After pledging my entire weekend to Pitchfork three years in a row, I consider myself a pro. I know where to set up camp and get the best sound. I know that you need to stuff Charmin in your satchel because the LepreCans run out on the first day. And I know that Pitchfork, in particular, is the best place to witness veritable street style. At one point during the weekend, a friend from New York even turned to me and said, totally unprompted, “Chicago has waaaaay more hipsters than New York.” So true. Here were some of our favorites, photographed by Maria Bianco. PLUS: What the critics said


Nadia Gaya, 25, Chicago
Smart girl, kicking the dress over tights combo: the dress shows style, the tights keep her ass off the grass.

 


Ralph Washington, Jr., 16, Iowa City
Can we take your photo, we asked. “Mine? Yes! Hold on, let me grab my sweater so you get the whole look.” Love this kid.


Nick Drake, 37, Chicago
I know this guy. He always wears great hats. This one is from Silver Room.

 


Jenni Lanning, 18, Peoria
Check it out: Her hair doesn’t move, even though she’s standing in the spray
mist tent.


Katie Eresman, 17, Springfield
Where does one get gold lame tights? American Apparel.
 

Lily and Jim Flynn, Chicago
The best accessory for a music fest: a kid! Actually, we saw lots of kids.

Amelia Sutton, 29, New York City
Great shades! Did she spend a fortune? “Oh no. They’re Forever 21.”
 

Agatha Wilkowska, 31, Chicago
Check out the bandana-by the goofy-cool Minneapolis-based design company Burlesque of North America

Kid Sister, 27, Chicago
Look for this cute up-and-coming local rapper at Lollapalooza, where she’ll be performing with her brother’s DJ group, Flosstradamus. In stacked bangles from Target and a breezy summer dress from Nordstrom’s Brass Plum
 

Tony Toni Tone (he claims), New York City
This Brooklyn-ite kept telling us his name was Tony Toni Tone, which is funny, since on his plain white hat he had written Bruce, Bruce, Bruce.

 
Photography: Maria Bianco

 

WHAT CRITICS SAID:

Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot said: “Organizers were so dissatisfied with the sound system installed Friday that they replaced it for the festival’s final two days. Yet to call the festival … anything less than a success would be quibbling.”

Miles Raymer, of the Chicago Reader, was hard on one of festgoers’ favorites, GirlTalk (aka producer and DJ Gregg Gillis): “Populism is one thing; what he does is more like pandering.”

Chicago Sun-Times’ Jim DeRogatis praised Chicago bands Califone and the Sea and Cake, as well as the otherwise panned performance by Yoko Ono: “She played with as much energy as any musician who took the stage, and she took more chances than most, closing Saturday’s lineup with an inspiring and historic experience as the crowd joined her in repeatedly screaming, “War is over if you want it.”

Which bands blew you away at Pitchfork? Write in and tell us.