CHi-CiTY

I’m in love with Chicago. In my eyes, it’s basically a smaller, cleaner and nicer version of New York, so when I could come back here for work I was ecstatic to rediscover the city I’d only visited one before.. and only for two days.

After a super-early flight, I spent the day catching up on sleep and then finally made it outside to be a tourist with my friend Menelik. I put on my black Express jeans, a checked shirt from Express, and one of my new favorites: a dark blue Express raw denim jacket. I feel like most of life is happening in denim. A lot of the memories you make on a day-to-day basis, you’re wearing your favorite go-to outfit, and a jacket like that, much like the simple, well fitted black jeans are just so versatile, why wouldn’t you wear them every day.

I finished the look with a pair of white sneakers, and decided to make it a little bit more preppy with a navy tie that I picked up at Express also. Then I added a backpack and I was photo- and explore-ready.

So we set out to hit up a few of the Chicago landmarks, starting at The Cloud Gate, more commonly known as “The Bean,” walked through Millennium Park, down the Magnificent Mile, making stops at the Chicago Theater, the DuSable Bridge, and ending in North Avenue Beach, to see the lights on the Chicago skyline turn on. Of course I was listening to Kanye West all along, because “Chi-City” and ended the night on some Chicago-style pizza. Needless to say, memories that will stick with me. And memories that will come to mind whenever I grab these denim pieces.

Photography by Menelik Puryear in Partnership with Express

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IN FOCUS:

Jacket by Express | Shop here

Shirt by Express | Shop here

Jeans by Express | Shop here

Tie by Express | Shop here

Backpack by Prada | Shop here

Sneakers by Ankari Floruss | Shop here

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