Would you look at that? November is already here and with it comes the usual suspects: Ridiculously early Christmas decorations, the frantic struggle that is cuffing season and your male co-workers making well-intended but utterly terrifying facial hair choices. This Saturday also marks the start of the 5th annual November of Dressing Nicely (#NODN).
A little background: The project started off as a personal F.U. to a co-worker that said that guys in Chicago couldn't dress for crap. While that suggestion is ludicrous, there's something to be said for it as a lot of people, both locally and nationally, think Chicagoans can't dress nicely. There's a misconception that we're all sweatpants-clad bacon-wrapped goons and I call B.S. on that, quite frankly. You can find plenty of sharply dressed people in this town, whether you're walking down Milwaukee Avenue, State Street or Stony Island.
Also, how annoying is it that "stylish" means wearing a three-piece suit or some kind of uncomfortable nightmare ripped from the runway? This month isn't about being a label whore, and it definitely isn't about how much disposable income you have. Personal style means doing you and being confident while you do it. (The only rule I adhere to: Make sure it fits you. Well, that and "Don't wear leather T-shirts.") Open to everyone, #NODN is about showcasing the personal style of Chicago. One of the goals here is to celebrate the unique and fascinating personal style choices of locals while celebrating the diversity of the city.
Want to take part? It's easy. Starting Nov. 1, post your look to social media using the hashtag #NODN. Do it once or for the whole month-anything goes, as long as you're showcasing your personal style. We'll compile our favorites online at redeyechicago.com/nodn all month long. In addition to that, we'll be spotlighting some stylish Chicagoans, clueing you in on ways to stay on top of your game and having a little fun while doing it. I hope you'll take part. (Also, tell your male co-worker to shave. He looks like a '80s hockey coach who turned to porno to make ends meet.)
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