here’s a saying in
Chicago: “If you
don’t like the
weather, just wait a minute.” It’s the city’s running joke but also a survival tactic. In a place where the seasons are unpredictable and often defy the calendar, Chicagoans have learned to be resilient and adaptable—not just in our daily lives but in how we dress. Our wardrobes reflect this constant negotiation between what we expect and what the weather delivers.
Take this moment, for
example. It’s late September, and summer is still hanging on. The calendar says fall, but Chicago hasn’t caught on yet. The days are warm, with the sun lingering just long
enough to tempt you into thinking summer might never leave. We’re stuck in a sartorial limbo, layering sundresses with sweaters or pairing sandals with denim jackets, trying to balance between the last breath of summer and the crispness of fall that’s just around the corner.
It’s a delicate dance, this
in-between time. You want to embrace the coziness of autumn—bring out the boots and knits you’ve been waiting for all year—but the weather keeps pulling you back. In the
mornings, there’s a cool bite in the air, so you grab a light scarf and a jacket. By afternoon, the sun is blazing, and you’re peeling off layers, wondering if you’ve misread the season entirely. It’s a constant push and pull, yet we’re used to it.
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