From Chicago: "City Stories: Bus Chic," by Adrienne

This story originally appeared on Adrienne Writes at this address: http://adriennewrites.net/2011/02/08/city-stories-bus-chic/. This website no longer exists. A copy of the original story appears below.


I live in Chicago. I love fashion. It’s winter.

I also love being warm.

All that said, it’s a bit difficult to be ultra fashionable when its 10 below zero and I have to take the bus to work. (Translation: standing outside in sub zero temps, sometimes for up to 45 minutes and always in snow, rain, high wind, sleet or all of the above.)

I have a style I like to call Chicago winter chic, or “bus chic.” Everyone else here has it too. It usually involves fur boots or fur-lined Timberlands. (No Uggs here. Our boots need to be water-proof.) It always involves a puffy, Michelin Man-esque coat or a fur coat. In my case, depending upon the temperature, the fur coat is usually pulled out when it’s going to be a below zero day. Fur in Chicago isn’t exactly a status symbol. It’s just a good idea. Because frankly, I don’t get cold when I wear my fur coat. (Most of the people I know – no matter their monetary income – own a fur coat or two. Leather is cute, but it aint doing ISH in this kind of harsh weather.)

Chicago winter chic also involves several scarves (so you can switch out week after week) and if you’re lucky, they’re pretty or have a vibrant design. Said scarf must cover the whole head, neck and nose. Then the gloves must be thick , with a leather palm – like ski gloves. Thinsulate is a must. During blizzard days when I’m waiting on the bus, I’ve taken to wearing my husband’s fur-lined hunter’s cap. It aint pretty, but in 30-mph wind, it keeps the ears cozy.

If you wear skirts, like moi, then colorful tights and leg warmers are a must because frost bite sets it quickly in a Chicago winter. Plus, most of us have a “coat sweater,” that sweater you only wear as a second layer with your puffy coat. This sweater is never worn for any other reason than to be a layer of wool around your body under your main coat for those times when the wait at the bus stop will be long and wet.

The guys gets to wear their boots all day. But the ladies usually bring a pair of shoes to switch out. Then, once you get to the office, you peel out of all those layers to reveal a cute DVF dress, bright tights and high heels.

Now, I do know people who are dressed to the nines no matter the weather – or the mode of transportation. God bless those gals! Their feet apparently never get cold. They also seem to be OK with salt and sleet getting on their Louboutin’s…

I, on the other hand, get a chill even in the summer. Plus, I don’t wear expensive shoes in the snow.

‘Course, this style of dressing makes it difficult to be cute for after work drinks. But everyone at the bar knows that beneath all those layers lies potential. No one judges.

But come summer? Watch out.