Sex and the City, but Sustainable
This March, I was honored to attend a special fashion show, hosted by Vintage Frills. As springtime is known as rebirth – of environments & energies – it was especially timely to see garments from decades past be given a new life. Moreover, the venue is an old TJ Maxx, nestled in South Loop, converted into an open event space by Chicago Vintage House. With Chicago’s wintertime season slowly coming to a close, like a shaky airplane landing, we were grateful for some fun, colorful curations in a fresh(ly painted), new space.
While some fashion shows’ beauty comes from the mastery of the designer’s craft, here we saw creativity in a whole new light – curated, thrifted, and styled to the 9’s in extreme Carrie Bradshaw fashion. Just as we know Sex and the City to be the holy grail of Y2K style, Vintage Frills brought Carrie to life on the runway. We saw low waisted skirts & frilly tops, skinny neck scarves & chunky belts, and bold prints & polka dots, which are once again having a moment this season. Valentino, Nina Ricci, and Saint Laurent all showcased polka dotted designs in their Spring/Summer 2025 lines a few months back, so we know it’s the real deal.
Tied to supporting small businesses, this event also hosted a market before the fashion show with 10+ vintage and handmade vendors. Every guest found a cookie on their seat, made by minority-woman-owned-company, Sugar Bliss. We were treated to mocktails from Naps Chicago and had the pleasure of shopping from true vintage clothing vendors, who had some iconic designer pieces dating back to the 1950’s. Be sure to check out Schlesäk Vintage the next time you’re looking for that perfect, in-between-seasons jacket. Halfway through the fashion show, we saw a special performance by Dear Jamie, who performs at the Annoyance Theater and various cafés around the city.
Attendees, dressed in their best thrifted and vintage finds, added to the event’s charm and served as a powerful reminder that style doesn’t have to be brand new to make a mark. This runway was a testament to the fact that there’s so much untapped potential in reimagining pieces from the past, rather than buying new. The beauty of vintage is that it proves how truly cyclical fashion is, and it reaffirms the idea that great fashion is about creativity, resourcefulness, and honoring the past. In a world where fast fashion churns out fleeting trends even on a weekly basis, fashion shows like this are a great reminder that sustainability isn’t just blue boxes and plastic bags. Whether you’re a longtime vintage enthusiast or just beginning your journey into secondhand fashion, this show proved that the most stylish statement you can make is one that supports sustainability.
Event photography by Falaknaz Chrayna