana / Damen, Milwaukee, & North

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student Why: The shoes are killer. Besides that, she looks like she’s headed more for Lollapalooza in late summer than xyz in Wicker Park in early spring. I love the bandeau look, and when someone can rock it before summer, more power to them &n..

Karen / Damen, Milwaukee, & North

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student at Loyola Why: Her shorts are gold. I repeat, her shorts. Are gold. Her tights are two-tone. And her shirt is staring at you. Does it get better? Yes, because she finished it off with insane boots, gold eyeshadow, a chunky necklace, and a jacke..

Jill / Wabash & Harrison

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student at Columbia Why: Jill joins the ranks of students at Columbia studying American Sign Language who also happen to have a keen eye for style – remember Megan (http://www.rebelliousmagazine.com/announcements/megan-the-loop)? Jill’s out..

Brandilyn / State & Harrison

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student at Ohio State University Why: So, the jacket. Normally, I avoid trench coats, so the way her jacket played on trench coat themes without being one made my day. The skirt demands all the attention, of course, and the jacket doesn’t try to ..

Jodi / Berwyn & Glenwood

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Yoga Instructor Why I love: First of all, I know some people will never side with me on the skirt-over-pants question, but I love it. It means business. And those leggings are awesome. As always, I’m a sucker for the leggings-legwarmers-boots ens..

Camila / Broadway & Lawrence

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student Why I love: HAIR. Camila’s hair caught my eye, and her shoes hooked me. There’s something very mod about that coat with that hair. And the monochromatic jeans work as a buffer, so the coat and the shoes play well together, instead ..

Morgan / Wicker Park

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student Why I love: Morgan’s ensemble centers around her coat, which is beautiful (although not very warm, she admits). Then there’s the leggings – legwarmer – boots combo, which always amps up the ‘I really just threw thi..

Elise / Michigan & Adams

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Works at Mariano’s Why I love: Elise has so much going on. There’s so much to look at – I wanted to get a 360-degree panoramic view, but I couldn’t, of course, so I tried to fit as much in as possible. The whole ensemble is so g..

Kelly / Wabash & Chicago

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Theatre Major Why I love: By now, we all know how I feel about color in the winter. Kelly’s look of layered colors, patterns, and textures definitely made me stop what I was doing. The red scarf and the yellow cardigan make the pattern on the dr..

Janet / Clark & Adams

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Works for start-up company Why I love: So the studded boots and the sleeves on her coat both caught my eye as we passed each o..

Abby / Christkindlmarket

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Speech Therapist Why I love: The theme for this month is definitely personality. You can tell so much about people’s personalities by how they dress and how they smile for pictures. Apart from Abby’s bright smile, I love her bright coat. It..

Megan / The Loop

By Ariel Ranieri Occupation: Student – Columbia (Fun fact: apparently Columbia has a great ASL program – that’s what Megan is studying) Why I love: I stopped her because she had a black bandana tied around her backpack strap, but there is a special place in the S..

Christiana, Interior Designer / Wicker Park

By Ariel Ranieri Why I love: Christiana is rocking a very equestrian get-up…except for the floral dress. It’s the perfect mix of preppy and hipster chic + mod sunglasses + beautiful bag + cigarette, and you are Wicker-Park ready. And pushed-up or ruched sleeves on blazers..

Kendra, artist/server/student / Wicker Park

By Ariel Ranieri Why I love: First of all, her outfit mirrored the weather perfectly, which I love. Plus, check out her earrings. I love the beading, and the colors are in perfect contrast to the sweater-coat and scarf. Subtle, and perfect. I noticed them right away...

Rebecca, kindergarten teacher / Wicker Park

By Ariel Ranieri Why I love: The sturdiness of the denim over the fluidity of the skirt – great contrast! Her bag and boots add a cowboy-style nonchalance to the whole ensemble. Mix in some great socks and contrasting shirt cuffs, and you’re ready to go. ..

Heather – State & Monroe / The Loop

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “It’s all about how it fits. And the bag.” Why I love: I love when people wear crazy sweaters and pull it off, mostly because I feel like whenever I do it, the effect is frumpy. The sheer peeking out from under the sweater i..

