Studio to Street: Victoria Jaiani

July 22, 2013

The Joffrey dancer doesn’t think of herself as fashionable, but she loves to shop. “I can always come up with a reason. I’ll say to my husband, ‘That was a really good show—let’s go shopping!’ Or, ‘That didn’t go well—let’s go shopping.’ ” Luckily, her husband, fellow Joffrey dancer Temur Suluashvili, is actually the bigger fashion hound. The couple usually ends up at Zara because, Jaiani says, the store’s daring looks fit her philosophy: She sees each ensemble as an experiment. “I want to have fun with what I’m wearing. Clothes are more about your attitude than the pieces you buy.”

Photo by Quinn Wharton

The Details—Studio

Sweater:
“I used to wear this out, but it’s so big, chunky and comfortable, it’s the perfect warm-up sweater.”

Woven shawl:
“My husband knit this. It’s totally multi-purpose. If my back hurts, it’s around my waist. Or it could be a skirt. Or a scarf during the cold Chicago winter.”

Cutoff garbage-bag shorts:
“I used to always borrow these from my friend Allison Walsh. When she left The Joffrey for BalletX, she gave them to me. I love hand-me-downs. Old things have more character.”

Photo by Quinn Wharton

The Details—Street

Scarf from Zara:
“An outfit’s not complete until I throw something around my neck.”

Boots from Nordstrom:
“I love high-heeled boots. I feel like they support the ankle—and they dress up anything.”

Pants from Zara:
“I love taking little risks, like bright peach pants.”