I started A Week of Looks last year out of sheer curiosity in the many ways people find fashion inspiration day to day. It literally comes from anywhere from like the trees to their favorite artists or even that lunch you just had. Through this series, I want to showcase some of the people whose fashion choices inspire me. So, In the second installment of this series, Grace Feeley gives us a peek into her mind and style:
I am a second year at the college. My major is still a bit undecided, probably going to double in something with econ (so predictable for a UChicago student) and something more creative like art history, philosophy, etc. I am a Styling Editor for MODA Magazine and the cofounder of the MODA Magazine podcast, which I am really excited to get up and running this year. Fashion, not only because of my social engagement at UChicago, is an integral part of my life. I also enjoy creative writing, cooking, playing with animals, and walking (typical New Yorker trait). It is very hard for me to describe my personal style. Overall, it is very campy and a delicate mix of chic and ugly. I generally take on different personas from time to time and dress according to their own style, which leads me to having a very incohesive closet. To me fashion is all about experimentation and I don’t think personal style or aesthetic is stagnant--it is always changing.
Is there anything in fashion that scares you?
For the longest time, I was afraid to be judged by other people for what I was wearing— whether the outfit was very avant-garde and unique or the way my body looked in an outfit. I think with age, I have learned that other people’s opinions have no influence on the way I think of myself, and I became amused with the attention I get from my outfits. When people stare now, I think to myself, “take a picture, it will last longer.”
How can an outfit dictate your mood?
I usually use my outfit to express my mood. If I am feeling happy, I will wear bright colors and maybe put more effort in my outfit. If I feel sad or tired, I will probably just wear dark, comfortable clothes. I also sometimes plan my outfits in my head days in advance, and if I come up with a really good outfit without trying it on beforehand, I know I will have a really good day wearing that outfit.
How do your style choices change from day to day?
My style depends on many different aspects: the weather, what activities I am doing that day, who I will be seeing, did I sleep well the night before, am I sick, etc. These all influence the different pieces I can wear in a day. For example, if I am going downtown with friends and walking all day, I will probably want to wear more comfortable shoes, which then influences my aesthetic for the day. My aesthetic is also really dependent on the media I am consuming at the moment. If I am in a phase of watching old movies, I will probably be influenced to dress more classy and girly, but if I am watching a bunch of up and coming runway shows from new designers, I will dress more contemporary and edgy.
How has the implementation of masks changed the way you think about choosing an outfit?
I like to sometimes color coordinate my outfits with my mask, however, I do not have an extensive mask collection like my wardrobe. I would like to acquire some really cool, maybe bedazzled masks to elevate my looks in the near future. However, the most important thing to me is to WEAR A DAMN MASK. I would rather be safe and keep others safe than “ruin” my outfit if the mask doesn’t match.
Monday
What was your inspiration for Monday’s fit? How did it make you feel?
My inspiration was definitely Serena van der Woodsen meets monster high? I don’t know, definitely preppy private school vibes but a little more in the rebellious, grunge side. I am from NYC and have an unhealthy obsession with Gossip Girl. I watch it 2 times a year, and it definitely influences my style. But I was also influenced by the trend of wearing pleated mini skirts with a collared shirt and a crew neck. This is my take on that trend and mixing it with elements from different aesthetics.
It was surprisingly warm this entire week--very unlike Chicago. If it was colder, I would have probably paired this outfit with an oversized cardigan or hoodie. I cannot wear those boots if it rains, so thank god it did not. I was also feeling very adventurous and out-there this day and wanted to be seen— I usually feel like this. This outfit made me feel tall, something about the bare legs and five inch heels; being this tall just makes me feel empowered and confident.
Where did you get the pieces in this outfit? How did it make you feel?
The blouse is Liz Claiborne and was stolen from my mother’s closet, and the tie was stolen from my father’s closet. The skirt is reworked authentic Scottish plaid. The boots are Jeffrey Campbell, and the custom Italian leather bag was gifted to me.
Tuesday
What was your inspiration for Tuesday’s fit? How did it make you feel?