Noha – Wabash & Van Buren / The Loop

By Ariel Ranieri A special piece: Actually turned out to be the dress she was wearing. “I haven’t worn it in so long, but I love it.” Why I love: The first thing that caught my eye was the jacket, then the belt. It’s really hard to pull off a butt..

Janalene – State & Jackson / The Loop

By Ariel Ranieri A special piece: “I got a jacket from Akira before it got big, and everywhere I go someone comments on it.” Why I love: I love the pairing of a nice sweater and necklace with a no-nonsense Army-style vest and leather messenger bag. Plus, stra..

Kaitlyn – Millennium Park

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “It’s my expression, who I am. Fashion is important to me. What you wear is who you are. Not totally, but it’s your characteristics, what you like and don’t like.” Why I love: First of all, I love the ‘90s-ness ..

Michelle – State & Hubbard / River North

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “Self-expression.” Why I love: This look is so sophisticated. Green and red pair beautifully, especially racing green and a bright red, like she’s rocking. Add in the Burberry-esque scarf, a white shirt and simple flats, and the ..

Jaleesa – State & Grand / River North

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “It’s not about designer. It’s confidence in how you wear an outfit.” Why I love: In my personal opinion, nothing pairs better than a flowing, floral dress and a leather jacket. It’s like wine and cheese. Gin and t..

Angel – State & Monroe / The Loop

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “Free style.” Why I love: First of all, her facial expression is great. But obviously that’s not why I stopped her. The outfit is just so individual. Lightweight polka dot faux-veralls (that’s a word now) with mocca..

Kirsten – Clark & Berwyn / Andersonville

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “It’s a way of communicating who you are. It’s an enjoyable thing to do, plus it’s artistic.” Why I love: Lumberjack plaid is one of those things I either see and hate or see and love. Here, I love. It really ..

Kait – Clark & Berwyn / Andersonville

By Ariel Ranieri “Fashion” makes her think of: “Stressful.” A special piece: “Really worn-out boots.” Why I love: Take a look at her boots. They are, true to her word, “really worn-out.” Plus they tie the outfit toge..

Annalise – Wabash & Pearson / Near North

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “Self expression. And when I get dressed up, I feel good about myself. More confident.” Why I love: SCARF! Seriously, this girl has color-blocking down. Red jacket and blue jeans, plus a crazy ikat scarf that ties the who..

Lisette – Wabash & Hubbard / River North

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “More than fashion, why is style important? Style is important as you get older, it’s a way of coming into your own.” Why I love: First and foremost, color. I love color-blocking, and instead of going crazy with it, Lisette has m..

Nuphie – Wabash & Hubbard / River North

By Ariel Ranieri A special piece: “This cut-off Clash T-shirt I got in San Francisco when I was 16. I still wear it.” Why I love: OK, I’ll admit the first thing I noticed was her hair. From there, though, she establishes this fantastic punk/goth style t..

Kristen – State & Hubbard / River North

By Ariel Ranieri Fashion means: “It’s a way of expressing your own artistic style.” Why I love: Kristen’s subdued jacket and jeans frame her white blouse and bring out the intricacy of its design. The pleats, the effect of sheer vs. solid, even the tie at t..

Kudzaishe and La-Dreauna – State & Washington / The Loop

By Ariel Ranieri I asked these ladies what sprang to mind when I said the word “fashion,” and Kudzaishe’s awesome response? “Ista.” As in, “fashion-ista.” Epic. La-Dreauna on what fashion means to her: “Fashion is a way to express ..

Alice Suh – Millennium Park

A special piece: “A pair of red leather stilettos I got in France. They were Dolce &Gabbana, and they had safety pins on the front. They were just so ‘80s and funky.” Why I love: Apart from denim on denim, which is making a huge comeback, Alice’s accessories ..

Rebel street style manifesto

By Ariel Ranieri My parents tell me this story. They say when I was younger, maybe 2 years old, I would tear around Kids ‘R’ Us, pointing things out, screaming “CUTE! CUTE!” at the top of my lungs. Well, I haven’t grown out of it. Maybe I don’t scream anym..