CITY LIFE STREET VIEW
Style invades Navy Pier EXPO Chicago inserts innovative fashion into the usually normcore crowd. By ISA GIALLORENZO
L Artist Lex Marie in front of art by Grace Weaver ISA GIALLORENZO
Curtis Taylor Jr. & Danielle Washington; art by Oasa DuVerney ISA GIALLORENZO
Artists Taína Cruz and Grant Strudwick ISA GIALLORENZO
4 CHICAGO READER - APRIL 20, 2023
Artist Gage Sixkiller near art by Andrew Park ISA GIALLORENZO
ast week a peculiar crowd descended upon Navy Pier, not quite blending in with the spot’s usual and more conventionally dressed clientele. Tourists and local visitors sporting accidental normcore shared the looong path to Festival Hall with EXPO Chicago attendees, who never disappoint in serving the latest fashions. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, it is fair to say EXPO is now a celebrated fi xture in our art scene calendar. This year the exhibition hosted 170 art galleries from 36 countries and 90 cities from around the world while promoting a wide variety of art-related events all over the city in a weeklong schedule. It is an intense occasion for art enthusiasts, but their pilgrimage was made easier by the comfortable garments many of them chose to wear—without sacrificing style, of course. “I like it when comfort meets style,” said artist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur Marquinn Gibson, the owner of Woodlawn’s 7323 Chicago Cafe. He accessorized his custom-made and Nigerian-inspired suit with a Comme des Garçons sports hat and a pair of New Balance sneakers by local designer Joe Freshgoods. Also wearing a pair of New Balance sneakers, fi lmmaker Curtis Taylor Jr. couldn’t have looked more comfortable or stylish, alongside his dazzling fi ancée Danielle Washington, whose favorite accessory was her jade engagement ring. Together they run lifestyle brand Pompeo Home. Another lovely duo was Taina Cruz and Grant Strudwick, artists who exude fashion proficiency. In addition to thrifted garments, Cruz was donning knee-length socks by Vivienne Westwood, a bag by Maison Margiela, and elf shoes by Trippen, a German brand. Strudwick wore sneakers by Maison Mihara Yasuhiro and a shirt by Jacquemus. The unexpected bout of late spring weather also influenced more casual fashion choices. Bojan Radojcic, who was wearing a matching
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