My inspiration was definitely Carrie Bradshaw meets Katharine Hepurn. I love the old 40’s and 50’s style of the exaggerated slim waist, which I tried to recreate with this belt. The gloves are so over the top and make me feel very girly. I also love Monica Bellucci—she is an icon, and her bust is featured on the shirt.
The weather was very warm and sunny, hence the sunglasses! It definitely felt like summer on this day, and the outfit was very summery as well, with the golden hues of the skirt and shoes. I was feeling very girly and petite this day, so I wanted to wear something to reflect that. In the end, I felt like a tiered cake/ballerina/old Hollywood actress.
Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?
The shirt is Dolce & Gabbana (from a couple years ago, I no longer support the brand). The belt, gloves, and Richard Chai skirt were all thrifted. The shoes are Stuart Weitzman, and the sunglasses are from a boutique in NYC.
Wednesday
What was your inspiration for Wednesday’s fit? How did it make you feel?
My inspiration for this outfit was from streetwear for the ss2021 Fashion Week mixed with Rei Kawakubo Commes des Garcon. This was very edgy and a little impractical, but I thought the re-invented use for scarves was dope.
It also was a little cold, and I didn’t feel like wearing a scarf around my neck. So, I wore it around my torso. Also, I got away with wearing open toe shoes in the cold because the pants are so long they basically go to the floor. For reference, the shoes are 4 ½ inches tall. I was definitely feeling like I wanted to stand out in a more contemporary way. Also, I probably wanted to dress more modestly and keep myself fully covered--probably meaning I wasn’t feeling like the best version of myself that day, but I still felt very avant-garde and modern. I definitely got a lot of looks wearing this because you can see the scarves tied behind my torso, but I thought the overall look was dope.
Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?
The shirt was pajama shirt that I got for Christmas a couple years ago. The pants and shoes are both from Alice and Olivia. The pink scarf is from Banana Republic, while the orange one is Italian wool. My bag is vintage Fendi, and the sunglasses were bought on the streets of Italy.
Thursday
What was your inspiration for Thursday’s fit? How did it make you feel?
The dress, in a different colorway, was actually worn by Blair on Gossip Girl. That is the only reason I bought it. So aside from the preppy vibes of the dress, the shoes and coat remind me of the 70’s and Sharon Tate. I bought the coat after I watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood because I fell in love with the aesthetic, as most people did.
It was colder and windy this day, so the coat was very necessary to keep me warm because it went down to my knees. I also was feeling very christian girl autumn because of the leaves all over the sidewalk, so I wanted to wear that color palette. It finally felt like fall in Chicago, and I definitely needed something heavier to cover my body this day. It was the only day this week I wore a proper coat. I also am always aspiring to be Blair Waldorf, so dressing like her always makes me feel powerful and reminds me of home.
Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?
The dress is Marc by Marc Jacobs. The shoes are Stuart Weitzman, and the coat was thrifted.
Friday
What was your inspiration for Friday’s fit? How did it make you feel?
My inspiration was definitely more contemporary for this outfit. I liked how my sleeves became puffed but my bustier kept my torso tight; it gave me Victorian vibes. I really want to get pieces from the 1700-1800s (or of that same aesthetic) and love that brands like Simone Rocha (Particularly SS21) are also using that motif. I was also inspired by the flowy dresses under corsets in the Christian Dior 2021 resort collection.
It was also warm again today, so I thought it would be a good time to put together the last summery outfit of the season. From now on, I will probably always be wearing some form of outerwear and definitely be sticking to full pants. As I felt a little sad this day, I stuck to a very neutral color palette. My staple color is black. I have been trying to venture out into more colors, but when I need a bit of comfort, I always go back to it.
However, the palette and mood of this outfit made me feel like Emily Ratajktowski— very off duty model vibes, probably because of mixing biker shorts with tall boots which I have never done before. I was a little scared to mix the athletic biker shorts with more polished pieces, like the boots and bustier, but I think the overall look was really cool.
Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?
The shirt was stolen from my father’s closet, and the biker shorts were bought on Amazon. The bustier is Proenza Schouler, while the boots are Michael Kors. The sunglasses, from the 90’s, were stolen from my mother’s closet, and the Vivienne Westwood necklace was stolen from my boyfriend.
All Photos Courtesy of Elliot Duprey
