Street Style, Chicago Style

The Satorialist, Jak and Jil, Face Hunter - street-style blogs are insanely addicting and a great source of fashion inspiration. For those of us who aren't loitering around the East Village waiting to get snapped, not to fear, Chicago's street-fashion star is rising. Enter Amy Creyer of ChicagoStreetStyle.com who is snapping chi-town trendsetters from the Gold Coast to Bucktown. Get to know Amy...

Delve: How do Chicago fashionistas increase their chances of getting snapped on your site?
Amy: To embrace their personality. That's the trick to getting spotted by me. To make it onto my site, you have to be willing to put yourself out there a little. I don't like "safe" looks, I search for risk-takers and rule-breakers. Everyone on ChicagoStreetStyle.com is there because they differentiated themselves in some way from the masses.

Delve: How do you think Chicago street style differs from NYC's vibrant scene?
Amy: I think that in Chicago we are a city of individuals. We're more insulated from the "establishment" decrees of what's in and what's out, which leads to more diverse street-style. That's not to say there isn't high fashion here, there is, but it tends to be more personal than just wearing that Celine shirt everyone else - including Kanye - has been photographed in. People celebrate their own personal style here because there's less of a rigid hierarchy about what's cool. In Chicago, being yourself is cool.

Delve: With music festivals galore coming up, we need to be prepared, what items would you recommend for sartorial success at summer concerts?
Amy: To remain fashionable but cool at music festivals you must remember to be comfortable! There is nothing more absurd than wearing 4 inch heels to walk around a field. Cute flat ankle boots and fashion-forward sneakers (like my Margielas) keep you mobile as you walk from show to show. I tend towards loose-fitting dresses and tops for airflow. Sheer and transparent layers are super-on trend and allow skin to breathe under the hot summer sun.

We also asked Amy to post her favorite looks of all time, see below for the winners and why:
From left to right (click on image to enlarge):

• Meagan from LATTERSTYLE - She is an enigma and hard to define. I like that she's different and she unapologetically puts herself out there. Meagan is a refreshing change of pace from the typical fashion blogger.
• Christian - This was the photo that changed everything. About 5 months into my blog I snapped this photo of Christian in Lincoln Park. The lighting, the post, the composition - this was the image where everything fell into place. I finally understood photography on an intuitive level.
• Linsey - This is my most popular image of all time. I received several emails asking about everything from her scarf to her shoes. I love the composition of this image as well. And of course, Linsey is strikingly beautiful and well-dressed.
• Saree -shows that is it possible to to remain classic yet effortlessly chic. Small details, like the way her scarf is tied and how her pants are a tad short, reveal a very clear sense of personal style. You don't have to dress in a costume to land yourself on ChicagoStreetStyle.com, you just have to understand how to communicate a sense of style. Often times, it's the small details that catch my eye.
• Rachel and her boyfriend Ralphy'L - This photos is another one of my favorites. I love how often times a photo can capture the invisible. Here, the chemistry between this couple saturates the image with only a furtive glance and hands clasped. Plus they're dressed to kill!