As you may have noticed on Instagram, I spent this past weekend in the windy city. However, it was more of the sleet and snowy city for the majority of the weekend. This Texas boy almost didn’t know what to do with himself. Then I had a thought, if I just bounce from shop to shop on The Magnificent Mile and peek into some delicious restaurants I’ll be out of the cold weather. Perfect.

The city of Chicago was alive this weekend. If you’ve never been, I highly encourage spending 48-72 hours (or longer) hitting the pavement of this mid-western city that makes every visitor feel at home. With a flair for the bold personalities and even bolder cuisine (cue deep dish pizza and Chicago dogs), the city also has a softer side. As I perused the racks at Topshop, dined on a delicious midday lunch at RL and walked the streets of the city I never felt lost or out of my comfort zone. Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, after New York City and Los Angeles. With 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in both the U.S. state of Illinois and the American Midwest. I love the people, the food and the fashion. Quite frankly, this southern boy is a mid-westerner at heart.

So take a peek at my pictures above as I documented my whirlwind trip to Chicago. Another dining recommendation? (because you know I had to) Go to PUMP Room and be enchanted by chic and deliciously hip ambiance with gourmet food and craft drinks. All outfits seen above are courtesy of TopMan at Topshop.