All photos by Logan Leeper Photography.
In this first iteration of Denver Street Style Diaries, the team behind The Pink Garage learned about the subjects through the lens of their daily outfits. Walking the streets of downtown Denver, the team met the following four individuals, whose unique style revealed the power of self-expression through getting dressed (and helped prove our hypothesis that the people of Denver have better taste than many lead us to believe).
Personal Style Spotted On The Streets Of Denver
To an untrained eye, monochrome can seem lazy. But the Pink Garage team stopped Efren for exactly the opposite: his look is intentional and — come to find out — an integral part of how he gets dressed in the morning.
Efren is a scenic designer whose work spans the country. In town from California for work with the Denver Performing Arts Center, Efren identifies as an architect, engineer and artist simultaneously. His personal style reflects those labels, as he shared that he built his wardrobe brick by brick in varying shades of neutrals.
This methodology not only serves the purpose of helping Efren feel put together every single day, but the inspiration comes from Japanese architects from the 1950s and 60s, who revolutionized design by establishing urban spaces as spaces capable of change, growth and renewal.
Similarly, Efren’s style builds upon a solid foundation, adding striking and high-quality accessories that rotate over time, adding a personalized touch to an already undeniably curated look.
“It’s my kind of city. I left for a while, and Denver keeps calling me back.”
Judy has the type of natural coolness that made an on-the-street approach feel admittedly intimidated. From the ground up, Judy’s outfit was a masterclass in all-black aesthetic, combining various textures with a streamlined silhouette and the type of accessory collection to make any alternative dresser sick with envy: bone, spikes, leather, florals and a blue lipstick that very few have the aura to pull off.
In fact, in both the outfit and the admission that Denver feels like home, Judy’s self-assurance is what the Pink Garage is built on: effortlessly exuding personal style and moving through the city knowing it’s exactly the right place proves that Denver does contain some of the coolest people you’ll ever meet.
The final evidence? Judy’s hottest take: “Why try to find the Goth Girl of you dreams, when you can become her.”
Brother John was catching the bus after a downtown birthday party, giddy with an energy as bright as his outfit. But while we stopped Brother John to compliment his beard and ask about his array of accessories, the lore he shared was the real memorable takeaway from our conversation.
The tidbits he revealed painted the picture of a man who has lived many lives and learned many lessons: as a grassroots salesman for a now out-of-print publication, as a Rabbi and as young musician attending the Original Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. In other words, our conversation felt like a sacred lesson in the long-honored tradition of connection and storytelling.
Here’s just a morsel of what he shared: “At Woodstock, a [famous musician] gave me a guitar, and told me three things: don’t sell it, don’t lose it… and something else I don’t remember.”
Legend has it Brother John still has the guitar, and his willingness to share his history freely, with positivity and passion, almost makes that mystery third thing irrelevant.
When you see a certified Nike x Cactus Plant Flea Market banger in the wild, you don’t expect the person wearing it to carry the most open, least “who do you know here?” energy possible. Combined with clean jorts, a heavy chain, trend-transcending glasses and immaculate eyebrows, Tyson’s jersey was the centerpiece to an effortlessly cool look that lended itself more toward open approachability and less toward unattainable swagger.
Furthermore, Tyson’s immediate warmth, willingness to pose for a quick shoot and contagious positivity put the nail in the coffin that gatekeeper vibe checks are essential to good style. Maybe that kind of thing comes from within after all.
Ty was also kind enough to share the biggest secret to undeniable aura: “White socks go such a long way.” (Not pictured: Ty’s white socks. You’ll just have to take our word for it.)
All photos by Logan Leeper Photography. Follow The Pink Garage on Instagram for more street photography, closet tours and Denver style coverage.
