On Saturday, Jan 27 Soundpost, in partnership with the Chicago Fashion Coalition, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Overture Council presented Soundpost: Perception, A Classical Music and Fashion Experience.
The event took place in the Orchestra Hall at The Chicago Symphony Center, a beautiful venue, home to the world famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
It’s not often when one can sit backstage and watch a creative master work. When The TRiiBE learned that Chelsea B would be participating in the Soundpost fashion show, we asked for backstage access for a different perspective.
Walking into the Chicago Symphony Center, the scene was set with blue and purple lighting, and empty seats for VIP guests were set on the stage. A string quartet, placed in the front center stage was present and playing, while models practiced and perfected their catwalk down the crafted runway.
The concept of the show, and mission of Soundpost, is based on open-mindedness, questioning and challenging established standards of art, music, fashion and beauty.
The program was split into two Acts, featuring a string quartet and pieces from eight different designers, whose new looks were flaunted by models making their way through the stage, and in between the string musicians.
Featured as the last designer to show their designs was Englewood native, Jordan Womens Brand creative and fashion designer, Chelsea Billinger, known as Chelsea B.
For this show, Billinger would display a capsule collection with 10 new looks, The New Bloom, inspired by the venus flytrap. Chelsea’s use of monochromatic colors, mixed with the ability to contort yarn into sculptural shapes, makes her pieces one of a kind and sets her apart from her contemporaries.
“I’m super excited to show you guys something a little bit different from what we’ve normally seen from me,” she told The TRiiBE when describing the new collection. “You’re gonna get a more romantic and kind of avant garde, real runway editorial type [look].”
That’s exactly what we saw from Billinger at the historic venue that night, as her designs had incredible range and originality. From form fitting gowns and flowing capes, to free flowing skirts and leg pieces, Billinger flawlessly combined her streetwear fashion sense with the elegant runway theme of the night.
“I just wanted to take people on a journey of a blossoming phase of me. I feel like this new level of where I’m at, there’s been a lot of growth,” she said. “A lot of growth in my career, a lot of growth in terms of how I design and what I want to design and where I’m going. That’s the journey that I’m taking people on with this.”
Having a chance to be behind the scenes and backstage at Orchestra Hall was a once in a lifetime experience for everyone involved. Billinger took in the moment and spoke about being inside the historical landmark, while still scrambling to prepare her models for the runway. “The Chicago Symphony Orchestra in this space is so romantic. I remember growing up watching films like The Phantom of the Opera, and I always dreamed of being in a space like this,” she told The TRiiBE.
“It’s really history making. Creatives sometimes haven’t been allowed in a space like this. With the help of how people have been pushing culture and creatives in the past three, four years, this is a full circle moment. So I’m proud, I’m really really proud to be a part of this,” said BIllinger.
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