Sophisticated with a dash of swagger— these local trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
A passion for creativity—and for Chicago’s South Side—clearly runs in Kia Smith’s family: Her father, the late Jimmy Ellis, was a jazz legend who co-founded iconic Bronzeville street party Jazz in the Alley, while Smith is making her own creative mark as the founder, resident choreographer and executive artistic director of the South Chicago Dance Theatre. Also in her genes? An inimitable personal aesthetic, natch. Here, Smith lets us in on some of her style secrets.
CS Women Of Style 2022: Kia Smith, Amy Kartheiser, Lisa Gasparian, Leslie Nicole Roberson
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:30AM
DOPPELGÄNGER: TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
NEMESIS: LONG LINES AT O’HARE
ESCAPE: MEXICO CITY
WEAKNESS: KILWINS FUDGE
MY AESTHETIC: VINTAGE INDIE WITH LOTS OF BRIGHT COLORS. I LIKE MY OUTFITS TO LOOK VERY UNIQUE AND ALSO FEEL LIGHT AND COMFORTABLE SO THAT I CAN MOVE AROUND EASILY IN BETWEEN REHEARSALS.
UNIFORM: WIDE-LEG JEANS, A FITTED BRIGHT-COLORED TOP, HOOP EARRINGS AND A BEANIE
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: MY DISTRESSED JEAN JACKET
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: CREATIVE TIME THINKING ABOUT IDEAS FOR NEW CHOREOGRAPHY
WORKOUT: ADVANCED/PRO BALLET AT CHICAGO MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE
LAST MEAL: PAD THAI WITH TOFU AND A SIDE OF PEANUT SAUCE
MOVIE: HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
MENTOR: NEW YORK-AND NORTH CAROLINA-BASED CHOREOGRAPHER KATE WEARE
STYLE ICON: MY 6-YEAR-OLD NIECE EMERSON JOSEPHINE GARDNER—SHE REMINDS ME THAT BOLD IS ALWAYS BEST!
SHOES: NIKE AIR MAX PRE-DAY
LIPSTICK: BRIGHT COLORS LIKE ORANGE, PURPLE AND BLUE FROM THE SEPHORA COLLECTION
BEST ADVICE: IF YOU HAVE NO FAITH, YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND GET SOME.
PHILANTHROPY: I LOVE SUPPORTING THE ARTS, ESPECIALLY DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATER.
MANTRA: DON’T DREAM, JUST DO.
CURRENT OBSESSION: MEDITATION
APP: INSTACART
COCKTAIL: MOSCOW MULE
SOULMATE: MY GOOD FRIEND AND FELLOW ARTIST CAROLYN RABBERS; SHE JUST GETS ME.
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: TRADER JOE’S ENRICH MOISTURIZING FACE LOTION
ZODIAC: PISCES
BEDTIME: 11PM
BEDSIDE READING: LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET BY RAINER MARIA RILKE
THEME SONG: “DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’” BY JOURNEY
BAG: COACH KITT MESSENGER CROSSBODY PURSE
SIGNATURE SCENT: BE TEMPTED BY DKNY
Photography by: PHOTO BY MICHELLE REID
