During the last weekend of July, Denver’s music lovers took the streets. The city was alive with the rush of live music from one end to the other, and for fashion lovers, two simultaneous music festivals brought a serious opportunity for people watching and style spotting. In this edition of Denver Street Style Diaries, we’re breaking down the coolest looks we saw at Underground Music Showcase, not just the clothes and accessories but the auras and energies of the people wearing them.
All photos by Logan Leeper.
Ivan was an instant standout in the crowded streets, wearing head-to-toe pink in varying textures from sheer to satin. Upon approaching Ivan, we learned that this look was entirely handmade (as were the looks he wore the next two days of UMS).
In fact, Ivan hand-makes his outfits every year for the Underground Music Showcase, a tradition that he’s carried on for the last six or seven years. For this year’s festival, Ivan crafted three looks, calling them, simply, pink, bow and lace. His first look, “Pink,” was not only masterfully made but masterfully styled, paired with ruffled lacy socks, tiny cat ears and platform shoes only a pro can rock without breaking an ankle.
“You know what? I feel like a granny, so let’s be a granny. I want long and flowy, and we’ll have ruffles,” Ivan shared.
Sometimes, the perfect accessories are henna freckles and stunning collarbone tattoos. Dominique Christina shows us a perfect example of this sentiment, demonstrating how striking and creative and daring a black tube top really can be. (Plus, it takes a distinct kind of confident energy to make mixing metals look so natural).
In his words, here’s how Jake, the drummer in Junior Drag, defines his style: “I like to keep it simple, somewhere in the middle of minimalism but also punk.”
We caught Jake the evening before his Underground Music Showcase with Junior Drag, who released two new songs last month after a hibernation period. And while Jake promised his show day fit would be a bit more intricate, his casual look had all the edgy-chic elements of a minimalist punk: well-fitted trousers with a plunging jewel-toned tank, timeless silver rings on his right hand with a single gold wedding band on his left and, of course, plenty of artwork adorning his arms.
“Just try to keep it classy: show off the tattoos, show off the physique to some extent I suppose,” he shared.
One dressed in monochrome. One playing with the contrast of black of white. Megan and Geo Conjure Oddly‘s outfits speak for themselves.
A closer look shows the pair subtly coordinated, with Megan’s shoes connecting her to Geo Conjure Oddly’s look and white bandanas bonding the two looks together. Add in Oddly’s draping silhouette and magnetic geometric patterns, and the pair proved that “main character energy,” really can exist in real life.
We originally approached Mark for his Wrangler-on-Wrangler western style. Come to find out, this guy was hitting the Ratio Beerworks kick-off party before his set playing keys with Rootbeer Richie and the Reveille. When asked for an interview, Mark expressed that he might not know answers to questions about his style (jury’s out on that one — we’re pretty sure those are 1970’s Wrangler pants so he’s got an eye at least). Nevertheless, he did give us a killer soda recommendation, as Rootbeer & the Rev launched their Rouga-Rootbeer at Larimer Lounge and Larimer Liquors for UMS weekend.
In the era of clean girl neutrals and capsule wardrobes, Lily Nova‘s style for the Underground Music Showcase Band Merch Bazaar was a breath of fresh air. Wearing a Dolce & Gabbana tank top she thrifted the other day, perfectly distressed cutoffs, chunky orange sneakers doubled up with fat laces and silver chains, this look is a masterclass in infusing a classic formula with playful personality.
P.S. Don’t scroll away before noticing her juicy green nails.
It’s not every day you meet someone whose jewelry matches their drink. Even beyond the ring, the bones strung around his neck, the Haunted Mansion gear and the fierce handlebar duster, Eysab is a presence to follow. When asked if we could tag him in these photos, he agreed with a grin, letting us know that he’s re-building his online presence after being banned from a certain platform for sharing certain information and opinions.
Completely unrelated and apropos of nothing, his Instagram handle is @eysab1312.
Every year, Logan Leeper takes a photo at Underground Music Showcase that we think about for the next 51 weeks. This is that photo.
James is the General Manager at Matchbox, and when he’s not aura-maxxing with an effortless hat-bandana-colored sunglasses combo, he’s making deals with Red Rocks to borrow their drink trailer, manning the patio grill during football seasons, and helping to keep Matchbox the same grungy-cool spot we know and love.
After all, his name is James Morrison. Grungy-cool is in his blood.
DNA Picasso is a legend in the Denver music scene — and for good reason. Besides his natural ability to build community (he’s the founder of the Colorado Music Industry Alliance), he 100% looks the part. His look for this year’s Aero Showcase was a perfect example: the classic chain and black t-shirt combo, artfully distressed and intentionally stitched denim and dark-tint glasses that would be intimidating, if not for his warm energy and welcoming attitude.
Catching a glimpse of Wes Watkins through a RiNo window during Underground Music Showcase felt like a scene from a movie: a trumpet strapped to his back and a cigarette between his fingers. His wide-brimmed hat and textured, colorful kaftan made for a timeless sort of look perfect for who Wes Watkins is outside of cinematic glimpses. While Denver residents can sometimes find him playing his horn on street corners, Watkins makes regular appearances at Gerard’s Pool Hall on Thursday nights, where he joins a rotating cast of local musicians for live jazz.
READ: Dive’s August Picks: What We’re Looking Forward To This Month
It’s hot crazy girl summer, and Lokana is leading the troops.
A graphic crop top will never go out of style, especially one with a graphic as direct and succinct as “I AM INSANE.” Paired with understated jewelry and quality denim, Lokana’s fit for her Friday evening set at Finn’s Manor exemplified effortless cool — and has us insane girls thanking the universe that baggy jorts are back and better than ever.
Our conversation with our last feature, Jeff, was an incredibly special chance-encounter while waiting for a delayed set at the UMS Underground Stage — and one that is nearly impossible to fully translate on the page. While our motivation for approaching Jeff may be obvious — the mismatched Crocs! the kilt and Spongebob shirt pairing! the ageless joy of sitting on a cinderblock after a long day at a music festival! — nothing else about this encounter could ever be called predictable.
During our conversation, Jeff shared that his love of Crocs began during his RAGRAI era (the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), the annual 420-plus mile ride where he earned the loving nickname “Crazy Jeff.” He revealed that he works as a jeweler on 16th Street, a day job that fuels his passion of crafting custom watches using antique coins and intricate engraving.
In fact, on the second night of the Underground Music Showcase, we caught Jeff before he headed back up to Ratio Beerworks for STIL RUNNIN. When the Fort Collins-based band recorded an album near Bulow Jewelers, they crossed paths with Crazy Jeff, and Jeff made his 44th custom watch for one of the band members. At a recent show, they added a new song to their setlist, entitled J44 in dedication to the undeniable spirit and intricate craftsmanship of the watchmaker. That night, Jeff came to support the band right back — and we hope to learn more about Jeff’s work and personal style in the near future.
All photos by Logan Leeper. This series documents Denver through the lens of individual personal style. Follow The Pink Garage on Instagram for more street photography, closet tours and Denver style coverage.
