This weeks Friday Focus is Amy Creyer, a windy city “style hunter” who populates her blog, Chicago Street Style, with tips and trends from the curb! In addition to capturing Chicago’s bundled up babes (or at least today they are!), she also snaps looks for Refinery 29 and the New York Times. For more Amy, follow Chicago Street Style and on Twitter!
“There’s nothing more romantic than wandering around a giant urban conglomeration, underneath the shadows of skyscrapers, looking for amazing people to photograph.” -Amy Creyer, Chicago Street Style
GO TRY IT ON: Top 5 places to shop in Chicago, GO!
AMY: Ikram, Kokorokoko Vintage, Sarca, Cynthia Rowley, and Barneys.
GO TRY IT ON: Top 5 places to shop in New York, GO!
AMY: Alexander Wang, Opening Ceremony, Acne, Bergdorf Goodman, Trash and Vaudeville
GO TRY IT ON: You have 1 ticket to any NYFW show, where are you going?
AMY: Alexander Wang! His shows are phenomenal and his after parties are the best!
GO TRY IT ON: What is your most exciting fashion moment to date?
AMY: Having backstage VIP passes to all the runway shows at Milk Studios during the Spring 2012 shows in September.
GO TRY IT ON: How did you turn your love for fashion and photographer into a job?
AMY: I learned about photography when I launched my blog. I’m entirely self taught, although a couple street-style photographers who I met at New York fashion week were very supportive coaches who allowed me to work alongside them. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than Mr. Newton!
GO TRY IT ON: What is your favorite aspect about connecting with your readers?
AMY: My readers are overwhelmingly supportive, however, it’s the constructive criticism that I value most, like a comment about lighting or subject selection because it allows me to grow. My readers want me to share more of myself in the blog which is funny because as a street-style photographer, I am most comfortable behind the lens. Blogger friends like Andrea of Blonde Bedhead have made helped me feel more comfortable sharing my personal style and thoughts.
GO TRY IT ON: When shopping, what do you need to spend money on and what isn’t worth the splurge?
AMY: I spend more on items that are more flamboyant and less on basics. I learned this from an interview Sally Singer did with a magazine. She said the craziest pieces are timeless but the lines and proportions of everyday clothing shift slightly every season. I’m investing in pieces that have enough personality, without being bound to trends, to exist in my closet for several seasons.
GO TRY IT ON: What has shocked you most working in the fashion industry?
AMY: How nice most people are! When I first went to New York fashion week in February of 2011, I expected everyone to be ice cold fashionistas but very few people were.
GO TRY IT ON: You seem to have some incredible freelance experience! Do you change your voice and style to meet the publication you’re working with?
AMY: I don’t change my voice or my style when working with corporate partners. Companies and publications approach me to collaborate because they like my strong point-of-view and my photographs. Staying true to myself is the core reason for why I’ve built such a large following in such a short amount of time and why I have so many corporate clients. People respond to strength of character. Even though it’s tempting, never compromise your authenticity.
The pressure to produce good work is intense and some bloggers succumb to dishonest tactics, jeopardizing the good faith they’ve built with their readers for short-term gain. Corporate partners are especially concerned with authenticity since that’s the whole reason they work with bloggers. The absolute worst thing a blogger can do is lie about anything because not only does it tarnish their image, it tarnishes the image of the companies they work with. So always stay true to yourself, stay true to your voice, and be honest!
