Chic-ago

Apparently Chicago has a bad rap as a city of greed and violence, dirt and grime. At least that’s what I learned when I visited “Chic Chicago,” an exhibit at the Chicago History Museum that aims to debunk this perception with its collection of beautiful gowns worn by Chicago’s most glamorous women.

The concept is unexpected, the mood fun and playful. In a dimly lit gallery, with a soundtrack of girly tunes— think “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz”—in the background, women (the only two males I saw were young boys undoubtedly dragged by their mothers) can wander among the mannequins and imagine themselves in the fabric and color of their choice. And there are plenty to choose from: the dark velvet corseted forms of the Victorian era, the fringy and fun flapper styles of the 20s, the slinky silk and jersey numbers of the more modern woman. To all label lusters: this exhibit will certainly satisfy; the collection flaunts Ferragamo, Valentino, Chanel, and Versace, as well as some more unusual and (for me, at least) interesting craftsmen. My favorite was a stunning iridescent blue-green pleated silk masterpiece, by magician-cum-dressmaker, Fortuny, who invented the chemical process for the one of a kind material.

The text painted in pink on the walls above the dresses are quotes describing the Chicago of, the exhibit claims, men. The contrast between these words and the elegance and artistry below them is none too subtle, but it does help the exhibit achieve its goal: to pay tribute to the city's exemplary women.