The Costume Council celebrates Chicago’s stylish men at annual Fashion Awards

It was an evening filled with style, personality and plenty of well-dressed Chicagoans as the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum hosted its annual Chicago Men’s Fashion Awards at the historic Macy’s Walnut Room.

The evening honored 10 Chicago men recognized for their distinctive personal style. Since the awards began in 2016, 93 men have received the honor, representing a colorful mix of celebrities, athletes, academics, designers, musicians, business leaders, artists, doctors, lawyers and humanitarians.

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More than 150 guests turned out for the festive cocktail party, including Costume Council members, friends and family of the honorees, fashion insiders and Chicago style enthusiasts. As expected, the crowd embraced the occasion and came dressed to impress.

This author was proud to serve as emcee for the evening, which offered a fun opportunity to celebrate both the honorees and the Costume Council’s commitment to preserving Chicago’s fashion history.

While the awards shine a spotlight on personal style, the event also supports an important cause. Proceeds benefit the Chicago History Museum’s more than 50,000-piece costume collection, which includes work by some of the world’s most important couturiers, including Charles Worth, Christian Dior, James Galanos, Paul Poiret, Vionnet and Balenciaga.

The Costume Council has played an important role in preserving Chicago fashion history, helping the Museum acquire significant pieces including a Virgil Abloh Off-White Chicago Bulls varsity jacket featured in the Dressed in History exhibition. The Council also helped acquired this author's Playboy collection, including my full silver Bunny costume, original Playboy photos, employment documents and much more.

Its support has also helped the Museum document and make its collection more accessible, including funding that allowed more than 70 objects to be professionally photographed and made the Museum’s fashion files searchable through its research center for the first time.

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Co-chairs Lizzy Lopez and David Mordini (Costume Council president) led this year’s event with committee members Moni Adorjan, Michael J. Anderson (president/CEO Chicago History Museum), Alesia Chaika, Jacqueline Cwiok, Chip Hendon, Robert Noia, Karen Peters (honorary co-chair, First VP Programs), Bridget Ray, Frank Rubel, Aaron Shirley and Ali Tamashiro.

The 2025 honorees were Bruno Abate, Danny Dunson, Jay Frankovich, Cesar Henrichson, Colby James, Darius Manning, J.R. Nelson, Jeremy Plummer, Patrick Ray, Cortez Smith and Manuel Whitfield.

With its mix of fashion, fun and philanthropy, the Chicago Men’s Fashion Awards once again proved that great style can do more than turn heads, it can help preserve the stories and treasures that make Chicago’s fashion history so special.