Fashion is their passion—and these Chicago gents prove that personality is the secret to all that panache.
Look out, Chicago: CBS 2’s new sports anchor has arrived—and he’s got style to burn.
From Cincy and Pittsburgh to Philly, Sacramento and more, Marshall Harris (@mharrisonair) has spent the last 21 years as a sports anchor and reporter in markets across the country. His newest assignment? The plum role of sports director and anchor for CBS 2 right here in Chicago—and the dapper Alabama native is embracing his new assignment with élan. “I want Chicagoans to know that I am so excited to be here,” says the Printer’s Row resident, “but most importantly, to uncover what makes the city tick.” When it comes to fashion, Harris’ earliest memory is vivid and, shall we say, bright: “My mom put me in a green short suit set for Easter Sunday when I was 5 or 6. I was sharp as a tack, casket clean and colder than a polar bear’s toenails.”
Harris’ first luxe splurge was a cashmere topcoat from Saks; hoodies—like this Kiton cashmere zip-up, perhaps?—are essential wearing for the CBS sports anchor; Converse All Stars, like this deluxe limited-edition take on the Chuck 70, make Harris’ must-wear list.
These days, you’ll see Harris just as sharp dressed as he delivers the sports scoop on camera (befitting a man whose style icon is Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian), but off? “Comfort over everything,” he reveals, which translates into everything from classic Chuck Taylors accented by an Apple Watch to a cashmere topcoat ideal for Chicago’s winters. Whatever he’s wearing, for Harris it’s all in service to his ultimate goal at CBS 2: “I’m on a mission to discover what moves the people while building community through the common thread of sports, and the passion it fosters. We want to inform, entertain, tell stories and ultimately have fun in a way that keeps viewers coming back for more. The city has welcomed me with open arms and I can’t wait to make it feel like home.”
This bountifully bearded Chicagoan has grown Sovereign Brands into an international spirits juggernaut—all while displaying a handsomely edgy sense of style.
Call him the spirits whisperer: From Luc Belaire sparkling wine and Bumbu craft rum to McQueen and the Violet Fog small-batch gin and Villon cognac, Sovereign Brands founder and CEO Brett Berish (@brettberishceo) has conquered seemingly every category in the industry. It takes plenty of confidence to grow a self-made startup like Sovereign into a celeb-favorite global brand, and the Glencoe resident has it in spades. “I live and breathe our brands,” says the Winnetka native. “I think they’re cool as sh*t, so there’s a great confidence I feel when wearing my own clothes.” It only makes sense that his sense of style, which he describes as “bold, eclectic and comfortable,” is influenced by flamboyant personalities like Lenny Kravitz and André 3000, with edgy brands like John Varvatos and Johan Lindeberg’s BLK DNM topping his must-wear list. Berish’s fashion essential? “A black leather jacket. Everyone needs at least one in their closet—it’s a timeless look that goes with any outfit. My Hugo Boss nappa leather jacket is a staple in my wardrobe.”
“Everyone needs at least one leather jacket in their closet,” says Sovereign Brands CEO Brett Berish of his favorite Hugo Boss nappa leather go-to; Panerai’s Luminor Chrono Monopulsante is Berish’s fave timepiece.
Bouncing as he does between the company’s offices in Chicago, NYC and (soon to be) Atlanta, the founder and CEO is a fan of multiple shopping destinations. “When I’m home in Chicago, I love the Magnificent Mile; there’s always something new popping up on Michigan Avenue. Our New York headquarters is in the heart of Soho where all the best stores are, so it’s great to be able to step outside and have everything at my fingertips; and in Atlanta, where our content hub is located, I love Buckhead Village.” According to Berish, his passion for fashion took hold early—at his brother’s bar mitzvah, to be exact. “I was 6 years old; my mother took me to our local men’s fashion store, and I saw a red and white pinstripe suit. I wanted it so badly because it looked different from all the other suits. My mother has a saying, ‘When the mood moves you, move with it.’ She let me get it. I stood out like a sore thumb—because it was red and white pinstripe it actually looked pink. I loved it and still have it to this day.”
“I love the versatility of the Fleetwood boots by John Varvatos,” says Berish. “You can dress them up or down.”
Berish considers Aesop’s Geranium Leaf body cleanser a grooming essential.
From music exec to the co-founder and CEO of new brewery incubator Pilot Project, Dan Abel is tackling his entrepreneurial goals with panache.
Dan Abel (@pilotprojectdan) describes his style as “West Coast minimalist,” and that laid-back moniker fits this Minnesota native to a T. It makes sense that Abel has an easy comfort with his clothes; as the former global marketing director of reverb.com and a five-year veteran of Google/YouTube Music marketing, he has been surrounded by cutting-edge creatives for much of his professional life, helping build the careers of stars like Dua Lipa, Chloe x Halle and the Windy City’s own BJ the Chicago Kid. Now, as the co-founder and CEO of Pilot Project, a brewery incubator based in Logan Square, his focus is on the beer industry—and he’s doing it with the same easy style.
Dan Abel names Theory as one of his favorite label; Mildblend Supply Co. is Abel’s must-shop stop for denim with brands like Nudie Jeans.
“I’ve always been intentional with what I wear,” notes the Highland Park resident, who recently made the move north after five years in Bucktown. “I’m naturally drawn to people that can wear a black or white T-shirt well,” he says when asked his style icons, who include his 1-year-old son, Wythe. “He seems to pull it off nicely.” (Abel also has a 5-year-old daughter, Lennon.) Favorite designers include James Perse and Theory, and he’s a serious fan of Chicago’s indie boutique scene. “I love stopping into Independence in the West Loop to see what’s new; if I’m in the market for denim, Mildblend Supply Co. is my go-to in Wicker Park.” When it comes to essential wearing, says Abel, “My first brown-banded Shinola Runwell. My wife gave it to me when they came out, and the patina on the band is fantastic. While I’ll change my watch frequently, the Runwell works with just about any situation.”
When it comes to watches, only Abel’s Shinola Runwell—a treasured gift from his wife—will do.
Photography by: BY BONETTA/GETTY IMAGES; BY KATRINA WITTKAMP/SHOT ON LOCATION AT PENDRY CHICAGO; TOPCOAT AND ZIP-UP PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAKS.COM; SNEAKERS PHOTO COURTESY OF MRPORTER.COM;BY NEAL EDELSTEIN; JACKET AND SHOES PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAKS.COM; WATCH AND BODY CLEANSER PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRANDS; BY CORY DEWALD; JACKET, JEAN AND WATCH PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAKS.COM
