On Monday, May 2, 2023, the Chicago Fashion Coalition x Tribe Supper Club hosted a wondrous sold-out Met Gala Viewing Party to celebrate America: An Anthology of Fashion – but with a slight Chicago-style twist.

Instead, we asked our guests to arrive in pieces that captured the Anthology of Chicago Fashion, interpreted as pieces that were either designed locally or brought to life with what Chicago fashion meant to them. And let us tell you – the looks did not disappoint!

The evening was filled with superb fashion – guests arriving in everything from full-length gowns to Chicago newspapers transformed into headpieces, to fun colored pants and matching suits.

Not only did our guests understand the assignment, but we also welcomed an opportunity for local Chicago designers to showcase their work. The designers included: Adreain Guillory, Progression With The Krown, Veronica Sheaffer, JOJAYDEN, Kelsey Denvir, and The MOS Brand.

AJOVANG

Adreain Guillory is a young African American Demi-Couture Designer, who owns the brand, AJOVANG. Coming from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Adreain specializes in women’s wear design. Adreain draws inspiration from childhood fairy tale films, Japanese anime, and the all-American middle-class worker. His love of blue-collar and high elegance, incorporated with memories from his adolescent years feed his creativity. The piece he showcased at Chicago Does the Met brought to life his fairytale film vision, as it embodied elegance, sophistication, and romance.

PRGRSSN

Progression With the Krown, known as prgrssn, created by designer Oluwaseyi Adeleke, is heavily inspired by the current climate of injustice against people of color. Prgrssn seeks to combat this narrative by creating powerful, expressive t-shirts that will educate the wearer and those around them.

Prgrssn states that each shirt is designed to be a conversation starter. Prgrssn welcomed this idea during Chicago Does the Met by displaying a powerful red jacket with the statement – “Black boys are more than just one thing.” “This collection focuses on examining how black boys and men are viewed in society, as well as telling the story of the Negro League.”

VERONICA SHEAFFER

Veronica Sheaffer, known as both the brand and designer, is a women’s fashion brand that aims to “make you feel good.” Veronica Sheaffer is experienced in high-end custom clothing and gowns. Her designs embody playfulness, and happiness, and incorporate eye-catching colors.

When it came to Veronica’s showcased piece, she stated, “This look is from our FW22 collection. I used denim throughout, in more everyday pieces, but I thought it would be exciting to make a big, over-the-top piece in this effortless fabric. The bodice is made of a gorgeous silk gazar - hand draped and beaded - this is the type of work I most like to get my hands on. It’s labor-intensive and delicate, and allows me to give my whole self, spending time with a garment.”

JOJAYDEN

Jojayden is a custom clothier and designer of luxury handmade footwear. By appointment only, Jojayden designs elegant, one-of-a-kind luxury suits made for every occasion. Their selection of luxury Italian and British fabrics, presented with the option to customize, draws in a sophisticated audience. JoJayden showcased a deep red velvet suit, with a detailed lapel at Chicago Does the Met.

KLSYDNVR

Kelsey Denvir, a brand known as KLSYDNVR, is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and launched her brand in 2018. As an advocate for body positivity, Kelsey welcomes a wide range of sizes and styles that are suitable for every body type. She focuses on bold colors, as she identifies color as a symbol of hope. Kelsey’s fun and playful design, showcased at Chicago Does the Met, embodies her love of color and her drive to continue being an advocate for body positivity in the fashion space.

THE MŌS BRAND

MŌS is a Chicago-based men’s and women’s lifestyle brand that takes customization to the next level. The brand creates unique, versatile, and high-quality custom-made suits, garments, and fabrics that are made to enhance and embrace the client's personality. 

MOS describes their clients as those who are looking to find new shopping formats and better management of their wardrobes; responsible, necessary, and aesthetic purchases that allow them to express their best style and personalities.

For the Chicago does the Met, the pieces were a voluminous dress featuring one of the in-house made floral prints and a two-piece, linen suit fully lined with the SS22 in-house made print. The Mos Brand showcased a unique – single-button men’s sport coat paired with a collarless button-up.