Taylor Moore

“You have to remember your soul, goals, amenity, and the big picture, but at the same time you don’t want to be consumed by the big picture. You have to see the trees not the forest.” Taylor Moore

Taylor says that for him, style is incorporating his surroundings and developing his own interpretation of what he sees. He is from a small, “WASPy” town on the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama (“we go sailing on the weekends”). His life is a visual journal, like his grandfather’s cardigans and WWII sunglasses, his grandmother’s broaches, a studded bow tie and jackets given to him by friends, and a black leather bomber from the Lower East Side. Interior design and painting are all included in his illustrated story, but it’s done with huge overtones of humor and irony. Madonna, among other things, were windows into “another world” as a child; thus, he painted a larger-than-life portrait of her in his bedroom, which he finds “liberating.”
I admire that Taylor feels so deeply about the people in his life, and that he feels more compelled to wear their things rather than the latest and greatest. He says that he would rather have a hug than a new bag, and he feels that we are heading towards a time where humanity means more to people than consumption. Taylor is clearly not short on depth in his thinking, and

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Paul Johnson-Calderon

occupation: writer and stylist

“I’ve learned the beauty of simplicity.” Paul Johnson-Calderon

Shooting Paul in front of the mantle around the fire place in his Upper West Side apartment reminded me of one of the Edith Wharton novels piled on his table. And the simple elegance of his clothes is reminiscent of one of his (and my) favorite post-impressionist artists Mary Cassatt. I was so excited to see someone loving Belgian Loafers (his grandfather did too), and I have recently pulled mine out of the closet after twenty years and have been obsessing on all of the different plaids and colors that they offer. They, like many of Paul’s clothes, are hardcore and proven classics that would be difficult to wear and not look 100% dashing in. Another example of how you can’t go wrong with all things traditional and worn hybrid-style is Paul’s use of the tuxedo. The tux shirt with American Apparel powder blue jeans and espadrilles, and the tux pant with a classic Margiela tee, are what should be on the red carpet in Hollywood. A true “bohemian aristocrat,” as he refers to himself, Paul has found the perfect striped Breton shirt at the equally gothic and classic Trash and Vaudeville .

Wilson Standish

occupation: music and fashion blogger and freelance writer for UR Chicago and Time Out Chicago

“[I am inspired by] historical strong men – not brute strength, rather mental vigor and confidence. Lincoln and James Dean come to mind, and 1950’s architects that all seemed to wear bow ties. My grandfather is a big inspiration. I got most of my classic suits, shoes, and ties from him, and I know if I’m wearing something he would be proud of, I’m doing something right. Art Deco is a big part of it and the ’60s modernist movement. Also classic American, from the Western Front to the beaches of East Hampton.” Wilson Standish

You would expect someone with the name Wilson Standish to be the governor of Plymouth Rock circa the late 18th century, looking very noble in a waist coat, breeches, cloak, and cravat. So it’s fitting that Wilson Standish, Chicago 2010, from a lineage of “WASPs”, is sporting Brooks Brothers indie style, in his bow ties with jeans, custom made three-piece suits with ’50s vintage neckwear and seersucker. It’s ironic that his mom, an art dealer, who’s very fashion-forward, embarrassed him as a kid. Because despite the fact that he rebelled against her by going towards his grandfather’s understated and classic genre, he maintained her penchant for standing alone, which today can simply mean attention to detail and taste. Wilson is serious about being singular in his wardrobe – he had his boat shoes made in Asia (the color schemes on the shoes are purposely mismatched) and he wears suits with one button open on the sleeve. “Old man style” is the new hip, in the world according to Wilson, where on his blog Boy Kings, he is making his mark in the Windy City in fashion and music.

To learn more about Wilson, go to the detailed captions page.

If you like Wilson, you might also enjoy Raymond Chu, Dylan Trevelen, or Michael Arenella.

Rachel Ballinger

occupation: model

“I dress really girly, but kind of tomboy at the same time. Kind of punk too. It’s a combination of everything.” Rachel Ballinger

An effortless and unassuming beauty with a preppy bent, Rachel’s a little Cher from Clueless and one of my all time favorites, a dead ringer for Ali MacGraw, who has as much natural style off of the screen as on (a sad rarity these days). Her resemblance to Ali is as much the thick, uncomplicated eyebrows and the 2009 version of hippie boots tucked into the jeans as it is about the Scottish plaid pants (but done punk) that is reminiscent of the ’70s style icon to me. Rachel’s got a knack for investment pieces, like her Givenchy bag, and has the help of one of our own in making those heart-racing decisions, Ian Bradley, whose taste is similar to hers in making the classics fresh and modern. She was literally breathless, when pulling out all of her boots which are a definite fetish. From homegrown looking eskimos to clunky ankle boots to the edgy classicism of Margiela to a veteran’s passion for all things black, they are like an expose of Rachel’s personality. Rachel is just that kind of quiet example of someone who doesn’t crave attention, but deserves to have it.

If you like Rachel, you might also enjoy Sarah Aoanan, Haley Wollens, or Sophia Bennett Holmes.

Carrie Bergmann

occupation: student

“I don’t want to be a passerby. I don’t want to be a pedestrian. I want to be someone who you remember.” Carrie Bergmann

Carrie is twelve and we were having trouble figuring out which quote to use above – there were so many profound things that she said. She was spotted at a party by one of our own, Barbara Louis. From first grade to fifth grade, Carrie had a tomboy haircut to be different and not too girly – one of my greatest recollections of that age was wearing the same kilt to school as a friend’s to fool our teacher and pretend we were twins. Presently, she is a wealth of articulation when it comes to the lack of individuality and emphasis on conforming among her age group. At a party, it is predictable to find all of the girls wearing revealing black, red, dark blue or purple dresses, and Carrie will be the lone ranger in a metallic melange made up of a pouffy skirt with sparkly tights. At the same time, she can be unusually sophisticated and understated for her age in a gray jersey drop waiste dress and heels. She likes to “discover” and think of the unexpected, like putting her dad’s bow tie with her ruffled shirt or using her mom’s knitting bag inside-out as her favorite handbag, no Coach or Le Sportsac here.