Monika Bukowska, 25, moved to Chicago’s west side from Poland when she was eight years old. She lives in Wicker Park, works in retail, and fronts the band Brilliant Pebbles.
Pippi Longstocking meets glam superhero meets space sorcerer. Ripped-up, taped-up stuff with fancy. I always have elements of animals. I’m superstitious. For shows, I always wear tails. It’s playful, but that’s also my animal essence. I believe that a lot of what I like comes from growing up in the 80s in communist Poland and being “privileged” to get cool and colorful clothes and toys from America. I’m really into kids’ clothes lately–especially little boys’ T-shirts since they seem to have more surreal and powerful images on them. I like to combine things that may not go together, like dirty woolly gloves with a shiny zirconium ring, a fancy dress with a giraffe purse.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Do strangers comment on your outfits a lot?
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo by Mireya Acierto.
