Chicago Gourmet: Where Fashion Meets Food

Chicago Gourmet is an annual event held in Millenium Park in downtown Chicago. The event features some of the best chefs from around the world and the city with different cuisine each night.

This year, from Sept. 26-29, the theme was Food & Fashion, and The Tie Bar partnered with four fashion students from Columbia College Chicago who used our materials to produce a unique look for each night.

The first night was themed Tacos & Tequila, featuring “salsa reds, avocado greens, and cornflower blues,” according to their website. Columbia student Olivia Byam used this same palette as inspiration for her floral dress.

Not only did she paint the tail of the dress, she folded garments to create origami-like flowers along the sleeves.

“I was really inspired by all of the national flowers of Mexico, and the flowers are actually ties, bow ties, and handkerchiefs from The Tie Bar,” Byam said.

The second night was Hamburger Hop, featuring burgers and beer. Student Aurora Liston created a patchwork corset top with a jacket overtop.

“When I heard that we were working with The Tie Bar, I thought it would be really fun to do a patchwork design, so I wanted to pick my color palette when we went [to the store], and then I spent hours and hours cutting up ties into squares,” Liston said.

She originally intended to do a “ketchup and mustard” design with reds and yellows but as it came together, decided she wanted to lean into greens and cream-tones.

The next night — Grand Cru — featured wine tastings and had a black or white dress code. Designer Michael Smith perfectly tailored his sleek dress to match the theme.

“Eventually, we settled on this very old school — like she’s wearing a fur over the dress — type of look with the bow ties,” he said.

The final day was Rise & Shine, featuring breakfast foods and Aperol spritzes. Creating a shawl and ruffled dress down to the model’s ankles, Bryannah Minor was inspired by “pastels, Kentucky Derby, Sunday best, and also brunch.”

For the shawl, she sewed multiple pocket squares together and painted on a croissant, a honey dipper, jelly and more to add a playful feel to her sheer design.

“Fashion is important to me because it lets me express my creativity and who I am as a person,” Minor said. “I love that it just says who I am not only as a person, but also as a designer.”

The partnership between The Tie Bar and Columbia College Chicago brought a unique flair to each night and allowed these designers to transform ties, bow ties, and pocket squares into works of art and expressions of self.

From Byam’s floral dress to Minor’s playful brunch shawl, these students proved that style and sustenance can beautifully intersect. Chicago Gourmet became a celebration of more than just exceptional food — it was a fusion of culinary mastery and creative expression through fashion.