Street Style​​: First Day of School




STREET STYLE
Fall 2023

Three students pose on a metal railing below train tracks

by Imani Brooks
Photos by Faith Decker

The fall semester has officially begun and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) students showcased their best looks for the first day of school.

Unseasonably chilly weather brought out bold colors, chunky footwear, heavy metal jewelry, and contrasting textures and patterns inspired by '90s grunge and Y2K fashion.

A student applies lip gloss while looking at their phone

Katherine, Class of 2024

“It’s a studio day, so my teacher said ‘don’t wear loose clothing.’ My favorite part of my outfit is my shirt.”

Roselyn, Class of 2025

“My outfit was inspired by French magazines: my cami is from Monsieur Paris and my jacket is from Massimo Dutti. My favorite part of my outfit are my Christian Dior boots. They were a birthday present from my dad.”

A student wearing boots, shorts, and a tank top poses below scaffolding
A student wearing boots, shorts, and a tank top poses below scaffolding

A student in a Care Bears t-shirt poses outside a building

Janhvi, Class of 2026

“I went to a boarding school where we had to wear uniforms. Now, I can express myself through my clothes. My favorite part of my outfit is the striped undershirt because it’s also warm. I ‘borrowed’ this Care Bears shirt from my sister but she doesn’t know I have it.”

A student in a Care Bears t-shirt poses outside a building
A student in cowboy boots, a denim blazer, and a denim skirt poses in front of a glass window

Sophie, Class of 2024

“My outfit inspiration is that I like to dress like I'm rounding up cattle; it makes me feel strong and powerful.”

Sunny, Class of 2026

“I went to a Catholic school and I like the plaid skirts, so this inspired my outfit. I’m currently wearing a red kilt, but my uniform skirt was blue. My favorite part of my outfit are my Dr. Martens shoes, which are from my OG Catholic school uniform.”

A student poses in an oversized cardigan and plaid skirt in front of a glass store window
A close-up of a purse with animal keychains
A student poses in an oversized cardigan and plaid skirt in front of train tracks
A close up of two-strap mary jane shoes and the hem of a plaid skirt
A student poses with their face in their hands on stone steps

Lacy, Class of 2024

“My outfit inspiration is kind of chill. I was going to wear a skirt too, but the cold weather threw me off. But, my favorite part of my outfit is my jewelry.”

A student in a white long-sleeved t-shirt poses with headphones above their ears

Tony, Class of 2026

“It was cold outside and I wanted to be comfortable on my first day of class. All of my clothes are thrifted. My favorite part of my outfit is my hiking shoes because I’m walking around the city all day, so I need a comfortable shoe.”

A student in a white long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans poses with headphones above their ears

Bogh, Class of 2026

“I’m just trying to look cool for the first week of school. We go to an art school, so we have to stunt! My favorite part of my outfit is the jeans, but I also like a lot of metal accessories and jewelry.”

A close-up of a student's jeans and long sleeved green shirt
A student in a black tank-top, glasses, and a green long-sleeved shirt
A student holds onto their brown cap in front of a campus building

Sam, Class of 2024

“It’s chilly today, so I dressed for the weather. My shirt is a band tee from my friend’s band. I found this hat in an alley in Logan Square.”

A student in a puffer and fur bucket hat poses in front of a brick wall

Nicholas, Class of 2026

“I wanted to be comfortable on my first day and I’m wearing my favorite sweatpants. My hats will change with the weather, and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments for this one.”

A student in a puffer and fur bucket hat poses in front of a brick wall

Saige, Class of 2023

“I never wear black, so if I wear black I want to do it right! The top is from Pilsen Vintage, where I work. Every piece of the outfit is recycled, all given to me by someone. My favorite part of my outfit is the feather belt, which was featured in the May SAIC fashion show.”

A student in a black lace and feather outfit poses in front of an ornate entryway
A close-up of a lace top, feather belt, and black leather skirt
A close-up of gladiator sandals and a black leather skirt
A student in a black lace and feather outfit poses in front of an ornate entryway
A student in a plaid button-up and choker poses in front of train tracks

Bennie, Class of 2024

“I wanted to wear a chill, baggy silhouette for the first week, then stunt for the second week of school. I’m wearing my favorite flannel that’s falling apart, a beaded necklace that I borrowed, and these are actually Timberland sandals that I got from New York last week.” ■

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